While Linden arrives at his company, he goes toward his office. As he get inside his office, Linden laid back on his sofa. He then reach his phone as he call his uncle.
"I ask Feliz to be my wife." Linden stated as soon as the call connected. Silent. He patiently waited for his uncle respond as Linden rest his eyes.
A moment later;
"That's….fast."
"Shouldn't you be congratulating me, uncle?" Linden asks, hearing a sense of doubt by his uncle voice.
"Ye…yes, it's a great news. But this happens too fast…." Uncle Liam sounded helpless.
"You the one who want me to marry." Linden stated.
"Yes, I know. I mean last night you rejected her, then at this second date you proposing her?? I'm sorry when I said progress, I didn't mean this fast." Uncle Liam exasperatedly exclaims.
"It's make no different, now or later. We still be married anyway." Linden lazily explains.
"Child…will you not make your old man worry to death?"
"Uncle, don't fret. You know how I am. I'm not that reckless." Linden stated.
"Fine then, it'll happen eventually. You make a good decision. Let's arrange a meeting for Feliz parent to discuss about this." Uncle Liam sigh finally, accepting.
"I'll arrange it. By then, I'll inform you." Linden said, as he hang up the phone. A sudden moment occurs to him. The woman, Feliz…want an informal marriage. He wonder himself, why he easily want to grant the woman request. More shockingly, he tell her that he want take her as his wife. He never thought that he would uttered that word to anyone. Linden himself aware that he's disgusted with any type relationship with women, considered his cold manner to make others stay away from him. Even the thought of sitting down talking with someone he's not familiar with, he feels very uncomfortable.
But today arrange meeting, having a new view toward that woman, he's unexpectedly doesn't feel discomfort at all. He thought that Feliz is average looking. But her sense of style and manner exude a mature and elegancy aura. That make her look attractive. She also didn't look at him with the same eyes that all woman use to look at him. Desire and greed. From the start, he couldn't read her eyes. All she wears on her face isn't the same manner as him, it's more like lifeless. Empty. As if, she has no feeling, desire nor greed in her heart. That's the one reasons why he rejected her first. As he couldn't figure her out make him feel vulnerable. But this second meet, he seem to see a new side of her. Despite her forwardness, she's honest and despite her quietness, her words is...full of wisdom. At first he thought, that woman was cold and unfeeling. However when he saw her warm smile toward that little child. A smile…that she never show to him….he change his mind. Furthermore, knowing about what happened to her 2 years ago, with her drastically change of personality, having a past that affected her a lot. She was hurt. Knowing this fact, ease Linden anxiousness and vulnerability. A thought of building his own family is now a….possibility. Linden then rub his temple as he notice the redness on his hand. It reminded him the previous incident at the restaurant. Suddenly the feeling of nauseous overwhelm him again, as he loosen his necktie. His breathe became uneven. He then call his secretary.
"Dexter, where's the file for the next project of CL company?"
"I already put on your desk for you to review, sir." Dexter said.
Linden then stood from the sofa as he walks toward his desk, noticing the file.
"Ok, make sure I have nothing to do by noon, cause I'll be going out. Call for my doctor, I'll be seeing him at the hospital by 10 am tomorrow." As he laid on his chair by his desk, tirelessly.
"I will inform Dr Jean immediately. If you need your med sir, it's inside your left drawer." Dexter said, as if to assure.
"Alright then." Linden said as he hangs up. He start to review the files, when he suddenly stops for a moment. He open his left drawer and took out a small bottle of medicine. Linden took one pill as he then drink a bottle of water. He put it down by his desk, as he slowly taken a deep breathe. Linden then continue his work that night.
By morning, Feliz just done from bath as a sudden notification from her phone. She take a look at it. A chat from Linden;
'I'll come to pick you up by noon. Be ready by then.'
Firm and imposing could be heard by his word. Feliz couldn't help but wonder. 'This is the man that I'll be married.'
