One Road, Six Ways

One Road, Six Ways - Part 30

Herman did not knew what to answer when Luisa asked him a question he did not anticipated. 

"When will you ask me to marry you?" Luisa repeated her question to Herman.

Herman did not answered Luisa. On the sign board along the highway he saw that about 100 meters farther there's a strip which he can park his car, so he turned his car to parked there. When he parked the car, he looked at Luisa. 

"Luisa I was surprised. Why you ask me that question?" 

"Oh, you mean that you never thought about marrying me?" from the voice of Luisa one can heard a kind of disappointment. 

Herman laughed. "You crazy girl, of course I had the thought of marrying you. Why you said such nonsense!" 

"Are you sure you had the thought of marrying me?" 

"Yes!"

"And why did you not asked me?"

"Luisa, marriage is a big commitment, is a big responsibility!"

"You mean, you are not yet ready to marry me?"

Herman did not answered Luisa. He thought good what Luisa asked him. He started his car to continue driving to Rotterdam after he said to her, "Luisa, we have to talk seriously but wait until we arrive on my apartment."

It's almost midnight when they arrived in Rotterdam. When they were inside the apartment, Herman noticed that Luisa was again very silent.

"Now we can talk seriously, but first coffee?" Herman broke the silence of Luisa.

"I will take tea." Luisa answered.

"Come, we sit in the kitchen. We drink our coffee and tea there and talk." Herman suggested. 

"Okay." Luisa agreed and they entered the kitchen. Herman prepared their drink, Luisa sit by the table and quietly just looked at him.

"Luisa, Schat, please listen and understand me. I know by myself, and I am very sure about it, I really want you to be my wife." Herman was very serious. "But I think you deserve to know who am I, and me to know who you are."

"Well, there's nothing much to tell you about me. I am from the Philippines, we were poor, and we always have no food on the the table. I have two brothers and one sister, my father's work as income was to gather empty plastic bottles on the street, my mother washed clothes of other people to help my father, and me? I am here, still struggling, still seeking that sunlight of good fortune. I'd promised my father a good life but he's gone!" Luisa tears fall down on her cheeks as she remembered her father who died by an accident on the street.

"Schat." Herman stood up and came sit down near Luisa. He put his arms around her shoulder. "Please accept that your father was now in Heaven, released from all his problems in earth."

"I tried to forget everything. When sorrows came across my mind and heart I always suppressed it with thoughts that tomorrow everything will be okay. I always managed, especially these few days past because in between I found happiness, yes, I am very happy with you!" sniffing, Luisa said it to Herman and it touched Herman. He felt an ache inside his heart. He felt pity to Luisa. Herman thought, did Luisa considered him as the sunlight of good fortune to her? But he knew too and he really felt it, Luisa's affection to him was real, very real.

"Schat, I am very glad and happy to hear from you that you are happy with me. I don't know and was very surprised when you asked me about when will I ask you to marry me."

"I am sorry, I don't have to ask you that, it's too early, I am ashamed, seemed I am in a hurry!" Luisa excused herself.

"No-no, I am happy you asked it me but you know I think I have to tell you something about me." Herman said and looked Luisa directly in her eyes. "Maybe you had asked yourself what I do for a living, where are my family."