Day 5 (II)

I didn't realize that I fell asleep so when I woke up I stared at the ceiling. I wonder what they're doing right now. Maybe they were having fun while I'm here, staring into space again. Wonder if this is still just a dream because I don't want to wake up. The dream was better than reality but, I guess this is real so reality is better than a dream.

When I went outside, they continued the activities. They have a different world but, they have the same smile on their faces. I lay down again on the hammock bed and closed my eyes. I'm still sleepy.

"Louise! Don't be a killjoy. Join us!" I heard Coleen shout.

I open my eyes and looked at the sky. It was fun to watch the sky, clouds, and everything about heavenly bodies. While I was staring at the sky, someone touched me on my feet.

"I told you to join us," Coleen said before she pulled me out from the hammock bed. I fell on the sand so I threw a glare at her.

"You do not pity me," I said before I stood up.

She grabbed me on my wrist and we ran together towards our companion. They looked at me like they did something wrong.

Oh! I forgot. They were pranking me yesterday.

"It's okay. You don't need to apologize." I said bluntly.

I looked around just to avoid their gazes. I don't want them to say sorry to me because they did nothing wrong and I don't like their stares. It's embarrassing.

"Louise is okay so let's go back to our games," Lovie said before they turned their back on me.

Are they mad at me? Overthinking kills me. I guess they aren't mad at me because I saw Justin and Karl smile at me. I hate myself for thinking too much.

"Are you okay?" I heard Coleen ask.

"Y-Yeah," I replied.

She pulled me to sit beside her. I feel like I don't want to speak with anyone so I was looking ahead while we were both silents.

"Do you know that Ivan likes you as well?" She muttered. I looked at her like I was surprised by her sudden words.

"Yes. I feel it too." I mumbled.

"I remember when we were in college, I liked him so much even I have a boyfriend. And did you remember when someone was asking you why don't you have a boyfriend and I was the one who's answering that question?" She looked at me.

I nodded. "You're always telling them that I like handsome, a k-drama character, or a fictional character. You also say to them that I have high standards which are not true. You didn't listen to me because you chose to believe what you have seen to me whenever I got blush to some kpop artists."

"Because I know you a lot. You're my friend since grade 7 and you're a picky person. You don't want to enter into a relationship if the guy is not handsome or isn't lookalike of one of your favorite K-pop artists." She's frowning at me.

"No. You were judged me by the way I act. You didn't even ask me why I don't want to be in a relationship. The truth is, I don't want to get hurt. I know that pain is part of life or in any relationship but, fake love was everywhere. Cheating is popular at that time and I don't want to take a risk if my mental health will surely be affected. Mental health matters to me." I uttered.

I didn't stop my mouth. It's my first time to say those words to her. She's too sensitive that's why I avoided saying such things as hurtful words.

"I know and I'm sorry." She mumbled and bowed.

"Do you know why I don't want to easily fall in love?" I asked. She lifted her head and looked at me. "Because I want to guard my heart. I told you several times that I should protect my heart from the wrong person. The world won't stop spinning if I don't have a boyfriend. Now that I'm already 25 years old, please let me explore things. Stop pressuring me to get a boyfriend because I want to know myself more. That boyfriend thingy has no age limit and it can wait."

"We're not pressuring you. Who told you that?" She got the attention of our friend because of her loud voice.

I let out a big sigh. "Calm yourself and stop crying. I was just saying what my heart says."

They approached us and Arthur embraced Coleen.

"A-Are we pressuring her to get a boyfriend? Laura, isn't she likes handsome men?" She asked them between her sobs.

Here we go again.

"What happened?" Arthur asked me calmly.

"We're just talking about the past then I said what was in my heart a long time ago. Is it bad to tell her my feelings?" I asked them.

"Your feelings are valid but, what did you tell her?" Junior asked.

"I said stop pressuring me to get a boyfriend that's all. Did I say something wrong?" I asked again.

