After being discharged from the hospital, Kaye visited her family and stayed for a while.
When she woke up, she walked to the window and opened the curtain. The sun was rising, and she stretched her body.
"This place is very different from J City, so refreshing!" she mused.
Her parents' home was located at the farthest part of D City, and they owned an urban farm.
She spotted her father strolling in the farm early in the morning, and she smiled. Leaving her room, she walked straight to the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mom!" she greeted.
"Good morning, Kaye," her mom smiled, placing the food on the table.
"Good morning!" her younger brother chimed in, still yawning.
"I spotted Dad at the farm; did he have breakfast?" she asked between bites.
"Yeah, he's done. He loves inspecting the plants before anything else," her mom shared.
They dug into their meal.
After breakfast, Kaye went to the farm and helped her father water the vegetables.
"How's J City?" her father asked.
"Still the same, always crowded during rush hours," she replied.
A hearty laugh escaped her father's lips. "Haha. I've told you before, this place suits you better."
"But you know how much I love my job there. I'm sorry for missing my promised visit," she explained.
Understanding glinted in her father's eyes. "The earthquake caught us off guard. We're just grateful you're safe."
"I'm glad you're safe too. I'm happy there wasn't much damage to the farm," she said, looking around.
Her father smiled and nodded.
As she continued watering the plants, her father broached a more personal topic. "By the way, when do you plan to get married? You're already at the age of getting married. Many of your classmates here are already married and with kids."
The water hose nearly slipped from Kaye's hands, her face flushing. "D-Dad, why are you asking all of a sudden?"
"We're getting older and we want grandchildren," her father said, a twinkle in his eye.
"But Dad, I already told you I'm still enjoying my life as single. Besides, married life is not easy," she said.
A mischievous grin adorned her father's face. "Any special someone in your life?"
Maintaining a poker face, she asserted, "I don't have a lover, Dad."
Laughter reverberated through the farm. "Don't let our family line end with you," he teased.
"C'mon, Dad, you still have a son," she said.
Her dad kept laughing.
But their conversation was interrupted when an opulent car graced the farm's entrance.
Perplexed, her father mused, "Who's that? I wasn't expecting any visitors today."
She was also confused, staring at the car. A man in black opened the car door.
Her eyes widened when she saw Timothy getting out of the car.
"What is he doing here?" she said in surprise.
"Is he your visitor?" her father asked.
They walked to the entrance to meet Timothy.
"Mayor!" Kaye exclaimed.
"Mayor?" her father echoed.
"Yes, Dad, he's the mayor of J City—Timothy Villamayor," she introduced.
"Good morning, Mayor. It's truly a pleasure to meet you!" her father extended a warm welcome.
Timothy reciprocated with a gracious bow. "Good morning; I apologize for arriving unannounced."
"It's alright; I had no clue my daughter was friends with the mayor," her father chuckled. "Come, let's head inside."
As they proceeded, Timothy's bodyguards followed, bearing gifts that hinted at the importance of this unexpected visit.
.
.
"Why did you come here?" Kaye asked.
After Timothy met her parents and enjoyed lunch, she decided to show him around the farm.
"I heard from Miss Rubie that you left the city and are staying here. I just wanted to visit and check if you're doing well," Timothy explained.
"You didn't have to make the trip; this place is too far. A message would have sufficed," she replied.
"But I wanted to see you in person," he insisted.
She blushed at his words.
"When are you planning to return?" he asked, casting a glance at the vegetables.
"Next week, I'll also return to work next week," she replied.
"Then I'll stay here until you return," he declared with a smile.
"What? You can't do that!" she protested.
"Why?" he asked, innocence masking his face.
"You're the mayor; you can't leave the city for long!" she argued.
"Haha, don't worry about it." He picked up a basket. "Are you harvesting vegetables? Let me help you," he said, walking off whistling.
"Timothy!" she called, but he ignored her, lost in his own tune.
She sighed; he won't listen to her.
