One

I woke up from the beeping sound of the alarm beside my bed as an arm warped around me from underneath the covers. A head pressed at the nape of my neck, where soft lips kissed it repeatedly. I turned and looked at the first face I see every morning. The face of the man I love. With the alarm still beeping, he pulled me closer to him as he trailed his lips from my ear and slowly down my jaw line until he found my lips. The sound of the alarm was muted from the loud thumping of my heart as the kiss deepens. This was what heaven is like for me these days.

After a few minute of make out session, he turned off the alarm as he gave me a few minutes to catch my breath and calm my thumping heart. Before he finally got out of bed, he lean down and gave me one last kiss. I stayed in bed for a few minutes, replaying the scene again in my mind before getting up and prepare breakfast.

I've been with my lovely boyfriend, Daniel, for over a year and a half now. We met at an event which was a company charity gala. He works as a marketing representative at one of the companies who are present at the party. We sort of kick it off when he approached me - if i could remember I was by myself at the event - at the bar and offered me drinks. It was more on the business kind of approach at first, which turned into a personal approached when he asked for my number. And, turns out, he only talked business with me to get my number.

After a few months on being on a friendly relationship and going dates and coffee every other day during lunch, he finally asked me out. Thus, it ends that friendly relationship and a start of the romantic relationship, which lead into a real, serious relationship - like he-might-propose-any-minute serious relationship.

I've been hearing these hints for the past weeks, like when we pass by a jewelry shop and he said he like to see that ring in my finger. Or, that one time when we saw a movie, bride wars, where he said he would died laughing if I get a tan before my wedding. Well, that second part wasn't really a hint, him suggesting that we watch it was the hint.

So, I'm under watch and waiting for weeks until he pops the question. Nobody really knows about it except for my best friend/sister-in-law, Annette, who I had her vowed to not say a word to my older brother. This is one of the hardest thing having a best friend who is married to your only sibling, there weren't that much secret you can keep that a family member not knowing. I'm not really angry when Annette slips and tells him. It just proves that they're honest with each other. But, this one, I let her swear by her only original Prada bag, that she wouldn't tell my brother.

As I flipped the eggs in the pan, I was startled when Daniel suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist and whispered softly in my ear, "What's for breakfast?"

I sighed heavily and turned my head as I smelled his sweet after shower scent. Call me a pervert, but that scent is so intoxicating, you can't resist not smelling it. "Well, I made eggs, bacon and toast. Coffee will be done in five." I replied.

"You know, you'll make a great wife someday..." he commented as he let me go to get his glass, waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.

I slightly stiffen from his words; another sign that he was going to propose. I turned to look at him and smirk. "And, you're still not asking because..." I trailed off, my voice teasing and have a slight edge of challenge to it.

"I'm only waiting for the right moment." He replied nonchalantly as he poured himself some coffee after it finish brewing.

I eyed him, my eyebrow raised. He looked at me and smirked. And from the teasing glint in his eyes, I finally understood why he hasn't asked me yet. He wanted to catch me off guard when he finally asks the question. I smirked at this realization and turn my attention to the pan of eggs in front of me.

After I put breakfast on our plates, we were silent as we eat our food. For the rest of the morning, Daniel didn't anymore mention about the conversation we had about him not proposing. I thought about it for awhile as I shower silently in the bathroom, but pushed the thought at the back of my mind as I got dress and ready for work.

I grabbed my phone and unplug the charger as it vibrated. "Shoot!" I said as I saw what time it was. I was going to be late for my first, most important, might-be-a-promotion meeting. I half run in my dark blue Jimmy choo heels as I patted down my navy blue pencil skirt. I stopped by the mirror near the main door, checking for any stray hair and fixing my light green satin top, inserting it all in my skirt. After I was contented that I looked presentable, I got out of the apartment and half ran again downstairs to my second hand Chevrolet. Though it was a second hand, the car looked passable as a new car.

I drove and fought traffic as much as I can. When I finally reached the company building's parking lot, I fought on to get myself a parking space, which wasn't pretty. It involved a lot of yelling and cursing that could made any guy ran away from a relationship with me; and yes, I did such thing to keep other man's unwanted attention away from me. After finally parking my car, I half run to the elevator to the floor I work.

FACE magazine is one of the top fashion magazine companies with VOGUE, ELLE, COSMO, and many others. I've been working as one of FACE magazine's layout artist and designer for three years now. And last month, after hitting higher sales then we had before when I gave them the idea on featuring 'the woman of today', I was pointed one of the senior lead designer on the next month's issue. Do I feel the pressure? After two week on the project, and half of it done, I think I'm going to pass out any minute.

