Chapter 16 IT'S OUR DESTINY TO MEET AGAIN

Mary Ann silently stared at John for a couple of minutes. She is trying to remember what happened on that day. " I know… Marla introduces you to me because we are close friends." She finally said, "Now, I remembered! You are the guy with Arnel on the night of the party. Isn't it?"

"Yes, that's right," John said and his face brightened. " It's just funny. We met five years ago and then after a couple of years we met again but we didn't recognize each other. Then, when we were together, we bumped into the same people who introduced us to each other back then. Do you think it's fate that made our path cross again?" John said, smiling at her.

"Maybe, we are destined to meet again. No, I guessed, we are destined for each other." Then, he looked at Mary Ann as he stopped the car because it's already red light. He got the chance to stare at her face and see what her reaction was from what he said.

As expected, Mary Ann is shocked. She looked at the man who was also staring at her.

She is shocked by what the man in front of her just said. She could see that the man is also staring at her.

Suddenly, her face turned red. She is embarrassed and speechless.

She ran out of words to say so she just bowed her head down.

She saw John step on the accelerator so the car started moving again.

"Thank God," She said in her mind.

For sure, the man already had his eyes on the road so she lifted her head and looked at the road.

John glanced at her, "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm okay." She said without looking at him.

John knew that what he said earlier made the atmosphere for him and Mary Ann a bit awkward. The woman is speechless because she is ashamed. Probably, she doesn't know how to answer what he said earlier.

"Mary Ann," John called her.

But, she just continued looking at the road.

"I am sorry for saying those words earlier. I don't mean anything and please forgive me. I don't want us to feel awkward towards each other. If you haven't noticed yet, all I wanted is for us to get to know each other." John said in a pleading voice. He looked at Mary Ann. The woman still doesn't have any reaction. She is just staring at the road.

Mary Ann has an idea of John's intention, to get closer to her. "I am so sorry if I act like this." She said and looked at John directly in his eyes," I hope you understand that I am not ready to open up myself or even my heart to anyone at this point of my life. This is the reason when you asked me if I have a boyfriend, you didn't receive any response." John is looking at her now as well since it's red light again.

Her eyes met his eyes. Each one looks sincere in every word that comes out of their mouth.

John smiled at her and he did not look discouraged by what he heard from Mary Ann.

"Mary Ann, I don't rush you by any means. I am willing to wait until the time comes that you are ready to open up yourself." He said while looking directly at the woman, " It doesn't matter how long it will take, I will patiently wait and stay by your side until you said it's good to go like the traffic light. I will wait until the day that you see me as a man who wants to get to know you better." John said.

Mary Ann smiled bitterly at what John said. Her heart wanted to believe and succumb to each sweet word that came from John's mouth but her mind reminded her how she needed to guard her heart.

"Please, don't say you promise this and that. I have heard that before and I think promises are made to be broken, anyway." Mary Ann replied to John. The man could see the bitterness in the woman's face.

Of course, of all people, John is aware and has an idea of what the woman is referring to and who that person who made a promise but broke it.

Mary Ann gave herself to him without hesitation even though she didn't know him. The woman has a pure heart for helping him and saving him but what did he do back then?

He just left her behind. He left without looking for her or attempting to speak to her.

He didn't bother to come back after settling his family issues. He totally forgot the magical night that happened between the two of them.

John couldn't help himself but get mad at himself.

He coughed. He knows where the woman is coming from." I am so sorry Mary Ann. This time, I will never leave you no matter what. I promise that to our little child as well." He said to himself. He turned his gaze to the road and stepped on the accelerator.

Somehow, he felt guilty for what happened to them five years ago. Suddenly, he felt heavy inside his chest like something is tightening its grip over his heart.

He could hardly breathe. He felt like caught in a large net, unable to escape. At the same time, he felt like his heart was crushed with thousands of needles. The pain was so sharp that it made him run out of breath.

John knows that the pain that he feels right now is nothing compared to what Mary Ann felt. He couldn't blame the woman if she had changed.

He changed her. When he left, he broke the woman's heart. Then, when Baby Annie died, it shattered her whole being.

He doesn't know how to mend her broken heart. There's no easy way to do that other than getting her trust. To make Mary Ann believe that this time, he will be careful with her heart.

"I promise you, Baby Annie, I will make your mommy and your future siblings happy. You will see us from heaven above and we will be complete and happy. I don't know how but I will always talk to you and please help me get your mommy's favor back again."

Based on how John read Mary Ann's reaction. It might be difficult for him to enter her life but there's no way of giving up. He will do whatever it takes to please the woman he loves. Something that he could have done earlier. He could have done it five years ago.

Just after a couple of minutes, they finally reached the Romano building.

The car stopped in front of the main door, John got down first and then he opened the car door for Mary Ann. The woman stepped down on the car.

"Thank you for the lunch, John." She said smiling at him as if she didn't say anything back inside the car.

"It's my pleasure, Mary Ann," John responded to her. "Please, don't forget the after the banquet tomorrow night, I will be the one to pick you up and to drop you home to be sure you will be safe, okay?" The man reminded her about their agreement.

She shrugged her shoulders and smiled again at the man," Okay, I will then count on what you said and won't bother my friend." Then, they said goodbye to each other and the man left.

Mary Ann took her walk going inside the main entrance of the building.

John is just there, staying for a couple of minutes until he can no longer see the image of the woman.

He just followed her with his eyes. He smiled and closed the door of his car.

In his heart, he knows that there is a chance for the two of them to be together.

They just need a little time so Mary Ann can adjust herself and John is willing to wait for her.

He could feel that what Mary Ann showed her is her way of protecting herself from getting hurt again. John understands that. No one would want to experience pain the same way they had it before.

Mary Ann learned her lesson but John is willing to teach him another one and that is to be willing to open up herself and her heart to someone. He won't rush her. He is willing to wait no matter how long it takes as she has promised to their late daughter.

Even if waiting for her means waiting for forever to end then he will do that. He won't force her because she will only get hurt the more they will force something to happen.

He got back in his car and drove away from the building. He took his phone to call his friend.