*Andrea*
I had left to catch my breath in the bathroom. It was uncomfortable being in the piercing gaze of Nora. I was done with my business quickly. As I walked out of the bathroom, I decided I couldn’t stay here anymore.
Though Mr. Shaw had helped in clearing out Nora’s speculation, I got weird stares from some people while I worked back. They were judging me with their gaze.
I hastened steps. Soon, Nora and Alejandro were in sight. It seems Alejandro was about to step out. “Do you love her?” I heard Nora ask, and I stopped on my track.
I wanted to know that answer, too.
He had told me repeatedly that he liked me but never that he loved me.
Alejandro slowly turns to Nora. My heart almost ripped out of my chest, and my breath quickened. What would he say? I unconsciously placed one hand on my chest.
“Yes.” He replied, his voice firm. I removed the hand from my chest. “I love her. Do you have a problem with that?” He asked her.
Nora sent him a shaking smile.
“Of course not. I was nosy and curious.” She caught a sign of me. “Hope she is worth it.” She said.
“That’s not for you to decide or be curious about.” Alejandro followed her eyes. He smiled when he saw me.
He picked up my bag and walked towards me; he handed me my bag and stood a step away. We have not made our relationship public yet.
“Would you like to spend some time out of here?” He asked.
I raised my head and turned to the exit. The host was finally on the podium. Slow music resounded across the hall as she spoke, capturing the attention of the crowd.
“It seems the Parth wants to start now. Are you sure you don’t want to stay?” I inquired from Alejandro as he led me out the hall.
“I’m certain I don’t want to spend another minute here.” He replied.
No one paid us any attention, thanks to the beautiful host, whose melodic voice kept resounding in the hall. Well, no one except Nora. When I turned around to get a last look at the crowd, she had her eyes pinned on us.
I walked behind Alejandro as he looked around the parking spot, which was crowded with cars, in search of his car. It wasn’t hard to find, and soon, we were standing in front of a black Porsche 911.
“Good gracious,” I exclaimed, looking at the little beauty before me. I had only seen it online and think I’ll be riding on it.
“She’s beautiful, right!” He asked, and I nodded.
I was still amazed by the car when he rode off into the hustling street.
“I didn’t know you love cars.” He said. “Can’t believe you’ve not said a word to me. I’d have brought something else.” Alejandro said, his eyes were focused on the road before him.
“You can’t blame me. This is divine. I love sports cars, and you are bringing this. I just want to run away with it.” I said, and a low chuckle escaped my lips.
“And I want to run away with you?” Alejandro said, and my cheeks got warned.
“What do you say? Let’s both run away; you get the car while I get you.” He said.
I placed one finger on my jaw, pretending to think for a while, “Well, I don’t think that will be possible,” the car stopped in front of a red light behind other cars.
“Come on, why would you say that?” He asked, “You don’t want me to run away with you?”
I brought my phone up to my face and straightened my hair, “it’s not as if I don’t want to take you with me. I very much want to run away with you. But I’d rather do so in a pink Porsche, not black.”
“Woah, don’t tell me you’re a Barbie girl,” he said, his laugh reverberating in the car.
The car started moving again. “You still don’t know much about me,” I said.
No, I wasn’t a Barbie girl, not because anything is wrong with being one; I just find pink cars pretty. I’m a soft girl who likes soft things, and I think the color pink exudes softness.
“Noted, then pink Porsche it is. Remember to keep your word.” He said.
“Of course.”
“Where are we going?” I asked when he took a Turn to the left.
“Somewhere,” he said. A cold breeze rushed into the car. The road he was taking now had few cars. I placed one hand outside, allowing the breeze to hit it.
The sky was dotted with stars. The car soon stopped on a bridge. Alejandro opened the door and walked around to open mine, then he extended a hand to me. “Where is this?” I asked. Without leaving my hand, Alejandro led me to the edge.
The sound of waves hitting the shore welcomed me-the smell of the ocean. Water stretches before us, and the crescent moon and the diamond stars make it all look fictional.
Slowly, he lets go of my hands. I stepped forward, hands spread apart, as I allowed the cold breeze to hit my face. It made me feel better. I inhaled the sweet scent of salt water.
The creaking sound of crickets made the moment more enchanting. I slowly turned on the spot; this was divine. This was beautiful. I felt at peace, a calm feeling settling at the bottom of my stomach.
