A Virgin for the CEO

19

Ruel was back the next day.

He was with a different companion.

It took a moment of argument before their mother invited him in because Tommy had reverted back to his three-year-old self, and he was told to stay in his room until the visitors had left.

Ruel basically repeated what he said last night when she told him again that she wasn't ready to accept suitors. He would visit her every time he was on his provincial vacation. And that he was not ready to give up.

"Your mother doesn't even know you're coming here," she said.

"I told her last night."

"What did she say?" she asked, a bit surprised.

"She said she respects who I chose to like and pursue."

"She isn't happy." That wasn't even a guess. Yna knew.

"Mom doesn't interfere in my personal life."

She didn't reply. There was something else.

She was in an elimination contest with him and a bunch of other students almost twelve years ago for a provincial meet type of contest. Each public school was given a chance to send a candidate per level and they were both competing for the grade three level. Ruel was one of the kids she had beaten in an elimination round for a contest.

It was her mother who actually still remembered how Mrs. Valerio complained and had their tests reassessed, using her clout in the board as a teacher. Her Mama said Mrs. Valerio tried to find a hole in every dot and crossed t's on her test paper until hers was qualified and Ruel's was eliminated. Since then, her mother never liked Ruel's mother.

Unfortunately, mothers didn't forget stuff like that.

And that was probably why she asked if his mother even knew he was here last night because his mother wouldn't have forgotten that, too.

"Arianna, I really, really like you. I have never liked anyone like you, and I guess that was one of the reasons why it took me too long to even approach you. You are one of the best students in our batch. My mother even respects you and likes you, too. When you had to withdraw from school after your father passed away, she was one of the teachers who worried about you. We all know how you carried the burden of being the eldest child without complaint. You're not someone who would go around looking for pity like others would. You worked hard and honestly. And you are so beautiful inside and out. I will be very lucky if you will fall in love with me."

"Ruel, you are flattering me too much, don't you think?" she couldn't even blush. If Ruel only knew what he was talking about.

If she was ever going to think of the possibility to be with a man, she would be with someone who knew nothing about her background. Someone who wouldn't question why she wasn't a virgin on her first night with him even though there was no news of her ever being with any boyfriend.

"I am not. You've always been humble."

"How could you even say that? You can't know me that much."

"I knew enough, I've liked you since we were young. My mother knew this. It's the reason why I would enter clubs you are included in and compete in competitions where you were at. She wasn't even surprised when she found out I am paying courtship to you now." He was grinning sheepishly. "My uncles agree and actually wanted to come play the guitar for me." His uncles knew students because most of his elders were educators. "Look, Arianna, there will be no problem with my family when you become my girlfriend."

"When?" she repeated.

This time, he blushed thoroughly. "If. If, not when."

"Ruel, I—"