182 Somewhere (1/2)

”I will marry you, Abigail,” he said and Abi felt like her blood had been drained out of her. Her heart hammered erratically and her lower lip began to tremble.

And then, her eyes welled and tears began to flow from her eyes. She bowed her head as she wiped her tears away but the tears didn't stop flowing. Were these tears of joy? But why did her heart ache at the same time?

Her ultimate wish was going to be granted. She had accepted that it would remain as a mere dream that would be buried along with her one day. She thought that it would only happen in her dream yet here he was, telling her that he would make it happen in reality.

Abi was happy, so happy she couldn't express it in words. But she was also scared, deathly afraid, and she didn't know why. Was she scared for Alex?

”What's wrong? Why are you crying?” Alex pulled her out of her thoughts. He sounded confused and she understood why. He must have been expecting her to jump in happiness since he knew just how much she had been wishing for this.

She gulped nervously as she lifted her face again and looked into his eyes, and with everything she could muster, she opened her lips to speak but not to respond his questions.

”B-but why? You said you would never marry?” she asked him, her eyes still red. She remembered his words clearly from that night so why? Why was he doing this?

Alex's unmoving gaze was accompanied by deliberate slow breathing, like he was fighting to hold something back but he remained calm and serious as he replied, ”I am doing this because this is my gift for you, Abigail.”

A tear fell from her eyes again and she hugged him.

”Y-you're not forcing yourself to grant me this wish, right?” she asked against his chest.

”I'm not,” he answered without a hint of hesitation.

Abi's grip on him tightened. This was still too hard for her to believe. Must he really go this far for a birthday present?

”I'm so happy, Alex… but, I don't want to force you,” she mumbled and Alex held her shoulders to make some space between them. He held her face up and stared into her eyes.

”If you're happy, then stop crying.”

Abi sniffled. ”I'm sorry, I'm just finding it hard to believe this is real, Alex, and I still don't understand why…”

The man gently pinched her check before kissing it and a smile curved on his face.

”Well, I guess I just want to see what you would be like as my wife. Just as you said, why don't I try it?” he said as he brushed away the remnants of tears from her face.

And then, he lifted her up and tucked her into bed. He went and closed the window before he laid beside her.

Abi was gazing at him, her eyes still filled with wonder and disbelief.

”So? What do you want to happen next? What kind of wedding do you want?” he asked and Abi felt like her mind was shutting down. He just proposed and now he was actually going to talk about the wedding?

Seeing her dumbstruck expression, he bent and kissed her lips.