Chapter 92 - The Proposal

The next day, Angeline drew the faces of her friends on a jar, and her friends were touched by what Angeline had done because she could remember them all so well. "I am sorry that this is all I can do for all of you who helped me. I know you must be very tired after the last few days," Angeline said sadly. "It's okay. This is more than enough. We're very happy to have worked with you, Angeline." Angeline took out her phone and remembered her painting. She sent a message to Bella, who was actually Bryan. [Bella, are you busy? I am leaving New York tomorrow. I won't ask for the missing painting back because I'm sure Bella will take good care of it. See you sometime.] Bryan, as Bella, was shocked when he read the message. [Where are you right now? I will return the Missing Painting right away.] [I'm outside the theater now. Are you coming?] [Yes, wait there. I will come as soon as possible]. Angeline smiled happily and looked at Alex who had come to meet her. They had arranged to meet. Meanwhile, on the street, Bryan drove his car fast to get to the theater Angeline had mentioned. [I'm sorry, Bella, but I can't wait for you now. I will meet you when you get there. Just send me a message and I will meet you. Right now I have an appointment.] Angeline had entered the dark and empty theater. She was surprised because Alex had asked her to go in alone. Angeline then sat down in one of the seats that had a light on it. She felt it was meant for her, so she sat there. Sure enough, as Angeline sat in that chair, the screen in front of her lit up and Alex appeared handsomely in front of her, wearing a suit and getting ready to put on a show for Angeline. Alex began his performance by drawing in the sand, telling a story about what he was drawing. "After losing his sister, a lonely man met a woman who was also lonely because she had lost her way in life. They began to share their loneliness. Interestingly, when they were together, the loneliness didn't feel heavy to them. In the end, they were able to overcome everything together. They will build a strong home and live happily together forever. Alex finished his sand drawing of a happy couple. He then approached Angeline holding a bouquet of flowers. Unbeknownst to them, Bryan was already there, standing outside the door, watching. Alex, holding the bouquet, knelt in front of Angeline. "Angeline... will you be part of my family?" Angeline fell silent and Bryan felt his heart tighten. Could he let Angeline be with Alex? But hadn't he promised that he only wanted to see Angeline happy, even if it wasn't with him? Hadn't he been the one who had refused Angeline's invitation to be together because of this very issue, and now he was fine with Angeline being with Alex? Alex would certainly take better care of Angeline. He could make her happy. As for him, he could enjoy it all alone and imagine the beauty of it all, just as Angeline did, spending all her happiness just to dream of a life together with him. He would do the same. Find happiness, even if only in dreams and fantasies. Find happiness in all the memories and dreams they shared that he had buried three years ago. Alex proposed to Angeline in a romantic way and Bryan watched the whole thing. Angeline, although she had suspected this would happen, chose her words carefully. "Alex... when I first came to Paris, I couldn't do anything. You were never in a hurry. You were just quiet with me. Silently feeling the pain I was going through and patiently waiting for me. So I thought I should be good to you. Bryan stopped listening at this point. He decided to leave because he was sure that Angeline would accept Alex. How could he listen to the rest of Angeline's sentence when his heart felt so torn and painful? Angeline continued her sentence. "If I want someone to be a part of my family, then that someone is you. But right now I'm not sure how I feel about you. Is it just gratitude or is it true love? You sincerely asked me to marry you, so you deserve a sincere answer from my heart. Alex knew where Angeline's conversation was going. He understood that Angeline was gently rejecting him so as not to hurt his feelings. "I understand what you're trying to tell me," he said with a resigned smile. Angeline looked down and could only apologize. "Angeline, you don't need to apologize to me. From now on I will approach you as a man should. Give me a chance so I won't regret it later. Stay with me until the Biennial is over. If you can't make yourself love me by then, I'll still be a good friend to you for the rest of my life." Angeline smiled and nodded, agreeing to Alex's proposal. In his room, filled with memories of Angeline and Semesta, Bryan vividly recalled what he had just experienced. He knew he no longer had a chance with Angeline because she would choose Alex as her family. Meanwhile, inside the theater building, Alex was left alone. Angeline was no longer there. He also remembered what Angeline had said earlier. Her gentle rejection and her doubts had only strengthened his determination to win Angeline's heart and have her completely. Six months was enough time to make Angeline believe in him and choose him. Alex approached his sand painting and erased the artwork. "I keep changing my mind about you. At first I was content to be a good friend to you. But now I want you to be by my side." Elsewhere, Angeline was also alone, thinking about Alex. She murmured that she was truly sorry. That morning, Bryan seemed reluctant to touch his breakfast. "Bryan, why don't you want to eat?" "Argh! How can I eat when the menu is the same every morning?" Bryan complained angrily. "Isn't it usually Bryan who never complains about breakfast? Why are you acting weird now?" "Grandma should eat more. Don't diet. Because Grandma will look beautiful when she's plump," Bryan said, sounding even stranger. Bryan's mind was completely filled with thoughts of Angeline, so the words that came out were either things Angeline had said to him or things he had said to her. Grandma, who did not understand the meaning of Bryan's words, became even more confused. "Bryan, what did you mean by that statement?" "I don't know, I just want to go to work," Bryan replied, not caring and going to work.