ACE
The words shocked him speechless and he didn't know where Gina's question was coming from.
"I'm no longer a virgin, Ace." She said.
"I didn't expect you to be a virgin," he said honestly.
He got up from his seat and immediately took his jacket before he went to the exit door. Gina followed him and spoke continuously.
"We can sleep together." Gina said without hesitation.
"What do you mean, Gina?"
"I mean, we can consummate our marriage."
"I don't want to talk about those things," he stammered.
"Is that why you want us not to share a room when we get married because you think I'm still innocent of those things? Or maybe you think I'll just give myself to my 'real' husband in the future?"
He was still unmoved by what Gina was telling him and instead he continued to walk. Gina, on the other hand, continued to tail him.
"I don't care about it."
"Then why can't we sleep together? We can be adults about it." Gina was still following him.
He stopped walking and faced Gina.
"Like hell if we sleep together Gina, I might not be able to control myself and I also don't want anyone to mediate between the two of us because it will be difficult for us to get annulled."
"I don't think we can live together and not make love, Ace."
"I can." He answered firmly.
"You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Gina?"
"Don't you know? That's a famous quote by Rudyard Kipling."
"I know who said that. I just don't know what you mean by that." He replied to the girl.
He was about to leave Gina's house when the girl suddenly blocked him at the door. "What's the matter with you, Gina?"
"There's nothing, but you're so annoying."
"What?" He stepped closer to Gina. "Come here."
He held the girl's waist close to him and hugged her tightly so that Gina could not move. However, he feels she felt good in his arms.Too good. He was losing control now, he rested his cheek against her hair, felt her fingers dig into his back and he couldn't deny to himself that he liked Gina's simple touch.
"Sweetie," he said soothingly. "It's all right. We can do it."
GINA
"I'm not that hard to be with Ace," she said finally, relaxing against him. So she hugged the man even tighter. Then, she rubbed her cheeks against his shoulder. "It's just that twenty-four hours ago, my life is simple. I've mastered my daily routine and in an instant, everything's turned upside down and it's not that easy to adjust."
"Just leave it all to me, Gina, be worry free, okay?"
"I can't help but worry about my safety, Ace."
"I know, Gina. That's why I put a security system in your house for your safety. I have to go home first because I have a lot of other things to do."
She pushed Ace away from her. "I don't understand your intentions, Ace. But what can you really get out of helping me?"
"Just think that I'm a good samaritan, Gina." Ace replied and he went straight out of her house.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you that someone sent you a gift at the restaurant." He turned back.
"Brando sent me again?"
"Brando?" Ace asked her in disbelief.
"Yes, it is Brando."
Ace didn't answer her and instead turned his back on her, leaving her with even more questions. Sometimes she really wonders about that man.
She quickly chased after Ace because she still had something to ask. And when she reached him, she immediately asked. "Why did you call me sweetie earlier? I know you don't like endearments."
"What now if I called you sweetie? Oh, don't take that seriously. I called my favorite dog that, too.
-----
ACE
From outside the door of the restaurant he could immediately hear Gina's voice singing as she set the dining tables.
He just quietly walked to the counter. Gina called him almost ten more times that day but he didn't answer her calls. He didn't even return her calls. At least he saw her wearing the necklace and his worries were relieved.
Since he and Gina arrived early, he thought of approaching her first. "Hi," he started, but the girl still didn't say a word to him and instead just gave him a frugal smile. He was disgusted with what Gina was showing him now. "How's your day today, Gina?" He asked with his arms crossed.
"Busy. It's tiring. I'm doing a lot of things right now. I went to the wedding coordinator earlier that Janice referred me and then I also canvassed the wedding shops where I can sew my wedding gown."
"Include me in your plans."
Her eyes widened at what he said. "Really? I didn't realize that."
"I'm getting married too, Gina."
"I think--"
"Shssh.." He put a finger to her lips, then bent closer to her. "We'll talk about this later at your house."
"When are we going to tell this to our colleagues?"
"Now, Brando has a reservation tonight and don't worry because he already knows. So, now we'll tell our colleagues because Brando might ask them more about it."
"How did Brando know that?"
"I told him when I returned the gift he gave you."
"What was his reaction?"
He just laughed. He can't tell Gina that he doesn't believe in their quick marriage. And even more, he can't tell Gina that he often sees Brando because of their business transaction. “He just wished us well,” he said.
"I don't believe what he's saying, Ace."
"Why didn't you even answer my call, Gina?" He changed the topic.
GINA
She becomes conscious when Ace looks at her gently, because her knees became soft every time they stare at each other. "I was busy earlier and my phone was still in silent mode."
It's only now that she seems to be staring straight at Ace closely, so she admires his handsomeness even more.
"Next time, please return my call so I don't worry too much about you."
"All right," she murmured. "But if you really want to join my plan, we should talk about our guest list first so we can order wedding invitations."
"It's better that we just talk about it again tonight when we go out, because I also have something to be discussed with you."
"Okay...Uhm Ace, are you free tomorrow? I would like you to help me paint my second room."
"Sure, if you're planning that I will be the one to occupy that room after our wedding, make sure we don't paint pink there."
"All right, but are you sure it's okay for us to stay at my house?"
"Yes Gina, I've already decided that. Because I only have one room in my apartment."
That's good, Gina said to herself.
"Judge Soler has a reservation tonight, can we just ask him to officiate at our wedding?" Ace asked her as if he was also asking for her approval.
"Will he agree?" She asked him back.
"We will ask him later."
"Okay, I think it's a good idea too, since we know him as one of our handsome loyal customers."
"Handsome? He's so old."
She smiled at what Ace said, because she knew he would really react.
"He looks young when you look at him, if it weren't for his white hair, he would still be mistaken as early forties. And one more thing, it would be a great honor for me to allow him to be our wedding officiator. I heard that he's one of the most respected judges in our country."
She noticed that there was dirt on Ace clothes so she wiped it with her hand. But she was suddenly surprised by what Ace did, because he kissed the hand she used to wipe.
She held her breath for a minute because Ace's kiss on her hand had an effect on her. "Who among our colleagues can we make a witness?"
"Jigs and Ruby." Ace replied quickly. They are their close colleagues at the restaurant.
She was shocked when Ace kissed her hand again. He also stared at her without blinking, which seemed to make her even more confused. Ruby arrived just in time and even saw Ace kissed on her hand.
"Hey, what's the kissing of the hand all about?" Ruby teased them.
She just smiled at Ruby as if she was dumbfounded when her companion arrived. She thought that Ace might have seen Ruby coming so he tried to kiss her hand again so that Ruby could see it exactly. Maybe Ace meant it so that they wouldn't have a hard time explaining to them.
*****