Chapter Five~

Quietly, Rona sat on her bed, and started reading the new book she had just bought on her way back home. She felt so lonely, and her heart ached. She had come back home alone, without Nicholas. He had more classes, and couldn't drive her back.

Isn't it better to be without him?! Then why does it feel so lonely… she thought.

She realized, her heart was slowly starting to turn to him. It had only been a day since they had met, but she was already falling head over heels for him.

She thought about him every second of the day, remembering the brief time they had been together. The very little words that he said. How his voice sounded so gentle, yet masculine. His hand that touched her hair when he moved it behind her ears. How he looked so handsome this morning when he came to pick her up...
He wore a pair of dark blue jeans, and a white t-shirt on top, with a blue jacket that matched the blue in his eyes. Everything in him attracted her, and she couldn't deny it.

“Rona. Are you busy, darling?” Sarah asked interrupting Rona’s thoughts.

“No mum! Is something wrong?!” Rona replied.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Sarah said, as she sat beside her daughter on bed.

"It's OK, mum. What is it?!" Rona said, as she put the book in her hands away.

"Rona, what do you think about Nicholas?"Sarah asked.

Rona blushed in surprise. Her mother shocked her with the sudden question, and she didn't know how to reply.

"Rona, your father and I thought a lot about it all day, and we reached a decision. We don't want to force you to do anything. We just want to see you happy," Sarah continued, as she held Rona's hands tightly.

Rona looked down on their hands, trying to hide her blushing face.

"I...I think he's nice," she finally replied.

Sarah's eyes widened, and she tightened her hands on Rona's.

"R...Rona?! You like him?!!" Sarah exclaimed in surprise.

Rona looked at her mother with a blushing face, then nodded shyly. Sarah felt so surprised, she thought Rona would definitely say that she wouldn't get married. She didn't know what to say, so instead she pulled her between her arms and hugged her tight.
Rona felt relieved to see her mother this happy. She loved her mother the most in this world, and her biggest wish was to always see her smiling.

Three days had passed. Steven had told Allen about Rona's reply the day before. Allen couldn't believe it. Finally! he must have done something right, he thought. Allen wished to see his son happy. He knew that Nicholas had suffered a lot, ever since Anna left. Anna... she betrayed him and betrayed their children. Leaving them all for some young guy, saying she had fallen in love with him, and that she couldn't be with them anymore. Its no use to think about it now... he thought.
"Nick, are you awake?" Allen asked.
"Yeah dad. What is it?" Nicholas replied.

Allen walked into the room, and settled on the chair next to Nicholas's bed.

"Steven called me yesterday," he said.

"And?!" Nicholas exclaimed as he sat firmly on the bed.

Allen gave him a serious look, making him more nervous.

"Haha, Don't be so nervous Nick. She agreed to get married," Allen said smiling.

"S...she said yes?!" Nicholas screamed as he jumped off of the bed.

"Yes, she did, but thats not all that is to it. She has a condition." Allen said.

"Condition? What do you mean?!" Nicholas exclaimed.

"She doesn't want to get married immediately. She wants you to wait, until you both make sure of your feelings," Allen said and chuckled.

Nicholas sat again on his bed and tried to calm his heart down. He felt... happy?! Why does he feel so happy?! Yeah, he should be happy!! She said yes. Now it won't take long to convince her. Now, it won't take long till she would be... his?!  He shook his head trying to forget these feelings, which were suddenly taking over his heart.

"Nick," Allen called him, disturbing his thoughts.

"Ah..What is it dad?!" Nicholas questioned.

Allen looked serious, even more than before.

"I know, you agreed to that marriage because of the hotel. I know it was me who asked you, but Nick I didn't mean that I wanted you to use her. Rona is my best friend's only daughter. She's the most precious thing in the whole world to him. She is so fragile and delicate already. She wouldn't survive it, if you broke her heart," he said.

"What do you mean dad?" Nicholas exclaimed.
"Rona, wasn't always this quiet. She had been in an accident when she was in her 1st year of high school," Allen replied.
"Accident?!" Nicholas asked feeling confused.
"No one knew what happened that day. She came back home one day and her uniform was in tatters... Her shirt was all crumpled and her skirt was torn at the ends. She had cuts and bruises all over her body... She never spoke of what happened, and For a whole year since that happened, she never even spoke a word. Ever since then she had become so... quiet... She didn't socialize with anyone except for her parents. Steven and Sarah are always so worried about her. They tried so many times to do something for her, but they never knew how to help her," Allen said in a frustrated tone.
Nicholas felt pain filling his heart. What could have happened to her?! he wondered. His chest tightened and he felt weird. Is it guilt? Is it sympathy?... that feeling that's filling me inside... he thought.