The Date Night - II
They walked around the beach in a comfortable silence. The comforting silence hold the utmost communication between them without the need of any words. Regan had intertwined his fingers with Anna's and she couldn't help but frequently glanced at her hand that was engulfed in his warm grip of affection which she doubted if she ever wanted to leave. Regan had already removed his suit jacket to feel casual whereas Anna had her heels in her other hand.
During the little walk, a soft amused giggle escaped her lips when the cold water touched her bare feet and she squeezed his hand in elation amusing him as well.
When Regan turned around to face her, she was already looking at her feet, gently splashing and playing with the water beneath. He knew that she wasn't an admirer of fancy things, hence he kept it all natural that matched her taste and preference. In that moment, she seemed to be free with no baggage and pain. An enticing smile was etched on her face and it lighted his heart with immeasurable pleasure of being the reason behind it. The need to protect and keep her away from the pernicious world grew inside him so much that then and there he vowed to do anything to keep her safe and happy always.
"Beautiful!" He muttered in a daze.
Anna looked at him and her smile widened.
"It is."
He shook his head on her obliviousness and looked at her dotingly. He was still admiring her when a soft splash of water right on his face stunned him. The moment he registered the cause of the ruckus, his eyes glint with amusement.
Anna tried to suppress her giggling on her little stunt, but after taking a look at his puzzled state, peals of laughter burst within her echoing in the air. Sliding her hand out of his grip, she stepped back and covered her mouth to restrain the bubbles of laughter again, but failed miserably.
"Anastasia!"
Regan playfully squinted his eyes with a mischievous smirk on his face. She was still laughing when he bent down to take some water to splash on her too. However, she noticed his action and before he could do that, she stepped back more.
"Ah! Regan...you can't do that. I am sorry okay."
"And why not?"
He threw some water on her which made her yelp and she started running away from him. Regan took no time and started chasing her. Soon, the air was filled with their playful banter. She kept on apologizing while he was keen to take his revenge. He took no time and engulfed her in his arms from the back which made her scream. Instead of putting her down, he swirled her that made her laugh even more.
"I am sorry. I am sorry. I am sorry. Please put me down Regan. My head is spinning."
He did as she said and turned her instantly. Without their realization, the peaceful silence turned into a playful chaos leaving them panting to catch their breath. While Regan's hand had encircled her waist, she had her hands around his neck. While her eyes brimmed with tears of mirth, the smile tugging his lips broke into a grin.
"What was that?"
She shrugged and said smilingly, "I am sorry."
He shook his head. "Don't be. I love to see your smiles and hear your laughter. They reflect my happiness."
His words made her conscious of their proximity. Before she could enhance the distance between them, his words stopped her.
"I have something for you."
He glanced at the dainty necklace that he gifted her on their wedding night. It adorned her delicate neck and he was happy that she was considerate to wear it always. He took out a square box from his pant pocket and gave her. She tried to say something, but he put his finger to her lips as a sign to be quiet. She bit her lip while taking it, gradually withdrawing her hands. She was surprised to open it.
"It's beautiful." She murmured making the edges of his lips curled.
It was a love bracelet in rose gold with diamonds. A special gift from him for their first date.
"May I?"
She nodded and he took her hand to make her wear the exquisite piece of jewellery. He was fumbling with its end to fix it on her hand while a soft smile alighted her face. Her eyes welled up lightly. She didn't know what to say or how to react to the man in her front. Her man to be precise! Throughout the evening, although they didn't exchange numerous words, she could see and feel the love and tenderness that shone through his eyes for her. He was tenacious. His love was tenacious that had grasped her to never let her go. She didn't know why did he love her so much? What did she do to get him? She didn't understand how he could make her feel those things when she thought she was incapable to feel again.
He finally fixed the bracelet and looked into her eyes that had turned misty.
"Anna?"
"Thank you."
"It's nothing."
"Thank you." She said again.
He frowned on hearing it again but before he could say something, she spoke again and he went quite.
"Why do you love me so much?" She voiced out her thoughts as she could no more keep them inside her. "I don't know what good I have done to have you in my life."
He parted his lips to reply but she put her hand to his mouth to stop him.
"Let me complete."
Her eyes welled up as she held back her tears.
"Its not for this." She glanced at the bracelet which she knew must be costly, but it didn't matter to her. If something mattered or affected her, then it was his feelings that were more precious than it's worth. "Why are you so thoughtful? So good? You came into my life when I was a mess. I still am but.....but something has changed now Regan. You make me feel.....so much that it terrifies me to the core. I want to run away from you to make me feel things that I thought were no more meant for me. I want to despise you for being such an important part of my life. I want to hate you for doing this to me."
