Chapter 3 Problem After Problem

Thinking that meeting Ben could clear up the existing problems, it was, of course, the only reason why Elzi accepted his invitation. But it seems that Elzi was deceived. Instead of resolving the problems, the opposite happened. It only gave Elzi a new conviction.

I must have forgotten something. Dealing with Ben doesn't solve problems. It actually creates new ones. I should have remembered! Any problem involving that guy will never be resolved until the Earth is taken over by robot forces! With Ben, it's always solving a problem with another problem.

She lightly tapped her forehead, trying to channel the frustration that had been haunting her throughout the journey home that afternoon. Elzi then got out of the car and entered the house, realizing the mistake she had made today.

Oh my God, Zi. Why can't you learn from the past? Don't expect anything from Ben. He's the only thing in this world that can't be changed by time. No matter how long it is.

And there might be many more curses echoing in Elzi's mind if one voice hadn't caught her attention. This voice made her stop right before climbing the stairs.

"Are you feeling down? Is there a problem?"

Elzi turned to see the source of the voice and found her little brother, Razen Christopher Collins, holding a controller with both hands.

Not immediately answering the question, Elzi took a deep breath. Once again, her mind cursed.

Why do I have to deal with the species that loves to talk just as I come home? I'm already tired of Ben's business, tired of the traffic jam, and now Razen shows up? Oh, God. Why are these trials increasing? Or... maybe I'll have more trials coming soon?

Sighing and furrowing her brows when he did not immediately find an answer, Razen asked again.

"Elzi, have you not been fired yet? Or... did you just get fired? Oh God, I'm so sorry for your loss."

Sighing deeply, Elzi seemed to be trying to restrain herself. "For now," she replied softly. "I haven't been fired. Believe me, Zen. I really don't want to be unemployed like someone. It's so embarrassing, isn't it?"

Dooong!

Immediately, Razen's expression changed. The teasing looks on his face vanished, and he got up from his seat, approaching Elzi.

"Speaking of unemployment," Razen said with a pleading look, this time without any pretense. "Do you have any plans this weekend? Come with me to Pineville."

Elzi furrowed her brows at the sudden change of topic. "What for?"

"Ugh. Papa asked me to check on the coffee plantation. I really don't feel like going to see those coffee trees. Can you accompany me?"

Elzi winced. As much as she wanted to, she knew her current situation did not allow it. So, she shook her head.

"My mood is all messed up right now, Zen. I'm sorry, but I really don't want to be disturbed. Besides... consider it a consequence of your own situation. Imagine if you already had a job. There's no way Papa would ask you to take care of the coffee plantation there."

"Now I need some moral support. Instead of cornering me even more," Razen complained with a frustrated expression. "It's not like I wanted to be jobless until now. I've tried, but no one is hiring. So, what should I do? Beg in front of those offices?" Razen sneered. "That's not possible."

Elzi took a deep breath. Suddenly feeling guilty for her words. Of course, job-related issues were sensitive. But just as she was about to say a few comforting words, Razen spoke again.

"Or maybe I should change my strategy? Hmm... if my job applications get rejected, does that mean if I propose to someone's daughter, it will be accepted?"

Elzi's jaw dropped. Realizing her mistake in trying to sympathize with her brother.

"Well... it could be. No parent would pass up a quality prospective son-in-law like me," Razen nodded. "Or at least, maybe it's time for me to accept Jaxon's offer. Get into the world of modeling. I think I should start using my handsome face."

Elzi felt nauseated again. Especially when she saw how her brother was shaking his head with a fake sense of frustration. His eyes clearly displaying a mischievous look.

Elzi decided not to entertain Razen's rambling. Before she really vomited right there.

"How handsome!"

Razen grinned hearing his sister's retort, allowing Elzi to leave while he returned to his game.

Briefly, as Elzi climbed each step of the stairs, she caught sight of her mother watering the plants in the side garden of the house. Then, the figure disappeared from her view as she reached the upper floor.

Heading straight to her room, Elzi collapsed onto her bed. Her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. A desperate sigh escaped her lips a moment later.

For a while, Elzi felt like she was in a state without thoughts. Empty. Her mind seemed to have nothing inside. Until, somehow, out of nowhere, Ben's face appeared. And without being able to hold it back, the emotions resurfaced.

"Idiot!" Elzi growled. "Sour jerk. Bastard. Psychopath. Perverted Squidward nose."

Whatever curses flowed from Elzi's mouth at that moment. Especially when her brain replayed the fact that Ben had the audacity to kiss her.

Two kisses in two meetings? Incredible.

