Chapter 17: I’ll Try
Another night of troubled sleep for Ana.
She was rattled with questions and confusion about Christian and his offer. It was very business like, a job offer, with set hours, a job description and corporal punishment in the contract.
She knows she wants romance in the very first relationship she will be in but she knows that he doesn’t do romance. Would she have the guts to ask for more? Would she lose him if she asks for more?
----
Mint and Ana get ready for their graduation. Mint left early since she is the valedictorian and needs to get ready for her speech. Ana’s step father Nirut came by to take her to the university.
She is nervous. Christian is supposed to be there at her graduation, giving commencement speech. She looked around the hall to find her seat. Then she looked around for Mint and Christian. They are on the stage.
He is so handsome and he is wearing that tie! Ana blushed remembering how he used it on her and she is sure that he is wearing that particular tie on purpose. Then she noticed he is calmly searching the hall just with his eyes, not giving much away ….. for her. When their eyes met, there was a faint smile and he is focusing back on the ceremonies with a serious face.
Graduation ceremony continued and Ana realized why Christian is so serious about food and why he hates wasting food. In his speech, he mentioned that he knows what’s it’s like to be profoundly hungry and that the feed the hungry program he founded at the university and donating to feed the hungry is a personal journey for him.
Ana froze. She didn’t know….. her mind wondered back to their interview. His public records showed that he was adopted by the Kugimiyas at age 4. Her heart aches as the thought of a young Christian being hungry before he was saved by the Kugimiyas.
Ana went though the ceremony, accepting her degree and her honors. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA. The ceremony seemed to take forever. Then Mint came over and get Ana….
Mint: “Christian sent me to get you…. seems like he wants to talk to you”.
Ana: “oh…. Thanks Mint”.
Ana followed Mint to where Christian is, speaking with the chancellor and a group of professors from Chula.
Christian: “Excuse me, gentlemen” and he thanked Mint.
He pulled Ana along to a changing room area back stage. He checked first then locked the door.
Christian: “Why haven’t you email or text me back?”
Ana: “Why? I haven’t been online or check my phone. Reception is poor here”.
Christian: “I was worry about you”
Ana: “Why?” she found herself repeating….
Christian: “Because you went home in that very unsafe looking mini”.
Ana: “Don’t worry, it’s safe. If you were worry, you could have called”
Christian is now looking impatient. His voice is still soft yet firm with his request.
Christian: “Anastasia, I need an answer from you. All this waiting around is driving me crazy. Can you let me know? By tomorrow?”
Ana: looks at him and say, “I better go… I left my step father on his own”
Christian: “Anastasia?”
Ana: “Yes, tomorrow. I’ll tell you by tomorrow”.
Christian: “Are you staying to celebrate in the main ballroom?”
Ana: “Don’t know yet. Up to Dad”
Christian: “I’d like to meet him”
Ana: “Um….” “I don’t know”
Christian: “Are you ashamed of me?”
Ana: “no. no. I just don’t know how to introduce you as” and he smiled now… seemed a little more relaxed.
Christian: “Just tell him I am your friend”, and he opened the door. They left in separate directions. Ana to her step dad Nirut, Christian to the group of university professors.
Ana and Nirut walks over to the main ballroom where they are serving drinks and pass around hors d'oeuvres. They get a glass of wine each and Ana hears her name being called. It’s Mint’s big brother Alex.
Alex: “Ana! Congratulations” he hugs her.
Ana: “When did you get back? And how was Europe?”
Alex: “This morning… couldn’t miss my little sister’s graduation” he still has arms around her….
Ana: “you are such a good big brother” and sees that Mint is walking towards her smiling, Christian besides her. He doesn’t seem amused.
Mint: “Hello Khun Paw Nirut” and wai at him. “Have you met Ana’s boyfriend? Christian Kugimiya”
Ana almost fainted. She is pale. How can Mint do that?
Christian: “Khun Nirut” and they shook hands.
Ana was observing both men. They were both cool and calm, especially her step-dad with the news.
Christian: looks sweetly at Ana and says softly “Ana” and he held out his hand.
Without a thought, Ana moved from being next to Alex to Christian holding his hand.
Mint is smiling now. Ana knew what her BFF is thinking ….. Mint thinks she is helping her. They chatted for a while and Mint and Alex excused themselves to go and mingle with the graduates. Ana went to get a glass of sparkling water and saw Mint by the bar.
Ana: “How can you out me to Khun Paw about Christian?”
Mint: “Because I know you would never do that…. I was trying to help with you and Christian”. She smiles a proud smile at Ana. “Don’t worry. He seems rather pleased to me….. he can’t take his eyes off you” they looked at the men’s direction. “He watches you like a hawk”. Ana blushes.
