After they came out of the pool, John and Sasha sat next to each other, looking into each other's faces. John noticed a pimple on his fiancée's face and gently squeezed it to pop it, showing his care for her.
They engaged in a long conversation, reminiscing about their journey in love. John vividly recalled how difficult it had been to persuade Sasha to enter a relationship; he had pursued her for a long time before she finally agreed. Since they began dating, their mutual love had endured despite a few challenges.
However, there were pressing issues they needed to address—issues that were sensitive and required careful consideration. John knew he had to approach one particular topic with wisdom, as it was a major source of discomfort for him.
Exhausted from their time in the pool and feeling the heat of the sun bearing down on him, John embraced Sasha warmly. Their hug lasted several minutes, filled with sweet words and affection. Despite having many admirable qualities, Sasha had a tendency to mock him, and she didn't hesitate to tease him about his struggles in the water. While it was unfortunate, John chose to persevere and hide his discomfort with a smile, despite feeling hurt by her jokes.
Eventually, they returned to their booked room, both eager to relax after a long day but first needing to clean up. John went into the shower to cool off, followed by Sasha. Once refreshed, they settled down to watch the news while sipping on their juice drinks.
It was time to discuss their relationship. John expressed his displeasure with Sasha's recent behavior, which he found heartless, especially considering her mocking laughter following his near-drowning incident. He felt it was important to address this and suggested that she reconsider her conduct.
Moreover, John brought up a recent incident of unfaithfulness that he had witnessed the day before, explaining that repeated acts of unfaithfulness could destroy their bond.
Sasha had her own grievances to share. She accused John of being careless and uncaring, demanding an apology. Being the gentleman he was, John chose to calm himself and apologize, even though many of her complaints felt unfounded.
The reconciliation took a considerable amount of time, but eventually, they managed to conclude their discussion and refocus on the more important aspects of their relationship.
John then asked Sasha to close her eyes for a surprise, making her excited with anticipation. She figured it might be a modern smartphone or some other trendy gadget. When he asked her to open her eyes, she was stunned to see John kneeling with a ring in hand, signaling a marriage proposal.
However, a frown quickly replaced Sasha's smile. She felt she was too young for marriage, still completing her undergraduate studies. Accepting the proposal would mean prioritizing marriage over her education, and she struggled to figure out how to decline without hurting John's feelings.
Conflicted and emotional, she walked away into the shower room, tears welling in her eyes.
John, left kneeling, was taken aback by her reaction. He could hardly move, overwhelmed by a surge of emotions. He had hoped for her acceptance, but it was evident things hadn't gone as he wished. A tumult of thoughts filled John's mind; he felt betrayed, questioning whether Sasha truly cared for him or if she was merely interested in his financial stability or passing time until a better suitor came along.