4 Through Her Eyes

          The music changed into a slow one. Mellow. Couples, arms around each other, were swaying with the music. Norman asked me to dance with him again.

         We talked about a lot of things, about him and about me. But none of those seemed to retain in my memory. We had been slow dancing for half an hour and I felt tired. I still kept on thinking of Eric. In my mind, I imagined him walking towards me, and then asking me to dance with him.

"Norman, may I?" Flabbergasted, I was shocked into reality to find Eric talking to Norman, and offering his hand to me! "Sure." Norman said. Eric walked me to the other side of the dance floor, where only a few couple were dancing.

"Where's Marie?" I asked, as Eric placed his hands on my waist and mine on his shoulders. Eric smiled at me as we started to sway along with the music.

"She left me to be with you for a while."

"But she's your date, not me." I remarked.

"I know." He whispered.

"So?" I stopped dancing and placed my hands on my hips.

"So let's keep dancing." He took my hands and placed them around his neck.

"Why did you include Norman and I in your dinner reservation?" I said across the music. "Norman told you? Well, I just thought you'd like to have dinner there also. That way, I can still see you even if you're not with me." Eric winked.

          I was puzzled, confused and bewildered by what he said. I thought this night is about him and Marie. Now, I'm not so sure anymore. Is this about him and me?

          I didn't realize (again!) that he was looking through my eyes. So I rested my head on his chest. I guess he saw something in my eyes because I can feel his body shaking, his hands trembling as he held me closer. I had to confirm something.

"Does Marie like you too?" I said, not lifting my head from his chest.

"Huh? Um... I still have to ask her later, at the beach." This time, his voice lost the tinge of confidence.

"Didn't you see something in her eyes when you danced?"

"We didn't dance."

"Oh.. But, why?"

He stopped dancing, held my face with his hands, and gently said, "Why do you ask so many questions? Come on, let's sit. I'm tired." Why didn't they dance?? Wait. I need to know!

Back at the table, Eric stood up after a few minutes, held my hand, and led me outside.

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking back at the party behind us.

"Just follow me." He answered, holding my hand tightly. Moments later, Norman appeared beside us. "Let's go?" Eric asked Norman, and Norman nodded. What's going on? And where's Marie? I haven't seen her yet. In fact, I haven't seen her since I first heard about her.

          A black limo stopped right in front of us and Eric opened the door to let me in. Norman didn't get in. All I heard was him wishing Eric good luck. What for? Eric got in and shortly after, we arrived at the seafood restaurant. "We're here." It was the first time Eric spoke since we left the school grounds. It was supposed to be very romantic being with him, alone especially. But I was not feeling romantic, at all. I was freaking out!

          We climbed out of the limo, and into the restaurant. The place was adorned with lots of flowers. And, as we entered, a band of violinists started playing a familiar soft melody. We headed to the only table with overhead lamp on, Eric and Marie's table. He pulled the chair for me, and we sat across each other.

"Norman said there were two reservations." I tried to look innocent, but I knew Eric was up to something.

"Jen, I have a problem." Okay, so we went all the way here just to talk about his problem.

"What is it? Is it about Marie?"

"Yes, it's about Marie." He hesitated for a while. "You see, Jen, there is no Marie."

"You mean, you didn't have a date?"

"Yes."

"But why? Why did you pretend? And this dinner reservation?" I was getting more and more confused.

"It was you I wanted to go to the dance with. All my preparations, the limo, the dinner, are all for you, Jen. I thought you wouldn't be able to find a date. But then Norman asked you, and you said yes. I talked to Norman and he was very helpful. So my plan somehow got a little bit twisted. And besides, I heard he likes Leslie, who by the way had no date because I turned her down when she asked me." Eric was looking at my eyes again. But then, the food arrived. We ate in silence... me, trying to absorb every word that he said a while ago, and him, trying to muster all the courage to finish what he had started, I guess.

The food was the best I've tasted. After dinner, we left the restaurant and proceeded to the beach. At the beach, I suddenly remembered something.

"So what did you say your problem was?" I reminded Eric.

"I want to know how Marie feels about me."

I looked at him, undecided if he was joking, or drunk, or crazy. "I thought you said there is no Marie?"

He smiled the sweetest smile, that brought answers to all my questions. He held my hand and we walked along the shore, the wind blowing through our hearts.

"Do you really want to know how Marie feels about you?" I asked smiling, thinking about his special gift of being able to see through a girl's eyes.

"Yes." He said as we stopped walking and he looked into my eyes.

"You'll see it in her eyes, just as you planned." I said with a big smile on my face.

It was quiet. But the stars were extra bright, telling me that there's something special about tonight.