Ana went back to her step-father and Christian who are now talking about fishing and boating.
Nirut: “Ana, where is the men’s room?”
Ana: “around the corner” and he excused himself in that direction.
Ana and Christian now side by side stares at each other until a photographer interrupts them. He requested to photograph and Ana tried to move away but Christian pulled her next to him and they take a picture together. She is all nervous now in his arms. Photographer thank them and left.
Christian: “You are such a beautiful girl Anastasia” he compliments her.
She is now bright red.
Ana: “so, I see that you’ve charmed my fater as well”
Christian: “As well?” his eyes sparkle with amusement.
Her heart is beating fast now. She can’t think of anything at the moment but him.
Christian: “I wish I knew what you are thinking, Anastasia” says quietly while looking in her eyes.
Ana: whispers “right now, I am thinking “nice tie” and smiles.
Christian: “”it recently become my favorite” he smirks now and she feels her face getting hotter.
They are in their own world in this grand ballroom. They are in their little bubble. Just the two of them.
Christian: “You know it’s going to be good, don’t you, baby?” he whispers. The endearment makes her melt…
Ana: “but I want more” she murmur.
Christian: “More?” he is now looking and searching for answers in her eyes.
Ana nods, unable to speak.
Christian: “more” he repeats quietly. He is testing the word and the meaning….”you want hearts and flowers” as he reach over to cup her face gently.
Ana nods again. She can’t tell what he is thinking….
Christian: “Anastasia” he gently says her name…. “It’s not something I know”
Ana: “me, either”
Christian: smiles a soft smile “you don’t know much”
Ana: “you know all the wrong things”
Christian: “Wrong? Not to me” he looks straight in her eyes…. She is lost in them. “Try it” he whispers.
Ana: cannot resist and whispers back after a moment of silence, “ok”.
Christian: “what?” he is now alert… .full attention on her.
She is breathless.
Ana: “Ok, I’ll try”
Christian: “you are agreeing?” disbelief in his voice….
Ana: “yes, subject to soft limits…. But yes. I’ll try. I’ll try - for you”
Christian can’t hide his happiness…. He hugs her tight. She felt at home in his embrace. He whispers softly in her ears,
Christian: “oh Ana, you are so unexpected. You take my breath away”.
---
Another night of troubled sleep for Ana.
She was rattled with questions and confusion about Christian and his offer. It was very business like, a job offer, with set hours, a job description and corporal punishment in the contract.
She knows she wants romance in the very first relationship she will be in but she knows that he doesn’t do romance. Would she have the guts to ask for more? Would she lose him if she asks for more?
----
Mint and Ana get ready for their graduation. Mint left early since she is the valedictorian and needs to get ready for her speech. Ana’s step father Nirut came by to take her to the university.
She is nervous. Christian is supposed to be there at her graduation, giving commencement speech. She looked around the hall to find her seat. Then she looked around for Mint and Christian. They are on the stage.
He is so handsome and he is wearing that tie! Ana blushed remembering how he used it on her and she is sure that he is wearing that particular tie on purpose. Then she noticed he is calmly searching the hall just with his eyes, not giving much away ….. for her. When their eyes met, there was a faint smile and he is focusing back on the ceremonies with a serious face.
Graduation ceremony continued and Ana realized why Christian is so serious about food and why he hates wasting food. In his speech, he mentioned that he knows what’s it’s like to be profoundly hungry and that the feed the hungry program he founded at the university and donating to feed the hungry is a personal journey for him.
Ana froze. She didn’t know….. her mind wondered back to their interview. His public records showed that he was adopted by the Kugimiyas at age 4. Her heart aches as the thought of a young Christian being hungry before he was saved by the Kugimiyas.
Ana went though the ceremony, accepting her degree and her honors. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA. The ceremony seemed to take forever. Then Mint came over and get Ana….
Mint: “Christian sent me to get you…. seems like he wants to talk to you”.
Ana: “oh…. Thanks Mint”.
Ana followed Mint to where Christian is, speaking with the chancellor and a group of professors from Chula.
Christian: “Excuse me, gentlemen” and he thanked Mint.
He pulled Ana along to a changing room area back stage. He checked first then locked the door.
Christian: “Why haven’t you email or text me back?”
Ana: “Why? I haven’t been online or check my phone. Reception is poor here”.
Christian: “I was worry about you”
Ana: “Why?” she found herself repeating….
Christian: “Because you went home in that very unsafe looking mini”.
Ana: “Don’t worry, it’s safe. If you were worry, you could have called”
Christian is now looking impatient. His voice is still soft yet firm with his request.
