Chapter Six: The Persuasion

Many weeks have passed since her dinner date and the "accidental meeting" Michele Montserrat's parents.

After what happened that night, she decided to talk to Michele, and told him not to contact and see her anymore. It would be the last time that they will see each other because she doesn't want to have anything to do with him and his "aristocratic family."

But on a positive note, Mrs. Katherine Montserrat is such a sweet soul, and she welcomed her warmly, and she's been really an angel, however, Michele's father, Mr. Michael Montserrat is the total opposite of his wife. His remarks made her really feel like shit.

It's better to forget about her encounter with Michele Montserrat and his family, and just to continue living with her life doing her part time jobs, taking care of the kids at the orphanage and saving money...

Clarisse is currently putting the newly-delivered cola cans at the refrigerator when one of her co-workers called for her.

"Clarisse, someone's looking for you!"

"Alright, I'm coming---!" she wasn't able to finish her sentence when she saw who was standing at the convenience doors entrance door.

It was none other than Michele Montserrat.

She lets out a big sigh, but she decided to face him.

"Hi, is there something I can help you with?" she activated her customer service mode in full blast.

Michele looks helpless while looking at Clarisse.

"Please hear me out, Clarisse. First I want to sincerely and genuinely apologize to you for what happened few weeks ago. Honest to goodness, I didn't know that my parents were there too!" Michele aplogized, as he tries to explain his own side of the story.

"Why are you apologizing to me? There's no need to apologize. We just had dinner, had fun at the beach and that was it. You didn't do anything wrong." responded Clarisse.

"But I want to apaologize to you because my father wasn't nice to you. I really felt and saw that he was rude to you, and I'm really sorry for that." related Michele, and he looks really apologetic.

Clarisses heart went to Michele because he looks genuinely apologetic and he just looks obviously guilty about something that he didn't do.

"Look, just relax, okay? You didn't do anything wrong, so there's nothing to be sorry about. You know, this is not the proper place to talk. Let's go to the nearby park and talk there, okay?" suggested Clarisse, as all of the customers inside the convenience store are looking and eavesdropping at them.

Michele and Clarisse walk towards the nearby park. It's a good thing that the place is almost deserted, because it's a weekday and many people are working or they are at school, so there's almost no people.

Clarisse faces Michele again, as she tries to make him feel relax.

"Michele, you were very gracious, you were such a gentleman, and I had a great time with you. But once is enough. We can go back to our normal lives now and meeting you once is enough for me." she stated, as she tries her best to be kind and gentle.

"But I plan to meet you as many times as possible. I want to get to know you more, I want to get closer to you, and I want to pursue you." Michele insisted.

"But why would you do that?" Clarisse asks, as she is getting more and more confused.

"Can't you see? Because I like you! Oh, let me rephrase that---I fell inlove with you at first sight, Clarisse. Eventhough I was so sick and I feel like dying, but it didnt stop me from falling inlove with you at first sight. You were my angel, the one who saved my life, and I don't want you to stay away from my life!"

Clarisse was too stunned to move, react or say anything after she heard Michele's love confession.

Michele, on the other hand, decided to take the chance to talk again because Clarisse was totally silent.

"That's why I'm asking you to give me a chance to prove myself to you, to show you that I really love you. I want to be worthy of you. So please, let me see you everyday." he said, in a passionate manner.

Clarisse was somehow touched by Michele's words. It is evident on his face that he is telling the truth, and she can really feel her sincerity and honesty.

As of the moment, she can't still say if she feels the same way towards Michele, but she can definitely admit to herself that she is attracted to him. But getting into a derious relationship with Michele is too early for her. But she wants to get to know more about Michele, and she'll see her feelings towards him.

Clarisse took a deep breath first, and she decided to speak again.

"Okay then. Let's try to spend more time together and let's see what will happen. But Im not promising you anything, okay? Well just take everything slow." she finally made her decision.

Michele's whole face brightened and his smile grew wider as if the angels started singing after he heard Clarisse. The woman that he fell inlove with is finally giving him a chance to court her. It means that he got a chance to make her fall inlove with him!

"You just don't have any idea how you made me happy today, Clarisse. I promise I will do my very best to make you fall inlove with me but yes, we will just take everything nice and slow. We won't rush into anything." he said it all in one breath, and he is clearly excited and happy.

"Yes, there's no rush." Clarisse nodded in agreement.

"This might be too much to ask but can I give you hug? Im just too happy right now----" Michele stops at mid-sentence when Clarisse smilingly interrupted him.

"Well, a hug wouldn't hurt, so you can go ahead." Clarisse gave Michelle permission.

Michele smiled tenderly, then afterwards, he gently pulled Clarisse towards him and gave him a soft nd gentle hug.