Chapter 17: Carnation of the Ninja
902 Words
Chapter 17: Carnation of the Ninja
Late at night, as usual Leslie went to her early bed routine. This is my cue so I moved silently as a cat and tiptoed across the room towards the door. At first, I wasn’t used to this sneaking out thing but after some time, I got pretty good at being a ninja. Yeah, things I do for my obnoxious nocturnal “husband”.
“You’re quicker than before honey” Nikolas greeted me also noticing my newfound talent. His eyes are so slanted that it disappears every time he beams at me. Oddly, he was waiting for me in the lobby of our building, casually resting his body on the sofa. In there, he looked lost. Like something that isn’t supposed to be there.
“Don’t call me honey here,” I whispered to him.
“Why not? Are you ashamed of me?” Instantly, Nikolas frowned.
“No. It’s just that we’re in public, and it’s too cheesy if someone else would hear it,”
“So you are really ashamed of me,”
“No! Why are you thinking that? What I mean is that we should be cautious in our situation right now, remember? We could change the future,” I reasoned out but he didn’t respond. He just nodded at me then walked out of the lobby. I’m feeling guilty to what I have said. Maybe I have said it in a very wrong way. “Where are we going?” I asked.
“Just follow me,” Nikolas said coldly. For some reason, I remembered the first time I met him. Ironically, the mystery that shrouds him takes me to trust him more.
We crossed the streets of Manila and went side by side and it was I guess the most awkward walk I ever had. I felt his hands brushed to mine plenty of times but I don’t know if he wanted to hold my hand or not. I don’t want to assume. But what if he’s trying to confirm if I wanted to hold his hand? This is so confusing. And he’s not talking to me! Is he still mad at me?
“Nikolas,” I whispered to him after some time. “How did you propose to me?”
He stopped walking then looked at me like I have done something so unethical that I have offended the whole universe. God, why did I ask it in the first place?
“It was not something to be remembered,” he said then started to walk away again.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a simple proposal. We’re having a dinner on our special night and then I asked the question as I show you our ring.”
“Were I happy?” I asked but he continued to walk. Maybe he didn’t hear me. “Am I happy on those moment,”
“I guess so,” Nikolas answered. I noticed that we were already in front of the POW bookstore. I thought we were going somewhere else. “Come, I have to show you something,”
We entered the bookstore and once again the delightful aroma welcomes us. Nikolas, took my hand then guided me to a place between two book shelves. “Tell me Elois, what is your favorite flower?”
“As my husband, shouldn’t you know?” I joked. Yet again, my question is quite valid right?
“Oh come on Elois, just tell me,”
“Okay, okay. It’s carnation.” Nikolas smiled then took a book from the book shelves and opened it.
“Oh, what do we have here?” he exclaimed. Curious, I went to his side and checked what’s with the book. There I saw a flattened pink dry flower. It was a carnation flower beautifully dried. I immediately smiled.
“You did this?”
“Yeah,” Nikolas proudly answered. “I travelled back in time, about a week ago, to place it here so that I could show it to you,”
“That is really sweet, thank you!” I smiled. We held each other’s gaze and I quite felt obligated to do something but I don’t know what it is. A hug? A kiss? But nevertheless, Nikolas held my face then kissed me on the forehead.
“You’re perfect,” he assured.
“I am not,”
“For me, you are,”
I gulped. Nikolas is such a perfectly sweet guy but I still fail to completely like him as my husband. I think he doesn’t deserve me. There is really something wrong with me.
“Hey,” he placed my hand over to my ears. “Are you okay, honey?”
“Yeah, I’m great thanks to your surprise. I will never forget about this. We’ll look back on this on the future and I would be always be grateful to you,”
“You promise?”
“Yeah,” I then placed my hand to his chest and felt his heart beating so fast. “I promise,”
- Writer
