Frederick McFenray
What does a man do to win the heart of his true love? There are always steps that could make a girl swoon and I made sure to list all of them to the point that they say their "I dos" by the altar. Other than our future marriage, I can almost imagine my life with her. Spending our late nights watching movies together. Daily walks by the city park. Kids? Maybe they can have one or two-
"Freddie!" I heard her called my name as she intertwined her hand with his and continued "You have been spacing out like a LOT! Are you sure that everything is okay?"
"Of course!" I smiled reassuringly "Why wouldn't I be okay? I must be thinking a lot. You know about my job, our relationship, and all"
Audrey smiled yet it wasn't her usual one as she said "Speaking of our relationship, what do you see about the two of us?". The two of us?
"I see our relationship as one of a kind! A perfect pair. You and me, a journalist and a detective, we are like a crime-fighting duo" I exclaimed with a hint of humour at the end to tease her. However, she didn't laugh at my joke but instead, I saw Audrey frowned so I decided to ask "What's wrong? Come on, you know I am just joking around. I love you, Audrey"
"I know" she replied plainly. The silence felt heavy around as we walked and each time I tried to start a conversation, it usually ended up being short ended. In my experience of being a detective, when a criminal tries to avoid a conversation, it is usually because they are hiding or feeling guilty about something but this is the first time I saw Audrey treating me this way. We always told each other everything ever since we were kids and in our relationships but now I almost feel like I don't know her anymore.
Audrey looked around and finally spotted the restaurant with a cheerful face "There it is! Remember the many times our families have to eat together in this place?"
"And the many food fights?" I added
"It was the best! Thankfully your uncle is "kind" enough not to kick us out yet" she teased
"How could he kick us out when our family is his "loyal" customer?" I said in a gentlemanly manner "We should eat there for tonight to relive happy old memories"
Audrey laughed and replied "I don't think they are prepared yet for another food fight and besides, it looks closed. There are no people around and the lights are off"
"Let's check it out" I grabbed her hand then recalled the steps in my head. Steps one, two, and three are done. I pushed the glass door and pretended to be shocked when it opened "It seems like they left the restaurant unlocked. If we're lucky, we can make our food ourselves"
Audrey shook her head in response as she followed "This is trespassing! I don't want to go to jail early. I have a life ahead of me"
"I'm sure life as a criminal wouldn't be so cruel and besides, I get to see you every day". Unfortunately, Audrey didn't take that one calmly as she punched my shoulder once more that made me chuckle but it didn't take long for the real surprise to begin as all the lights turned on at once and our families and friends cheered from the sidelines. I watched Audrey looked around, dumbfounded, surprised, confusion. Different expressions flashed from her face and when her attention focus on me, my knee was already on the floor.
"SILENCIO EVERYBODY!" My brother, Francis, yelled from the sidelines that it didn't take long for the crowd to go quiet as I began "Audrey Garcia, I stand, but more like knelt, before you today-" once again, laughter erupted in the crowd that made Audrey chuckle while in the midst of crying until they are silent, "- I knelt before you today because I've decided what I want to do with my life, with you. Ever since I-"
"Yes!" Audrey began that made me questioned her "What?"
I felt like time stopped when she placed her hands cupping both of my cheeks, keeping my gaze focused on her beautiful face as she said the words that I have longed to hear "Yes, Freddie, I will marry you". For a mere second, I was disappointed because I prepared a whole speech for her that plays as Step 4 but who cares? I am finally at the last step.
I got up on my feet and hugged her tightly. My head on her shoulder with tears of joy streaming from my eyes as my heartbeat contently that I finally have my princess in my arms, my partner, my Audrey. Just as I slipped the engagement ring to her finger, the family decided to join in
"CONGRATS, you son of a bitch!" Francis wrapped his arm around my shoulder and lightly pinched my cheek "I guess I'll be an uncle sooner than I thought"
"We just got engaged today" Audrey explained "Though when I do have a child, you'll be the first one to know"
Francis laughed out loud then pats my back "I like her spirit! By the way, Frederick, it's important to remember that a "happy wife is a happy life!"
"Get out of here" I retorted that made Audrey giggled. The fun moment was cut short when my parents came into the scene to deliver their congratulations. I watched my mom hugged my fiancee and exchanged a few words while my father took me by the side and began "Congratulations, mijo, she'll make a good addition to the McFenray family"
"Thank Pa! By the way, is her parents here?" I asked that made my father frowned in dismay "Unfortunately, something came up that they have to leave early"
I sighed at his response. I always knew deep down that they always see their relationship as some form of spite by Audrey other than switching her lifetime career of being part of the "family business" to a newspaper journalist. Thankfully, some of her friends and distant relatives are here to witness this.
"Don't look so gloomy, mijo. Tonight is your night! Enjoy it!" my father said as he grabbed a glass of whiskey from one of the waiter's trays and exclaimed, "To Frederick and Audrey! Cheers!"
"Cheers! Everyone cheered as the night began. Audrey constantly turned in my direction, her gaze filled with love and endearment. To me, I felt that a new adventure has been set upon me, upon us. I thought, no, I knew this is our happily ever after…
After a month after our engagement, I saw Audrey in the arms of another man on the TV screen.