.
.
....
In the days that followed, Kaye was in the midst of harvesting carrots when Timothy decided to lend a hand by picking up the basket.
"That's heavy," Kaye remarked.
"No big deal. I'm strong enough to handle this," Timothy replied confidently.
Indeed, Timothy exuded strength, his tall frame accentuated by the visible muscles beneath his shirt. It seemed like he frequented the gym whenever he found a moment away from his busy schedule.
A fleeting thought crossed Kaye's mind – he could probably carry her effortlessly with those well-defined muscles. He also looks attractive while sweating. Shaking off the momentary distraction, she scolded herself, wondering. Gosh, what am I thinking?
Yet, in her heart, she couldn't deny that Timothy was undeniably handsome. It was no surprise that many women admired him, given his impressive physique and charismatic presence.
At the age of 34, he had risen to the position of mayor, following in the footsteps of his father, the former mayor. When his father retired from politics, Timothy took the reins and successfully won the last election. His ascent to power only added to his overall appeal.
"How long do you plan to stay here?" she asked.
"Until you return to J City," he replied, flashing a persistent smile.
Sighing at his unwavering determination, Kaye found herself caught off guard as Timothy suddenly removed his shirt.
"H-Hey, what are you doing!" she protested, quickly averting her gaze.
"My shirt's soaked with sweat," he casually explained.
"But why remove it in front of me?" she complained.
Timothy smirked, closing the distance. "Why? Does my body make you uncomfortable? Feel free to look whenever you want," he whispered playfully.
Her face inches from his, she pushed him away, blushing. "Shut up! Stop saying embarrassing things!"
Timothy laughed, reveling in her embarrassment. "Haha, your face is so red."
"It's just the hot weather!" she retorted.
"Pft. Admit it, you're blushing because of me," he teased, winking at her.
Kaye pushed him toward the cabbage patch. "Just go and pick some cabbage over there!"
"Haha, alright, alright. No more teasing," he promised, laughing as he walked away.
Sighing, Kaye clutched her chest. Why was her heart pounding so fast? She shook her head, perhaps were simply the result of the scorching weather.
.
.
That evening, as Kaye assisted her mom with the dishes, her mom dropped an unexpected revelation.
"I think the mayor likes you, dear," her mom casually mentioned.
"Ehh? Why do you say that?" Kaye asked in surprise.
"Can't you see? He traveled from a far place just to visit you here and even stayed until you return to J City. He wouldn't do that if he didn't like you. There's no other reason. I can see and feel it," her mom affirmed with a smile.
Kaye scratched her head, finding the notion of Timothy liking her nearly impossible. Her mom tapped her shoulders reassuringly.
After finishing her tasks, Kaye spotted Timothy standing on the veranda.
"Hey," she greeted as she joined him.
"The stars are beautiful, aren't they?" he remarked.
"Yeah, more stars can be seen here unlike in J City," she replied, gazing upward.
Timothy nodded.
"I still can't believe you came here. Why did you have to do this?" she asked.
Timothy stared at the beer in his hand. "Will you believe me if I say I like you?" he questioned, looking straight into her eyes.
Her eyes widened in surprise. "W-What..."
"Kaye, I like you. From the first time I saw you," he confessed sincerely.
"B-But... How? I'm not that pretty. There are other women who are more beautiful and wealthy," she said, averting her gaze.
Timothy gently held her chin, making her meet his eyes. "Do you think I only like a woman because she's pretty and rich? Kaye, I like you because I'm comfortable with you. You're kind and sweet. Besides, for me, you're the most beautiful woman in this world."
Kaye looked down, conflicted emotions swirling within. Timothy then held her hand. "When we return, I will formally court you. I will prove to you how much I like you," he declared, pulling her into a reassuring hug.
Kaye remained silent, while Timothy's expression turned serious. He vowed to himself that he would make sure no one would take her away from him. If someone dared to steal her heart, he will ensure they face severe consequences.