Is this destiny?

Ron reminded everyone that dinner will be served at 6 PM and that until then they can enjoy themselves. Snacks and drinks are being served, there are a dancefloor and a band which takes requests, and the main level of the villa and the garden are available for exploring.

When they got off the stage, Zula gave him a hug. "You can relax now, you did great. I am proud of you."

"Thanks…" Ron responded and hugged Zula tightly with the hope that she will not see how nervous he is. But he is not nervous about what happened because his mind is totally on what is about to happen before dinner. He only hopes that he will not stumble over his words and mess up the proposal.

"Let's go out for a walk…" Ron suggested.

"I don't think you can. So many people are waiting to congratulate you…" Zula reminded him.

Ron snuck a glance to the side and exhaled. She is right. People are standing and eagerly looking his way.

Outside, in the garden…

Corey and Merve are sitting in the shade of a big oak tree and chatting.

Since their kiss in the art gallery, almost a month ago, the two of them acknowledged that they are dating, but other than a few times at the Cliffside Villa, they didn't see each other. And it was always with someone around, so there was no hugging or kissing involved.

This event is something like their first date as a couple. And now, that it's finally just the two of them, on the bench, hidden among bushes... neither of them knows what to do.

"Did you like Jeff's and Ron's speeches?" Merve asked Corey while trying to strike a conversation. They always spoke in a good mood, about anything and everything, so this silence is unusual and slightly uncomfortable.

Corey licked his lips nervously and took a deep breath before responding: "Honestly, I never thought that my life would turn out like this. For the first fifteen years of my life, it was me and my mom in a small apartment. My mom would tell me that I have a father who is an important figure, but that due to his situation he can't help us out and that I should never look for him. When I was young, I believed that my father is a super-soldier or a spy on a mission to save the world, and that he has a good reason for staying away from us. I was about twelve when I found out that my dad is in the same city, with another family… and that I have a brother and a sister he recognizes while I don't exist. They live in luxury while my mom is working two jobs to keep us afloat. The most confusing thing was that my mother never blamed him. She would always find excuses for everyone… even for the man who used her and then abandoned her, and me. At first, I was angry, but then I got determined to prove everyone wrong, especially my father. I made a vow to study hard and stay out of trouble so that one day he would acknowledge me. I had no idea that the one to take me in as family would be my Cousin Charlie. And other than helping me, he also punished my father and his other family. Thanks to Charlie, I can attend an elite school, and these events… and thanks to him I met you."

Merve blinked. She asked him if he likes what Ron and Jeff said, and he told her his life story. Just what is this?

Corey laughed at himself. "I know I'm talking a lot. I do that when I'm nervous."

"You are nervous?"

"Yeah…" He admitted and collected all his courage to ask: "Do you want to be my date for the prom?"

Merve didn't understand. "Prom?"

Corey realized that she does not know what that is. "For us who go to school in person, it's a dance party at the end of the year for seniors. And this is my last year as a high schooler, so…"

Merve smiled while thinking about how Corey is adorable. "You are nervous about asking your girlfriend to go with you to a dance party?"

"When you put it that way, it sounds silly. But I am nervous. Because I like you. A lot. And I fear that I will mess this up and..."

"I will go with you." Merve interrupted whatever he wanted to say next. "I will be happy to go with you, as your date. When is it? Is there a dress code? Should I bring something?"

Corey's face exploded in a smile when the information sank in: she will go with him! "Four weeks from now. The theme of the prom is 1920-ies so you will need a dress with frills and a headpiece with a feather and maybe a feather boa, and a beaded necklace. I will wear a suit like a gangster with fedora hat…"

Merve blinked. She had no idea what he is talking about. What's the thing about frills, feathers, beads, and gangster's suits? Is that how people dressed a hundred years ago? She needs to do research, and probably ask Sarah for help.

Corey was excited again, and he was still talking: "I will get you a wrist corsage and rent a limousine so that we go in style. Don't worry, I will handle those. You just keep the date open. I will send you details in the email…"

Corey was talking fast and Merve cupped his cheeks and kissed him on the lips.

"Relax. You are making me nervous." Merve said while inching away. "I like you too and I will not think bad of you even if things are not perfect."

Corey was staring at Merve and subconsciously, he licked his lips. 

After a few seconds of silence, Merve spoke: "I only wanted you not to be nervous. If I knew that my kiss would make you mute, I would not do it."

Corey's eyes flashed in mischief. "If you kiss me again, it might return me to a previous state."

Merve understood that he wants another kiss. "Will you go back to being a chatterbox?"

Corey smiled at her witty question. "No. Every kiss sets me to a random state, so you need to kiss me until it's perfect."

"It seems that you are not nervous anymore."

"I am. But my desire to kiss you is overpowering everything else." Corey leaned closer and their lips connected. A second later, his arms wrapped around Merve and they kissed like they are alone in the garden.

"Corey… someone will see us…" Merve said between kisses. A quick kiss is one thing, but this is so much more than that!

"No one cares…" He murmured and kissed her again.

Merve's arms snaked around his neck and she held onto Corey while responding to his kisses eagerly.

"Ha! What is this?"

Hande's voice came from the side, interrupting the kissing frenzy.

"You!" Hande glared at Corey. "Get your lecherous hands off from my sister and step away!"

Corey was stunned. He didn't know how to respond to this. Hande is giving him a death-stare and Ade is right next to her. And Hande's loud voice is attracting attention.

Merve frowned. "Why are you yelling? We are dating, this bench is well hidden in the bushes, and we were just kissing."

"Really?" Hande said with glee while crossing her arms over her chest. "I remember that I used to tell you that I'm dating Ade, but that didn't stop you from interrupting every time you saw us together and making a fuss because we are too close, too much touching, too inappropriate… and we were not even kissing then."

Merve blinked. "Does that mean that you are kissing now?"

Hande pressed her lips into a line. "That is not the point, is it?"

"What is your point?" Merve asked in defeat. She wants to pacify Hande so that she leaves and stops causing a ruckus.

"I want you to know how bad it feels when someone interrupts your special time with the person you love."

Merve exhaled. "Point taken. I'm sorry. I know that I was unreasonable."

Hande didn't expect an apology. Not so easily at least. "Well… fine. Don't do it again."

Merve looked after Ade and Hande who held hands and walked further in the garden.

"I'm sorry Corey, Hande can…" Her words stopped when Corey's lips covered hers. And they were back to kissing.

Several bushes away…

Hande plopped on the bench and huffed victoriously. She was happy that she gave Merve a taste of her own medicine.

Ade sat next to Hande and looked at her dreamily.

"What?" Hande asked.

"You said that when we are together… it's a special time with the person you love. Does that mean that you love me?"

Hande's eyes widened. How did her teaching Merve a lesson turn into a confession? But she can't lie.

"If I don't love you, I would not be your girlfriend."

Ade hoped that she will say more. "Really?"

Hande nodded. "We are together for three years, and we made a promise for three years in the future… that is six years. You don't spend so much time with a person you don't love."

"True." Ade said while his arms circled around Hande and he pulled her closer.

They gazed into each other's eyes, unaware that the distance between them is reducing. And then they kissed.

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