Chapter 20: Chapter 20

A month is not really a long time, before I knew it, Henry and the other soldiers are now free to go home. Cristel wants to fetch Alfredo, the soldier's parents agreed to it. While Sonia will go to get Henry. I am not really mad at that idea. It was okay, I guess...

"So, this the training camp, it was just a few meters away," I said while waiting outside the camp.

"Yes, but this different. The other one where they got their years of training is in the other province. It far away from here, no one in the town can visit them," she explained. I nodded.

One by one, the soldiers come out slowly. I saw Sonia on the other side holding a basket and I don't know what's in it. Maybe some food she made for Henry.

Cristel ran fast when she saw Alfredo together with Henry. And when our eyes met, he smiled so widely. He all thought that I am the one who's going to fetch him. I bit my lower lip to prevent myself from laughing when he saw Sonia beside him with a wide smile like his. Now, his face looks confused. He looked at me once again, I nodded at him, letting him know that it is alright if he will be with Sonia.

We rode the auto rented by Alfredo's family. This couple is extra, I'm sure something happened that night before the two soldiers leave.

"Are you two are in the relationship already?" I asked.

They both looked at each other before answering me. "Yes," they said in unison.

My jaw dropped but not literally. "Really? Since when? Cristel?" I looked at her with my eyes wide open.

"B-Before he left for the training." She bit her lower lip.

I gave a sour smile. "And you even said to me that Alfredo doesn't even look at you. And now? Oh, okay..." I breathe. "Congratulations for both of but I am not happy that you hide you me your relationship, Cristel. I thought you are my best friend." I raised my brow.

"Sorry, Aliyah. You are the only one who knows it. Even our parents didn't know it yet. I am about to say to you, but you asked, first. Forgive me," she said then hold my one hand.

I sighed. "Okay, tell your parents, immediately. They deserve to know."

When we got to the Arandia's House, oh, my surname, there's a little feast for the homecoming of Alfredo. This is my first time that I will see my great-grandparents, I wonder what they look like. I have never seen them before, they don't have many photos, they have one but it is already faded and can barely see their faces.

I saw new and old faces, and all of them are smiling towards Alfredo. Henry and their friends who are soldiers too were here also. I prevent myself from looking and smiling at the handsome guy over there because Sonia is watching him closely.

"Let's go to his family," Cristel said then pulled my hand.

Half-running, we went to Alfredo's parents, who are my great grandparents. This is really making me amaze. My grandpa Alfredo once said that I looked like her mother when the lady was young. I can clearly see the resemblance right now. Although the woman was a little old, she is really look exactly like me. So that when she saw me, her eyebrow raised towards me.

"Good morning," I greeted the couple.

"Oh, she's Aliyah. My best friend," Cristel introduced me.

They both looked at each other before greeting me. "Good morning, Aliyah, I am Belinda. Welcome to our simple. I was completely shocked when I first laid my eyes on you. You look exactly like me when I was your age. May I know who are your parents? Maybe, they are my close relatives," the old woman said.

My inner panicked for a while after her question. I scratched the side of my neck and smiled awkwardly. "Can I not answer your question? I don't want to talk about them."

"Oh, so sorry. It's okay." She smiled. "Just enjoy the food we prepared."

I nodded. "Thank you."

There are five round tables in the garden. I sat on the free chair. On my right is Cristel and on the left is Henry who is smiling at me right now based on my peripheral vision. I prevent myself from looking at him. We can't flirt with each other at times when Sonia is watching. I just talked to Cristel that I feel that she knows what I am doing. I am distracting myself.

"Ms. Aliyah, do you like some juice?" Henry asked and I cursed him in my head. What is he doing?

I shook my head. "No, thank you," I said without looking at him.

"Okay, how about some sweet cookies?" he asked again, and he even smirked.

I secretly pinched his one leg. He flinched but chuckled. He got Sonia's attention.

"Are you alright, Henry? Why are you laughing?" Her voice was so soft while saying those words. I feel like she intentionally did that to seduce Henry.

I pouted but deep inside I am laughing. She's not even cute, though.

When it is nearly sunset, all the visitors decided to go home. Henry decided to bring Sonia home but left me a note saying that I should meet him in our place. I hide the note in the pocket of my dress. I fixed my hair and put a little color on my lips.

"Make sure you are at home before 9, or else father will lock the door. You will slee outside," Cristel said after I said my goodbye to her.

I gave her a thumbs up and even winked at her. I let out a breath before I sit on the bench at our place. The sunset was half gone. I watched it as I wait for the handsome soldier.

I flinched when grabbed my shoulders and kissed me on my right cheek. I don't have to look to know who it is. It was Henry, of course.

"How are you, my lady?" he asked after he sat beside me.

"Fine, how about you? How's the training?" I looked at him.

He holds my hand and kisses the back of it. "I missed you."

I raised my brow. "That's what all you got? Just a kiss on my hand?" I smirked.

"I already kissed you on the cheek." He smiled playfully as if he already knew what I am implying.

"Is that all? That's the kissing you said to me on the phone?" I bit my lips seductively. I want to kiss him too, seriously.

He comes near me and holds my both cheeks. I closed my eyes, I thought he is going to kiss me on the lips but instead, his lips landed on my forehead. I opened my eyes and glared at him.

"What are you doing, mister?" I am serious this time.

He shrugged his shoulder then let go of me. He rests his back then smiled at me. "Kissing you with respect. We don't have any relationship, Aliyah. I want to respect you until you let me be your man."

I pouted my lips and just look at the setting sun. I completely forgot that the people in this time are so conservative. But Henry stole a kiss from me so many times. So, what is his problem right now?

"Aliyah," he called my name after the sunset.

I don't answer.

"Aliyah, come on." He made me faced him. I lowered my eyes.

He grabbed something from his pocket, I gasped when he showed me a ring. A gold ring with little diamonds on its surface. Shocked, I looked at him, he is just smiling.

"If you accept this ring, Aliyah, I will kiss you on the lips every day," he said with his serious face.

"Henry, what is this for?" I asked him. Is he proposing? Better not.

"The sign of my love, this not yet a proposal. Don't get shocked. I love you; you are the woman I wanted to be with the rest of my life. But marriage is too early for us, we can be a sweet couple if you want. But accept this and I will be yours," he said then handed me the ring.

I don't have to think twice. This man made me fall for him every time.

I nodded then I extend my left hand to him. He slipped the ring; it perfectly fits at my finger. I love it and him.

"I can kiss you now." He gently pressed his lips towards mine.

We kissed. The kiss that consumed all the reason why I can't be with him.