ELDRICK ACCEPTANCE

After a long talk with his future son-in-law, Jacob told Eldrick to stay overnight. It was late and the man was tired too. The journey from Japan to Ireland took hours.

"I will stay here but tomorrow early morning I have to go home to say goodbye to my family. I can't wake Ozora in the morning. I want to see her face now," Eldrick said.

"Usually the girl is already asleep but you can see her," Jacob replied, giving permission to Eldrick.

Eldrick climbed the stairs and headed to his woman's bedroom. There were four rooms there. Luckily Eldrick knew Ozora's bedroom. Slowly, Eldrick's hand opened the door, he was afraid that the owner of the room would wake up. Jacob's guess was right, Ozora was asleep.

Eldrick sat on the edge of the bed and smoothed Ozora's messy hair. "You have a lot of pain all this time. I promise to make you happy. No more bad experiences to haunt you. I will help you heal from all your inner wounds and traumas. I really love you." El brought his lips to Ozora's forehead and for a few seconds he let his lip rest there.

"You must be tired. Sleep well." Eldrick gently caressed Ozora's cheek and then he went outside.

***

Eldrick only slept three hours. At 05.00 A.M, he immediately asked permission from Jacob and Rachel to leave the residence of his future wife.

"Be careful! Give my regards to your parents," Jacob said and then they hugged.

"From now on you have to learn to act like a son in my house. In three months you and Ozora will be married. Looks like you managed to subdue the stubborn Ozora," Jacob said again.

"I want to make her happy. Thank you for your support."

***

Rachel did not allow Daphnee or Daven to disturb Ozora's rest. After finding out what happened last night, Rachel would forbid her daughter to work.

"Oh my gosh! I woke up late." Ozora looked at the clock standing on the nightstand. It's 8 o'clock. "Why didn't he ask my permission? He is so bad," Ozora grumbled.

Before Ozora left, she would tie her hair, slowly but surely she started to change. Ozora took a comb, smoothed her curls and curled them into a round shape at the back of her head.

"Mom, is Eldrick gone?" Ozora hurried down the stairs. From a distance she was already screaming and asking for her future husband.

"Yes, honey. Eldrick didn't want to disturb your sleep, that's why he went without seeing you," Rachel replied.

"He is so bad! Do you know the time of his departure?" Ozora asked. She was determined to follow the man to the airport.

"He said the plane left at 10."

"At 10 o'clock?" Ozora was shocked. She wanted to leave so badly, making Rachel have to tug on the sleeves of her pajamas.

"Take a shower and get changed first. Are you going to the airport in your pajamas?" Rachel asked.

"I don't have time to shower," Ozora answered.

Hastily Ozora brushed her teeth, washed her face, and changed her pajamas into casual clothes. The clock was approaching 9. Ozora did not care if she could meet Eldrick or not, the important thing was that Ozora should try to catch him. Maybe the goddess of fortune was on Ozora's side.

Ozora pinned her feet with flip-flops and took Daven's car key from the key holder. "Mom, tell Daven that I'm borrowing his car," Ozora said hastily, making Rachel shake her head.

Ozora accelerated the car and occasionally looked at her watch. She also had to focus on seeing the road. Arriving at the airport, Ozora parked the car and rushed into the airport. Ozora phoned Eldrick's number but she did not get the answer.

"Please don't go! I beg you," Ozora mumbled.

The clock showed 9.45. If it's true that Eldrick left at 10, the man should have been in the waiting room or even on the plane.

"Why didn't you wake me up? why don't you say goodbye to me," Ozora said. For the first time Ozora cried in public. Usually Ozora would cry in her room, find a quiet place, or the last option was the toilet. But this time she allowed herself to cry on the metal bench and ignored the few eyes that were looking at her. Ozora cried and held her head with both hands and she bowed.

"Ozora, what are you doing here?" Eldrick asked. The voice made Ozora raise her head.

"El?" Ozora was surprised. She got up from her seat and wrapped her arms around Eldrick's back.

"What are you doing here?" Eldrick asked again, cupping Ozora's face.

"I want to see you. I am afraid you will leave me without saying goodbye to me," Ozora answered, looking into Eldrick's eyes.

"It's not in vain that I fell asleep," El replied, smiling at what he had regretted earlier.

"What do you mean?" Ozora asked, frowning and confused.

"After I left your house, I was very sleepy. I wanted to sleep half an hour before going to the airport but it turned out that I was sleeping so long. Finally I missed my flight," Eldrick explained.

They both laugh together. There was nothing to be regretted because Eldrick's negligence became an opportunity for Ozora.

"Are you hungry?" Eldrick asked.

"Yeah, I am hungry but I am ashamed to enter the restaurant. I didn't take a shower because I was in a rush to the airport," Ozora answered, smelling her body.

"It doesn't matter. Let's buy some food first," Eldrick replied and he held Ozora's hand.

After choosing a Japanese restaurant, both of them sat on the chairs. "Why did you follow me? We already agreed that we can't see each other for six months. Do you miss me so much?" Eldrick asked. He deliberately joked so that Ozora got annoyed.

"I made the condition so I have the right one to cancel it."

"Don't you want to part with me? If you accept my proposal without waiting a few months, both of us will go to Japan together," Eldrick asked.

"Of course I want you to go to Japan but I don't want you to go without seeing my face."

Eldrick was pleased to hear Ozora's answer. That meant that the woman had already given her heart to Eldrick.

"El, I want to tell you something. This is my past and you have to know about it," Ozora said. Suddenly, her cheerful face became serious.

"What do you want to tell me?" Eldrick asked. He leaned forward and his hands were supported by the round table that separated the two of them.

"You must be shocked because of my fear. Normal people don't scream like me when they are in a dark place. I will tell you everything," Ozorasaid. She had thought about this. As a future husband, Eldrick deserved to know everything.

"Honey, listen to me!" Eldrick held Ozora's hand which was on the table. "Whatever your past, I don't care about it. The important thing is you. I want you to be happy and prepare yourself to be my wife."

"But…."

"My family and I already know everything. It's no big deal. Don't think about it anymore!"

"How did you know? I have never told you," Ozora asked.

"Sorry, honey. I should have asked you directly but I had to know before I left, that's why last night I immediately asked your daddy. I want to know everything so that when we get married I can be a good husband to you."

"Why aren't you angry or disgusted with me? Sometimes I still feel like I am so dirty," Ozora asked.

"I will be angry if you refuse me to be your husband. Why am I disgusted? You are not trash to be shunned. You are Ozora Felysia. The only woman I fell in love with. You are very precious. Your past can not change my love."

"But…."

"Honey, just accept me as your husband."

"Yes. I will be waiting for you. I will prepare myself to be your wife," Ozora replied. She cried and sobbed.

Eldrick moved and hugged Ozora. "It's okay. We will be happy together."