Chap 22

"I WAS really surprised when I saw you at the wedding. I never thought of it. It never came into my mind. I just thought of what will happen next after being with you." Ivana admitted while playing his hair. He was lying on the carpet with her lap as his pillow, while she was sitting leaning on the bed.

"Then why did you tried to avoid me or even ran away from me?"

"Because I was confused. I was confused of what I really felt for you. I also felt humiliates with myself because of how we started to be close, like how I talk to you and all. I never thought that the fascination I felt became more intense until I wanted to have you. Just so you know, you are the only person I could talk like that with. I was also analyzing my feelings, if the attraction was just purely lust or what."

"And?"

"And, it's a secret for now."

"That's unfair."

"No it's not. You didn't tell me how you feel yet."

He just chuckled but started to caress her cheek while looking up at her. "Oh, how I missed you, Iva. You have no idea how they said I've change after the wedding, after meeting you. Do you know that I can see you in my dreams? That I see you everywhere I go?"

"Is that why you thought I was a dream when you opened the door a while ago?"

He nodded. "I thought it was just dream because I never heard the door open and you were just in front of my bedroom."

"It was not enough. Ate Cassy and Minji were the ones who have that because I didn't give them my code."

"So, what if it was not me who came here and it was someone else, but you saw me in her, you will still grab her and kissed her like that?"

"That will never happen because I never saw you in anyone else's face. Plus, I know your voice because you're the only one, Iva."

"Really now?"

He sat beside him and held his hand. "Iva, I don't know how to say this but, since the day I met you at the massage room, you already caught my attention too. That was the reason why I told my employees that if you ever came back, they cal, me and I'll be the one to do it. But you do the same and requested for me, that you even join our membership just or you to do that. Regulars in the Spa, who came every week for therapy, massage and all, were the one who join the membership. Anyway, I asked them to tell me when you're back and ask for the massage again because I don't want anyone to touch you. It's supposed to be just me."

"Why didn't you tell me that you're the owner, instead?"

"Lo intenté. I tried, but I always lost the timing. I tried to tell you when we were at the floating gazebo, but I always stop because you open another topic. Then, after that, I helped Dustin and Javier in some of their appointments because they have to rush and check it before the wedding, until I didn't have time to talk to you and saw you at the wedding. I swear I never intended to hide it from you."

"It was not really a big deal, Rafael. I told you that I was just surprised about it and needed time to calm myself. If I will be honest, I wanted to go to you when I saw you at my restaurant that time. It's just that, I don't have any confidence yet."

"So, are we good now?" He wanted to be sure now. "Are we... officially together?"

"Are we still not? I already surrendered 'my' everything to you." She said laughing so he hugged her.

"Thank you, Iva. Thank you for coming back."

"Thank you for welcoming me back." Then she lightly pushed her and stood up. "Speaking of welcoming. Your family is waiting for us at the restaurant in the resort. We wanted to celebrate your birthday with you. Come on." She held her hand while smiling at him. "Let's also celebrate our first day together. This day will also be our anniversary, but that is if you still love me by that time, because you know you might have---."

He stood up instantly and kissed her to make her shut up. They just started but she's already thinking of breaking up. She giggled after he let her go. He knew she was trying to convince him, but, the moment she stayed for him a while ago, he knew his thought about that day will change.

"Let's go and see them, Rafael. They might think that we're already doing something here that's why it took me so long to just convince you."

"They were already thinking about that, the moment they send you here."

"What?"

"Kidding." He laughs and touched his forefinger to her nose. "If ate Cassy is her and gave you her keycard then she also knew that I can't resist your charm."

"How does she know?"

He shrugged. "She knew me too well." They started walking out of his room.

"Really? Good for her if she knew that you can't resist my charm because me, I have no idea. I don't even know what you truly feel."

"This is what they don't know yet, or not sure about it yet." He said between his kisses on her head. "Que... te amo, Ivana Gregorio."

She stopped walking down the staircase and turn to face him. "Qué dijiste? Pardon?"

He turned to face her and because he's already few steps down, their eyes were on the same level. He cupped her cheek and looked directly in her eyes. "I said, te - amo - mahal - kita - I - love - you." He said with every kiss on her lips. "I won't resist anymore, Iva. I don't want to be too late again, to say what I truly feel. I don't want you to run away again and avoid me. Because honestly, I don't know how to chase you."

"It's not my birthday, but why do I feel like I have the best gift today?"

"That's exactly how I felt right now. Making this day our first day together, making me felt loved and important and making me forget my past; that also made me realize that, my simple attraction for you, turns to be love and wanted to cherish you. How about you, sweetheart?"

"I love hearing that from you." She smile and pinch his nose. "I told you a while ago that I just needed to analyze my feelings and after that, I am already sure that I'm no longer attracted to you..."

"What?" His smile disappears immediately.

"...because I already love you, Rafael. Te amo mucho, sweetheart. I love you too, my amante."

"Amante? Lover?"

"Just kiss me and I'll tell you about it later." And he did. He did kiss her fully. Not caring about the world, trying to feel the woman in front of her that also loves her.

"You are the best birthday gift I ever have in my life." He said with his forehead still on hers.

"I think it's because you never accepted gifts before."

"Exactly." He smiled and hugged her. "That's why you're the best gift I ever have."

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