No wonder Elzi eventually reached for her phone. Immediately going to her contacts and finding Ben's name there. Then, without a second thought, she deleted it.

Until doomsday, until humans are resurrected, even until whenever, I will never contact him again. I will never meet him again. Period. Forget about Ben from now on!

Not only that, in her heart, Elzi promised herself. She would forget about Ben forever. She truly did not want anything to do with that guy, not even in her thoughts.

And just then, as if the universe wanted to assist Elzi's decision, her phone rang. Displaying another contact that made her take a deep breath. Slowly, her smile began to show. It was the name that read My Sweetheart.

Mario was calling her.

With excitement, Elzi swiftly slid the green telephone symbol to answer the call. Placing the device to her ear to greet him.

"Hello, Darling."

Elzi felt her voice change instantly as she greeted Mario on the other end. Unconsciously, Ben's face that had been in her mind was replaced by Mario's. The handsome and charming Mario in his neat work attire, with his warm demeanor towards anyone.

Oh God. Compared to marrying Ben, I would definitely marry Mario many times over.

And when his reply came, Elzi was absolutely sure. Mario was the right choice for her.

"Hello, Darling. Are you back?" Mario asked.

Taking a quick breath, Elzi replied, "Yes, I'm back. It's just been about 10 minutes since I got home. Why?"

"Do you have time tomorrow for the weekend?" Mario asked again. "Let's go out? Well, consider it as compensation for the other day. You were so engrossed in the reunion event that you didn't even answer my calls."

Instantly, the joyful expression and smile on Elzi's face disappeared. Now, they were replaced by fear, making her heart race. Luckily, when Mario mentioned the reunion, they were on the phone. Ugh! Elzi could not imagine what would happen if they were face to face. Mario would undoubtedly be able to detect the change in her expression. Even... maybe more than that.

Elzi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She realized that Mario's invitation was a stroke of luck for her. Wasn't he like having a sixth sense, knowing when she was feeling down and immediately offering a tempting invitation?

And of course, Mario's invitation reminded Elzi of Razen. At least, this could be her reason for refusing her brother's request.

"Of course!" Elzi enthusiastically answered Mario's invitation. So much so that she could feel the sudden surge of energy that had previously drained from her body.

On the other end, Mario's laughter was heard upon hearing Elzi's response. "Alright. I'll pick you up on Saturday. At five o'clock?"

"Five o'clock."

*

That evening, Elzi chose to wear a chiffon dress with a delicate shoulder strap. The soft and gentle fabric gracefully draped over her slim figure. Despite her height not reaching 170 centimeters, Elzi had a proportional weight.

Elzi was one of those girls who had a positive mindset about herself, regardless of what others thought. Though she occasionally felt insecure about her height, she now considered it an advantage. It made her look graceful in high heels and cute in flats, allowing her to wear various types of shoes.

Talking about shoes, she had chosen a pair of pink shoes. They had just arrived a week ago after being held up in customs, and they were one of Elzi's shopping achievements for the month. Her dress that had gone missing during the reunion night was also part of her recent purchases.

Trying not to dwell on that incident, Elzi turned and examined herself in the mirror, satisfied with her appearance, especially her chosen hairstyle. Her hair, reaching down to her mid-back, was a dark brown-black color, cascading naturally with a single hairpin on the right side. It looked both natural and beautiful.

As a final touch, she carried a pastel-colored handbag that matched perfectly with her dress.

At exactly five in the evening, as they had promised, Mario arrived to pick up Elzi. After a brief exchange with Elzi's parents, they set off.

Driving along with other vehicles, Mario occasionally glanced sideways at Elzi, who looked comfortable in the passenger seat. His eyes clearly enjoyed the sight of his radiant fiancée.

"You look so beautiful this evening," Mario said, complimenting her for the first time as they drove. His words instantly made Elzi blush. Well, secretly, she hoped that her blush was not getting even redder because of the blush-on she had applied. Hihihihi.

And like any girl, Elzi responded with a shy expression to Mario's compliment. "Thank you," she said, returning the gesture. "And you... as usual, you never look bad." She smiled broadly. "At least not in my eyes."

Not to exaggerate, but Elzi knew that Mario always looked handsome. Maybe it was because he was used to interacting with many people, either because of his family or his job. So, it was no surprise that Mario always paid attention to his appearance.

That evening, Mario wore dark blue denim pants, paired with a bone-white shirt and a cream-colored vest. It matched perfectly with his dark brown eyes.

"So, where do you want to go this evening? Is there a place you'd like to visit?" Mario asked.

Elzi pondered for a moment. "Actually, I haven't watched a movie in a while," she replied. "How about we go watch one? There seem to be many new films out."

