"Will You Marry Me?"

Catherine woke up to the sound of Kyla's hair drier. As she rolled out of bed, Kyla hurled a pillow at her

"Oh...not again" Catherine said, but Kyla spoke on top of her voice.

"The princess is awake! Make breakfast for her Highness!" Catherine tried to stuff her ears with the pillows, but Kyla grabbed her.

"What now Kyla? I'm not in the mood for this today" she complained, but Kyla was indifferent.

"Weren't you invited?" She asked excitedly

"Invited?" The words rang out in Catherine's head

"What do you mean?" She asked trying to sit straight as Kyla let go of her. Kyla was taken aback.

"Didn't you get a message from Greg?" She asked reaching out to Catherine's phone, but Catherine was less concerned. She walked sluggishly to the bathroom and dunked her head into a basin filled with water.

"I don't get this" Kyla complained repeatedly punching the screen of Catherine's phone

"Don't beat yourself up Kyla, I didn't receive any invitation" Catherine yelled out to Kyla from the bathroom

"...but this is unlike Greg" Kyla thought to herself, but shrugged.

"I better get going then"

"Greg asked me to meet him at The Grains Restaurant, I promise I'll be back soon" she said to Catherine.

"Want me to drop you off?" Catherine asked emerging from the bathroom with her hair dripping wet. Kyla looked her over with a coy smile on her face.

"Never mind Cathy, you've got to take care of all that" she said focusing her gaze on Catherine's nipples that were piercing through her night dress.

"You silly creature!"Catherine exclaimed hurrying off to her wardrobe for a change, while Kyla laughed after her.

"See you soon love!" Bye!" She waved Catherine and hurried out of the room. She had no choice but to leave without Catherine's company. She had gotten so used to hanging out with Catherine that she almost forgot she was in a relationship with Greg.

Meanwhile, Catherine waited until it was dusk to visit a friend downtown. She was a little worried about Ryan since she had been expecting his call all day but got none. Nevertheless, she was determined to remain an understanding girlfriend.

"I guess he's really busy today" she said to herself in consolation as she dressed up in the simplest clothes by which she was often mistaken for a girl from an average home, but Catherine didn't care about what they thought of her status. She hurried on to the parking lot, but approaching her car, a guy, just about the same age as her, walked up to her

"Hey..." He said with a broad smile on his face.

"I'm Terrence" he said extending his hand for a shake. Catherine couldn't understand his intentions, but she wasn't going to leave his hand hanging there either.

"Catherine" she replied, as she took his hand.

"I already know that" he mumbled

"Did you say something?" Catherine asked but he said

"Do you mind?" He asked fixing his gaze at Catherine's car.

"You've got a pretty ride" he complimented

"Thanks" Catherine replied coldly, but he continued

"I think we are both headed towards the same direction, I was wondering if you could give me a lift" he said. Catherine was dumbstruck. She was itching to ask him how he knew where she was headed, but on a second thought, she dismissed the idea. Like he could read the thoughts on Catherine's mind, he said

"Don't panic, I mean no harm Cathy, I'm Ryan's friend" Catherine's face brightened.

"Really?" She asked

"Yeah" he replied with a smile

"...then I guess that settles it" Catherine said reaching out to her keys in her pocket.

It was a long drive, and neither of them made any effort to start a conversation with the other, but Terrence kept stealing glances at Catherine. Just when she turned to complain about it, his phone rang.

"Hello Nathan, what's up with your voice?" He asked when he had taken the call.

Catherine was determined not to listen in on his conversation, but Terrence's yell seconds later forced her to step on the brake pad without thinking about it.

"What?!"

"Where?!"

"What building?!" He yelled.

"W...what's going on?" Catherine asked worriedly, but Terrence gestured her to be quiet.

"He was shot?!" He yelled again gripping his jacket in fear. At the sight of him, Catherine almost passed out in anxiety but struggled to remain calm at least untill he was done with the call.

"Yeah, she's here with me..." He continued

"We'd be there soon" he said and finally hung up the call.

"What's going on Terrence?" Catherine asked

"W...who was it you were speaking to?"

"Who got short?" She asked breathlessly.

"RYAN" Terrence replied as he gripped Catherine's hand.

"N...no...n...no this is a prank right?" She asked visibly shivering

"Pull yourself together Catherine, we have to go to "Sky High" that's where he got shot" Terrence said

"Sk...sky High? You mean the building close to The Grains Restaurant?" Catherine asked.

"Yes...that's the one" Terrence replied.

"We have to take him to the hospital " he said.

"Shouldn't we call 911?" She asked again, but Terrence yelled.

"We don't have much time Catherine, let's get going" he said. Catherine didn't ask anymore questions, she drove at full speed to Sky High and dashing out of the car, she headed to the elevator with Terrence running closely behind her.

"Please... please... please" she kept saying as the elevator moved to the roof of the building. Getting there, she flung the door open oblivious of anything else around her.

"Why isn't anyone here?" She asked herself, but she had no time to ponder on her thoughts. She focused her gaze on the lifeless form beneath a white sheet with blood stains on it.

"R...Ryan?" She called out with a teary voice. She took a step forward, and bending over the sheet, she drew the covers away with shaky hands. Like magic, the roof was lit up making it possible for Catherine to see the actual thing that had been lying beneath the sheet...a big teddy bear! Catherine would have been relieved at the very least, but the bold letters "Will You Marry Me?" kept her in the state of shock and confusion. She picked out the card from the teddy bear's clutches and still shivering in fear, she stood to her feet. She looked around her and only then did she notice the decorations, the lightings, the romantic flowers that perfumed the whole place, and finally the glamorous looking man who was standing by the same door she had run in from few minutes ago. He was holding a bouquet of red roses in one hand, and in the other, he was clutching something Catherine couldn't see.

"R....R...Ryan?" She called out in confusion. He walked to her, and standing so close before her like he was going to plant a kiss on her lips, he took a knee.

"I thought I had it all..." He began

"...the wealth, the fame and recognition, but I didn't know how much my soul longed for a mate, someone capable of giving it the happiness that even riches and power are unable to give. I thought I had to sail the ocean or maybe soar high into the skies to find the perfect one but I didn't know that perfect one was always before my eyes, giving me all that makes me a man of ecstasy" he said

"Today, Cathy, I have become even more greedy, I do not wish to be a happy man alone, but to also remain in your Bossom; and that's why I have come to ask that you grant me this one wish." He paused, and taking Catherine's hand, he looked up to her, and locking her gaze in his eyes, he said.

"Please Cathy, will you be my forever?" He opened up the box he had been holding in his hand, and the diamond ring glittered in Catherine's eyes. She threw down the card she has been holding in her hand, as tears dropped from her eyes wetting her cheeks. She wasn't sure if they were tears of relieve that Ryan was alive or tears of joy that he was proposing to her, but either way, she knew that she had to make a decision right there.

"Y...yes" she voiced out

"I'll be your forever Ryan" A loud cheer from everyone who has been hiding, drowned her voice, almost deafening her. Ryan quickly adorn her finger with the ring and drew her into his arms in a warm embrace.

"Thanks Cathy" he whispered in her ears. Taking her face in the palm of his hand, he kissed every bit of Catherine's lips. As they smooched in the open, the others took pictures, while the famous band Ryan had secretly invited, started off with a romantic lyrics. The whole place was lit up immediately as fireworks were shot in the air. Kyla wiped a tear that had fallen from her eyes with Greg's handkerchief. He in turn took her hand in his and kissed the ring he had engaged her with hours before Catherine's engagement.