Chapter 24 HOW CAN I COMPENSATE

John held her hand, "Take it easy. As I have told you the first time, I will wait for you. I can wait even if it takes forever." John smiled at her," But, I hope not. I want to grow old with you and spend the rest of my days with you but I am not rushing you nor I am in a hurry. I will wait until the time comes that you accept me and you are ready to trust me." He said it to her without blinking.

Each word goes through Mary Ann's heart. She could feel how faithful John was in every word that came out of his mouth.

"Thank you for understanding." She said to him in a very low voice.

"We are already here," Mary Ann didn't notice that they were already in the restaurant's place because she was too engrossed with their conversation.

John unbuckled himself and immediately went down and walked to the side of Mary Ann to open the door for her.

Just in a few minutes, they are sitting inside the restaurant.

John and Mary Ann ordered five different dishes while they were waiting for their orders to be served, there's a group of four people that sat down at the table next to them.

Two women looked at John and whispered to each other. It seems that they know John.

"Hey," the woman with blonde hair said and looking at John,"Look, who's here?" The woman is wearing an above the knee skirt paired with a spaghetti blouse. She has flawless skin and in her arms there's a butterfly tattoo.

She's beautiful with a perfect body figure.

The other woman looked at John intently and then acted as if she was surprised to see him,"Oh," She said and she covered her mouth as if in surprise," Isn't that your ex-boyfriend who captured your heart for a bet?" The woman is also beautiful just like the other one. They look like rich girls. She is wearing skinny ripped jeans with a loose black t-shirt.

The two men next to them were quietly looking at them.

John held her hand and put some dishes on her plates. He just ignored the group standing in front of them.

"Hi, Mr. Playboy. Is this woman your next victim?" The woman with a butterfly tattoo said in a sarcastic tone.

John didn't even bother to look at her as if he hadn't heard anything.

"Just ignore them and eat your food." John whispered to Mary Ann. Well, he admitted before to Mary Ann that he is a jerk before they met. A playboy and his women change every now and then. He used to make a bet to win the heart of a woman and after he gets what he wants, he will leave them with a broken heart.

"Poor woman, she looks innocent to be such a victim," the woman intentionally made her voice loud to catch their attention and she didn't fail. In fact, she caught everyone's attention at the restaurant, especially those customers just eating next to their table.

John lifted up his head and stared at the woman sharply.

Since the distance between Mary Ann and the woman was not that far Mary Ann turned to the woman.

"Excuse me, Miss." Mary Ann suddenly turned to the woman in John's surprise. "Do you have a problem with my boyfriend?"

The woman is stunned. Maybe, she didn't expect that Mary Ann would be answering her back.

"Now, what?" Mary Ann continued to say calmly but sounds like she won't let what the woman said go, "How could you say that I am a new victim? Do you know my boyfriend that well?" She asked in a calm tone but as if challenging the woman.

The lady was shocked and when she recovered her face turned red. Her blood goes up to her head. She couldn't imagine that the woman in front of her with an angelic face could throw such questions to her. Sounds like what she saids are just mere accusations.

"How dare you ask me that?" She said to Mary Ann. The woman's eyes are raging in anger because of all the things that she said.

They are getting the other customers' attention already.

"Haven't you moved on yet from my boyfriend?" Mary Ann said in a sharp voice," I just want to remind you, you are just his past now. Meaning, your relationship came to an end, so better put a period and now a question mark. Just a piece of advice."

John couldn't say a word. His eyes went round as he heard Mary Ann go in word war with the woman.

"You should be minding your own business. You shouldn't care whether we will last long or I will end up like you. Also, thank you for giving me a heads up as his first victim. Thank you for letting me know that he is a playboy and now I can be careful whether to fall for his words." She said it all boldly. She doesn't care if people are around them. Mary Ann knows that the people are also annoyed with the woman who first made the scene.

"And before I end this and you speak again if you still have the guts to. There's one thing that I can assure you. He is courting me and this isn't just a bet. He courted me because he loves me. Honestly, he is waiting for me until I answer his love. He is willing to wait forever." She said head up high and proud.

The people around applauded. They applauded while some whistled.

The woman was shocked. She was embarrassed and walked away with her friends.

After they left, Mary Ann was sweating like grains. She couldn't imagine if she was really the one who said those words. It was not so of her. She is a sweet girl who has a lot of patience for everyone. No matter how bad they show towards her, she tries to understand them but now, she doesn't know why she lost her temper.

It's her first time to do such a thing in public. She doesn't usually fight back but she doesn't know where she got all the courage to speak up.

John hugged Mary Ann. He admired the woman. He couldn't believe how brave she was to defend him from the other woman next to them.

She's one of a kind.

"I love you, babe. I really admire you." He handed a glass of water to Mary Ann and he wiped her sweat. "Thank you for defending me." John said and kissed her in the forehead. The man couldn't believe that an angelic face could also be seen in rage of anger.

"Silly, I did it for myself not for you." She smiled. "She should know where to place herself." Mary Ann said. The woman doesn't have any right to say everything she said earlier. If John will make a fool out of her then it's her choice and it's something that she shouldn't be sorry about.

People who fall in love should expect to get hurt because if they won't get hurt then it's not love at all. And, she knows in her heart that John couldn't afford her to get hurt.

"Well, whatever it is. It doesn't change the fact that I am so proud of you and I know to myself that my heart didn't go wrong choosing you as my partner in life. The woman whom I wanted to bear my child and spend my life with."

"Woo… What an unlucky day is it! Earlier, you went into the office and I almost lost my job because of you trying to hit my boss and making a scene. Now, I must have lost my mind and temper to the point I have stooped down to the level of those women. What else would I lose because of you?" Mary Ann said in exasperation.

"There's one important thing in your life that you have been lost already, babe because of me. I am trying my best to compensate for it. I am sorry. All your miseries were all because of me. All started when you helped me that night and lost your femininity to me." John said to himself. He is staring at Mary Ann but he doesn't have the courage to voice it out. He will be telling her the truth until the right time comes. He is afraid that she might avoid her if she learned the truth.

Mary Ann saw how sincere John was in what he said. The man look very sorry." Don't worry I'm not upset. Let gones bygones." Then, he smiled at him. "Just promise not to do that again with my boss. He may be your best friend but he is my boss."

"Thank you babe. I don't know how I can make up for all the mistakes I did to you."