"Uh... that's a good idea. And where do you want to eat? Or... should we watch the movie first and then decide on dinner?"

"What do you think?"

Mario grinned. "Or I have a third option," he said with a smile. "We watch the movie first, and then we do some shopping. With all due respect, I'll allow you to cook in my unit whenever you have the time and desire to do so."

His answer made Elzi laugh. Her eyes closed, and her face lifted as she felt ticklish. Mario joined in, laughing together with her, while also defending his suggestion afterward.

"Well... what can I do? It's been a while since I tasted your cooking, Zi. And as the whole world knows..." Mario said with a teasing smile. "... your cooking is addictive."

"Hahaha."

"Besides... I also want to show you some invitation designs I've selected."

This time, Elzi's laughter stopped. Instead of feeling ticklish, she looked at Mario. "Invitation?"

Mario nodded once. One of his hands moved, precisely when the car had to stop because the traffic light turned red. At that moment, he reached for Elzi's hand and gently squeezed it.

"We'll be getting married soon. There are many things we need to prepare from now on."

Married... Oh God. I don't know why, but now my heart feels uncomfortable when I hear that word.

But...

Elzi nodded, realizing that she was indeed going to marry Mario soon.

"Okay," Elzi said. "Option three."

They chose an action movie to watch that day, with scenes that tended to be brutal during the fight sequences. Both seemed to enjoy the film. However, for some reason, whenever a fight scene came on, Elzi found herself cursing under her breath.

If Ben shows up again in front of me, I'll punch him just like in this movie.

Hmm... maybe Elzi was still upset about the two stolen kisses by Ben? It could be.

Around two hours later, Elzi and Mario left the mall with several shopping bags they had purchased after the movie. They had bought various vegetables and chicken, two essential things they would not miss.

Located in the area dubbed the "Golden Triangle of Ashford City," Mario's apartment building was a luxurious place. With its strategic location in the central business district and a range of facilities comparable to a five-star hotel, anyone could clearly see that Mario lived in the elite class. Of course, not just anyone could afford a residence in that area due to its high prices and limited available units.

However, that was not the only thing that made it special. The fact that the luxurious apartment building named Luxor Towers belonged to Mario made it even more exceptional.

Mario Harisson, true to his name, was the sole heir to the Harisson family's wealth. Encompassed in the EliteEscapes Inc group, the Harisson family business delved into the fields of hospitality, restaurants, nightclubs, and luxury resorts. Not only domestically but internationally as well.

It came as no surprise that Elzi's friends were often envious. She was truly fortunate to be engaged to Mario. Although, of course, Elzi's background could not be underestimated either.

Elzi's father was an important official in the capital city. He was a prominent political figure and had plantation businesses spread across several regions.

As the car drove on, passing through security portals and heading straight to the available parking area, Mario promptly carried all their shopping bags. Once they reached the entrance of his apartment unit, Elzi playfully teased, "Please come in," as if she were the owner of the place. "Make yourself at home."

Mario laughed at Elzi's mischief and walked in while she closed the door behind him, feeling at ease in the apartment as if it were her own.

In the kitchen, Elzi helped Mario unpack all the groceries. She tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear as they escaped to fall on the sides of her face. "You can wait in the living room. Let me handle this. I'll call you when it's done."

Ignoring Mario as he stepped away, Elzi rinsed the vegetables at the sink, skillfully preparing all the ingredients she needed to start cooking. Given her limited time, Elzi decided to make a simple yet delicious dish-fried chicken.

At that moment, Elzi was still holding the frying pan when she felt a pair of hands land on her stomach. It was followed by a gentle kiss on her bare shoulder. The thin strap of her dress did not do much to cover her soft skin.

Unperturbed, and with a peculiar feeling that caused her to furrow her brow, Elzi sighed softly. "Be patient, Rio. It'll be ready soon."

A chuckle resounded in her ear, as Mario playfully responded to her words. "Actually, it's not dinner that I'm really waiting for, Zi."

Elzi smiled, turning off the stove and placing the utensils on the edge of the pan. She then reached to touch Mario's hands on her stomach before releasing them, turning to face him.

"And then... what is it?" she asked, tilting her head to get a better look into her beloved's eyes. She found herself captivated by Mario's gaze, unable to interpret its meaning. Especially when a slow smile appeared on his handsome face. He responded with just one word.

"You."

Suddenly, for reasons Elzi could not quite explain, she felt her body tremble. Her previously calm goosebumps suddenly stood up. Especially when Mario lowered his head slightly and gently placed another kiss in the same spot. Her heart began to race.

