Special thanks to lanilee for the editoring assistance.
*****
Chapter 3 – Before The Wedding
Everything went the same for the next three weeks. We were dating and spending wonderful time together. I was sure that she was the one... My soul mate. Better than that, she felt the same way.
On the other hand, she kept doing her job. During our regular conversations about everyday life, I realized that she wasn't doing this job just for money. It was far from that. She was living her liberty, expressing her independent soul. It was a rebel against the moral norms of the society. Like she said, that was the way she was. Sex and love were different things for her. I pretended to respect that so not to spoil this magic. I tried to shut my eyes, close my ears for fear of losing her. To comfort myself, I kept saying "As long as she loves me, nothing matters". Was it really so? Was love something like that? Didn't my love deserve some respect? Maybe my acceptance of her life style made her love me more, but I had to put an end to this, either the good way or the sad way.
All the things that happened in this relationship were so sensitive. It was like my head would explode anytime. I couldn't think tight. Then only a single solution came into my mind; a jerky, selfish solution. I didn't have any idea about the consequences, maybe it was risky for my sweetheart. But no matter what happens, I gave the police an anonymous call and reported Ian. I gave them his phone number. Since it was time for the final exams, I wasn't expecting him to bother Rebecca during this period. I hoped that the police would not find anything out about her. So, an anxious suspense has begun. I would either make her only mine or lose her forever and put her into deep shit.
So, after a week or so later, I could not reach Rebecca for a whole weekend. I desperately tried to call her, then went to her apartment. She wasn't there. I became incredibly anxious, and had deep regret. She could have been in jail now. It was a crazy weekend. I couldn't sleep or eat or do anything else.
Then.. On Monday, at the school... She was there. What a relief... I aproached her, trying to hide my cheer.
"Hi sweetheart. I missed you!" I said.
She just looked at me and said, "Missed you, too."
"I tried to reach you, but... You seem sad, is something wrong?"
She nodded, "Ian has been arrested."
"Really? Why?" I pretended to be surprised.
She said nothing.
"How?" I asked this time.
"Don't know," she said, "I just heard it from this girl, then threw out my cell phone and stayed at a downtown hotel for the weekend."
"Oh God. Why didn't you call me?"
She said nothing.
" Is it safe now, for you?"
"I'm not worried. Ian never rats me out."
I understood that she was feeling a deep commitment to him. She saw him as a protector. I said nothing.
****
Everything was exactly as I hoped. I had achieved breaking all the connections to her previous life. From that moment on, our relationship has changed its aspect. I could see her more, we could spend most of our time together. Soon, we were not hiding our relationship from our friends anymore. Walking hand in hand with her throughout campus was like walking on the clouds. In three months, she got used to being a normal college girl and seemed to forget her callgirl career.
I couldn't leave our future to chance. Close to my graduation, I found a job in another city, 300 miles away. It was not a big company, but the location was good and the money they offered was tempting. I desperately needed money for my future plans.
*****
Soon, the day of my graduation party arrived. We were hand in hand walking through the door of the ballroom. She was like an angel in her fancy white dress. As she appeared at the entrance, all the boys were looking at her with admiration and all the girls were piercing her through and through with jealousy. Her smile was glistening like a shining star. It was like a fairy tale.
The night passed quickly and was perfect for both of us. We had wonderful time there; danced, drank, kissed. A few hours later, when the time came, I said to her:
"Lets move closer to the stage."
"Why?" she asked. "I'm fine here."
"Come on," I said and held her hand, "I have a surprise for you."
I dragged her in front of the stage. Then I climbed onto the stage and took the microphone. The members of the band were all my friends. Without hesitation, they started playing the 'unchained melody', as we agreed beforehand. I started to sing that song and I was directly looking into her eyes. I had so much love for her inside my heart.
Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love,
I need your love
God speed your love to me
When the song ended, there was a mild applause. Rebecca was very cheerful. Then I started to talk into the microphone.
"This is the most exciting night of my life." I said. "You probably feel the same. Four years have gone and the school is over."
Some people cheered. I laughed and went on after they stopped.
"We're going to start new lives... Every single one of us has different dreams. I hope that you all make them real."
Dereck, the guitarist offered me a drink. I took a sip and went on.
"And tonight, I hope to turn my greatest dream into reality."
Then I offered my hand to Rebecca.
"Honey, can you please come up here."
She was surprised. I insisted.
"Please!"
She hesitated first but then took hold of my hand. She climbed onto the stage, smiling with a stunned expression.
"Rebecca," I said while still holding her hand, "you know, I'm not a good speaker. So, I just want to do it quickly... Since the first day we met, I feel deeply in love with you. You've added sunshine to my life. I.... I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Some people were whistling now. Meanwhile, Dereck took out the ring from his pocket, which I gave him the day before. Rebecca's smile had disappeared. She seemed to be shocked.
"Will you marry me?"
There, the time stopped. Everything, everyone was quiet. It was the longest moment of my life. She was looking into my eyes, didn't know what to say. She was gasping and her eyes were almost full with tears.