Chapter 8 -Proposal

Few weeks have passed and I've never set foot in Queen's. The girls didn't ask me and I know they're just waiting for me to tell them what happened.

I tried to keep myself busy by going out with Xander and my friends to forget about Kyle. Xander is so nice and has taken care of me ever since that day. He also didn't go out with another woman but me. He didn't ask further about Kyle.

Months passed and somehow I feel like Xander is slowly having a soft spot in my heart. I still think about Kyle though and the times that we were together. It was just short but I don't know why I fell in love with him. Maybe they're right. You easily  fall when you're young. Maybe because we were together almost everyday, and he was the first person who easily understood me.

Xander is somehow different from him. He was serious and a gentleman. He will always agree with me. He would never argue with me. Kyle was funny and honest. If he thinks I'm wrong, he will tell me I made a mistake. He always has a say in everything I do that sometimes leads to an argument.

Well, I really am thankful that Xander helped me. He was like a prince who saved a damsel in distress. He's tall, good looking, rich and a gentleman. I also enjoyed his company and my family likes him. If he'll be my boyfriend, my life would be easy.

Today, Xander asked me out again. We'll be meeting at Emperor's Lounge Hotel & Restaurant. He said he'll send someone to pick me up. I was surprised to see a limousine outside my house and now I'm on my way to meet Xander riding in it.

The limo stopped and I could see Xander just outside the restaurant's entrance. I walked towards him and he was just standing there looking at me, smiling.

"I was imagining you were walking down the aisle and I was waiting for you at the altar so I didn't move here." He said when I got closer.

I blushed. My heart suddenly skipped a beat. For a moment, I felt like time stopped. And we are the only people around. Xander put his arms around my waist and guided me inside the restaurant.

I was surprised that there's no one inside but a few staff and a violinist who were playing sweet music.

"Did you rent the whole place?" I asked.

"Yes." He said while kissing my hand.

I felt a sudden spark run through my body because of his kiss. My heart feels at peace and happy. Am I really starting to like him?

Our dinner was smooth and I was overwhelmed with how Xander treats me. We chat and laugh with each other. And I was already at ease in telling him almost everything.

"Emily, I'm falling in love with you." Xander suddenly blurted.

I was shocked and wasn't able to speak for a moment. I don't know what to say to him. I don't really know what I feel about him. I like him, yes. But I'm not sure yet if this is the same as what I felt with Kyle.

"Xander, I -"

"Emily, I know you're in love with someone else. I don't care. I'm willing to take that risk. I'll do everything for you. To make you happy. I'll make you fall in love with me. We've been dating for a while so I want us to be more than what we are now." He said.

Then he suddenly kneeled down and took out a red box with a ring in it. It was a 10-carat marquise-cut diamond ring surrounded with 24 smaller diamonds.

"Emily Blair Nitori, will you marry me?" He asked seriously.

Xander has been very nice to me ever since we started dating. He knows I'm in love with Kyle but he's still willing to take a risk and love me without asking to love him back. Instead, he will do everything to make me fall for him. One might think he's an idiot and stupid, he's everything every woman could ask for, but he fell in love with a woman who love someone else. And worst of all, he asked her to marry him. But for me, it was sweet, selfless and pure.

Without knowing, I was already sobbing. He frowned.

"Hey. I'm sorry. If you don't like it, I won't force you." He said in a gentle voice while he wiped my tears.

I smiled. "No. I am happy. Thank you Xander. For not forcing me. But my answer is yes!" I finally said.

Xander's eyes widened and gave out a big smile. I reached out my hand so he could put the ring on my finger. Then he suddenly wrapped his arms around me. Kissing me on my forehead and on my cheeks. I waited for him to kiss me on the lips but it didn't happen. I wasn't disappointed though. Again, he's being a gentleman and he respects me so much as well as my family.

"Emily, you don't know how you made me happy!"

Then he pulled me inside the elevator and stopped at the top floor. When the elevator door opened, I was surprised that a lot of people were inside. They were clapping and smiling at us.

I looked at Xander confused. "Surprise! This is our engagement party." He said.

My heart was overwhelmed with different emotions. I saw my whole family smiling back at me. My mom, grandma and aunts were crying. I saw my brother winked at me, as if he's teasing me. I giggled.

"Emily!" It was Peggy's voice. They were in the front. All my friends were there greeting us with applause and smiles.

Alora and Luke were also smiling at me. But then beside Luke, a man who I never expected to be there. He wasn't smiling nor clapping. He was just standing there looking directly at me. It was a glare to be exact. His face was dark but I couldn't read his whole expression. The man who I first fell in love with. It was Kyle.