"Hello, author." Came Reagan's deep curty voice.

I did not know what to say.

I saw Maddie darted me a knowing look beside me.

Soft, nice music filled the air as guests continued eating.

"Do you really want to make them feel uncomfortable with me staring down at you?" Reagan asked in amusement, his hands on his pockets.

Reagan seemed to not mind when people in our table turned to look at him.

I sighed and turned to face Maddie.

"Excuse me for a couple of minutes, besh. I'll just talk to this guy." I said to her and Maddie nodded as she chewed on her food.

"Take your time, bru!" Maddie grinned at me when I stood up to follow Reagan.

Reagan just gave her a friendly wave then he grabbed my hands.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" I asked as I tried to pull my hand from his grasp.

"Holding you, in case, you tripped." Reagan answered simply.

I glared at him while he was leading the way out of the reception hall.

"What do you think of me? Stupid? Why would I get --oh shit!" I was complaining at him when I actually tripped on a stupid pebble which was at the middle of the walkway to the fountain that was on the other side of the reception hall.

I was waiting for my downfall when his arms caught me just in time.

"Told you." Reagan chuckled as he carried me, bridal style.

"Hey. Put me down! I just tripped!" I commented and started slapping his broad chest lightly.

He ignored me and carried me as we approached a styled bench not far from the fountain.

He helped me sat up and I mumbled my thank you.

I adjusted the skirts of my flowing dress before one of us started to talk.

"I missed you. A lot. " Reagan said and I met his eyes.

He sat beside me and right then and there, I know how much I missed his presence.

"I'm sorry if I wasn't able to communicate with you while I was away. I had a lot on my mind." Reagan said and looked in front of us.

"Why? Why did you have to do that? You got me worried!" I exclaimed.

I felt hot tears in my eyes and I wiped them away.

"There were things that I have to deal with while I was on that trip." Reagan said.

"What things? Why is it so hard for you to open up to me? When are you planning to let me enter into your life? " I said angrily and turned to face him.

"Ever since we were young, I never get to know any one in your family! I never get to know you at all! All we ever do was spend time together but I met no one from your friends or family! You just disappeared from my life just like that!" I continued with angry words. "Now, you will just return here like nothing happened? That anytime I will welcome you with open arms? Stop leading me on if you don't plan to stay with me until the end! Coz it hurts!! I'm so tired of all of it!"

I saw Reagan's shoulders shaking.

He was crying like I am.

"I'm sorry. I-I'm so sorry, Shai." Reagan pleaded and held my hands.

"I was sick. I was diagnosed with an illness and I took my chemotherapy while I was away. I wanted to live lo-longer. I want to grow old with you. I want to have a family with you." Reagan said, his voice hoarse from crying.

My eyes widened and my heart was shattered at his news.

He was sick.

And I was insensitive.

I was so stupid.

I did not even asked how he was feeling yet I ranted on him.

"Oh my gosh! I-I'm sorry." I cried and hugged him tightly. " How are you fe-feeling? Are you hurt anywhere?Are you alright?" I asked worriedly.

Reagan cried and pressed his lips on mine.

We were kissing when Maddie cleared her throat.

"Uh, sorry for the disturbance. But, we are needed inside. You can continue that later on.." Maddie said, loud enough for us to turn to her with reddened cheeks and ears.

"Uh, yeah. We'll come in later." I managed to say and Reagan held my hand.

"We're coming, Mads. Thank you." Reagan said, his eyes glistening both with joy and tears.

Maddie nodded and left us alone again.

"Uh.. this is awkward!" I can't help but to groan.

Reagan chuckled and pinched my cheeks.

"Come on. They might think we are doing something else." Reagan said and grabbed my hand as we returned to the venue.

Just like that, we are fine again.

Just like that, we resumed to our normal selves.

We promised to talk about it the next day and he promised to tell me everything from now on.

Clari's wedding night was a night to remember.

After the reception, we all went home and I thought that was the end of it.

But no, Reagan is up on his usual tricks again.

He proposed to me when I arrived in my unit!

He had everything prepared!

It turned out, he has asked Maddie for help and the latter gladly did.

I was still over the moon about the past events and my friends even in Grad School can see it.

They were joking about me being high on drugs and I just slapped Zena with such a bad joke.

They were even more surprised when they saw a ring on my finger.

At first, they wouldn't believe me but  when Reagan fetched me in Gradschool, they were amazed.

And what a small world it is!

Leni and Reagan knew each other!

She said Reagan was a friend of their common friend's fiance.

Wow!

Everything was indeed going smoothly.

Even the WINning SMASH is!

We are on the peak season where people just want to get cozy and read a good book or treat themselves into something sweet.

We became known in our city and my works also were being known across the globe.

Aside from book signings, I was also able to have a wide reach by having international followers and readers on Inknotes.

I couldn't ask for more.