CHAPTER : 5
But it was gone in a single heart-to-heart conversation.
None of them talked about marriage.
After that, nothing exciting happened, and everything continued as before.
Both of them started to talk more.
Father began going to her home more often, and they went on dates whenever they both had time.
And let me say this—the only thing they had in the village was time.
Father took her to see all the fields and his house sometimes.
They saw every corner of the village multiple times in a short span of time.
When they finished, they knew things even the old people who had lived in the village their whole lives didn't know.
Everyone in the village knew about them. There was no one who didn't.
Time passed, and three months had gone by since the punch incident.
The mornings were starting to get cooler, and the cold air could be felt on their skin.
As they walked during the day, with the sun high in the sky,
both of them came to see the lake they had visited many times before.
But today was different.
The difference couldn't be seen, but both of them felt it.
Father had prepared something and was trying to hide it.
His hands were sweating, and there was a confused expression on his face, as if he had forgotten how to control what he was feeling.
On the other hand, my mother noticed something was off.
They had gone on many dates since they started seeing each other,
but she had never seen him like this before.
They stopped at the dock by the side of the lake.
There was a tree there without a single leaf, yet it stood majestically, as if nothing in the world could harm it.
The sky was clear and blue, and a dazzling light reflected off the tiny waves made by the wind.
It looked as if the stars were floating on the lake.
No one said anything.
They stood there, as if something needed to be said, but neither of them knew what.
Then a gust of strong, cold wind passed through.
Dust filled the air, and my mother covered her eyes.
Father looked at her and took the opportunity.
When the wind stopped, she slowly opened her eyes.
She saw him kneeling on one knee, his head lowered, one hand extended toward her.
"What are you doing down there? You were just standing," she said, confusion and expectation mixed on her face.
"I want to say something today," he said, not meeting her eyes,
"and I really have to say it right now—like this."
"What is it that you want to say so desperately?" she asked softly.
"And why on one knee?"
He looked directly into her eyes and said:
"I've always wanted to say this to you.
From the first day I saw you, you stole my sleep and made me feel emotions I had never felt in my life.
For the first time in this life, I wanted something so desperately that I was ready to go as high and as low as I had to.
I want you by my side. I want us to live together.
I want to wake up next to you every morning.
I want us to laugh like we did on our first date.
I want to live with you.
I want to see your face every day and want nothing else.
I want to make the memories of our lives together.
I truly, desperately want you in my life—as my wife, as my friend, as my life partner.
I want to marry you.
Will you marry me and be my wife?"
He stopped and looked at her once more.
Tears filled her eyes, and her expression was hard to describe.
She tried to say something, but no words came out.
When she finally spoke, only one thing escaped her lips.
"I want that too."
Father stood up and embraced her, holding her as if she were made of glass.
No one said anything after that.
Sometimes, silence speaks louder than words.
When everything calmed down and my mother stopped crying,
"Are you okay now?" Father asked in the gentlest voice he could manage.
"Do you need more time?"
She nodded, still in his arms.
"Yes."
They stood there, time feeling as if it had stopped for them.
They stood longer than they realized.
When everything finally settled, they sat on the dock, watching the orange sun set on the far side of the lake.
The silence remained.
Mother's eyes were red and puffy, her nose runny.
She couldn't use her handkerchief anymore—she had already used it too many times.
Father placed his handkerchief beside her, his eyes fixed ahead.
She took it and wiped her face.
"Oh no. How could I forget the most important thing?" he suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs.
She jumped and asked, startled,
"What happened? Why are you yelling all of a sudden?"
Her voice was cranky after crying for so long.
"You know," he said nervously,
"I've been preparing for this day for weeks, and I brought a ring I thought you'd like.
But in the middle of everything—and all the nerves—I forgot to give it to you.
I just remembered it's still in my pocket."
She sighed, extended her hand, and said,
"Show me the ring you brought.
It's for me, right? So give it to me."
He handed her the ring without a word.
She opened the box.
Inside was a silver ring with a green gem, round in shape.
Like her eyes, the gem sparkled in the orange light of the setting sun.
She placed the ring on her finger and giggled.
Then she extended her arm, smiled at him, and closed her eyes.
He immediately understood.
He cupped her face, kissed her lips, and hugged her as if it were the first time.
After that, they returned to the blacksmith's shop,
the ring on her hand and a smile on both of their faces.