A Special Vacation (Part 3)

Ever since they were back in the villa after island hopping for almost the whole day, Matthew has been anxious. Though he had already told himself that it was time…and it would be great…everything will be okay, it was impossible not to feel anxious.

Who wouldn't be?

Probably every man who was about to propose to their girlfriend would be anxious even if they have a ninety-nine percent chance of getting a 'yes'.

So, it was just right for Matthew to feel anxious, especially when just a few weeks ago, he was hiding a secret from Olivia that could be the reason for the tragic end of their beautiful relationship.

Who would want to be engaged…more so, married to a criminal? Even though Matthew never considered himself a criminal even if what he was doing was against the law. Especially when Olivia has a moral and values that she always follows.

Even until now, Olivia believed, which was understandable because it was written in every book of the law, that vigilantism is unlawful.

Matthew was just fortunate enough that Olivia loved him so much that she looked past that and did not leave him. Well, guess he underestimated Olivia's love for him.

It turns out, Olivia's love for him was close to unconditional. She doesn't care that he was doing unlawful actions in the name of giving justice to oppressed and abused people…especially women and children, as long as he was safe. In fact, she was ready to support him. She got his back.

Matthew could not ask for more.

Except for her to be his wife.

Was it too much to ask after Olivia had put aside her morals and values for him?

The only way to find out is for him to ask.

That is why his anxiousness is way over the roof and must have probably passed over the clouds. Though he managed to hide it the entire day, he was not able to hide it as it got closer to the time of the dinner.

In fact, Matthew was sure that he ruined the romantic dinner that he specially prepared for that night.

When Olivia asked if he was okay, he knew that she noticed even after he lied. He cannot really lie to Olivia. And when Olivia suggested that they sleep after dinner, he knew that he ruined the night.

He cannot even look at her to see the forlorn look on her face.

Matthew has always been a cool guy so he could not believe that his anxiousness is ruining their night. He could have just played it cool and acted confident even if he really isn't. But no. He just has to ruin the night even before he could utter the first word of the question.

But when he saw Olivia drinking all the wine in her glass with the intention of ending the day just like that, he knew he had to start moving his ass or he would never get the answer he was wishing for.

So, before she could stand, Matthew, plucked out all the courage he could get from nature and stood up from his chair, and instantly kneeled beside her.

"Babe…" He called in a shaky voice when he noticed that Olivia was looking in the spot that he vacated with a confused frown on her face.

The instant Olivia turned to look at him, Matthew felt all the nervousness come flooding back. "Matthew what…" Olivia's mouth was agape. Her eyes were wide as a saucer as she looked down at her nervous boyfriend.

Matthew stared wide-eyed at Olivia as if for a moment, he forgot why he was kneeling in front of her. He gulped the nervousness that formed in his throat threatening to come out as a form of semi-digested lamb and looked down. His hands frantically searched his pockets and nonexisting pockets until they landed on the left pocket of his pants. Then with shaking hands, he pulled out the small navy blue velvet box in front of Olivia.

Olivia gasped and just like every woman who was proposed to, her hands flew to her mouth. She wasn't able to stop the first fat teardrop from the corner of her eyes as her heart started to beat so loud as if it was just beating right at her ear.

When Matthew realized that Olivia was not running away or was not throwing him an angry glare, he cleared his throat and proceeded to the speech that he had practiced for months…only, he had forgotten every word in it.

So, he'll just have to trust that his heart would know what to say. "I…I may not have realized sooner that I love you but when I did, I not only realized that I love but I also realized that I want to spend the rest of my life with you," And just like that, the words freely slip out of his tongue, "We were still young back then but I knew that you were the one for me. You are the one I want to start my morning with and end my day with. You are the one I want to share my pain and my happiness with. You are the one I want to share my family with and make our own family with. You are the one I want to share my life with and to be with when He takes my life back," Matthew paused and nervously smiled at Olivia. Then he opened the small navy blue velvet box to reveal a brilliant diamond that floated above the delicate-looking rose gold setting.

Taking a deep breath, Matthew opened his mouth to finally bring out the question that he has been meaning to ask for months now, "Olivia Bennet…will you make me the happiest man in the world? Marry me," When he said the last two words, it sounded as if he was half pleading and half ordering Olivia.

Olivia was struck. To say that she was surprised and speechless was an understatement of the year. The first fat teardrop that fell earlier was followed by more but she was a thousand percent sure that it was happy tears.

Olivia was really surprised because for months she was hoping for Matthew to propose but he never did. Instead, he suggested that she move in with him. And then things happened and alongside it, things changed.