She put down her phone and open a page from a manuscript. Feliz sit on her chair as she start to work.
The next day, Linden was sitting in front his doctor aka also his friend, Dr Jean.
"I really don't encourage you to take this med, you'll be depending on it later on." Dr Jean sigh.
"I know…I never take it regularly. This is just…a preparation. Just in case."
"What? Did something happened to you?" Dr Jean asks.
"Yes, it happened unexpectedly." Linden reply.
"What happened? How…how do you cope? You should have call me!" Dr Jean exclaims exasperatedly.
"I was. But…something happened…that I…I forgot about it…" Suddenly, something occur in Linden mind. While Dr Jean became confused.
"What? What do you mean? Something happened, what?" Dr Jean ask again.
Linden was quiet, as he recall back that night. Feliz…that night, together with her. He somehow, forgotten that night…at the restaurant, he was about to relapsed. Anxiety attack. He thought to return home and have his doctor to come. But being with her, he totally forgot his condition. Linden remember the tissue with a lavender scent. That scent partly the reason his….anxiousness, discomfort and nauseous feeling slowly fading away.
Remember that event, he thought 'Did Feliz notice his behaviour? Did she knew? If she didn't, how come or why did she offer that tissue with such calming scents to him? If she did notice, why didn't she question him about what happened at the restaurant?'
"Hey, Linden. What's the matter with you?" Dr Jean notice the change on Linden face.
"Can I get better?" a sudden question pop out from Linden. Dr Jean looks at Linden, as he lean back on his chair.
"Yes, it's possible."
"Does that mean it's…unnecessary be from a medical treatment?" Linden question.
"No, not necessary." He answers as he scratches his chin. Linden was quiet for a moment, as he ponders something for a moment. A second later, he get up.
"I'll be leaving now."
"Wait, you didn't tell me what happened last night."
"Later, I have other things to do."
"What other things?" Dr Jean question. Linden reaches the door as he look back at Dr Jean.
"I'm getting married." With that he left, leaving Dr Jean dumbfounded. As he walks out from the hospital, Linden ponders in his thought.
Not long after, Linden arrive at Feliz apartment. He call her phone.
"I'm here."
"Okay, I'll be down in a minute."
Linden then wait as he lean back on his car. His mind wanders. 'What make her so different?' He thought of himself last night. Never did he feel comfortable talking to other people, especially women. But she. Something about her that somehow make a change in him. But he just don't know why. Linden stops his track of mind, as he saw her coming. Feliz walking toward him. Linden open the car door for her. Feliz stop her track. She look at the confuse Linden.
"Will you always open the door for me?" she ask. Linden was blank for a moment, as he then understand her question.
"I guess. Would you want me to do that forever?" he ask, out of considerations. He seem to unconsciously done some things that could be seen as gentleman act, while he did that just out of being courteous. But hearing her question, he thought that probably this woman might like this kind of decorum. He need to noted-down.
"Well, it's indeed a pleasant and a nice thing to do. But I still prefer you don't. While you trying to be a gentleman and courteous, don't you think it's a bit too tiring? Beside I have two hand to do it myself. So, in the future I will do it on my own." She exclaims as she get in. Linden was once again tongue-tied. He once again misjudged her.
Both then focus on the road. Silent only fill in the car. Again, he wonders; it seem she doesn't talk much. Silently, Linden take in Feliz quiet demeanour. He can't help but steal a peek at her. Though, with an indifferent expression, her quietness exude an elegancy and graceful aura, which could attract any men. Feliz indeed is not like any women that he met before. He even could trust her presence to be near him. Knowing this, Linden couldn't help but feel relieved. He thought; whether it is because of how she is or not. Now, the thought of living with her is indeed not a bad idea. As they reach at the traffic light, Linden then turn on his radio. "Would you mind?" Linden ask.
"Sure." Feliz said.
Hearing her assuring, Linden put on a classical music. Both then enjoy the music in silent.