Previously...
She saw Vaughn kneeling in front of her, while the people around them cheered.
"Georgina Suarez, will you be willing to be Mrs. Sandler? Whether you like it or yes?"
Oh, there might be missing from his question. Because even in his wedding proposal, there is 'no' or 'not', only yes.
"I will only give you 60 seconds to answer that, Ms. Suarez." Vaughn gave her an ultimatum.
-----
GINA
"Time is up. Now, I'm going to ask you again, Gina. Can I really get your sweet 'Yes'?"
She didn't really answer right away, and suddenly tears came to her eyes. "Vaughn, I...I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry.." she said as she started to cry.
Vaughn was now the one who did not speak and he avoided looking at her. As if he was gathering courage before he stared at her again. "I understand you Gina; I didn't really expect you to accept my proposal. I was just in a hurry, and I knew it from the start. So I prepared myself that this would happen. I just want to let them know that I love you so much Gina, even for the little time we spent together."
She just started crying. It's unfair for Vaughn. She thought that this opportunity was not really meant for her. It's hard to let go of Vaughn because of his kindness and he's not sure if Ace will come back. But she really needs to let him go because for her that is the right thing.
She took Vaughn's hands and held them. "Vaughn, I hope you find the person who truly deserves your love. Thank you very much, Vaughn. Goodbye." She let go of his grip and ran away.
She noticed that Vaughn was chasing her, but he didn't catch her up because she was already in a taxi.
-----
JANICE
"Alright sis, just express what you feel." She said to her sister while rubbing her back. Her sister is now drunk because she drinks too much. They are now at a resto bar with Payton to sympathize with their sister.
"Janice, I'm letting Vaughn go..." she continued to cry. Only just now she saw her sister like that.
"Sis, if only you had accepted Vaughn's proposal. You have nothing to ask for, he's kind, handsome, stable, and besides, he loves you so much."
"But you can't force your sister if Ace is still in her heart, baby." Payton said. "Maybe Ace is just too busy."
"Shut up, Payton, you're not helping. Don't get involved."
Suddenly her sister stood up and they just followed her in which direction she was going. She saw her go to the karaoke and she took the vacated microphone and selected a song.
"OMG sis! You will sing?" She asked in disbelief.
"Sure! Why not? Don't you have trust in your sister, Janice?" Gina said.
"Woooh! Go sis! Go!" Payton cheered on Gina.
Now Playing "You're Still My Man"
On the day that you left me
You said, you had no regrets
There's a bond between us
That hasn't been broken yet
And the feelings between us
Will never disappear
How can you be far away?
When your spirit is here
You're still my man, nothing can change it
We still belong together
You're still my man, nothing can change it
Our love will last forever
And the seasons of our love
Will always change I know
Maybe that's the reason
You felt you had to go
But soon you'll be missing me
Darling, I know you well
There's a magic we share together
And no one can break that spell
You're still my man, nothing can change it
We still belong together
You're still my man, nothing can change it
Our love will last forever
I'll wait for you
The thought that keeps me going each day
I believe you still love me
I love you more than words can say
You're still my man, nothing's gonna change it
Don't you know, you ought to know, we belong together
You're still my man and nothing can change it
Oh, baby, oh, darling, you're in my heart forever
'Cause you're my man
Without you
There'd be no love at all
You're still my man, nothing can change it
Don't you know, you ought to know, we belong together
Oh you're still my man, nothing can change it
Oh, baby, oh, darling, you're in my heart forever
You're still my man, nothing can change it
I'm yours, you know you're mine, you're in my heart forever
You're still my man, nothing can change it
Don't you know, you ought to know, we belong together
...
She noticed that almost everyone in the restaurant was looking at her sister. She really feels the moment of singing and she even got the attention of the people there.
After she sang, the crowd cheered and some even said "one more". But what they didn't expect was that her sister suddenly passed out because of her drunkenness.
----
One week later...
Location: Philippines @ 10:30 p.m.
ACE
"Hi Dad! The light is still on, so I decided to go straight here." He greeted as his Dad opened the door for him. "I hope it's not too late to stop by."
"Not at all, son. When Maryam hears you, I'm sure she will come out of the room."
He and his Dad were walking together towards the living room when he suddenly remembered something. "Sorry Dad, I interrupted your honeym--"
"You are. But that's all right, son. Our flight will be tomorrow for the real honeymoon." He said, making the father and son laugh.
"Well, hallelujah Dad! I can't think of better news to come home to. It took you long enough to decide to get married again. Only now that you're already a golden boy."
