C5 The Way He Proposed Me Part 2

"To say she is very beautiful is an exaggeration. She's beautiful, but many women out there are prettier than her," Rafael answered. I frowned, not liking to hear the answer.

"But there are several things that make it special," continued Rafael. I was suddenly stunned.

"What's that? Can you mention it?" asked the host, a similar request dancing in my head.

"She has an inner beauty that makes me crazy. Has a very kind and gentle heart. Always understands when I can't always be around her because I'm too busy. Never complain, let alone get angry. She is also forgiving; I made countless mistakes, but she can always forgive me." Rafael paused his words. Meanwhile, I held my breath. I couldn't believe he was saying all this in public.

"She is also independent, always trying to make her wishes come true. No matter how difficult the conditions are, without bothering other people. Be firm and patient. The great thing is always to think positively every time she faces a problem. After seven years of dating, I know how hard the problems she has faced, but she never gives up. Always look for a solution to every problem without asking others for help."

"Wow, she's a great woman, isn't she?" said the host. I heard Rafael mumble in agreement.

"That's not the only privilege. She is the person who best understands my nature, character and personality. The point is, she always knows that I have a problem without bothering to tell her."

"Wow, your girlfriend is great. Could it be that she has psychic abilities?"

I chuckled at the radio host's joke. Why could he think that about me?

"Hahaha... it could be. But it seems like she knows me so well inside and out that she can tell my mood by looking at my facial expressions and attitude. I think so," Rafael answered, which made me blush again.

"Then you are very lucky to have a girlfriend like her?"

"Yeah, very lucky. Can I talk to her about something here?"

I widened my eyes when I heard Rafael's request. What does he want to convey to me? I tried to focus my hearing, not wanting to miss a single word.

"Hello, Andrea Virginia, I know you must be sitting in front of the radio smiling to yourself right now, right?" Rafael said. I was shocked. How did he know? I nodded subconsciously.

"I want to say sorry because I often left you, especially since I started working. It's rare to be able to spend time alone with you. My habit of often teasing you too, must make you annoyed, right? But you are always patient with me like this. Thank you, darling."

My smile grew wider without him knowing, although it was inversely proportional to my eyes starting to fill with tears.

"I know there is no perfect person in this world, including me and you. But in my eyes, no woman can match you. It's like my heart is in a room, only you can enter because only you hold the key. The point is, there will be no other woman who can replace your position in my heart."

This time, I shed tears, touched by his words.

"Thank you, Andrea, you have always been there for me. Always supporting, understanding, and accepting what I am when I have a lot of shortcomings. For me, you are perfect. Only your name is what I call in prayer, asking God until death comes, you are always beside me."

The sound of my sobs started to play in the room. I couldn't even hold back the tears anymore.

"It doesn't feel like we've been dating for seven years. Can I start thinking about having a more serious relationship with you? Are you ready yet?" Rafael asked, which, unfortunately, I can't answer now. He is far away. I would answer this question without hesitation if he were here with me.

"Yeah, yeah, I know you must be annoyed right now, I asked you like this even though I wasn't there. I'm not near you."

For the umpteenth time, Rafael was able to guess my thoughts correctly. Shouldn't the radio host be more suspicious of Rafael's psychic abilities than me?

"I want to hear your answer. So, can you leave the room now? Go to the backyard of the house, there the candles will lead you to me."

I blinked, not understanding the slightest meaning of what he said.

"I'm waiting for your answer. Call this radio station to give me the answer."

I spontaneously got up from sitting, intending to walk towards the door.

"I'll give you 15 minutes, and your 15 minutes start from now," he continued, successfully making me gasp in surprise for the umpteenth time.

"Damn Rafael!!" I shouted as I quickly ran out of the room.

The backyard is my main goal now. I didn't know how to express my surprise when I opened the door. The trees that grow in the house's backyard have been decorated in such a way. Many colorful balloons are tied there. The lights that decorated the trees twinkled like the stars in the sky. The yard, which usually looks dark and gloomy at night, now looks sparkling like an ornamental garden.

What amazed me even more was that lit candles were placed along the road. I remember Rafael said these candles would lead me to him. Then, without thinking twice, I followed the candles.