Christian: “Anastasia, I need an answer from you. All this waiting around is driving me crazy. Can you let me know? By tomorrow?”
Ana: looks at him and say, “I better go… I left my step father on his own”
Christian: “Anastasia?”
Ana: “Yes, tomorrow. I’ll tell you by tomorrow”.
Christian: “Are you staying to celebrate in the main ballroom?”
Ana: “Don’t know yet. Up to Dad”
Christian: “I’d like to meet him”
Ana: “Um….” “I don’t know”
Christian: “Are you ashamed of me?”
Ana: “no. no. I just don’t know how to introduce you as” and he smiled now… seemed a little more relaxed.
Christian: “Just tell him I am your friend”, and he opened the door. They left in separate directions. Ana to her step dad Nirut, Christian to the group of university professors.
Ana and Nirut walks over to the main ballroom where they are serving drinks and pass around hors d'oeuvres. They get a glass of wine each and Ana hears her name being called. It’s Mint’s big brother Alex.
Alex: “Ana! Congratulations” he hugs her.
Ana: “When did you get back? And how was Europe?”
Alex: “This morning… couldn’t miss my little sister’s graduation” he still has arms around her….
Ana: “you are such a good big brother” and sees that Mint is walking towards her smiling, Christian besides her. He doesn’t seem amused.
Mint: “Hello Khun Paw Nirut” and wai at him. “Have you met Ana’s boyfriend? Christian Kugimiya”
Ana almost fainted. She is pale. How can Mint do that?
Christian: “Khun Nirut” and they shook hands.
Ana was observing both men. They were both cool and calm, especially her step-dad with the news.
Christian: looks sweetly at Ana and says softly “Ana” and he held out his hand.
Without a thought, Ana moved from being next to Alex to Christian holding his hand.
Mint is smiling now. Ana knew what her BFF is thinking ….. Mint thinks she is helping her. They chatted for a while and Mint and Alex excused themselves to go and mingle with the graduates. Ana went to get a glass of sparkling water and saw Mint by the bar.
Ana: “How can you out me to Khun Paw about Christian?”
Mint: “Because I know you would never do that…. I was trying to help with you and Christian”. She smiles a proud smile at Ana. “Don’t worry. He seems rather pleased to me….. he can’t take his eyes off you” they looked at the men’s direction. “He watches you like a hawk”. Ana blushes.
Ana went back to her step-father and Christian who are now talking about fishing and boating.
Nirut: “Ana, where is the men’s room?”
Ana: “around the corner” and he excused himself in that direction.
Ana and Christian now side by side stares at each other until a photographer interrupts them. He requested to photograph and Ana tried to move away but Christian pulled her next to him and they take a picture together. She is all nervous now in his arms. Photographer thank them and left.
Christian: “You are such a beautiful girl Anastasia” he compliments her.
She is now bright red.
Ana: “so, I see that you’ve charmed my fater as well”
Christian: “As well?” his eyes sparkle with amusement.
Her heart is beating fast now. She can’t think of anything at the moment but him.
Christian: “I wish I knew what you are thinking, Anastasia” says quietly while looking in her eyes.
Ana: whispers “right now, I am thinking “nice tie” and smiles.
Christian: “”it recently become my favorite” he smirks now and she feels her face getting hotter.
They are in their own world in this grand ballroom. They are in their little bubble. Just the two of them.
Christian: “You know it’s going to be good, don’t you, baby?” he whispers. The endearment makes her melt…
Ana: “but I want more” she murmur.
Christian: “More?” he is now looking and searching for answers in her eyes.
Ana nods, unable to speak.
Christian: “more” he repeats quietly. He is testing the word and the meaning….”you want hearts and flowers” as he reach over to cup her face gently.
Ana nods again. She can’t tell what he is thinking….
Christian: “Anastasia” he gently says her name…. “It’s not something I know”
Ana: “me, either”
Christian: smiles a soft smile “you don’t know much”
Ana: “you know all the wrong things”
Christian: “Wrong? Not to me” he looks straight in her eyes…. She is lost in them. “Try it” he whispers.
Ana: cannot resist and whispers back after a moment of silence, “ok”.
Christian: “what?” he is now alert… .full attention on her.
She is breathless.
Ana: “Ok, I’ll try”
Christian: “you are agreeing?” disbelief in his voice….
Ana: “yes, subject to soft limits…. But yes. I’ll try. I’ll try - for you”
Christian can’t hide his happiness…. He hugs her tight. She felt at home in his embrace. He whispers softly in her ears,
Christian: “oh Ana, you are so unexpected. You take my breath away”.
---
