Chapter 23 PLEASE TRY TO UNDERSTAND ME

John's face looks like the weight of the world is in his shoulder.

"Yes, I know. I am still not your boyfriend but I want to be a part of your life. Not just today, tomorrow but forever. I want to offer my life to you. To dedicate every second of my life taking care of you. Please give me a chance, let's work it out. Give me a chance to prove that I am worthy to be your life partner." He said, still in tears." I know I looked like a fool now to you but Mary Ann, please. I hope you can give me one last chance." John begs for Mary Ann's forgiveness.

Mary Ann lifted her head since John is taller than her. She could see his eyes sparkling because of tears.

She looked at him directly in his eyes and their eyes met. When suddenly, they heard a strange sound.

Groowwwwwl....

Mary Ann's eyes widened. She couldn't speak until she couldn't hold her laughter and they both laughed because of what happened.

Her stomach made a sound.

She pouted her lips. She is still pissed off but how can she say that if she felt embarrassed because of the sound that came from her stomach.

"You see? It's your fault. We are about to have our lunch and it was delayed because of your foolishness and now, I am hungry and my boss is out already."

"I am so sorry, baby. Let's go. Let's have lunch together." John wiped the tears that were falling down from his eyes. This time, these were tears of joy because finally, Mary Ann smiled at him.

"Alright, let's go. I cannot decline your invitation but this doesn't mean we are done, okay? You need to treat me to lunch because of your silliness, my boss is gone and I am hungry."

John smiled at Mary Ann and then hugged her, "Yes, I will. I will treat you wherever you want to eat." He said and kissed her forehead, " Thank you, babe. I promise to make up for everything, especially those times when you feel that you are alone."

Mary Ann frowned. She got a bit confused. What is he trying to say?

Maybe he is so excited and happy that they are somewhat okay. She thought.

"Okay, please let me go. Like what I have said, this doesn't mean that we are good. You should pull your socks up." She said still with sharp eyes. She doesn't want John to think that he could easily get away with what he has done. "Let's go and we better go ahead now because I am already starving to death." She added as she tried to push John away from her body. The man hugged her so tightly that she could hardly breathe.

"John, I cannot breathe." She said when the man didn't want to let her go.

"Oh, I am sorry babe. Alright, let's go." They walked side by side going outside Adrian's office. John put his arms at Mary Ann's shoulder.

"What do you want to eat? "

"Can we go in Asian restaurant?"

"Sure, tell me what's your favourite dish?"

"No, I don't have any favourite. I am not choosy when it comes to food as long as it is not spicy. How about you?"

"Well, we are the same. I am not a picky eater too but I like spicy food. Just those mild one."

"Okay," Mary Ann chuckled,"Define mild spicy."

He shook his head.

"Oh, come on. That is still spicy, right?" Mary Ann said,"By the way, how's your sister?" She suddenly remembered the reason why he needed to be away for a couple of months. He needed to look for his sister who ran away.

John, finally, let out a loud laugh." Hmm… My sister? She's doing good." he said and then, he suddenly realised something, "She's pregnant. That's the reason why it took me time to go back. I needed to stay to monitor her condition."

"Why? What happened to her? Are there complications?" She asked one after the other. "I am sorry if I have asked too much." She said when she realized all her questions.

"No it's okay, you don't have to say sorry in the future, you will know everything about myself, and my family. I shouldn't hide anything from you." He glimpsed her as he started the car, to drive away from the Romano Building parking lot.

Mary Ann admired John for being open to her, his willingness to share his family affair with her. This means John was trusting her. "Thank you for trusting me,"

"I love you, Mary Ann. That's the main reason. I have entrusted my heart to you." He said and gazed at her. Mary Ann could feel the sincerity in his words. John loves his family and he could feel that he will be a good family man.

"My sister, Diane, lost some part of her memory. The only thing that she could remember was just up to the day she ran away and flew in UAE. She cannot remember what happened to her in Italy and why she was actually there when I found her."

He takes a deep breath before he continued,

"The day I rescued her, she was trying to be kidnapped by hooligans until today no one knows who those people are. They were able to escape when the incident happened."

Mary Ann was quietly listening to John. She knows that the man is hurt by what his sister suffered. He could see how from joy earlier his face showed a bit of sadness.

"I don't want you to see me like this but, I feel really sorry for my sister. I don't know who she was with when she was in Italy. She got pregnant but she doesn't know what happened to her and she cannot remember who the father is. That's why I wanted to be just by her side if possible so she could feel that she isn't alone in her battle."

They already reached the Asian Restaurant. While he was waiting for the space to park the car, he turned his head to Mary Ann, he held her left hand.

"Babe, I want to ask a favor from you. When my sister is about to give birth to her child, I want to go there and be with her. I want to take care of her. I hope you understand why I wanted to be by her side." He looked into her eyes and waited for an answer.

Mary Ann felt every word that John said. The man patiently waited for her to answer his questions,"You don't have to worry about me, John. I understand the situation of your sister because once in my life I was alone. I experience myself being alone during the time that I am giving birth to my child. I hoped and said, ``If only, I have the father of my child beside me that time," Suddenly, the familiar pain hit her chest again. She couldn't even utter the last words she said. She wished and hoped for that man.

She felt her eyes watering. She bowed her head to hide the tears in her eyes and the pain from the past.

John knows what Mary Ann means and who she is referring to. She was indeed alone when she gave birth to baby Annie. The thought made his chest hurt. "I am sorry, babe. If only… If only I had known it earlier, maybe our baby is still with us but they are right, you will never know what will happen because only God knows the plans He has for us." He said in his mind.

"Are you okay?" He asked her, pretending not to know anything about the past.

"Yes, I'm fine. I am sorry, I don't mean to break down there. I just suddenly remembered my little one." She wiped the corner of her eyes and some tears flowed.

"Are you crying?"

"Don't mind me, these are just a few drops." She still managed to look and smiled at John.

"I am here to listen. If you like someone to listen to you then I am always here for you?" He gazed at Mary Ann as he finally stopped the engine of the car when he got a space to park his car.

Mary Ann looked at him. She looked at him intently as if measuring his sincerity with the words that he said.

The woman let out a deep sigh.

"John, thank you for opening up to me. Seriously, I am flattered or honored whatever you call it. I am happy in the simplest way I could express what I have right now. I just want to be honest with you. I think it would take time before I can open up to you and I hope you understand that. Thank you for the trust that you have given me, especially about your family. I know you wanted me to be fair to you but please try to understand."