The candle stopped right in a pot of red roses. When I examined the pot, I was shocked to find an envelope. I quickly took it and looked at its contents. A photo I found in an envelope. I remember this photo of Rafael and me going to a mall, and then we took it together in a photo box. Rafael suddenly kissed my cheek just as the camera was photographing us. This is the photo where I was expressing surprise because Rafael was pressing his lips to my cheek.

I chuckled. It turns out Rafael still has it even though eight years have passed since we took this photo. I wanted to return the photo in the envelope but realized there was writing on the back.

'WHEN YOU SEE MY FACE IN THIS PHOTO, THAT'S THE TIME YOU'RE SEEING THE EXPRESSION OF A MAN WHO IS IN LOVE.'

I covered my mouth. Yes, I saw it. Seeing Rafael's face turn red when he kissed my cheek. OK, now I know when he started loving me because all this time, he never answered every time I asked. When we took this photo, we were still friends. I remember we had only been close for about two months then—close in the sense of being real friends, not just classmates.

I held the photo tightly as I continued following the candles that guided me. When the candle stopped on a star fruit tree, I again found an envelope tied to one of the tree branches. I quickly took the envelope and looked at its contents.

Just like before, I found a photo again. Photo of Rafael and I eating together at a sky dining restaurant. I was holding a bouquet of red roses with Rafael, who was smiling broadly beside me. Our faces were pressed together, looking happy, like a loved couple. There was Rafael's writing on the back like before.

'THIS TIME YOU WILL AGAIN SEE THE EXPRESSION OF A MAN'S FACE WHO IS RELIEF BECAUSE HIS STATEMENT OF LOVE IS ACCEPTED.'

I chuckled. Yes, it's true that when we took this photo, it was the day we officially started dating.

There are still a few candles I need to catch up on. Those were the last candles because I didn't see the light again after that. I started walking again, following the candles and stopped right at the last candle. I found an envelope lying on the grass. I hurriedly opened the envelope. I couldn't wait to see what was inside. This time, I found no photo in the envelope, only a piece of paper with Rafael's writing hand.

'DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE EXPRESSION OF A MAN'S HAPPY FACE? IF YOU WANT, JUST ANSWER THIS QUESTION.'

After I read the writing, suddenly, a dazzling light appeared. The light came from the fence wall of the house's backyard, which now stands firmly before me. I am curious to know when small lights were installed there. The lights were off at first, and now they were burning so brightly that I managed to find something extraordinary stuck to the fence wall.

There is a poster-sized photo stuck there. Several people look familiar in the photo, standing on the Great Wall of China, holding several letters. I know they are Rafael's colleagues. They took this photo when they visited China. My eyes couldn't help but cry when I read the sentences from those letters.

'WILL YOU MARRY ME?'

In that second, I ran out of the backyard of the house. Before passing through the door, my eyes accidentally caught two people peeking and smiling broadly. They are housekeepers and gardeners. Now I know where Rafael got the help to create all this craziness.

I rushed to the room. I grabbed my phone, and you guessed what I did after that, right? As you can see now, I have the status of the legal wife of Rafael Brandon.

Flashback Off

"Mom! Mom! Mommy!!"

I gasped in utter surprise. The shrill voice of Rory screaming brought my consciousness, which had been wandering through the past, finally back to the present. I chuckled when I found Rory sulking with his eyebrows furrowed sharply, reminding me of Rafael. Rory is indeed a duplicate of my husband. They are very similar.

"Why, dear?" I asked while gently rubbing his eyebrows so that the frown disappeared.

"Mommy was daydreaming, wasn't you?" Rory asked.

"No. Mommy doesn't daydream."

"Lie! The proof is that I called earlier, but Mommy didn't answer. Yes, right, sir?"

I turned to the taxi driver Rory was talking to, smiling shyly, when I saw the driver smiling.

"It's arrived, ma'am," said the driver.

I looked to the side, and sure enough, the five-story building, the office where Rafael worked, now stood towering in front of me.

"Yes, sir. Thank you," I said.

I paid the fare, then hurried out of the taxi. I held out my hand to help Rory down. My gaze is now focused on Rafael's office. The starting place for the investigation to prove whether my romantic husband is cheating behind my back?