“You’ll get dizzy if you keep turning,” Alejandro said
His arms found my waist, and he stopped me, pulling me into himself. I felt dizzy for a moment. He held me until my gaze settled.
“This is beautiful,” I said.
Slowly, he removed his arms from my waist, his hands found mine, and he gave it a light squeeze. But what was more beautiful was standing here with him, the man I had fallen deeply in love with. My heart beat loudly behind my chest.
I wanted moments like this to last forever. Moments where we don’t need to hide our affection from judging gaze. Moments where we both shared love for similar things and appreciated them together.
“You, my girl, are more beautiful.” He complimented. I smiled no matter how many times he complimented me. Even if he didn’t say these exact words, he was always able to ignite something inside of me.
“You have not been in the country for a long time; how did you find this place?” I asked.
“That’s a secret,” he said.
I didn’t press.
He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into himself. My back was pressed into his chest.
My mind reverted to what he said to Nora, and I wanted to know if it was true. I wanted to ask him, but I was scared. And I also want to tell him I love him.
“Did you mean what you said in the hall earlier?” I asked after careful thought. “I said many things at the hall.” He replied, then pressed his lips on my ears.
I threw my head to the side. Regaining myself quickly before the pleasure carried me away, “What you said to Nora.” I said.
He stopped and removed his lips from my ear, “about you being in love with me.” We have never truly defined our relationship. It was clear we were attracted to each other and thought we’d had sex a lot and had done other stuff. I wanted to know how he truly felt, and ultimately, I wanted him to know how I felt about him.
What I felt towards him was genuine and big, not like I felt towards Lucas before; this was something different.
Slowly, he turned to me, “Alejandro, do you love me?” I asked.
My eyes held his. Words may lie, but eyes never lie; at least, that’s what we were told.
The moon reflected towards us, and I could see his eyes. “Did you mean what you said to Nora?”
“Anna, I…” he began, then stopped; he took a deep breath. “How do I explain this… how can I…” he smiled and shook his head slowly. I loved his expression, and when I saw his eyes dilate, I confirmed it.
He didn’t need to say the word anymore. He loves me.
“Words fail me, Anna.” He said. His hands leave my waist and cup my face. “You are my light; you have become the most important woman in my life. I love you, and for the first time, I know what true love feels like.” He raises and holds both my hands and gently squeezes them, his eyes never leaving mine.
“You are my light. Believe me when I say I was soaked in darkness before I met you,” he shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it, and then you walked into my life like with your sparkle of diamond.”
“You changed everything. You brought light into my world; how do I tell you how you’ve changed my life? You shaped me into the man who is standing before you. A man who was capable of being loved and to love. You are a brave woman, and I am lucky to have you.”
I felt a tear slide down my cheeks. Never in my life had I thought I’d be hearing something so beautiful. I love you, Anna.” He said.
“I love you too, Alejandro.” He brought his lips down to mine and crashed it on me. He kissed me passionately; it was sweet and filled with all our emotions.
He placed his head on mine and stared at my lips, “you are my woman now.” He declared.
I have always been his woman. “And you are my man,” I said. He smiled and nodded.
He led me to a swing; I sat, and so did he. The swing moved back and forth.
It still felt like a dream. I laid on his chest. We didn’t speak words by mouth, but our hearts spoke; it was connected.
Our lovely moment was interrupted when his phone rang. He ended the call without looking at the screen, and soon, the phone rang again.
“You can take the call,” I said.
He straightened when he saw the ID. I saw it, too, and my breath quickened. It was Lucas. Why was Lucas calling him now? Did he find out?
I thought so many things as I watched Alejandro, who had stepped aside to answer the call. This was a reminder of what my love for Alejandro was based on.
I felt guilty. I had to tell Alejandro. I have to tell him about my last relationship with Lucas. He may be mad, but he definitely won’t be angry at me forever, right? And it is better, I told him, than him finding out from someone else, especially if that someone else is Lucas.
As he walked towards me, my resolve shook.
This wasn’t the right time; he had just confessed that he loved me. But I couldn’t shake the thought that Lucas may have told him as he walked closer.
“I have something I want to say,” I said before I could stop myself.
“What is it you want to say?” He asked.
“Well, the thing is I…” I began and paused. I swallowed. This was so hard. No, I can’t do this, “is something wrong?” He asked.
“What do you want to say?” He asked.
“Well, I have a…”