"Madam, proceed here. The Mister is waiting for you!" The waitress told Kristina as she lead her to the VIP rooms located in the farthest end of the right wing of the Chinese Fine Dining building. It was one of the most secluded in Canada where most Chinese nationals enjoy their local meals at its best. It is also the secret dating place of Augustus and Kristina. A secret hideout away from the scrutiny of the media people.
"I'm sorry August, something came up outside." Kristina explained as she knelt down and faced Augustus.
"Was the call making you upset? Who was that by the way?" He asked while sipping his tea.
Kristina was a little uneasy with Augustus question but she manages to compose herself and looked at him earnestly, "No, the call was nothing. There was just a little incident but it was all manageable!" Speaking while brushing off her wet pants with the table napkin.
"You're wet," Augustus tried to stand up and help her when he saw the wet mark on the side pocket of her suit, " what happened exactly?"
"Oh, August it was just nothing. I just spilled my water while bumping into something. Its ok, I'm not that wet at all." She answered with a little irritation in her tone. "Have you ordered already?"
"Yes, and I have something that might surprise you a little later."
"And what might that be?" Kristina's forehead curled. She hated surprises especially when it comes from Augustus. She was not the type who likes being surprised like other women do. She dislikes flowers, chocolates and other stuffs being given to her in a surprise manner.
"You know Augustus that I hate surprises."
"But I'm sure you'll like it this time. Its not what you're thinking. It's different and i know you'll love it." He replied in confidence.
"Whatever." and Kristina rolled her eyes.
A little later, a waiter came in and served their order of Chow Mein, Mo Goo Gai Pan and their all time favorite Baby Shrimp and Chicken with Kung Pao sauce in hot and spicy flavor. They began eating. It was the first meal they shared after three years of break up without bumping to each other nor communicating with each other.
Kristina was finished first and she was enjoying the scene in front of her. She was always like this even before, looking at Augustus while eating his meal with sweat all over his face since he likes eating so much spices and adding up chilli on his sauce.
Moments later, Kristina's phone was ringing. She cancelled it after the third ring. Then it rung again. She was so irritated that she cancelled it again that on the third ring, she finally stood up and excused herself.
She went outside the VIP room and went straight ahead to the womens restroom to answer the call.
"Hello Min, I told you not to call this time around, why won't you understand?...Do you want me to beg more?...Alright, I'll be there but I can't stay long...listen to me, you know the reason why...oh! You're just great at that, trying to bluff me again?...please just this time, ok. I promise I'll make it up as soon as he goes home....I promise...ok, bye!" Kristina was relaxed as she heard the click from the other end as the call ended.
She was retouching her eyes when a lady came out from one of the restrooms. The woman was too familiar to her. It made her heart race like hell. She immediately fixed herself and went outside before the lady could even take a glimpse of her in the mirror.
She hurriedly went to the VIP room and called out for their bill. She just couldn't understand what she just saw awhile ago. It made her goosebumps but she understood very well that she is too conscious to know that what she just saw was real and not an illusion.
Augustus, seeing her girl friend who looks like she just saw a ghost, moved to her side.
"What's the matter Kristina? You seem to have seen a ghost."
Kristina was frightened by his words and so she tried to calm herself and managed to compose the weariness she seem to be feeling.
"I'm okay. I just got a call from one of my clients who wants me to do her interior in her liking of which I just did it a week ago but she wanted to change the concept again."
"Really? Then why that kind of look?" Augustus asked since her answer was way too out of match to her expression.
"Well, I was just irritated and I remember something in her place. It was odd like something only Feng Shui can explain." She answered in such a way to deviate the incident that happened awhile ago that is playing in her mind.
The waiter came back with their bill. She paid although Augustus insisted that he'll pay it. They were always like this, whenever they eat out, Kristina would always be the one to pay. She was used to it even before they were still in high school back in their hometown in the Philippines.
They stood and begun walking when Kristina remembered something.
"Augustus, can we go a little faster? I need to take you somewhere."
"I'd like that but I will be driving this time okay...and before we go to where you want us to be, let me take you to my surprise first." Augustus was so excited to show his surprise to Kristina.
Their steps were really fast that it made some customers in the dinner notice them.
Augustus took the wheels and drove off and headed to Hanlan's Point Beach. He was already familiar with the area since he stayed there for almost two years after he graduated from college and had his first job in Toronto as a cook in Hilton's Hotels & Resorts. He had a rough time during those years but it was quite a sacrifice. He had to stay away from the Philippines after his father's death which was way too accidental to be proven.
He remembered fully how he managed to finish college despite the scrutiny of the people in their hometime whenever he came home to Bukidnon. He would starve himself just to make both ends meet as he worked as a laborer to provide for his own schooling and her mothers medicine.
Whenever vacation was over and he went off again to Baguio for his studies, he would pass by Muntinlupa to visit his father in jail.
It was a tremendous experience that he wanted to forget. But it was his past that made him who he was today.
Augustus made a right turn following a narrow path towards an overlooking cliff where a two storey white house stood. He looked at Kristina and woke her up since she fell asleep on the long drive.
"Kristina, we're here honey."
"Where are we?" Kristina stretched her arms a little and her side door was opened by Augustus. And as she was out from the car, she took a deep breath and inhaled the salty fresh air.
"We're here honey, and I want you to fix the inside of it." pointing to the white house in front of them.
"Who owns this place, it looks simple yet so elegant. And the beach is too perfect to look at from that window," pointing to the window from the right side of the white house.
"It's mine and it'll be yours too, if you accept my proposal," Augustus slowly kneeled and took a small box from his side pocket, opened it and took the engagement ring he had bought from Singapore during his stop over a month ago.
"This is my surpriae honey. Will you marry me?"
"Oh, August." Kristina's eyes was full of happiness at the his surprise. It was the first surprise that never made her mad at all.
"Augustus, how could I refuse when you know very well how much I love you," and she gave her hand to Augustus as he fitted the ring to Kristina's right ring finger.
Augustus stood up and Kristina hughed her tight. After a second they sealed their engagement with a kiss.
"This will be my home here in Canada. We will wed here, live here, have kids and grow old here."
"This is just so amazing August. Thank you for this," showing off her engagement ring, "and for the white house that I've always dreamed of and the future you had in your mind with me." She hugged Augustus tightly with a joyfull heart.