You’re Still My Man – English

GINA

It’s been three months since Ace left the Philippines. But she still can’t move on. But she is happy with the way she lives now. Her dream of being able to design has come true through her friend Maryam, so she is very grateful to her for trusting in her abilities.

Three months had passed and no word from Ace. None. He hadn’t called or texted, or emailed, or anything. It really broke her heart. He really affirmed that he will not keep in touch with her for six months.

She still cried most of the nights for the horrible experience she’d gone through, especially when the person she loved so much left. For the man she’d never be able to call “Mine”. But she could only hope that Ace was fine too.

Her deep thoughts were only stirred when her cellphone rang.

Vaughn Sandler is calling…

Vaughn is her one month boyfriend. A Filipino-British Engineer in Russia.

Two months ago he and Vaughn met when her car stopped on the road. Vaughn passed by so he helped her when her car broke down. As the luxury car stopped, she thought that the person riding it was handsome as the car, but she fell even more in love when he got off. He was a tall man in his late twenties, his face is gentle and his aura is very cheerful. He is handsome, not as handsome as Ace, but she can say that the man is devastatingly attractive. Even though his polo shirt was white, he didn’t bother to check the engine of her car. She suddenly thought at that time of Ace’s story about the princess and the frog. So she realized that Vaughn was what the story says, a chivalrous stranger who helped the princess. But of course she doesn’t think too much about that.

That day ended when they actually exchanged Vaughn’s cellphone number. As days passed by, Vaughn always called her and asked her for a date. She refused his invitation several times, but the man still did not stop so in the end she agreed.

Vaughn is a happy person especially that he always smiles, unlike Ace. He is not just handsome, but he is muscular as well, he was really the Prince Charming type. So in the past few days it seems that she likes the man too.

FLASHBACK

“Gina, I couldn’t promise you anything but I promise to love you forever. I’m not the man in your heart right now, but I’m willing to wait when you open your heart for me.”

“I also realized, Vaughn, that since we’ve known each other for more than a month, I’ve really seen your determination. But Vaughn, it’s unfair because if I answer you, I still won’t forget him.” Because she told Vaughn everything about her and Ace. Vaughn also told her about his past love life.

“I’ll help you forget about him as much as I can, Gina. Just say Yes.”

“Whoa! That’s a song, say yes! Say yes! coz I need you know…” She said jokingly.

“You already said ‘Yes’.”

“I’m just singing.”

“You’re now my girlfriend, you already answered me.”

“Can’t I object?”

“Like I said, you already said yes, Gina.”

END OF FLASHBACK

[Gina: Hi there! how are you? are you home?]

[Vaughn: Yes, but I can’t visit your house today because I’m still attending a meeting. I missed you Gina, that’s why I texted you. By the way, I had something delivered to your home, from Russia with love.]

[Gina: You don’t have to send me any gifts as long as you love me, that’s all that matters.]

[Vaughn: It’s nothing, Gina, as long as it’s for you.]

In fairness, Vaughn is really sweet to her, he and Ace are very different.

[Gina: My Vaughn is very sweet. I’ve become spoiled now.]

[Vaughn: Uhm… Gina, can you come with me tomorrow?]

[Gina: Where are we going?]

[Vaughn: It’s a secret for now.]

[Gina: You know I don’t like secrets.]

[Vaughn: Okay, tomorrow I will tell you. Good night, I love you.]

After she talked to Vaughn on the cell phone, suddenly someone knocked on the door.

When she opened it, she saw a delivery guy carrying a big teddy bear. “Delivery for Ms. Suarez from Mr. Sandler.”

After she signed the delivery slip, the delivery guy left immediately. But she remained stunned as she stared at the teddy bear she was holding.

—–

The next day she woke up early to prepare for her meeting with Vaughn. She didn’t know why she was nervous. That’s just how she feels at that time. After she got dressed, Vaughn arrived at her house.

The duration of their trip to the unknown destination was about twenty minutes, and when they arrived at the said place, she saw that it was one of the expensive restaurants that she found out to be owned by Vaughn’s family. She does not know what Vaughn’s plan is and why she was brought there. It’s just that she suddenly got nervous. But all of a sudden, her nervousness was relieved when one child came up to her and gave her three blue roses that were her favorite.

Vaughn opened the door at the end of the restaurant and she saw the very wide swimming pool. She was carried on her own feet towards the pool. When she saw something written on the floating balloons, she didn’t immediately understand it at first, but eventually she also got the meaning of what was written on the balloons. What is written there is what she has been dreaming about her whole life. To find the man she loves who can tell her that and that opportunity has come.

When she turned around, the important people in her life came. Janice with Payton and their son. And her mom and Ruby who is her colleague at the restaurant. Vaughn’s sister and his best friend also came. She thought what might be Vaughn’s trick and he even brought witnesses?

Alas! Maybe a priest will come next. I don’t know, she said to herself.

Suddenly she felt dizzy and felt like she was going to vomit. She has been feeling it for more than two months. But she still carries it. Maybe she is just tensed by the speed of events.

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 marriage proposal, there is ‘no’ or ‘not’, only yes.

“Okay, I will only give you 60 seconds to answer that, Ms. Suarez.” Vaughn gave her an ultimatum.

—–

Location: Miami, Florida

ACE

He kissed her reluctantly as she touched his chest. His hands traveled from her chest to her neck. The woman immediately wrapped her arms around his neck. He picked her up and carried her to the bed.

They are now lying on the bed while the woman is touching his chest. “Babe, you don’t seem like yourself right now, do you?”

She was saying something but he didn’t seem to hear it because his mind was floating somewhere else. The woman he is with now is the famous Filipino-Korean supermodel Ariana Lin, whom he dated before. “What did you say again?” but Ariana just kissed him instead. He responded by kissing her and tearing his lips from hers, traveling down to her neck just below her ears. He bit her earlobe and nibbled it gently causing her to moan out loud. He continued on kissing her neck down to her cleavage.

“Hmm…” she moaned when his left hand was caressing her breast, while his other hand explored her body, and he’s getting something out of his mind.

He could hear Ariana moaning repeatedly as she called his name. Since he returned to the U. S., Ariana has been his constant bed partner. No strings attached, the woman is also willing to have such a set-up. Because he and Ariana met again at a fashion show in Miami and it happened that his assignment was there. Since then, he and Ariana have been seeing each other so that he could also divert his attention to the female model. That was his way to finally forgot about Gina.

He started his way down to her navel when suddenly the face of the woman he tried to forget entered. He can still remember how beautiful Gina is, how innocent she is, and how temptingly open. He can still recall the sweet taste of her lips when they kiss passionately and how she smiles towards him seductively. Although, he can still remember the hurt in her eyes when he bid goodbye to her.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Until he suddenly let go of Ariana, who was looking up to him puzzled and frustrated. It’s like he came back to reality, and he realized that the girl he kissed was not Gina but Ariana. He just shook his head, and he slowly moved away from the woman and got off the bed.

“What is happening to you, Ace?” She said annoyed, he just sighed.

His cell phone rang suddenly. That was good because he can turn his attention to something else.

His Dad calling…

He tapped his phone to answer the button.

[“Hey Dad! Congratulations.]

[“Really? well congrats again, Dad, I’m happy for both of you.”]

[“I’m not sure if I can get home. I’ll just inform you.”]

[“All right. Bye, Dad.]

“Why did your Dad call you?” Ariana immediately asked after getting off his cell phone.

“I have to go, Ariana.” He kissed her check and without looking back he left her hotel room. He can still hear Ariana calling him, but he just goes straight as if he didn’t hear anything.

*****