Chapter 4

They all finished taking dinner and headed back to their rooms.

"Hey Julie, can I come in? To have a little talk with you?" Jason requested when Julie was opening her door.

" Please? I promise I won't take long." He asked again when he saw the hesitance in her face.

" Okay, come in. " Julie gave in when he pleaded.

"Thanks." He answered as he entered in. Grace and Geff who were watching  smiled happily when they say Julie allow Jason in.

"So what is it Jas? It's not the same issue I've been avoiding, is it?" Julie asked him after she had welcomed him to sit on the couch.

"I hate to admit, but it is." He answered her unapologetically.

" You don't really wanna stop. Do you Jason?" She was already getting irritated.

" Not unless I stop being in love with you Julie. " He said emphasizing the falling in love part.

" But I told you I don't feel same way Jason. Is that so hard understand? "  She answered feeling frustrated.

" I know that and it's not like I don't understand Julie. It's just that you keep on pushing me away not wanting to even give this a chance. Have you considered what would happen if you let us spend some good time together, have fun, interact closely and share deep conversations? You might start feeling the same way. Love grows Julie. Give this a chance and maybe if you don't still feel the same way, then I'll give up." He tried convincing her and for a moment she thought carefully about what he said. What if he was right? What if she gave this a chance and actually ended up feeling the same way? Should she try? After all Jason had been a long time friend and he knew everything about her. Her past relationships, the ups and downs she had gone through and all one had to know about her. His parents even knew her as a friend to Jason and she sure didn't have to worry about being rejected by his parents or Jason himself due to her state of being a single mom. She also knew almost everything about him. She didn't have to worry about his character since he was someone you could get comfortable with. He was a good man with a good personality in general. Just that she didn't have this feelings.

"Julie talk to me. Say something." Jason said to her when she went silent into a deep thought.

"It's okay then. I'm giving this a chance so we can see if I can feel the same way. If I do, then well and good, if I don't then it isn't my fault. But remember that me giving this a chance doesn't mean I'm committed to it. It's only until I start feeling the same way that we can take it to the next level,okay?" She agreed giving it a chance but warned him that it didn't mean she was dating not unless she was sure about herself.

"Thanks Julie. You don't know what this means to me. I promise you that you won't regret this." Jason told her felicitously.

" Don't get too excited Jason. I'm also praying about it. So if I feel like God doesn't want me to do it, then I might as well reconsider my decision." She told him seriously.

" It's okay Julie. I understand but as for now, let's give it a try. I have faith that you'll feel the same way. I really do." He hopefully said.

" Better make that your prayer item lest you be disappointed. And now that we're done can I sleep please?" She said suggesting that he had to be heading out.

" It's okay dear. I'm happy that you've considered this. Come give me a hug so I can leave." He said standing up and Julie stood up too to give him a hug. That couldn't hurt right? If she was giving it a chance then she shouldn't be stubborn. Not that they had never hugged but this time they were hugging each other as something like an item, though they weren't sure of what they were.

"Goodnight Julie." Jason said kissing her forehead.

"Goodnight Jason." She replied smilling.

In the next room, Grace and Geff were getting ready to sleep. Grace had been thinking of what Julie had mentioned earlier on their travel about them dating for so long. It had kept disturbing her mind and she thought it was wise if she talked to Geff about it.

"Hey babe. I wanted to talk to you about something." Grace told Geff.

" What's it babe?" He asked looking at her. He knew that tone. Sometimes it meant trouble, sometime it meant serious business. He just hoped it wasn't trouble.

"I've thinking about what Julie said about us dating for a long time and not planning anything about marriage, you know. I think she is right. The longer we take, the higher chances of breaking up. Don't you think we should do something?" She asked feeling weird that she had to be the first one to talk about marriage instead of him. However, she had to since she deeply loved him and didn't want to loose him. She always saw a future with him.

"What makes you think that the longer we take, the higher chances of breaking up Gee?" He questioned her wondering what had gotten into her all over sudden. She had never talked to him about them settling down and he was wondering if she was always worried about it.

"Nothing,I just feel like we've dated long enough and since both of us are financially stable then we can consider settling down." She answered hoping that Geff would get her point and put in action.

"I see, but I haven't given you a reason to feel that I'm gonna leave you Grace. Have I really?"  He asked pulling her close to him.

" No you haven't but....."

" No buts babe. Just relax and stop letting your mind go wild with Julie's words. We will settle when the time is right. We've got no pressure now, do we?" He asked cutting her short so she couldn't continue talking.

"No we don't." She answered sighing in frustration. What Geff was speaking wasn't helping. She just wanted him to assure her that they were going to get married, which he still didn't mention it.

"Or, are you not satisfied with how I treat you babe? I treat you right, don't I?" He asked again.

" Yes you do and I'm grateful for that. Just that I don't see what is stopping us from settling down." She insisted. She wanted to hear his assurance about it, otherwise she wouldn't stop worrying.

"Grace for goodness sake. Where is this pressure suddenly coming from. It's not like I want to leave you. Oh, wait, or do you want to have children? I heard there is a certain age where women tend to crave for kids. We could get you pregnant if that's the case?" He questioned with a serious tone.

" Damn Geff. You can't be serious now. Really?" Grace rolled her eyes at him unbelievably.

" Yeah, I'm serious. And if that's what you want I can gladly give it to you." He answered.

" You are unbelievable. So you can gladly get me pregnant but hesitate to settle down with me? Jeez, Geff what a joke!" She said feeling hurt and exasperated.

" That's not what I meant babe. I'm just trying to figure out where the pressure of settling down came from." He said trying to calm her down.

" It's fine, I don't want to get pregnant okay? I don't want to give birth outside marriage. So that's not it!" She answered almost screaming at him.

" Okay, I get it. Calm down then. How about we talk about this after this trip? We'll sit and talk about the marriage thing then. Please?" He begged her.

" So you want to postpone it now?" She asked him doubting that they were ever going to talk about it after the trip.

"I'm not. I just don't want us to be giving each other pressure instead of enjoying our time here. Please understand that babe." He kept on convincing her to let it go.

" You really don't get it Geff. Do you?" She smirked at him wondering why he just didn't want to assure her that he was going to marry her. Only that sentence from him was going to make her stop worrying too much. Only that she couldn't ask him that but she wanted him to say it.

"I get it Grace. I love you and I haven't given you any reason to doubt that. I'm committed to you and you are my number one. So I don't get it why suddenly you had to worry about this marriage thing yet I've told you time will come and so we don't have to pressurize ourselves. Babe can you please know that I love you and stop worrying? " He explained hoping she would understand and let go of the topic.

" Okay then. As you say. Goodnight babe." Grace said laying down so she could sleep. Geff didn't seem to convince her but since she didn't want to spoil the mood of their awesome trip, she just had to give up. Maybe they were gonna  revisit it sometime later.

"Goodnight to you babe. Thanks for understanding." He answered pulling her into his arms kissing her lips lightly.