CONFESSION

Ivan and Kaye arrived to his house after an hour and half of driving. Kaye pushed the door to get out but Ivan held her hand. Kaye turned around and looked at him a questioning gaze.

Ivan scratched the tip of his nose awkwardly before finally answering her. "Uhh...I'm supposed to surprise you. I'll blindfold you, is that fine?"

Kaye chuckled upon hearing his response. "Okay. I will cooperate with this surprise. Make sure you don't let go of me. If I trip and fall, I'll tell auntie Yve about it and have her shave you bald." Kaye threatened him before sitting properly so that Ivan could work on her blindfold.

Ivan used his handkerchief and tied it around Kaye's head, making sure that her eyes were covered.

"Is it too tight? Does your eyes hurt?" Ivan asked after tying it into a square knot.

Kaye wiggled her brows and found that it was just enough. "I'm good to go."

"Wait for a while." Ivan sent a message in the group chat to confirm the preparation. Alex responded that everything's great and that they had left their love nest already. Only Eva was left to check on any missing piece or details.

Ivan got out of the car and walked to Kaye's side. He pulled open the car door and held Kaye's hand. "Be careful." He put his hand over her head to avoid her bumping on the car.

After closing the car, he guided her to walk slowly in the direction of the botanical garden.

"Why do I feel that we are not getting inside the house?" Kaye had been to his house a few times and she knew how many steps it would take to reach the front porch.

She could sense that they had walked around the house instead. "I haven't shown this place to you but I am sure you will also like it." Ivan responded with a little uneasiness. He was truly nervous.

They reached the garden and found Eva placing the food that just came out from the microwave as well as the red wine.

"Good luck boss!" she cheered at him before signaling him that she's leaving. Ivan nodded his head with a faint smile.

He took a long breath and exhaled abruptly, letting his nerves to relax. "Why are you being nervous? It's just a birthday surprise. You don't have to worry. Anything you do will make me happy." Kaye comforted him but she didn't know it's more than a birthday celebration.

Ivan didn't take off her blind fold. His trembling hands held hers which made Kaye even more amused.

"Why are you trembling? What are you nervous about?" Kaye asked and she too, started feeling a little anxious, specially that she couldn't see anything.

"Should I call you Therese or Kaye at this point? I don't know where to start." Ivan's trembling voice was carried by the wind, spreading into the night.

"I'd prefer Kaye. It's a name that shows I'm loved by the people around me." Kaye spoke while trying to feel Ivan's emotions through his voice.

Ivan let out a heavy sigh once again. He closed his eyes tightly to calm himself. When he opened it, anyone would be able to see the naked love and determination he felt for the woman in front of him.

"Kaye, do you remember the first time we met? It was when you came to our house because Tomo was hungry." Ivan started while still holding her hands.

Kaye smiled at once when she heard him spoke about their first meeting. "I won't forget that."

"Right. My mom even scolded you that time. I was really thinking, 'This little girl is so silly. She cared about the cat but she didn't care about herself.' That's what I thought." Ivan continued while recalling about their past.

"There was a time when you told me to take care of Tomo if ever you'd be gone. I was so scared back then. I thought to myself that 'I'd take care of you while you take care of Tomo.' I was really afraid that I wouldn't be able to see you the next day." Ivan added which made Kaye frowned even she was blindfolded.

"That statement sounds a little familiar." Kaye responded while trying to remember something. "Ah right!" she exclaimed getting Ivan's attention. "You also mentioned earlier that 'I would spend my money on you while you spend your money for the children.' It has similar thought."

Ivan couldn't help but feel a little helpless with her. With all being said, hadn't she realized his intention?

Ivan continued to talk to her, laying all his feelings naked in front of her. "There was a time when you were so exhausted and you fainted inside your room. I carried you back to our house and took care of you. My mother asked me a question - Do you like her?"

Kaye's breathing stopped at that point. Her heart wouldn't calm down at all with what she had heard from him.

Ivan didn't wait for her response and continued. "I like her and I will protect her at all cost. That's what I told my mom. However, they took me away. I was so upset and angry to myself that I couldn't stay with you. Do you understand now Kaye? I like you. No. This isn't normal like. I love you ever since we were young. I love you so much I couldn't let someone take you away from me."

Ivan was choked on his own emotions. He was feeling all kinds of emotions from confessing his love to her.

Kaye didn't speak for a while because she was overwhelmed with so much emotions herself. She didn't know what to say.

"Can...can...I take off this blindfold now?" Kaye's soft voice pulled Ivan from his swarming emotions. He reached out to her and removed the handkerchief.

Kaye rubbed her eyes to see things clearly. Ivan stood in front of her, so close to her that she can even feel his hot breaths.

Her nose twitched and her vision became blurry. Tears started streaming down her face. Ivan was startled at her sudden outburst. He wiped her tears gently but it wasn't stopping at all.

Feeling helpless, he pulled her into his warm embrace. He didn't say anything either. Kaye just sobbed silently in his arms.

"I am not dreaming, right?" Kaye whispered on his chest while holding his shirt tightly. "I'm scared that when I wake up tomorrow, this was nothing but a dream."

"We are not dreaming Kaye. If this is a dream, I wouldn't want to wake up at all." Ivan responded as he rubbed her back to calm her. He placed gentle kisses on her head, too. He just couldn't get enough of her scent.

"Ivan." Kaye called softly.

"I'm here." Ivan answered her.

"Don't leave me okay? I was so scared back then. I thought you hate me and that's why you left." Kaye hugged him even tighter this time.

Ivan pushed her a little putting a space between them. "There's one way for that to happen. You've heard my confession and we are not young anymore." Ivan knelt on the ground with one knee and took out a red box from his coat pocket.

Kaye cried even more while watching his actions. She was still confused and shock from what's happening but she was really happy about it as well.

Ivan opened the box and what was inside was a gold plated diamond ring. "Kaye, I'd grant your wish to never leave you. Will you marry me?"

Kaye's tears had been streaming down her face non-stop. She still couldn't believe it. She suddenly raised her arm and bite her wrist leaving a red teeth marks.

"What are you doing?" Ivan was petrified to see what she had done. He wiped her wrist with the handkerchief and took some ice from the bucket where the red wine was placed.

Ivan rubbed the ice cube on her wrist making Kaye shiver from cold. "I was just seeing for myself if I was dreaming. I guess I am not. It actually hurts."

"Of course it would hurt, you dummy!" Ivan scolded her while helping her sit on one of the chairs.

That's when Kaye saw the whole place. There were different kinds of plants in the garden. The surrounding was even decorated with balloons and a little faint but beautiful lights. In front of her was a candle-lit dinner with red wine.

"Uhh." she paused for a while before she rummaged on the things in her bag. "Close your eyes for a while." Kaye instructed him which Ivan followed immediately.

She pulled out a black box and opened it. She took out the necklace with a gold bar which had her name engraved on. There was a short message on it, too.

"You can open your eyes now." Ivan did what he was told and saw the necklace in front of him. "I have loved you all these years." Kaye spoke which startled him at first. Then a smile slowly spread on his face.

"Loving me is the best choice you made!" Kaye sneered at him making Ivan laughed out loud.

"Indeed. Loving you was the right thing. Not giving up on you was the best decision I've made."

Kaye reached out her hand and Ivan placed the ring on her ring finger. "I love you sweetheart."

"I love you, too." Kaye answered back.

Ivan hugged her before lifting her in the air and turned her around. "Ahh stop it! Stop it! I'm getting dizzy!"

"I'm really happy Kaye. So happy." Ivan stated before kissing the tip of her nose. "I can't describe the intensity of this happiness."