It was already past 8 in the evening when I reached the place where we agreed to meet tonight, though I was an hour and a half late from the agreed meeting time. While walking along the mall passage against the rushing people with their own whereabouts, l glanced at my phone one last time and smiled impishly reading through your messages;
"What's your ETA, really?
"Where are you?, reply ASAP"
"I'm already here, make sure you are on your way”
I could already imagine you're being grumpy while sending those messages, and like a child who has done something naughty to their parents, I struggled to contain myself from giggling while I imagined you frowning on your table. While walking, I imagined myself secretly passing through the restaurant entrance door, you were busy peeking at your phone, or you could be playing one of your favorite mobile games, the same game that always takes your attention away. From time to time you will be looking over through the entrance door to check any signs of me, then you will get back at your phone, alternatively checking through your messenger to check for my responses, or to check your social media to keep you preoccupied. Then I will be walking slowly towards your table, the same table that we have always been choosing, it was the one at the farthest end, an isolated table, one of the only tables for two among a number of long dinner tables. From behind your chair I would tap on your shoulder and smile widely anticipating your usual banter about my being late
"You said you were already in the vicinity”
or you could be saying:
“I’ve been here for weeks"
Or you could simply give me that irritated look while shaking your head slowly out of disappointment. I will just simply twitch my head away wondering why you still find my tardiness surprising given that I have always been late. While you have always been earlier, waiting patiently. I have always been the impulsive one, while you have always been tranquil: I am loud, you are still
This night though, you were quieter than usual, you did not even bother to mock me for arriving late again this evening, you were just shaking your head while looking at me approaching our table. I tried my best to hide from your sight but you were quick to find me secretly walking through the entrance door. While walking towards you, I was smiling mischievously like a child whose wicked plan was spoiled prematurely; while you were just staring at me with an indolent smile. You could have been tired, or exhausted from waiting, for the first time I was worried that this time, you could have been mad for my steady tardiness; l didn't know then what it was but you just looked indifferent.
We were sitting opposite each other and you still have not said anything, not even an acknowledgment of my arrival, you were simply staring at me, tensed, you were wiping your sweat though the place was well ventilated. From then on, I sensed something was not right, I suddenly felt my heart beating faster like those instances when someone just knew something bad had happened. Though they were not aware yet, but they just felt it, and it will only be a matter of time before it exposes itself right in front of them. I stared back at you, this time forcing myself to rebuild the impish smile I once had, carefully reviewing your gestures, from the way you anxiously checks your pocket, to the sudden twitches of your jaw when your mobile phone signaled a message was received; to the way you try to fight back a rush of sudden joy upon reading the message, or who it was from.
“May I take your orders, Sir? “
An attendant broke our silence. His abysmal voice pierced through our stillness, but it was just you who were quiet, while, I may have look muted but inside me was a build up of questions firing from my heart rapidly targeting my mind, decoding your silence, both were struggling to interpret your actions
“and you, Sir? “
I heard the attendant’s voice again, his attention was turned towards me this time. Never did I notice that you have already given you order, I was blankly staring back at the attendant when I unconsciously uttered,
“I’ll get the same thing as him”
I watched the attendant walked away, disappearing into the tables of happy families, across the room where the rest of the guests were in the mood for chit chatting, for laughing, for not being silent. When I caught you staring at me again, you were then looking much relaxed, one hand on the table clutching your mobile tightly, while the other hand was under the table. I could be wrong, your other hand might be somewhere else, I adjusted my seat to get a better secret glance, and I found it inside your jeans front pocket. This time I could tell I was right, you were holding something inside your pocket, from the way it made traces on your jeans, I had been sure of its figure. A small box
I was frantically breathing when my mind suddenly anticipated what could be happening next. Suddenly, it was all clear to me, your gestures, your silence, you discomfort, it all pointed to that thing n your pocket. I could now feel my throat had dried, I felt numb, or It could be nausea, I did not know what to feel, in fact I could not feel anything, everything was in slow motion. I knew this day would come, but I never really prepared myself for this particular moment. I have rehearsed for job interviews, or for speeches, but not this.
I shut off my inner voice when you finally revealed that thing inside your pocket, and I was right. On your hand there laid a small crimson box, on top of it there was a tiny pink ribbon. You carefully opened it and inside was a ring, a beautiful ring. Its diamond sat exquisitely at the center, glistening confidently as light rushed to greet it when the box was opened. From the ring, my sight turned towards you, and I melted. I have never seen you as proud as that moment, there was excitement lurking behind your calm eyes as the ring reflect on them.
Against a lovely sight before me, I struggled to bite back my lip, to say anything, as if there was a lump in my throat. My eyes were struggling harder to fight off the tears, to pour out the emotion that I have long been containing. I took a last glance at you and into the diamond ring as I regained my strength to finally utter;
“that’s beautiful,” I grasped air in, “She will love it for sure,”
You smiled gently, looking prouder than before. Then I successfully rebuilt the impish smile that I have always been wearing.
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