A story of finding love that cannot be

but hoping it may be… for one week.

Names have been ‘pronounED’ to protect the innocent.

DAY 1

”Miss?”

Someone patted her shoulder and she turned around. It took her a second to realize it was her date.

She was finally doing it. After a week of begging from a friend, she finally said yes to the one thing she never did in life – date a guy. She was doing this as a favour to a friend who was nothing but kind since the first day they met.

The night before, she ran things through her head. Just go, have lunch, eat fast then scram. The guy would be ugly, it would be easy to walk away.

____

He asked where she wanted to go. She gave him the ”you choose” signal. He looked at her and smiled. Almost instantly she felt so self-conscious she nearly froze.

They settled at Starbucks. He got tea. She got frappe. There was an awkward moment of silence. She sat back and stared anywhere but him.

He started to talk. His voice was soft and gentle. Many times she had to say ”what?” because she couldn’t hear him. He would lean closer and repeat what he said. One look at his face and she realized how good-looking he was.

As he talked, she studied him. He didn’t look his age. His light brown eyes where deep and drowning. His lashes curled up almost touching his lids. His lips were thin and smooth.  His facial hairs were shaved yet long enough to be visible just the way she wanted it. Her heart began to race. Is he real?

”I don’t want to play games with you.”

He told her he didn’t want a girlfriend. He was ready to settle down and needed a wife to be with him. He was truthful and direct.

Contrary to all the warnings she heard from other people and dangers she read from everywhere, he made her feel safe and protected. She knew she wasn’t supposed to feel that way. But the moment he looked at her and told her his intentions, she felt nothing but sincerity and honest longing from him. His eyes didn’t waver. They looked at her directly, like she was the most precious thing on earth.

”I want to change my life. I want to change the routine I am in.”

Her heart skipped a beat. Wasn’t that exactly what she wanted too. He told her his plans and his hopes. She sat there in shock, taking it all in. She was like staring into a mirror. The things he said were exactly the same things she had hidden in her heart. Here was a man who had goals and plans the same as hers.

The talk went on and on. Time stood still. She was hooked. He admitted he didn’t know much English – that he was having a hard time expressing himself. She saw how hard he was trying. He was both strong and vulnerable at the same time. Her heart melted.

”I need to ask you a question. The first time I saw you, you were crying?  Why is that?”

She didn’t remember him that first time.  But she clearly remembered that awful night.  It was the night when she begged someone to love her again but got rejected the second time.

”Someone.”

He didn’t prod anymore.

It was time to go. Surprisingly, she didn’t want to.

_____

She watched his hands on the steering wheel. His nails were cut clean. His fingers were long and lean. He gripped the wheel like a pro, smooth and sexy. His hands alone can break a girl’s heart.

”You didn’t answer my question yet.”

”Which one?” she asked.

”What are you going to do with me? Will you give me time to know you and you to know me?”

The pleading in his eyes was so genuine. Right at that moment she wanted to say, ”YES! I will marry you.”

Instead, she asked with a bit of bewilderment,

”Why me?”

He looked at her with utmost care.

”Because I think you and I can understand each other.”

”Is it really possible for this to happen?”

”What do you mean?”

”I mean you just saw me once and you liked me already? What if I’m not a good person?”

”I know you are.”

”How would you know?”

”At my age, I know. I have a lot of experience and I know.”

She sat there in silence.

”And I know how to make you happy.”

She laughed.

”See, I can’t really say what I mean. I want to learn English so I can tell you what I really want to say.”

She looked at him and understood his frustration. She stared longer than usual. His face was perfect in side view. The hairs on his cheeks were neatly lined and she had the urge to reach out and touch them. He looked at her and smiled. She smiled back.

”You understand me?”

”I understand you.”

They were nearing the drop off point. He was so eager to know where he stood.

”I really want to know more about you.” The tone of his voice was heart-gripping.

”I’ll give you one week.”

His smile lit up the car.

____

She went to work but never really got to work. The smile on her face couldn’t be wiped off. She was in dreamland and she savored the feeling. 5 hours later, when she finally got back to earth to start working, she sensed someone looking at her.

It was him. His plain white shirt made him look like an angel fresh from the washing machine. He looked so young and boyish, definitely not his age.

”Why are you here?” she asked with a mix of surprise and delight.

”Are you busy?”

”Ummm… Yeah.”

But she really wanted to say no. He laughs.

”Ok then, I’m going now. Bye.”

He started to walk out the door. She wanted him not to leave.  She leaned forward.

”Hey!”

He looked back at her and stopped. She badly wanted him to stay. She ransacked her brain for a reason but didn’t have any. She smiled and waved.

”Good night.”

He smiled back.

” Good night.”

____

To be continued…