His Dad scratched his head, he just smiled at him. When his Dad smiles like that, he's like ten years younger than his age. "We really waited for you, son, because I wanted you to be my best man. But I really wanted to marry Maryam right away. Imagine after waiting so many years for her, and finally she said 'yes' to me. So if we wait for you to come back to the Philippines, she might change her mind."
"Don't believe what your father said, Ace." Maryam said who was now approaching them. "The truth is, I was the one who was worried that Johnny might change his mind...Welcome home Ace."
"Welcome to the family too, Mrs. Soler." He said after hugging Maryam.
"I can't believe I didn't figure out your connection to Johnny. Maybe because if you look at him first, you and your father don't look alike." Maryam commented. "But the looks alone can't deny that you are really father and son."
"Well, I feel complimented if I look alike with Dad, so that means I'm handsome because Dad is handsome...right, Dad?"
His Dad just smiled at him as usual, his smile is the secret that makes him look younger. "How is Miami, son?"
"As usual, it's still hot Dad, and I couldn't wait to get back to Fog City because I already miss the snow."
"I haven't congratulated you on your promotion, son. I'm so proud of you. You did a good job."
"Thank you, Dad.Thank you for your support."
"Ace, I just want to ask. Are you and Gina seeing each other?" Maryam asked him.
"I just got home." He said and lifted his bag.
"And you came here first?"
"My love, please, maybe he still has a jet lag--" his Dad interjected.
"Stay out of this, Johnny. You told me he was the biggest fool alive."
His Dad just offered him a sheepish grin in apology as Maryam turned back to him.
"Did you know that I hired Gina as my official designer?" Maryam informed him. "I have changed the name of the shop. From Maryam's intimate lingerie to Maryam and Gina's apparel. I haven't told her the name yet. But I hope she'll be pleased."
"That's great." He said. "Maybe what Gina needs is to find a sensible husband."
"That's right, Gina really needs a loving husband like you, son." His father replied. "Go, see her, son. Ask her if that's what she wants."
"He told me before, Dad. That she wants a stable home for her children. You know my job, Dad, If I want to advance in my field, I will probably be transferred several times."
It was the main reason why he had never let himself imagine a permanent life with her. He couldn't give her what she wanted, and what she deserved.
Maryam looked at him intently as she muttered. "You're an idiot."
He was speechless when Maryam called him that. But it's only right to call him that. The truth is, he'd done nothing but think about Gina for the past months, worried if she was all right, and wondered if she was pregnant.
He hopes that she is pregnant. He no longer needs to make a decision. He will marry her. Period.
His presence returned when Maryam spoke again. "Almost twenty-five years ago," Maryam said and she pulled him to sit on their sofa. "Your father defended me in a rape case. It was the lowest point of my life because I am indeed one of the rape victims. Back then, there weren't many party-list movements for those. I was a mess. But I swear even if that happened to me, I never attempted to sell my body. Until I met someone who was also a rape victim and she was the one who encouraged me to fight so that the perpetrator could be charged. Johnny saw my past bruises and my scars, even the invisible ones. He was the kindest, gentlest man I'd ever known. I didn't believe he could be real. I figure it out that's really just a tactic of men; kill them with kindness or something. However, Johnny and I won the case, and then he helped me find a respectable job. And when my life settled down, he came calling." She paused for a moment and then continued. "I put him off. I let him be my friend and occasionally my lover for all these years. But I wouldn't let him in into my heart. Until you and Gina got married. Day in and day out I saw her happiness, and it hit me, on how foolish I'd been to deny myself the same joy. It's my fault, too. If only I had given your father a hope earlier. But I can see it in him, as if he still hasn't moved on from his break-up with your Mommy."
"You don't have to do this, my love." His father said, and kissed Maryam's forehead.
"If I can atone in some way through your son, I'm going to." She said turning to his Dad. "Gina is trying so hard to put on a happy face for everyone, but all of us who love her see the truth. That she's just pretending to be happy even though the truth is, she's not really happy because she misses Ace."
"She misses me?"
"To prove it, go see her." Maryam suggested to him. "Talk to her about that and you will be clear. Either make her yours completely and forever---or set her free. You both deserve that." She patted him on his shoulder.
"A week of soul-searching had already led me to that conclusion. But thank you for being honest, Mom."
Maryam raised her eyebrows. "Try to call me mom again, then I'm going to hit you." And the three of them just laughed.
*****