"Nothing but, Louise we're not pressuring you. We're just curious about your love life." Lovie said.

"And yes, Coleen is right that you like handsome men," Laura said then she looked at RealSeven.

"Huh?" I chuckled. "Is that what you think of me? We are all attracted to handsome men but when we met our person, handsome or not we'll fall in love with them. Why are you guys see me as a picky person, have an intergalactic standard. In fact, I just want to fall in love with one person for my whole life."

I want to cry it's because they can't understand what I'm trying to say. All of their life they believe that I like a handsome man? I'm not stupid to fall in love just because of his face, height, or money.

"Listen to me. I want to fall in love with a deep person regardless of his appearance. Please understand that I'm not yet ready to fall in love because I want to love myself more. Yes, I like Marvin but, I want to figure out things in myself. I can't love another person if I can't love myself." I looked at Ivan and I saw his smile.

"We get your point, Louise. I think the way you talk to her is too rude." Marie said while playing sand.

"Or probably she thought that you're pointing your finger at us," Haye added.

"No, I'm not. I was just saying the things I wanted to say for a long time." I frowned at them. "Look, I'm sorry if you're offended. Okay? I'm not mad at anyone of you. But is it offensive to me that you think that I am that kind of woman? Who likes handsome men?"

They fell silent, again. Coleen stopped crying and looked at them.

"We're sorry about that. We didn't mean to offend you, we're just stating the fact." Coleen muttered.

"Well, it's not a fact." I immediately said. "As I've said earlier, we're all attracted to handsome men but we know that it's just attraction. It will easily go away."

Can't they understand my point? It's hard to explain my side. They used to see me as a quiet person so when I vent out what's inside of my heart I'm the bad one.

"We're sorry, Louise." They mumbled.

Hays! Why can't I be mad at them?

"It's fine. Continue our activity." I smiled.

Coleen immediately hugged me and said sorry a hundred times. We continued what we were doing and when the night came, Andrew approached us but without Haye.

"Guys, can you help me?" He pleaded.

"What is it?" Ivan asked him.

"Can you please help me to prepare a simple surprise for Haye? I want to propose this night." He said.

I covered my mouth with a surprise and I heard a loud gasp from my companions.

"Okay. We'll go now to Haye and we'll distract her while you guys are preparing here." Lovie said.

My girls and I ran going inside the hotel. We slammed the door of Haye and when she opened it, we immediately pushed her on the bed. I don't know what will be the outcome of this proposal. I guess it will be memorable for her.

We're doing silly things just to distract her. I think we're successful because she didn't ask why are we there and where was Andrew. The night is still young and the boys are still currently preparing the surprise proposal.

"Let's go outside. I'm already bored." Lovie uttered. I think that's our cue that it was all settled.

"Yeah. I want to see my Ivan honeybunch." Axel added.

When we go outside, it's full of lights and there were a white screen, projector, laptop, pillows, and food.

He was prepared for this proposal huh? Nice!

We sat on the pillows and we waited for what we'll gonna watch on the screen.

"You will be a witness again to another proposal of your best friend." Jacob sat beside me.

"Yeah and I'm so excited." I smiled and looked ahead.

While we're laughing, a video suddenly flashed on the screen. It was a video of two persons who's in love with each other. We'd finish watching it before Andrew stood up in front of us.

"Hi, hon." He waved at her. "Did you like it? I hope so."

He stared at her for a minute before he looked away.

"I don't know who I am without you. You became my other half and my person. You're my baby, my girl, my woman, my person, my life, and do you know what's missing?" He asked.

We looked at Haye and she's still confused so she shrugged her shoulders.

"My wife." He answered.

"Ewwwwww!" I and Karl said it together so we both laughed at each other.

It was cringed for me but for Haye, it's like a beautiful hymn in her ears.

He kneeled in front of Haye and he pulled out the red box which I think was the ring.

"Will you marry me?" He asked.

I witnessed again the happiest moment of one of my friends. She's the happiest person tonight and no one can ruin it.