While a tear escaped her eye, his heart ached on hearing her words.
"But I can't." She whispered.
Withdrawing her hand from his mouth, she startled him when she cupped his jaw with the same hand.
"I can't bring myself to hurt you because it hurts me.....to see you in pain. I don't know since when I started feeling this way for you. I may not love you yet but..... I admire you, respect you, care for you and I.....I like you Regan. But I don't know if I am capable enough to give you more than this. I am broken and I am scared to break you and drown you in my pain. I don't want to burden you with the baggage I carry because you don't deserve it. You deserve so much more and I hate myself..... to put you into a situation like this. I am fortunate to have you in my life and I am grateful to you...for the way you have being with me till now and I want to let you know that I appreciate and value it." She held his hand with her other hand. "I know a thank you is not enough but I promise you today.....I'll will give you my best that I can for the happiness that you deserve."
Her words touched his heart. He had no idea that she had bottled up so much. Her every syllable was nothing but a confession to him and he was happy to hear her heart out, but at the same time desolated as he felt as if he failed to let her doubt herself and think that she was not good enough for him and couldn't make him happy. Only if she knew...
"Can I speak now?"
She nodded and lowered her eyes, leaving his hand and withdrawing the other, but he held it, not ready to let her go until he spoke his heart out.
"Look at me Anna." He commanded softly.
She met his eyes and saw something in them that she couldn't dechiper at the moment. 'Did I hurt him?' She thought and panicked.
"Do I need a reason to love you?" He asked her but without waiting for her reply continued, "I don't know about you, but I have definitely done something good to have you in my life."
He brought her hand down from his face and placed it on his chest above his heart.
"Can you feel it?"
She moved her gaze towards her hand. His heart was palpitating at an unusual pace that amused her. He withdrew her attention with his words.
"It beats like this whenever you are around. Only for you. No one has made me feel the way you do and I am certain that no one else is capable to do so. Isn't it enough for me to love you? Even if you are a mess or you are broken, you are all mine.....and I accept you the way you are with or without baggage without any regrets."
He left her hand making her gradually withdrew hers away from him.
"See yourself from my eyes to change your opinion about yourself. Do you know how beautiful you are and how I feel the need to hide you away from this world so that....only I can have you for myself? Do you know how much you lure me with your innocence? Do you know how much I need you for my existence and sanity?"
Her eyes watered like a stream and he cupped her face wiping her tears with his thumb.
"I always knew that you loved someone else and your heart would never be mine, but I still fell for you. Deep and hard. Without any expectations. To have you saying that my pain affects you, you care for me and even like me....is more than enough to make me happy and about burdening me with your baggage..." He wiped her watering eyes again. "These are too precious for me. Do you know how much you hurt and burden me when you waste them on such silly thoughts about yourself heart? I am all yours to drown me in your pain just as you are mine and I intend to be a part of your everything Anna...happiness or sorrows, whatever... because they are mine as well just like you. Let me tell you that if I deserve the whole world, then my world is you."
He touched his forehead with hers while still cupping her face and peeked into her eyes.
"I love you heart. I love you so much that I am afraid to lose you. You can never hurt or burden me because you are the source of my joy, centre of my world and my heart."
He stared deep into her ocean blue orbs and cupped her cheeks that were glowing red due to her tears and him. She really looked like a mess.....a beautiful mess that belonged to him and he didn't want anything apart from her. His hands shook slightly as he still wanted to say so much more to her. This time, he let himself loose in the moment to show her his love.
His lips touched hers and sparks flew from all the directions. Every trouble, pain, worry and burden disappeared. She made him feel that none of them mattered. It was an innocent kiss, yet so intimate and sparkling. He got surprised when he felt her lips move against his in sync. His hands slide down and felt her waist. He pulled her closer making his movements deeper and more passionate.
Anna was taken off guard when she felt his lips on hers. She placed her hands on his chest, tending to push him away, but instead she left them there. She urged herself to push away but couldn't. Her heart fluttered inside her chest as he pulled her closer and she encircled her arms around his neck to let herself loose in his love that soothed her aching heart by synchronizing with his movements."
In that moment, no other thing mattered to them. They didn't realize then, but their souls were already connected with each other a long time back, waiting to weave a beautiful story of a love so special and pure that could be remembered till ages.