Marriage And Love Again

Looking at Austin who was standing in a distance, Suny had a sip of the orange juice and looked at Alicia with a half-smile, “Shall I ask it for you?”

“In what sense would it be a surprise if you asked?”

“Then you should not have asked me in the first place.” Suny chuckled.

That would leave her no surprise at all.

Alicia laughed. “I didn’t think of that.”

Suny gave her a sideways glance, saying with deep connotation, “There’re a lot of things coming unprepared.”

When Ashley came to them, Suny gave him a friendly nod, excused herself, and walked away. After finishing his call, Austin came to her. To some senses, they were the focus tonight. Though their friends had little in common, the night was rather harmonious.

Last year, Suny went to the stage and exhibited her singing ability to everyone when Alicia insisted on thrusting her up onto the stage. This year, Alicia chickened out, so she simply grabbed Kevin to the stage, and together, they sang a song for Suny.

Let’s not be judgmental, it was indeed entertaining though.

Suny watched Alicia from under the stage, with the corners of her mouth curving up into a smile the whole time.

The whole party continued until eleven in the night. When it was closing to an end, Alicia glanced at Austin multiple times. And when it was finally the time for her to leave, Alicia showed a little discontent to Suny, “Is he really not going to propose? Such an asshole!”

Hearing the familiar curse, Suny burst into laughter. She looked at Austin, who was talking to Elijah. “I am not in a rush.”

“Well, a man’s proposal indicates that he cares about it.”

“Are you trying to drive a wedge between us?”

Seeing that her intention was detected by Suny, Alicia hastened to grab Ashley, “It’s getting late. We should go. Happy birthday, Suny.”

“Bye.” Suddenly, Austin approached her, “Shall we go home?”

“Yeah,” Suny replied, seeing that most guests had dismissed.

Austin helped pack the gifts Suny received tonight and led her out of the hall.

The night in J city in July was a little sultry. Though the car window was down, Suny still felt a bit muggy. She glanced at Austin, “Don’t you have anything prepared for me?”

“Yes.” Austin tilted his head when the red light was on.

Suny reached out her hand. But instead, Austin pressed her head closer and kissed her forehead, “You will have it when we are at home.”

As he finished his words, the red light turned yellow, and then quickly shifted into the green. The car started again. Suny touched her forehead where it was kissed. It was still warm. The corner of her mouth curved up into a smile. She began wondering what Austin had prepared for her.

Suny knew he was not going to mention the proposal at this moment. After all, Austin hadn’t gained consent from her grandpa. If he had proposed now, that would suggest he showed no respect for Charlie. Plus, it was just a year or so that she had divorced. Suny did not want to step into marriage again so soon.

If that was possible, she’d rather not marry. In that case, she could even skip divorce if their love was fleeting.

“What are you thinking?” Austin asked abruptly.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

There was another red light.

Suny stopped her fantasy and gave him a glance, “Nothing. Just a bit tired.”

She yawned again.

Austin gazed at her, “Only ten minutes’ drive now.”

Suny nodded and, feeling a bit guilty, looked outside the car window again.

Ten minutes later, they were home.

It was five minutes to twelve o’clock, so Suny yawned again before getting off the car. She was really too exhausted to unbox the two bags of presents.

As she turned around, a gift box was sent to her by Austin, “Happy birthday, babe.”

“What’s that?”

Suny lifted her eyebrows, took the gift, and opened it in no hurry.

She thought it might be some beautiful jewelry. But it turned out that it was a sketchbook, whose cover portrayed the day of their divorce when Suny was wearing a red dress and standing before the Civil Affairs Bureau, waiting for Austin.

She was stupefied for a moment and found it was all about her when she opened it.

“It’s been a long time since the last time I had drawn a picture.”

Just when Suny was wondering if he painted it, Austin opened his mouth. As she slowly flipped through all of them, her mouth turned up into a smile. “I didn’t know that Mr. Johnson could paint.”

Well, if he did get kicked out of KLOC, he probably wouldn’t have to worry about starving to death. He could earn a living by painting.

There were altogether 27 pictures in it, symbolizing the 27 years she had gone through.

“Look at this one. Are you there?”

Suny’s finger stopped at the third painting, which showed that she was pushed to sing on the stage last year. It was described from the left of the stage. But she could not remember he was there that night.

Looking at her perplexed face, Austin explained, “I was at the door side.”

“That made sense.”

“You have a beautiful voice.”

Beaming, Suny flipped to the next page. It was New Year’s Eve when she was waiting for cabs after leaving Alicia’s place. Actually, Suny was aware that Austin was following at that time.

Looked like someone was a stalker, right?

Every painting illustrated a different Suny in Austin’s eyes after their divorce.

It was a surprising gift.

“When did you start this?”

They were together last month.

Austin hugged her from behind, “Three months ago.”

At first, he just wanted to record every aspect of Suny. Later, when they were back together, he thought it would probably be a special gift.

In the marriage they started five years ago, he knew nothing of her. And now, they were together again. He knew every bit of her, her preferences and dislikes, her joy and sorrow.

So now, he was serious, about being together with her, and about being together with her for his lifetime.

Suny closed the book. “Were you so sure that we would be back together?”

Three months ago, they were not together, were they?

Austin peered down at her. “It was originally a gift to you when you marry Robert.”

He wanted her to know that he really fell in love with Suny, not because he hated losing.

Suny could not help laughing. “You’ve plotted a lot, haven’t you, Austin?”

If she had not been Robert’s sister and if they did get married, a present like this must aim to make it impossible for her to forget him.

People always clung to what they couldn’t have and wanted someone they couldn’t be together with. If, when you finally decided to drop it or let it go, then he suddenly came over and told you that he would be with you as long as you say yes, would you do that?

Austin stared at the smile in her beautiful eyes, swallowing a bit, “Yes, I must confess,” He kissed her on the lips, “Suny, I did want to be with you by all means.”

Again, he kissed her, but more vehemently.