Ferdinand and Daisy's doubts

Monterey, 5 AM.

In her dimly lit and not too spacious room, Irina hugged her body under the gray blanket as the wind felt like it was entering through the air vent. The girl who was only wearing a blanket with her boyfriend felt very cold, so she woke up and glanced at her boyfriend, who also woke up because of her anxiety.

"What's wrong?" Ferdinand asked, who also wasn't wearing anything except the blanket.

"So cold," whispered Irina, turning her back to Ferdinand.

"Come here..." Ferdinand pulled Irina into his embrace until their bodies touched, creating a warm sensation. The man closed his eyes again, while his hands rubbed his girlfriend's arms to keep her warm.

"The weather here is very different... At night, it feels very cold, but during the day, it feels very hot," murmured Irina.

"You'll get used to it eventually."

"Hmm..."

Irina fell silent but couldn't fall asleep. She was reminded of the atmosphere in California, in her parents' luxurious and comfortable home that wouldn't affect her body too badly when the weather was cold or hot. Now she had to struggle to get used to the weather because she only lived in a minimalist house.

"You have to sleep now because, at 8.00, we will go," whispered Ferdinand, realizing that Irina wasn't sleeping.

"Where are we going?"

"To somewhere... It's a surprise," said Ferdinand with a smile, but his eyes were closed. "You won't expect that I will do this to you, but it's not a bad thing... So don't be afraid... You just need to follow me," he continued.

Irina immediately released Ferdinand's embrace, then turned to face him and looked at him curiously.

"Tell me," she begged softly.

"What will I get if I tell you?" asked Ferdinand with a teasing smile, while his hand was groping Irina's arm.

"I don't know... But maybe I will ride you now if you tell me," Irina replied with a smile. "Come on... Tell me," she continued.

"Unfortunately, I don't want to tell you now...."

"Oh, Ferdinand... Please..."

"Sorry, sweetie. I can't tell you. It's a special surprise... If I tell you, then it won't be special anymore," Ferdinand said, frowning, then stroking Irina's smooth cheek. "I know... I've made you uncomfortable since we moved to this city... But let me make you happy this time..."

"Okay..." Irina sighed.

"I love you," Ferdinand whispered, kissing Irina's lips for a moment.

Irina turned to lie down and looked at the ceiling of the room that wasn't visible because of the dimly lit room and only lit by the bedside lamp.

"Have you tried to find out about your family's condition?" Ferdinand asked.

"No," Irina replied shortly, instantly remembering her parents. "I don't dare to contact Mommy or Daddy... I'm not ready to receive their anger," she continued.

"Someday, we will meet them."

"When?"

"When we have a baby," Ferdinand said, hugging Irina's stomach.

Irina instantly imagined having a baby in a chaotic situation, far from her parents with a small place to live and no job.

"I think you're talking too far ... Having a baby is very troublesome. It requires a lot of preparation and money, while now we don't even have a job," she said, then smiled thinly. "That's very risky... I don't want to be in more trouble... pregnant, craving, morning sickness... Postpartum pain... I'm not ready for it!"

"But I think that's the way to make your parents not angry with you when we go back there... They will welcome us warmly, especially since we have a baby that will comfort them," Ferdinand said, shrugging his shoulders. "And as for work, you don't have to worry because, in a few days, I will be meeting with my friend. He has prepared a position for me in his company. I will have a permanent job, so you don't have to worry about our finances anymore," he continued.

"Okay... But about the baby, I'm not ready yet... Don't ever mention it again... I'm not ready to get fat," Irina said with a thin smile, then turned her back to Ferdinand.

Ferdinand was silent, feeling disappointed that Irina had immediately rejected his plan. "I brought you here, took you away from your family... to start a new life as a small family. But now... you seem lazy... or maybe my efforts will be in vain," he said, quickly removing the blanket and getting out of bed.

Irina immediately sat up and looked at Ferdinand, who was wearing shorts, standing near the window that showed a somewhat dark and rainy outside view.

"No surprise... just forget it," Ferdinand said.

"Babe... why are you so quick to anger? Don't I have the right to decide when I'm ready to have a baby? Why do you think negatively just because I said I'm not ready?" Irina asked as she approached Ferdinand, embracing her body in the blanket.

"Love is stupid... I left everything for love... but this is what I get," he said.

"Why are you saying that?" Irina asked as she approached Ferdinand.

"You don't want to have a baby with me... it's like you don't want to be with me forever, don't want to have communion with me," Ferdinand replied, staring straight ahead. "If that's the reality, you should never have agreed to run away with me... marry Richard instead... he can give you everything so you don't have to worry about financial problems!" he continued, clenching his fists.

Irina sighed. "Oh God..."

Ferdinand fell silent, trying to control his anger.

Irina approached Ferdinand, putting her hands on his shoulders. "I didn't mean that. I want to be with you forever... that's my dream."

"Don't lie!"

"No, I'm not lying... I just keep thinking about my fears," Irina said, leaning her head on Ferdinand's back. "Can you imagine, when we have a baby, and our situation is still like this... it will only add problems, maybe even Richard's people are still looking for me. We can have a baby when we're comfortable here... we have a permanent job, a more comfortable house, and surely Richard won't care about me anymore."

Ferdinand let go of Irina's embrace, then turned to look at her.

"Please... understand..." Irina pleaded, hugging Ferdinand's neck until the blanket that wrapped her body fell to the floor. "I love you, that's why I'm here with you... Don't doubt me again."

"I'll try..." Ferdinand united his forehead with Irina's forehead, then closed his eyes. "I just... I just don't want my struggle to be in vain. You know I love you very much... I left everything for you..."

"I know that, and your struggle won't be in vain," Irina said, then kissed Ferdinand's lips.

Ferdinand returned the kiss, slowly lifting Irina who immediately wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Will I get the surprise?" Irina asked with a smile.

"Of course," Ferdinand replied, smiling and looking up at Irina, who had her arm around his neck. He kissed her lips again.

----

Venice, Italy.

Richard and Daisy were on a boat being rowed by a middle-aged man called a gondolier. They passed through narrow canals that intersected between old buildings, feeling the gentle breeze on their faces, and hearing the sound of the water as the boat moved through the small rivers. The view of old buildings with unique architecture and beautiful bridges connecting small streets would look very clear from a different perspective.

"Do you want to take a picture?" Richard asked. He sat comfortably with Daisy sitting in front of him, leaning against his stomach.

"I don't like taking pictures. I prefer taking pictures of the scenery," Daisy replied without turning around.

Richard smiled, looking down at sweet Daisy. "But I want to take a picture of you..."

"I'm shy..."

"What makes you shy? Do you feel ugly?" Richard asked. He took out a small camera he had kept in his coat pocket.

"I don't think so, but I'm not very confident in taking pictures."

Richard turned on his camera, then aimed it at Daisy. "If you don't want to take a picture, we'll take a video... It's more fun."

"Richard..." Daisy immediately covered her face with her right hand. "I'm not even ready yet!"

Richard laughed. "You don't have to prepare. You're beautiful in all expressions and situations," he said.

Daisy blushed and immediately took the camera from Richard, then aimed it at him. "Well then, I'll also record you!"

"It's fine..." Richard smiled casually. "But it's better if we're together in the video." He leaned down, resting his chin on Daisy's head while she aimed the camera at them.

Daisy smiled shyly, waving her left hand at the camera, occasionally feeling ticklish and nervous when suddenly Richard kissed her cheek.

'Oh God, why did he suddenly become so sweet? Is all of this sincere, or does he have other plans? Or should I trust him because he wants us to love each other?' she wondered to herself, full of caution.