CHAPTER 24
Her mother thanked Red after she greeted the man with a happy birthday. Red personally asked for her mother’s permission to bring her to their house for his birthday dinner.
She was simply wearing a white dress. She wore what she was used to wearing before. She knew she looked like she was going to church wearing that but she decided to wear that kind of dress. She didn’t want others to notice her baby bump as much as she had already started to notice it as well.
“Happy Birthday,” she greeted him and handed him a small gift before he could start the car.
“Thank you but you shouldn’t have bought me a gift,” he replied smiling.
She was a bit emotional because she knew this will be the last time that she would see Red.
Next week, she and her mother will leave to return to Olongapo.
She was nervous when Red finally stopped the car in front of their house. He guided her inside the house.
Suddenly the memory of her and Clayton in that house came back to her. She wanted to cry. This will also be the last time that she would see the man she loves.
She clung to Red’s arm as they walked. Her heartbeat seemed to stop immediately when she met Clayton’s eyes. He was sitting on the sofa and Faith was next to him. Their eyes locked for a few seconds.
“Happy Birthday, Red!” only then did their eyes part when they heard Faith’s voice.
The woman stood up and approached Red and kissed him on the cheek. She removed her arm from Red’s grip.
“Thank you, Faith,” Red said smiling.
She saw Clayton approach them as well and patted Red’s shoulder and then hugged him.
“Happy Birthday, bro!” his greeting to his brother.
“Thanks, bro!” Red also returned his brother’s hug.
“Okay, guys! Enough with the drama. Let’s eat. I brought your favorite food, Red,” Faith held the man immediately.
Red turned to her and just smiled at her to tell her not to worry because Faith had already led him to the dining room. She just nodded at him.
It was just her and Clayton awkwardly standing there.
“How are you?” He was the first to speak as he accompanied her walking.
“I’m… okay,” she replied sparingly.
No one ever speak again until they reached the dining room.
Faith was already sitting there while Red was standing next to a chair. He was waiting for her to sit there. She immediately sat down and then Red sat next to her. Clayton sat down next to Faith.
Faith and Red talked a lot while they eat. They told them stories on the day Faith flew to the U. S. from London. Faith had only been in the U. S. for a few months before Red arrived there.
Occasionally Clayton also joined the conversation. She felt that she was the only one who doesn’t belong there.
“Do you want this?” Red asked her as he handed over the salad as she didn’t say a word since they were in the dining room.
“It’s okay,” she replied shyly as Faith and Clayton were already looking at them as well.
“You should eat a lot of this for your b-” Red’s mouth would have dropped the bomb about her getting pregnant if she hadn’t squeezed his arm.
“Your brother is so sweet. Why aren’t you so sweet to me now, huh, Clay?” Faith noticed and she turned her gaze to Clayton who was silent.
She and Clayton looked at each other again. She saw his forehead begin to wrinkle again as he looked at them.
“Did you have a girlfriend when we broke up?” Faith asked doubtfully even if it was just a joke.
The man just laughed softly and resumed eating.
“By the way, I just want to know if you’ve set your wedding date again?” Red suddenly asked.
She didn’t want to hear the details about it because she might not be able to stop herself from crying in front of them.
Smiling, Faith turned to Clayton who was speechless.
“I don’t know about your brother. He’s not even courting me again. Maybe, he wants me to make the first move,” Faith said.
They were both surprised to hear it, Red and her.
The two haven’t gotten back together yet?
“How come, Clay? You’re so anxious to follow Faith to London right away,” Red asked teasingly.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Clayton just shook his head and laughed softly. He took the glass of wine and then stared at her while sipping it.
She looked down because he might see the twinkle in her eyes because of what she heard. She also rebuked her heart as if it were leaping for joy at what she had learned.
“Well, if that’s the case, I might be one step ahead of you,” Red said suddenly.
She looked up at the man. She was nervous about what his words meant.
“What do you mean?” Clayton’s tone was too low when he asked that.
Faith, on the other hand, looked at the two of them as if she had an idea of what the man was going to say.
Red looked at her smiling.
No, please… Red, No …
Her look on him pleaded with him to not pursue what he was planning to do but Red ignored that. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. He opened it and presented to her the ring inside it.
“Will you marry me, Nap?” Red asked smiling.
She stared at the ring inside the box and looked back at the man’s face. The surroundings were very quiet and the people there were waiting for her answer.
She was no longer aware of the tears dripping from her eyes.
“How could you, Red?” she asked angrily then she quickly stood up and left without saying another word.
“Sam!” she even heard Red’s call to her.