Between Shades of Gray

XXVIII

"Hey Jennie, stop! Why are you so nervous? You're literally trembling!" Dinah strikes me in my arm.

I give her a deadly glare.

"I'm not trembling." I said in an indignant tone, which made her glare at me in return.

"Okay, God! I'm nervous okay? You can't blame me! I'm going to propose to Lisa, the one and only Lalisa Manoban! What if she says NO?"

I saw Dinah sigh, impatient and irritated at the same time.

"You're really thinking that she is going to say 'NO'? Come on! That girl is hopelessly in love with you."

"Well, we haven't talk about it yet. It had been three months since she went out of the hospital and I don't want to pressure her to marry me. I mean, I dropped hints before, telling her that she would be my bride. But she didn't exactly said yes to that."

Yes, it had been three months since Lisa and I live together as a couple. I really wanted to make it official with her with the sanctity of marriage but it makes me so damn nervous to ask her every single time. I mean, who wouldn't? I haven't gotten the ring yet. I want the ring to be special. I want to give her the best damn ring that I could afford. Well, I'm not rich like her family so I need time to save money for an engagement ring, let alone a wedding.

When my Mom arrived here three months ago, we talked about the wedding even though I haven't asked Lisa to marry me yet. They also told me that Mr. Brüschweiler offered to cover all expenses to our upcoming wedding but I refused. I remembered the conversation I had with him two months ago when he came to visit me at work.

*Flashback*

"Jennie, are you having cold feet in marrying my daughter?" He asks as soon as we were alone inside the doctor's office.

I blink, shock by his words.

"W-What? N-No. Of course not, Sir. I love your daughter with all my heart and there's nothing I wanted to do but to marry her and spend the rest of our lives together."

He smiles warmly at me that made me relaxed.

"You can call me Dad from now, sweetie. You really need to get use to it even before marrying my daughter" then he winked at me.

"Uhmm... Thank you... D-Dad." I said in a slight hesitation because the word 'Dad' has never had a good taste in my mouth from the day I was born. And saying it right now send shivers down to the bottom pit of my stomach. It really feel so good and I'm starting to love it. I can feel my cheeks burn.

"Well anyway, the reason I asked you that question is that... I am- well WE were wondering when would be the big day? Your Mom and us talked about it before. We were really expecting that you would be married last month but what I do not understand was, why haven't you proposed to Lisa yet?" he asked, his voice serious.

I cleared my throat. I completely understand him. Well, to be honest, I would like to marry Lisa as soon as possible but....

"I want to give your daughter a nice proposal, nice wedding, and also, I want to give her the best ring I could afford. I don't mean to be materialistic but I just want it to be extra special because she deserves to have the best of them all.

He nods in understanding.

"You know well that I could help you with that right? Money is not a problem-"

I cut him off.

"With all due respect sir, I really want to work for it. I already have the perfect ring in mind; I want it to be special. I just need more time to prepare."