"Ms. Coleman, you have a message from a woman named, Nutella?" the intern/my assistant, Kate, asked, sounding unsure when I walked by her towards my office.

I turned to face her and got the post-it note from her hands. "Thank you, Kate." I said, unflinching. "Did Rick call? Is the meeting already starting?" I asked calmly, though my inside says otherwise.

"Not yet, Ms. Coleman. It's been pushed back until ten." She replied, looking sheepish.

"Okay, thank you Kate. Call me in my office ten minutes before the meeting starts." I said, nodding slightly and walked away from her before she could give me a reply.

When I got inside my office, I went directly to my seat and slumped down, felling drain. It is just nine in the morning and I'm already toast. I slapped my face lightly a few times and gathered myself. I looked at the note in front of me and smiled.

'Ms. Nutella called and asked if you are free for lunch. She asked to be called right away for an answer.' the note stated.

I got my Iphone from my bag and dialed her number; after which, in two rings, she picked up. "Why are you bothering me at work?" I asked before she could say anything.

"It isn't my fault you've ignored me for two weeks..." She replied, sounding hurt.

"Nutella? Really, Anne?" I asked, smirking at the name.

"You know I love Nutella, and it's boring if I say Hi this is Mrs. Coleman, her sister-in-law... So, I said, Hi this is Ms. Nutella, her chocolate sugar momma..." she said, chuckling at her own joke. I joined her, tsking at my best friend's weird sense of humor.

"Okay, chocolate sugar momma... I'll meet you later at the usual bistro across the street from here." I said, still chuckling as I play along.

"Well, see you later, my caramel honey..."she said giggling before ending the phone.

I laugh even harder at that and mouthed the word 'caramel honey'. She just have a weird world of her own, but it only broaden when she married my weird older brother, making her even more funnier than usual. Then, breaking my laughing moment, my phone rang with my older brother's picture, him and Anne wearing a matching pirate costume during last year's Halloween, flash in my screen.

"Hey, Tris..." I greeted as I answered the phone.

"Oh hey, my wife's caramel honey, how's it going?" he asked, chuckling at his own words.

"Were you listening to our conversation?" I accused, but smiled at the term Anne named me.

"It was hard not to hear when you are on loud speaker..." he stated, chuckling softly like he was standing away from the phone.

"Annette! Tristan! You guys are so...." I said, almost shouting, but stop when my assistant's head popped in by my door.

"Uhm... sorry for the intrusion, but the meeting would be starting in ten minutes..." she said sheepishly, trying not to smile but failed as her lips caved in.

I covered the phone and put it in my lap, "I'll be out in a second, thank you Kate." I said, back in business mode. After she was out of the room, I put the phone back in my ear only to hear a roar of laughter from the other end. "You guys are so in trouble." I said, tsking and ended the call. I gathered all the papers needed for the meeting and headed out as fast as I could.

After a solid two hours in the boardroom, suffocated with people who seriously need some sleep, which I'm still glad I have after having to lead my first important project, I felt relieved like a torn was taken out of my skin as I walked out that room. The only good news we had in that meeting was the model for our cover on next month's issue had approved and will begin shooting a few days from now. It would speed things up in another notch, but some of the article and column are still incomplete. Though it wasn't in my job description, it's still under my area - in terms of the layout on where to put it in the magazine. There was still a lot of work to do and two week to finish everything.

When I got to my office, and just a few minutes of catching my breath, my phone started to ring. The flash of Annette's name woke me up with a start which made me glance at my watch directly. I was twenty minutes late for our lunch date. It was an embarrassment that I was the one who was late being that the bistro was just across the street from where I work. I half ran and walked, grabbing my bag and my cell phone, as I texted Annette - since I was afraid to talk to her directly - that I was on my way.

I finally got to the bistro under ten, which is a new record for me since I'm always twenty minutes late prior to the time I realize I was late. I'm never a person who doesn't value time, but after I was appointed to this role last month, I've been slowly growing to such routine, which I think is awful.

"Before you lecture me and start shouting, it wasn't my fault that my boss couldn't differentiate a SJP messy outfit to Lady Gaga's normal day clothes. I mean, really? Their species alone is obviously different..." I stated seriously as I held up my hand to stop her from talking.

