shayna unlocked the door quietly. she didn't want to wake anyone up before the sun comes up. she tried her best to tip toe up the steps and hide herself in the room. no one would know she had spent a whole night, sleeping with the enemy. just as she was about to reach her room, she noticed someone walk out of his room.

he didn't look too happy. shayna knew why. his face had worried and concern written all over it. she felt her heart break at that point of time. not only she felt regretful, guilt and pain; she realised the love he had for her and she just kept pushing him away because of colin. she expected him to be angry but instead timothy walked towards her and gave her a big squeeze.

"darling, where did you go? i was very worried," timothy said, kissing her hair.
shayna started to cry, the guilt was too much for her to handle.
"i'm sorry timmy. i'm really sorry," she said.
timothy looked into her redden eyes, "baby, the last thing i want to see is you getting hurt. i love you."
shayna knew timothy was true to her. each and every word he said he made it come to life. unlike the false hopes colin had given her. the fantasy life he had crafted for her that she had so foolishly fallen for. she had to come back down to reality and give her heart to someone who would handle it with care. life was realistic. not just light fantasy.

shayna leaned forward and kissed timothy so passionately that for the first time in her life, she felt like giving love to timothy.
as their lips parted, timothy was in shock. he could also feel the change in shayna.
"i love you too timmy. so much," she whispered.
timothy gasped and they stood in a silent embrace for a long long long time. he was really stunned. for the first time he was hearing that from shayna. that really meant something.

shayna frowned and said, "what's wrong? can't i say 'i love you'?"
timothy smiled and kissed her, "of course you can, baby. it's just that this is the first time in so many months that i hear this phrase come out from you."
shayna laughed and they went into her room... they kissed for a long while until timothy smelt her clothes. it had the wine that she drank last night on it.

"did you drink?" he asked quizzedly.
shayna didn't know what to say. if she told her that she had spent a night with colin, timothy will rant about it. she didn't want to lose him, so she decided to tell her a warp truth.
"yeah... i went to see alyssa and we had a couple of drinks at the bar. i was tipsy so i went over to my parent's place for the night," she crossed her fingers and hope timothy didn't meet any of them.
timothy forced a smile and shook his head.
"next time, please call me to pick you up. you might get into trouble when you're all high and drunk. that's what i'm here for," timothy said. he held her hands and placed it on his chest.
"... to protect you. to be here for you. all my life. i mean it."

that were the sweetest words shayna had heard all her life. as she looked at timothy, she knew that everything he said, was true.
"you're so sweet," she said and kissed him.
"baby i'm serious," timothy said, "i mean, look at alyssa and tyler. the two most different personalities. they are getting married."
shayna frowned and answered, "yeah.. but what has that got to do with us?"
timothy sighed and stood up.
"give me a minute," he said as he rushed back into his room. shayna was wondering what he was up to. finally he came back into the room looking pretty smuck. she gave him a weary frown as he pulled her up and made her stand right opposite him.

He took her hands into his and gently squeezing them. she could feel the warmth in his hands going through hers.
"shayna," he said, "i know we've only been together for a few months but i know that i love you... too much."
shayna kinda knew where this was going but she let him continue...
"... i might not be the most eloquent man but i want you to know that everytime i see you smile at me, my heart just warms knowing you're here with me. i love you hold you, kiss you and let you know that you're my precious darling."
shayna smiled and she felt her face flush.
"i want to be here for you all the time. no matter through happiness or trouble or sadness; i want you to know that i'm always here to take hold of your hands and tell you that i love you.... so, shayna," timothy reached into his pocket to reveal a ring. he then went down on his knees and that was where shayna started to panic.

".... baby, will you marry me?" he finally said.
shayna looked at timothy, then at the ring, then her mind started to drift away. she loved timothy, she knew that but she just had a great night with colin and now... a proposal?! this was way too unexpected for her! she isn't the marriage type? she cannot even picture herself settling down!
but then she saw the sincerity in timothy's eyes. the love. the passion he had for her. how could she deny him the chance to make her feel loved the way she always wanted to feel. colin was just fantasy, a once in a blue moon type of romance. she can't survive on that for long. she needed love that can withstand the tides and the waves. she needed someone like timothy.
finally, she collected her thoughts and looked down at timothy.
"yes. i will marry you," she said.

timothy smiled as he slipped the ring on her finger. it is a small 1 carat diamond ring that he had bought secretly when he had the notion of marrying shayna. but as shayna gazed lovingly at the ring, she felt that this was the right thing to do. to go for the man that truly loved you.
"promise me this," shayna said, "can we announce it after alyssa and tyler's wedding?"
"why?" timothy asked.
"i want them to have the full limelight for once. i want alyssa's wedding to be totally her," shayna answered.
timothy nodded, "alright. whatever you want Mrs. Leong."

***

colin lay in bed all day, still taking in what happened that night. to him, it was the most special night for him and shayna. maybe it was a start for them getting back together. he knew that shayna loved him. and he loved her so much too.

suddenly, his phone rang. thinking that it might be shayna, colin quickly picked up the phone.
"where in the world are you colin?" Mr. Tan asked, screaming through the phone.
"dad... i told you. i'm overseas."
"get your butt back here. you don't know how much shit you're in."
colin was confused. what had happened? his father sounded very unhappy.
"do you know this girl called lila?" Mr. Tan asked.
"yeah... and?"

"your name is splashed all over the news because of her! she claims she is carrying your baby!" Mr. Tan said.
colin gasped, "WHAT?"
"what happened son? something so important and you never tell your old man?"
"dad! this didn't happen! i didn't do it!"
"you dare say you weren't with this woman?"
"i was... for a while but... i was sure she wasn't pregnant!"

Mr. Tan groaned, "colin, i really don't know how to get you out of this mess. this not only involves you now but also our family and the company. please. come back and settle this."
Colin didn't know what to do also. He had to go back and see what lila was up to. he thought that things with shayna was going just great and now this shit that lila comes up with. he knows lila was too naive to do such a thing to him. it could be true that she was pregnant or someone made her frame colin up for the money and the name. he had to clear things out... not only for himself but for his family and his company.
"alright dad. see you tomorrow."