Chapter 36

SYBIL couldn’t believe what she saw in her reflection in the mirror after changing into a dress and putting on makeup. She made it light just to add color to her face, but she didn’t expect that it would turn her into a whole new different person. She wondered if she was really that beautiful before that incident changed her life.
“Knock, knock!”
She turned around when she heard Mrs. Peterson’s voice by the door, peeking inside the bedroom with a smile on her face.
“Amanda.” She smiled back. “What are you doing there? Come in.”
Mrs. Peterson sauntered toward her with her hands at the back. It looked like she was hiding something.
“What is it?”
Soon she revealed a pair of sandals that matched her dress.
“Perhaps this would fit you.” She put the sandals down.
“Let’s see.” Her voice was filled with excitement.
Sybil slid in her feet one at a time and smiled upon seeing that the sandals fitted her well.
“Look at that!” Mrs. Peterson clasped her hands above her chest and sighed dreamily. “You know what… it kinda gives me that mother sending her daughter to a prom feeling.”
“Really?” She couldn’t help but chuckle.
Now she realized Mrs. Peterson must be yearning to have a daughter of her own.
“Yes. Yes.” She nodded her head with excitement. “You look beautiful, Sybil.”
“Thank you,” she mouthed and turned to face the mirror again to see her reflection one more time.
“Ace is waiting for you downstairs,” said Mrs. Peterson after admiring her for a few moments. “You shouldn’t keep your date waiting, dear.”
“O-oh… I-I didn’t mean to make him wait for long.” Sybil picked up her purse and headed out of the room.
She went down the stairs carefully. Ace then appeared at the landing wearing a suit, to her surprise. He looked dashing, almost like a prince.
“Is this why you told me to wear a dress?” she told Ace upon reaching him.
“Why? Do I look funny in this suit?” He winced.
She patted his cheek and gave him a peck on the lips.
“You look handsome. I might cover your face in public to avoid feeling jealous of any woman who would lay their eyes on you,” Sybil jested, making him laugh.
“That’s one hell of a joke,” Mr. Peterson chimed in when he got to the living room.
“Henry,” she greeted him with a nod.
Mr. Peterson smiled at her and handed over the car key to Ace.
“Here. Take my car. It would be funny and inconvenient to travel with that attire if you don’t have your own car.”
Sybil wiped the corners of her eyes when her tears suddenly welled up.
“Oh? Why are you crying?” asked Mr. Peterson. “We don’t want to ruin your makeup like this.”
“I-I’m just overwhelmed…” she said, sniffing.
“Oh, dear…” Mrs. Peterson arrived in the living room. “Let’s save the drama and be happy with your date, okay?” She kissed her cheek and gave it a light pat afterward.
“Sybil, we should go. The reservation s waiting for us.” Ace held her hand and ushered her out of the house.
“A reservation?” she asked when they got inside the car.
“Well, Mr. Paterson wouldn’t stop until he makes a reservation for us. Oh, that old man….” He shook his head and started the engine.
“We are forever indebted to that couple, I guess.”
“Hm. I wish we could somehow return the favor.”
“Someday we will….”

SYBIL and Ace had a romantic dinner date in a fine-dining restaurant. All thanks to Mr. Peterson. But she guessed a date wouldn’t be considered romantic at all if they didn’t get to spend a night together in a presidential suite in a hotel.
“Is this their idea as well?” she asked as they entered the suite.
“No. This is my idea.”
Ace opened the bottle of champagne and filled their flutes. She didn’t want to drink more because she already had enough back in the restaurant, but she just found it hard to say no to him at that rate. She accepted it, took a little sip, and then sat on the sofa.
She started taking off her sandals because her feet were beginning to ache. Perhaps it was the downside of not wearing one for a long time. Ah, her calf muscles deserve a really nice massage after that. Ace seemed to notice that she was in pain and abandoned his drink. He crouched in front of her and started giving her legs and feet the massage she had been dreaming of just a while ago. She leaned against her seat and let out a moan. The touch of his hand didn’t just give her muscles relief, but it also sent warm creeping throughout her body. It was funny how she was already turned on by such a gesture.
Sybil moaned a little louder when his hand slid up to her thigh. She didn’t know if he was teasing her or if it was intentional. Perhaps Ace was sending her signals that he wanted to make love with her.
She opened her eyes and looked at him. His gaze was heated, and she had seen that since they were in the restaurant. They were eating dinner, but it seemed she was the one he wanted to swallow whole.
“Ace…”
He joined her on the sofa and kissed her.
A soft moan escaped her lips when his palm caressed her thigh up and down as his lips slipped down her neck. Every kiss, every touch was so gentle. He treated her like a fragile one; surprisingly, she loved it. Each second that passed that Ace was doing that, he was taking her higher and higher.
“This dress is quite handy,” he jested when his hand went even higher.
“I guess this is the real reason why you told me to wear a dress,” Sybil countered. He laughed at that shortly and continued touching her down there. “Just don’t tear it apart… This one is my favorite.”
“Your wish is my command…” he drawled.
Ace undressed her carefully and hung the dress on the sofa’s backrest. He then undressed and took her to bed. He kissed her on the lips very gently before taking her.

WHEN Sybil opened her eyes, she was lying beside Ace, still naked. His arm was wrapped around her waist, and the other was beneath her head. The sun hadn’t risen yet, and she did not know what time it was. All she knew was that the last hours seemed to last for eternity.
She looked at his face and watched him sleep. But after a few moments, his lips moved, and his eyes opened. Ace met her gaze and cupped her cheek afterward.
“What’s the matter?” he muttered and shifted his body so he could face her.
“Nothing… I’m just memorizing your face.”
“I think I have to buy that,” he jested.
Ace left the bed afterward and took something from his coat’s pocket. When he returned to bed, he showed her a small red velvet box. Her heart started racing. She wasn’t dumb to not know what was inside and what it could possibly mean.
“A-Ace…” Suddenly, her body was trembling.
“This is a promise ring.” He opened the velvet box. A simple silver ring greeted her. “I know this isn’t the grandest ring yet, but I want to give this to you as a sign of my promise.”
“Ace…” Her tears started to roll forth her cheek.
He took the ring from the box and held her hand.
“Sybil… please always remember that I love you, and I will always come for you no matter what.” He put the ring on her finger and kissed her hand.
“I… I love you, too,” she said in between her sobs.