In the Philippines.Sheila tried to send Hugh a message or call him with the Globe SIM card he put into roaming so they could call each other easily but it only rang once. It became out of reach afterward. This bothered her. She stared at her phone while trying to call him several times. "Why? What happened?"
Sheila began regretting not getting his home or email address and to solely depend on that number. But she didn"t suspect that he was cutting their communications. She was even worried if something happened to his phone.
She tried contacting Clarence for help, but he recalled they were on their honeymoon outside the country and would be back a month later.
She thought of asking Jenna but she remembered Jenna telling her that she left with Ronald somewhere but Sheila couldn"t recall where and only received a recorded reply from the mobile network saying "number out of coverage area."
Then a day after, sadness started to overcame his promise in her mind. He didn"t send any message at all. Did he deliberately forget her after going back to France? Her only consolation was nothing as serious as beyond kissing happened to them.
Slowly, as the days past, she began to face the fact that he might not come back as promised.
"Of course, not all love stories are written under the heavens to have a happy ever after,"" she somewhat consoled herself. Perhaps, happy endings and such thing as forever were not meant for her at all, she believed.
However, those sincere and loving words he left her at the airport reminded her to hope again. But until when she could wait? A month, a year, or two or maybe she had to stop hoping?
A month had pa.s.sed …
In France, Hugh wished to hear her voice desperately. He couldn"t sleep at night thinking of her. Their pictures stored in his photo gallery were his first source to fill his loneliness. The second was his memories when they kissed and in each other"s embrace. Somehow, they were not enough at all. He really wanted to hear her voice, at least.
A month and a half later ...
He tried calling Clarence again but still, no replies. Thankfully, after trying more than once, he got through Jenna and got Sheila"s number and home address.
He also learned that Sheila went back to Cebu City to manage her family"s restaurant. Hugh could not control himself from jumping and endlessly thanking the lady cousin.
His excitement overflowed. This was what he had been waiting for more than a month. After hearing the teasings and encouragements from Jenna, he cut their talk for the sole purpose of calling Sheila right after but hampered by an unexpected visitor, his younger brother, Riley.
In fact, Riley came with the commission given by their parents, of which Hugh was ignorant.
Riley seated himself in his brother"s chair while Hugh leaned at the window pane, holding his phone.
"Bro, I heard from Mom you lose your SIM card and lost contact with Sheila. Is that true?" Riley said.
"Yes, it"s true but I newly got Sheila"s number and I was about to call her until you came. So make yourself scarce, please?" Hugh said urgently.
"I will, but listen to me first." Riley paused, "Big Bro, are the calls and messages enough for you? I don"t think so. Just marry her." Riley stood to face his brother eye to eye, placed his hands in his pockets, and sincerely told him. "Bro, I love you and I want the best for you. Believe me, you"ll only feel worse listening to her voice or reading her sweet messages. There"s nothing else better than being with her always."
Hugh could not withstand listening more when he could be talking to her now on the phone. "Don"t lecture me. Go out." Hugh pushed Riley toward the door. Riley was forced to walk backward.
Before Riley stepped out from the office, he raised a finger outside the window and yelled at his older brother, "Get the h.e.l.l outta here and propose to her and get married." Hugh got stunned with Riley"s loud voice, most of all with his words. This was the first for Riley to shout at his own big brother.
The younger brother stood there for seconds more and added, "That"s my advice for the most wonderful brother of mine." Then turned and walked out, leaving Hugh in deep thoughts.
Riley left and solemnly said, "I did my part, Mom, Dad. It is all up to him now."
Hugh made a turn to sit on his chair, to call Sheila, but Riley"s words prevented him from dialing her number. His grip tightened on his phone. Every word Riley said hit him hard, for real.
Silence. Contemplating.
He could go on with a long distance relations.h.i.+p but until when it could stand? He did not know. He sighed and silently agreed. "Yes, Riley was right. I have to go and propose, no matter what."
In conclusion, after Riley"s "advice", Hugh intentionally designed his "Surprise Proposal" to Sheila while crossing his fingers that she would accept.
On the other hand, back in the Philippines, Sheila tried to forget him. She went out with friends and find solitude in cooking in their family restaurant. She did not try to contact Jenna again, fearing she might hear the truth that he had given up on her for whatsoever reasons he had. To remain oblivious of the agonizing truth would be better. It wouldn"t be that much pain to forget.
Unbeknownst to her, Hugh was on his way to propose.
Hugh did not waver with his resolve. He gave up some of his patients and politely send them to the other surgeons he knew. Then bought a plane ticket back to the Philippines and prepared two beautiful bouquets. One was to be specially sent to the Philippines before his arrival. The second was in his possession.
By this time, he was able to contact Clarence and informed the younger cousin of his plans since he needed his a.s.sistance.
This time, Hugh flew to the Philippines with a pretty engagement ring hidden in his bag.