For a moment, Elzi could only hold her breath, feeling a bit uneasy as the kisses continued. This time, they traveled further, forcing Elzi to lift her head when Mario targeted her neck.

Elzi blinked her eyes, her hand instinctively rising to her chest as she pushed Mario away. Confusion and embarrassment washed over her, and she quickly bit her lower lip, trying to compose herself. Mario, on the other hand, smiled, brushing away some strands of Elzi's hair that had fallen over her face. His fingers then moved to lift her chin gently.

Elzi's eyes widened as she saw Mario slowly lowering his face again, his gaze fixated on her lips. She held her breath, but just before his lips met hers, Elzi pushed his chest, looking bewildered.

"Rio...," she murmured, feeling desperate. "L-let's just eat, okay? The fried chicken might get cold. It won't taste good later."

Elzi intended to leave after saying that, but Mario's hand held her waist firmly, not giving her any room to escape.

"Elzi...," Mario's voice sounded heavy, husky, sending shivers down Elzi's spine. "Do you love me?"

Out of all the possible things Mario could have said, Elzi never expected that question. She furrowed her brow, feeling puzzled.

"Why are you asking that?" Elzi replied, her voice trembling. "Y-yes, I love you."

Mario's smile returned, and he once again lowered his face to try and kiss Elzi, but she turned her head to the side to avoid it. He seemed momentarily taken aback before shifting his angle to try and kiss her from a different direction, but Elzi resisted once more.

"Why?" Mario asked. "Can't a future husband kiss his own fiancée?"

Elzi swallowed hard. "N-n-not like that, Rio. But-"

Before she could finish her sentence, Mario leaned in and sealed her lips with his in a passionate kiss, causing her eyes to widen in surprise. With intent, he held her waist firmly, pushing her back until they were near the dining table, preventing her from lying down.

What?! Elzi's eyes widened. Lie down?

Taking a risk, Elzi raised her hand and firmly pushed Mario away. The kiss came to an end, and she stared at him with her breath still heavy.

"What are you doing?" Elzi asked, her breath still uneven. "If you want to eat, there it is. I've finished cooking. Why did you bring me to the dining table?"

Mario chuckled, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Elzi's slightly wet lips, his dimples showing as he smirked. His eyebrows raised and lowered playfully.

"Well," Mario replied, "I guess... I do want to devour you, Zi."

Huh? Elzi stared, her eyes widening.

"We're getting married soon, Zi," Mario continued with a smile, gently caressing her face with one finger. "And... oh my, you look stunning tonight."

Elzi pursed her lips tightly, then brushed Mario's hand away from her face. She scowled. "Yeah right. I know I look good, but what's with you tonight?"

Grimacing, as if struggling with an irresistible urge, Mario took a deep breath. "We're not kids anymore, Zi. And seriously... do I have to go through so much trouble just for a kiss?"

Elzi's eyes closed instantly, her frustration evident. "Sorry, Rio. But I really..." She exhaled, unable to find the right words to express her discomfort. "Let's just eat now."

After saying that, Elzi walked away, ignoring Mario's stunned expression. Until he asked,

"Do you really love me? Or is there another guy you love?"

Thump!

Elzi's steps halted abruptly. Unconsciously, she turned her body to face Mario, who was looking at her with an unfamiliar expression in his eyes.

"Rio, seriously. I love you. There's no one else," she said firmly.

Mario snorted. "If that's the case," he said, "are you willing to prove your love for me tonight?"

Elzi, being an adult, was too mature to guess the implication behind Mario's words. Something that made her swallow hard.

He can't possibly...

Still, the possibility sent shivers down Elzi's spine, especially after what happened a week ago-a fatal mistake she never intended.

And now? Mario was suggesting... Just when I was trying to forget what happened that night, Mario is actually asking for the same thing?

Elzi felt her throat tighten, her breath catching.

Why are all guys the same? Why do they only think about that?

Taking a deep breath, Elzi felt a pang of pain in her heart, making it scream. Then, she shook her head.

"Not now, Rio," Elzi softly refused. "Like you said, we're getting married soon. That's more than enough proof of my love for you."

After saying that, Elzi wanted to walk away again, but a firm grip on her hand stopped her. In that moment, Elzi did not react, waiting to hear what Mario would say next. Based on their relationship history, she could predict that Mario would apologize and...

"Because we're getting married soon, you know I'll take responsibility for whatever risks may come."

Cold. Like she was in a room with low temperature. That's what Elzi felt at that moment. When she finally felt her hand being grabbed and pulled by Mario, making her body float and land in his embrace.

Mario held Elzi by her waist, tightly. Eliminating any possibility for her to break free. And he said, "I want you, Darling. And you... won't refuse."

*