CLOSE TO YOU

“Are you ready?” I entered the bedroom and saw May standing in front of the mirror in a black lacy underwear.
“Is that what you’re wearing?” I grinned, the approval of seeing my girlfriend in such a sexy underwear making my heart race.
“You don’t like it?” Her face fell.
“Is there anything on here that says I don’t?” I pointed to the big smile that hasn’t left my face since I saw her.
“The tone of your voice and your expression don’t match,” She smiled.
I walked closer and wrapped one arm on her waist, my thumb drawing a straight line on the side of her flat belly.
“Why are you so hard?” She frowned and then poked my chest.
“Vest,” I laughed, my face warming up from the double entendre.
“Ah,” The dimples on her cheek deepened.
I nuzzled my nose on her neck eliciting a slight gasp.
“We cannot be late,” She whispered in my ear but her resistance was weak.
I moved my lips lower till I reached her chest.
“Ai,” May’s hand was behind my neck, pulling me closer to her body.
“The tone of your voice and your soft moans don’t match,” I teased.
She placed both hands on my face and then pulled me away.
“This award is a big deal,” She looked straight into my eyes.
“I know but,” I raised my wrist to check on my watch.
“We got plenty of time,” I lifted her on the dresser before she could refuse.

Six months passed since I returned to Bangkok.
When I told my grandmother that I would be working for May, she was relieved.
“I love you, Ai-oon, but you’ve been driving me crazy with your non-stop puttering around the house.”
“Will you be okay here by yourself?”
She was in my bedroom, watching while I packed my suitcase for my trip.
“Don’t worry. I will hire someone to help. We are getting busier but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. Now, go be with May. She’s been waiting a long time for you.”

I rented a one-bedroom apartment but unlike before when I didn’t bother to buy furniture, this time I made an effort to make the place cozier.
I bought a small couch with soft cushions and more than one pair of utensils for when May drops by to spend the night.
I even purchased plates and bowls.
It felt like I was being an adult, growing roots in one spot.

My place was closer to her office.
When she worked late and was too exhausted to go home, we shared the double bed that took up most of the space in the bedroom.
She had her clothes in the small closet and a toothbrush in the bathroom.
Her make up and skin care products lined the sink.
May made me feel that there were two people living in this apartment.
It felt good to know that someone loves me.

“Why do you still live in your own apartment?” Oom and I were at the cafeteria one afternoon.
Her plane just landed from Beijing and she wanted to see me.
My sister looked radiant despite the long hours of work.
“Where am I supposed to live?”
“May hasn’t asked you to move in with her?”
“She hinted at it but I like having my own space.”
“P’Ai,” Her shoulders sagged, dissatisfaction written all over her face.
“How long are you going to keep her waiting?”
“Waiting for what?”
“You know? Aren’t you planning on asking her to marry you?”
“I do but I’m waiting for the right time.”
“Goodness. How long is that going to take? When you’re both too weak to walk down the aisle?”
“She’s been busy with this high profile case. May barely has time to eat.”
“Is this the one about the woman who was going to divorce her husband but was accused of killing him?”
“Yes. That one.”
“Damn. No wonder she has to time. The guy’s family is wealthy and influential, right?”
“Yes. But May has strong evidence against the guy’s brother. I have no doubt she’s going to win this one.”
“I know she would but it still doesn’t change the fact that you have to do something about that ring that has been burning a hole in your pocket.”
“She’s very stressed about this case. I don’t want to add more to her plate.”
“P’Ai,” She grabbed my hand on the table.
“Asking her to marry you will take all her worries away. Trust me.”

I went back to the office with Oom’s words hanging over my head.
I love May with all my heart.
There was no doubt about that.
She felt the same way about me, showing it in so many ways.
But for the past month, this case took all of her time and energy.
There were moments when she’d fall asleep on the drive to her house.
When she stays in the apartment, she would go straight to the bedroom to change but when I come in to check on her, she’d be lying in bed fast asleep still in her work clothes.
I had so many attempts to ask her to marry me but I put off doing it because it was clear she needed to focus on this trial.
But even after it was over and she won the case, I still couldn’t make a move.
May received an invitation to an awarding for the humanitarian work she had been doing to help the underprivileged.
The proposal had to wait.

“Are you okay, Ai?”
I took my eyes away from the road to look at May.
The faint tint of blush was still on her cheek.
I made love to her on top of that dresser and the glow on her face made her even more beautiful.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“You haven’t said a word since we left the house.”
“I’m just concentrating on getting you to the event in one piece.”
“Oh, you will. I have no doubt about that,” She placed a hand on my thigh.
I glanced at May, her eyes shining with glee.
May wanted to make love to me but when I checked my watch, it was time for us to go.
I told her I could wait.

“Is there anything you want to do after the awarding?”
“Let’s go for a ride. If you have the energy for it.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Here and there,” I grinned.
“Okay. We haven’t done that in a while. I miss it.”
“Perfect.”

The event was at a hotel and it was hosted by a prestigious human rights organization.
When May was introduced, the guests gave a standing ovation.
I was so proud of all the work she did and her advocacies.
May was tireless and didn’t let fear and intimidation hinder her from doing more.

When the ceremony was over, I stood close by and waited for people to finish with their congratulations.
She walked over to where I was and hooked one arm on mine.
“Take me away from here, please?”
“As you wish, Princess.” I held her hand as we walk down the corridor to the elevators.

The streets were empty when we went for a ride.
May’s hands were on my waist and she leaned her head on my back.
The warmth of her body seeped through the thin fabric of my jacket providing comfort to my restless heart.
Seeing her tonight, in front of all the people who admired her courage and passion for justice gave me the push I needed.
I took her to a hill overlooking the view of the city.

“What are we doing here?”
“Isn’t it beautiful?” I looked at the bright lights twinkling like stars.
“It is.”
“I used to come here when the city gets so loud and overwhelming. I would watch the lights till the beating of my heart gets calmer.”
“What makes your heart race, Ai?”
I looked at her finally finding the opening I needed to say what I’ve been keeping for weeks.
“You.”
I stepped closer and held her hands that were now a little cold.
“May, I have never met someone like you.” I began.
“I miss you even though we’re in the same room, sharing the same space, breathing the same air. I love you so much that the days are painfully longer when we’re not together. You are the one for me and I want to be with you for the rest of my life,” It was at this point when I got down on one knee.
“Will you marry me?”
My heart was so big it felt like it was going to burst out of my chest with every second passing by.
I knew she felt the same way about me but I wanted to hear her answer.
“Yes,” Her voice shook and then the tears fell.
I released a shaky breath as I opened the blue box and with quivering hands, slipped the brilliant round diamond ring on her finger.
When I stood up, May pulled me in a tight embrace.
I kissed her wet cheek.
“I thought you’d never ask,” She laughed and cried at the same time.
“You knew?”
“Yes. We were at the mall and you stopped to look at a jewelry store. You said something about buying a necklace for your grandmother’s birthday.”
“You didn’t buy that excuse?”
“No,” She grinned.
“I’m not so smooth after all,” My cheeks felt warm.
“You were not. But it’s okay. I would wait for however long it takes you to say something.”
“You would?”
“Yes, Ai-oon. I waited years to see you again. You were worth it.”
I lifted her chin and kissed her softly.
My heart fluttered in my chest, content and happy with all the love I have for the woman who changed my life.