She smirked at my words as a soft chuckled followed through. "If I didn't love you so much, and wasn't my best friend/ sister-in-law that just have her first break, that excuse wouldn't work." she said, her eyes glistening with amusement.

"Well, I'm glad that's what you think of me..." I joked back, chuckling alongside her.

This was our normal routine. One of the things I love about our relationship was we both understand each other and can almost read each other's thoughts. It was weird, at first, that my brother told me that she like her. I couldn't really blame him for falling for my best friend who is so amazing and really flexible - that applies physically and mentality. Though, it gets awkward sometimes when you watch your brother and best friend doing gooey stuff in front of you. I'm fine with holding hands and a little smack in the lips, right after that, I'm gone. I don't ever, ever want to ruin my innocence on accounts of my thoughts about my brother and best friend as separate being. I'm still in slight denial that they are even married. I sleep better at night telling myself that they're not getting naked together. Shuddering from that thought, I turn my attention back to reality.

"So, how's work and everything?" I asked her after I gave my order to the waiter.

"Work is fine, and as for everything..." she started and trailed off, taking a sip from her lemonade drink.

"Is there something I should know about?" I asked after a few seconds when she didn't continue.

Annette ignored my question, her gaze lock on something behind me, and then her face lit up. "Hey! Bunny, over here!" she shouted, waving her hand wildly above her, which made a few of people, who were in ear shot, turn and look at her.

"Would you come down a little bit? People are looking..." I whispered at her urgently, reaching at her arm and tugging in down.

"Still the same, kill joy, little sister aren't we?" Tristan asked, walking up behind me towards Annette and kissed her forehead before taking the other seat beside her.

"You just have to come and ruin our girls lunch out, you always ruin it..." I said, frustrated to see his face. Though I love my big brother, there is line that which he shouldn't cross even though he was married to my best friend.

"You know me, Al... Besides, I know you miss me..." he stated, smirking, looking amused at my frustrated expression.

"I just saw you yesterday, Tris..." I stated monotonously, rolling my eyes.

"Still, it have been what? More that twelve hours?" he asked, trying to look like he was calculating the time we last met.

"Well... anyways... After I've been so rudely interrupted, what is it you're going to tell me Anne?" I asked, turning my attention back to my best friend and ignored my brother.

She looks at me, debating about something and look back at Tristan, like she was asking him to tell me what she couldn't say. As the silence and waiting went on, I was getting more curious and impatient. Then, I really looked at Annette for the first time. She looked different today like there was a glowing aura around her that seemed to linger in the air. For a moment, when I let it sink in, it finally clicked.

"You're pregnant?!" I asked a loud, slightly shocked but more surprise by it.

"What are you? a mind reader?" Annette asked, smirking at me her eyes filled with amusement.

"God! Congratulations! And here I thought my brother is incapable of reproducing..." I said, and reached towards her for a hug.

"Hey!" Tris shouted, looking offended by my comment. I gave him a wink when I let go of Annette.

"This is a celebration! I'll order us some wine... but, you'll not having any, just me." I said, and pause, directed the last words to Annette, who was beaming. "You're not having any wine also, Tris, since you'll be on baby and baby momma watch from this moment on." I added before Tristan interjected, asking for a glass of wine.

"Damn it. I knew you're going to say that..." he said, mopping slightly, but didn't last long since Annette kissed his cheeks.

During the whole course of the lunch, we talk about the baby. It turns out, she was already one month pregnant and didn't even know. She didn't have the normal symptoms, which consist of the morning sickness and nausea. But, she'd been having weird fruit craving lately, as per Tristan's report, which led them to call on for a check-up. Then, it turns out that the cause of her weird cravings is she was pregnant.

When we were finish eating our food, and in that moment, we were talking about the baby shower, my phone rings which made me glance away from Annette and Tristan. And in the process, I had to turn around and take my phone from my purse. In that short, fast moment, I notice someone I never would dream to see again. Well, it's not I didn't dream about it from time to time. It is a ridiculous possibility to see him again after eight years of no contact. And the last time I heard of him, he should be on the other end of the country from me. So, you'd probably guess my sudden overreaction to the situation.

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A/N:

Hey, Mel here. I'm going to thank first before all things... Thank you! And, uhm... This is my first work in writing something different in the Romance department. This is more mature in terms of character and situation than my usual works. And, if you are reading this and you might actually like it.. a vote and a comment would definately help me know if I'm doing this right...

Thanks again! I love to hear from y'all! ;D