She was so nervous that she tried calling his name.
"Alexander.."
He was staring blankly at the soup.
She was worried until he glanced at her and smiled. He took the spoon at the right side of the table and sniffed the aroma of the soup. She was relieved when she saw his actions.
Her thoughts struggled to follow up when he touched her hand and said, "I will be here for you. Trust me when I say this." He smiled.
She looked at him with mixed emotions as if he is trying to calm her down. She was not sure of her feelings right now and her mind will explode if this does not stop. She is stressing things so much that she felt a headache coming. She was not used to this type of intimacy then she felt her emotions surge again like the waves crashing into her heart. The challenge of the date, the shock from the wedding, the unguarded dance, the frank confrontation, the cradle of warmth. These happened to her in this day. She suddenly clenched her fist and she let a tear fell down. She bowed her head so that he could not notice her. She knew this emotional state of hers is quite uncanny. Her eyes lit up suddenly and checked her phone. She searched for the calendar and saw the date today.
"Ah no wonder I was so emotionally sensitive today..." Her voice trailed off.
Alexander was about to get a spoon of soup into his mouth when he heard her say it. His hand was stuck in the air as if he was a statue.
Alex realized what she just blurted out. She was embarrassed at the thought she might give him signals. She felt digging her own grave at the moment. 'I am really going to shut my mouth when I am with him. I have been off guard recently and felt his security. This could mean trouble for me.' She was now panicking and let herself cough and changed the topic.
"Is the soup delicious?" Alex asked.
Alexander heard her and shove the spoonful of soup into his mouth. There was a stinging pain in his tongue. He knew the soup was hot yet he still put it in his mouth without cooling it down. He downed the soup and made a thumbs up while he pretends he was fine.
Alex was amused by his actions. She finds him really funny but felt pity on him. She gave him cold water for his tongue to subside the pain even though it just gave it small comfort.
She giggled. He smiled. The atmosphere turned to be friendly when suddenly a song was heard on the tv.
"It's over and done..."
She was taken aback
"But the heartache lives on..."
Her eyes fluttered like butterflies.
"Inside..."
She gazed on the wall for second and her head slowly turned on the TV. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She reluctantly shouted in her mind, "Why the heck am I listening to this now? What a coincidence." She got sad for a moment but then her gaze was interrupted by his hands taking hers. Still transfixed at the tv, she felt her emotions again. She held back her tears and said to herself, "My body is tricking me again. I'm stronger than this." Her eyes held her tear, closed her eyes for 3 miliseconds and stood calm like water. She glanced at Alexander who is now worried.
"I love that song too..." Alex said and started singing with it. She knew she was not that good but she was not bad either. So she sang her heart out to ease her pain. She must face it or else regret it.
"You'll never see me fall apart...
In the words of a broken heart
It's just emotion taken me over...
Caught up in sorrow, lost in my soul..."
She felt empowered by the lyrics. "I'm stronger than this. I'm confidently believe I can." She only hear her voice telling her.
He saw through her eyes. There was sadness, pain and suffering. His heart wrenched. He did not want to see her hurt. When she glanced at him, gave him a smile and sang the lyrics, he concluded this woman is independent and strong. He was admiring her strength amidst her hardships.
"Let's eat, I'm starving." Alex said.
He nodded. They both indulged themselves with the soup and stared directly at the tv. They changed channels to watch something interesting but nothing seems to catch their attention. He turned the TV off.
There was silence in the room.
Alex stood up and fixed the table. She was used to it doing in their house but Alexander stopped her. He beat her to it and she was at awe. He cleaned the table and let her rest first. He motioned for her to sleep at the bed while he cleans.
She asked suddenly out of the blue, "Why are you so good to me?"
He stopped what he was doing. He raised his head, looked her in the eye and said,
"Isn't obvious?"
"..."
She knew the answer but she was afraid of love for she was aware that she just knew this guy in a day. She can't trust him, yet.
He looked at her intently and said, "Why are you asking this?"
She returned his gaze, with her unwavering eyes.
"I am not sure about your intentions but I know you respect me." She concluded. She puts her arms in her chest.
"You are still a stranger to me. You may know people close to me before but that does not make you an exemption." She added with a stern look.
"I would like you to know me then tomorrow at breakfast. As I promised, I will take you to your home after then we can arrange it from there on." Alexander said.
She thought for it in a while but she knew she agreed already but it was a new condition.
"What the hell was I thinking? Good job mouth." She whispered with a sigh. She was now face palming herself while she is facing his back.
He felt guilty for bringing her into this wedding. The fact that he just met her yesterday and asked her on a date with his crazy antics was far too fast. He just made himself dug a whole in the ground. It was all over the place in which he never thought about every move he made. He knew her since childhood but she does not know about him neither his existence. He can prove to her now that there is someone who cares for her and who will love her until the very end. He felt his heart trembled at the thought of it but he remained composed for her to trust him. His goal was simple.
"I will make you mine." He mumbled.
"Did you say something?" Alex asked.
His face turned pale and his body trembled. He felt a face palm coming in his face.
"What the heck? What was I thinking?" He whispered.
"Uhm, I did not say anything." Alexander pretentiously said. He was so guilty his face turned red and turned around to cover his embarrassment.
"Are you sure?" Alex probed.
He was now nervous. A sweat fell down on his face. He gathered all his pride and blurted out.
"Yes, why would I be?" He asked.
"You sound guilty about something." She answered.
There was panic in his eyes.
"Why does this lady have heightened senses? She's scary." He mumbled.
"I don't think so. Why did you say that?" Alexander asked.
"Nothing. Maybe because I'm sleepy and no wonder I am grumpy. We better sleep." She suggested.
He nodded.
After he cleaned the table, she went to the washroom to brush her teeth. Her eyes fluttered and yawned signalling she was sleepy. She went into the bed and made herself comfortable. She was now in deep sleep.
As he finished cleaning up, he glanced at her sleeping figure on the bed. He was relieved when he saw her peaceful face resting on the soft pillow. He did not stay staring at her and went into the washroom to brush his teeth. He made himself comfortable in the couch and got his phone. He snapped a photo of her face sleeping on a pillow when she turned around.
Click!
His phone's camera sound was heard in the room. He was so nervous that he hid his phone and saw no movement from her. He checked on his phone and luckily he got the shot he was longing for.