Today is Sunday. After attending the church mass at eight in the morning, we immediately headed back home.
We agreed last week that mom's gonna cook her specialty for us. But since they had an urgent meeting to do this day, we only ordered our meal online. She promised to do it next weekend if there's no important matter to do.
They had to left me again for work. I feel sad because this is supposed to be their rest day. They only have two days to bond with me which is Sunday and Saturday, but work stole their time which is lended for me. But it's alright. We can still bond next weekend.
I'm now healing… slowly. I'm trying to ease the pain in my chest by enjoying my life. Moving on from a heart break that I made is not easy to do. But I'm trying.
“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to open my eyes despite from the darkness that's blocking my vision. An hour ago, Raven asked me to dress up without telling me the matter. When I got off from his car, he blindfolded me.
“Just wait a little, Ari. We're going somewhere, but I can't afford to spill the bean,” he replied and assisted me on walking. Since all I can see is darkness, he held my hand to make sure that I'm not gonnna bump on anything. I can't walk properly, even when he's guiding me.
“Are we still far?”
“We are almost near.” I can hear many voices when he talked, making me guess that we are in a crowded public place. The scent of something very familiar hang around this long while were walking. It smells like food, the aroma leads me to my stomach.
I patiently waited for us to stop in a location. Sometimes I can't help but to wave my hands just to make sure that I'm not gonna hit anything. Raven assured that he's gonna assist me well, but I want to be sure more.
He already spilled the bean to me when he asked me to dress up. Of course, I know that we're going somewhere because he requested me to wear any dress that will make me feel comfortable. And that was seconded when he blindfolded me. Obviously, he has a surprise for me. I already know, but it's still exciting.
“Ari, I want you to look around.” He untied the thick red cloth that he used in blindfolding me.
I took a deep breath as I slowly opened my eyes. We are currently standing in front of a hotel room. I turned on him and shot a questioning look. What's the next thing I'm gonna do?
“Open it.” He pointed the door using his forefinger. I nodded my head as a response. I wrapped my hand on the knob and twist it. With curiosity, I pulled the door to open and paced inside the hotel room.
The scent of the room lingered and welcomed me in such a pleasing way. Long red curtains covered the plain wall, there's a bed on the side, and white balloons on the floor. The not so big balloons kept on moving from one place to another every time I walk. There were also red petals on the floor. I did my best to not step on it, but it's hard. The petals were scattered everywhere.
“Walk close,” Raven spoke in the middle of walking. I did what I was told and wandered everywhere.
I halted from roaming when I noticed the lightened candles aligned in a vertical way. Ahead of it was a table. It was like a way but not the red carpet thing. As I walk toward the table on the edge, the light from the candles guided me from side to side. The heat gave me a warm hug, embracing me from within. It was so good in the skin… I can feel the heat touching my face, squeezing my palms.
“Have a seat, beautiful.” Raven approached me and motioned his hand on the chair. He waited for me to settle down before he occupied the other chair before me.
The circular table is covered in a red table cloth. The chairs where we are seated are also covered in a white cloth. Then at the center, a lightened candle is placed, pink petals circulating it.
“This is all I can give to you, Ari.” He softly held my hands with sincerity on his voice. My heart is melting in happiness… I wish to tell you that.
“This is already enough. Thank you so much… I appreciate everything that you've done for me.” I meant it. Ever since we met, he never failed to make efforts. He is always hardworking when it comes to surprises. Raven
is the ultimate ideal guy for everyone. He's sweet, a gentleman, caring and loving… you won't ask for more.
“I told you before that I'm not gonna stop making you feel special and loved. Because Ari, you deserve it all. I want to take away all the pain in your chest and replace it with happiness. You don't deserve such pain, you deserve something like this.” He wandered his eyes around, pertaining to the room that he transformed into a romantic place.
I can't believe he is capable of doing such a great surprise. Not all guys out there is as sweet as him. Raven is a responsible man. And I prove that those days I were with him. He is the dream… He is the true definition of love.
“And of course, I will never forget to bring one like this.” I got thrilled when he handed a bouquet of flowers to me. Still red roses, but the way how he gave it to me… is authentic. I rejected his flowers before. I feel sorry to myself for rejecting such a nice way of showing love.
“Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. I was never been treated like this before. Thank you for making me feel how it looks like to be loved.” I tried to control it, but my eyes couldn't do it anymore. I burst into tears like a broken dam. I was so happy, my heart is filled with joy. I can feel the sincerity and the gentle touch of true love that never have I ever felt before.
Ever since he came into my life, he made me feel how it feels to be loved. My heart's begging for Shan to love me back without me knowing that I shouldn't have to. Because in the middle of my pain, someone's coming to tame my broken heart. Someone's coming to make me feel the true love… a love that will not allow me to get hurt. A fulfilling and genuine love.
I regret for not treating him right before. He gave me the happiness that I was struggling to achieve because these past few days I was too preoccupied with the pain. He saved me from drowning when no one else can. He saved me from too much pain. He made me realized how fulfilling it is to be positive and happy like him. His smile, his efforts, his positivity… leaded me to fix and regain myself back. Now I have finally recognized my worth as a woman. And I owe everything to him.
“I'm here to help you recover, Ari. I'll help you to move on. I can be your friend.” He smiled. His words are genuine, not filtered, not sugar coated. In short, he is a man of his word. But unlike Shan… this guy in front of me is an angel. He is god-sent for me to stop begging for the wrong love. He made me realized many things in life.
But he had no idea that I don't want us to be just friends anymore. I was wondering before why I have moved on from Shan that quick, when in fact I was too broken and hurt when he cleared to me that he can't reciprocate my feelings. Now it all makes sense. Because while he was always making an effort for me, then I was turning it back with hate… I have no idea that I was already falling hard for him. This is very unexpectable. I'm already falling in love without me knowing.
Is this right for me to fall in love with him? But it's already late for that. We agreed to stay as friends. I can't do the first move now. If I'll wait for him to court me again… I'm afraid that day will never come. Because I have hurt Raven so much. He courted me before, and I wasted all his efforts for Shan. Now, I regret for losing such a responsible man.
“Let's try the foods, shall we?” He served the utensils in my plate. After some seconds, the foods were already served on our table. It's a variety of desserts to chose, but I tasted the special gelatin first with berries on the side.
“We already tried some dishes during the dinner yesterday, Ari. I thought of ordering desserts to make it different this time. So, how was it?”
“This is good,” I commented. savoring the dessert in my mouth. I can't believe he spent his pennies just to make me happy. You're truly different from the other guys, Raven…
“Just tell me if there's anything you want. If you need some fresh air, then I can give you a ride to the beach. I know a resort that's best—”
“I can't ask for more,” I cut his sentence with a smile.
“Oh, that's sweet.”
Just some seconds after we tried the other desserts, we heard a knock on the door. Raven responded and said the word “come in”. The door opened as a man in white uniform entered. I noticed the violin on his hands.
“Oh my god. Is he here to play?” I asked in great surprise. I haven't witnessed a violinist performing in my front. This will be the first time.
Raven nodded his head and stretched his hand. “Shall we?”
“What are we gonna do?” I accepted his hand and let him lead the way. We halted in the middle of the circle formed in red petals. The white balloons kept on moving and the flame from the candles were giving us the warmth, touching our cheeks gently.
“Let's dance, Ari. I want you to be the first girl that I'm going to dance with. Because you're special to me."
“But I don't know how to dance.” Funny, but it's true.
“It's not about the movements and on how you're going to dance. It's about the person who was dancing with you.” He plastered a convincing smile enough to make me agree.
The violinist started playing with his violin as Raven held my waist. Our other hands were intertwined while we are now moving our feet. It was just a slow dance, just going with the tune coming from the violin. Red curtains, petals, candles, white balloons, desserts, the violin. It was so romantic.
I can't still believe that he's doing all of these for me. The efforts, dude. Yes you can just find any other guy out there. But a man like Raven who'll love you unconditionally is rare. As in, you're like searching for a needle in the haystack. I was so lucky to get an opportunity to dance with him. He's the ultimate dream…
He leaned close to my ear and whispered the words, “I love you, Ari.”
I suddenly felt the shivers in my spines when he said that. Not because I'm intimidated, but it's because I'm thrilled. His voice lingered in my mind like a tattoo as I secretly smiled. This is the meaning of true love, different from what we used to witness nowadays. This is more deep, sincere… more genuine and authentic.
How I wish you're mine…