She doesn't care if he proposes or not. Married or not, she knew that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him…to take care of him…to support and help him with all his endeavors.

But now that he was kneeling in front of her after an almost ruined romantic dinner, with a ring in his hands, begging her to marry him, she could only find herself nodding her head with a smile on her tear-streaked face.

"Yes," Olivia managed to utter the word, and only then she saw the relief on Matthew's face.

"Thank God!" Matthew felt as if the whole world that fell on him finally found its gravity and freed him. He removed the ring from the velvet box. He reached out for Olivia's hands which had turned shaky and slowly slipped the ring on her ring finger.

As soon as the ring was on her finger, Olivia breathed a huge sigh, "Oh my God! Matthew!" Then she wrapped her arms around Matthew's neck as her body felt shaking.

Matthew stood up took Olivia with him and hugged her tightly. He dipped his head on her shoulder and said, "I have been planning to do this for months and now that I did, I felt like a huge rock was lifted from my chest," He chuckled but the nervousness was still there.

Olivia looked up at his face. "You do?" She was surprised to hear that Matthew has been planning to propose to her for months while all that time, and she was starting to think that he doesn't have any plans at all.

Matthew let go of her and then he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yes. I bought the ring with my mom months ago and it has been burning holes in my pocket,"

Olivia never thought that she would see a day when her ever-so-confident boyfriend…now fiance would look awkward and insecure. She chuckled and then realized what he said. Her eyes grew wide and said, "Mom, knew?"

"Yes. And she won't stop asking me if I already proposed," Matthew answered.

Olivia felt her heart melt. She made a mental note to call Belle before the night ended. Not all women have the opportunity to have an eager soon-to-be mother-in-law. She might not be lucky enough to have her mother to stay with her until she gets married but it was all compensated for when Belle came into her life.

"Then why did it take you months?" Olivia asked.

"Because I wanted to tell you about my secrets first. I wanted to marry you without hiding anything from you. And I want you to accept me…wholeheartedly even with all my flaws and…crimes,"

"Babe…"

"But when I was about to tell you…your vigilante came up and then everything else. That is why it took this long," Matthew sighed heavily. "And I am glad that you accept,"

Olivia placed her hands on his neck and pursed her lips. "You know I would,"

Matthew shook his head. "I was not confident. With everything I did and was still doing, I am not confident that that is the kind of man that you would want to spend the rest of your life with. I know that you are a simple woman and thought that you would prefer to have a simple life. Not a complicated life,"

Olivia frowned when she realized that Matthew has that kind of insecurity. So, she thought of a way to make his insecurities vanish. "Do you know why I refuse to move in with you?" She asked.

"Why?" Matthew frowned.

Olivia slowly wrapped her hands around Matthew's neck and said, "Because I want…I hoped for you to propose first. I wanted to make sure that you want to spend the rest of my life with me. I don't know but…I love you so much Matthew and I want to spend the rest of my life with you but I want reassurance that you want the same. That you just don't want for us to stay under one roof,"

Matthew smirked. "Now you know," If he had known that Olivia was waiting for him to propose, he would have told her his secrets sooner. They would have been married by now.

"Yes," Olivia nodded her head, and then she closed the small space between them and hugged him.

"But why did you suddenly decide to move in with me?" Matthew asked while their body was swaying to the melody that nature was creating, especially for them and for the moment.

Olivia lowered her hand to his back and rested her cheeks on his chest. Gently and slowly, she rubbed his back up and down. "Because…after what you told me, I felt like I wanted…I needed to be with you. I need to stay close to you. Married or not. Because I was worried about you. I am worried about you because I love you. I am afraid to lose you,"

Matthew smiled. Olivia was ready to spend the rest of her life with him, married or not. But he wouldn't have it. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her…married. But he cannot have her always worry about him. "I promise to always think about my safety first to keep you from worrying,"

Olivia pursed her lips. "You know I will still worry," She said and she was certain of that. Even if Matthew just skipped his meal or came home late at night or was just driving…she would still worry. Even if he was not doing unlawful actions.

Matthew chuckled. "You sounded like Mom," Then he added. "Speaking of Mom. I cannot wait to tell her and see her reaction,"

Although Olivia planned to call Belle before the end of the day, she will omit to tell her about the engagement. Because she wanted to hear and see her reaction personally. She looked up at Matthew with a mesmerizing twinkle in her eyes that could rival that of the stars in the sky and said, "Let's invite them to dinner at home when we come back,"

Matthew smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "Okay, future Mrs. Olivia Brown,"

The sound of her name attached to Matthew's surname felt just so perfect and Olivia cannot wait for the day when it will finally become official.