Engagement (PT.2)

We soon arrived at the restaurant.

We took our order and minutes later the food was laid in front of us and I began to eat.

But he didn't make any move to do so.

He just sat staring at me.

At a point, I couldn't take it anymore and I had to pour out my mind.

"what's up with you? Why aren't you eating?" I said, dropping the cutlery.

"Riva...." he stressed.

"or did you invite me to help you waste money? 'cause I can see that's what you're trying to do and if it is, then I ain't gonna be part of it" I concluded, pushing the plate away from me.

"Riva, you're supposed to know why I brought you here"

"how am I supposed to know?" I asked.

"Riva, even I know that you have an idea of why I brought you here so why the pretense?"

"Will you just be straight with me?" I growled and took a deep breath after.

"Riva, why don't you ever take me seriously? You always feel I've got nothing to offer, why?"

"Is this some sort of joke? What type of question is that?"

"Riva, this is no joke. I'm lovesick! Ever since I set my eyes on you when we first set foot in college I've been dying for you! But you always act like you don't see it! Like you don't care, why?"

"what are you....." I tried to say but he cut me off.

"no matter how hard I try, you just don't seem to notice, why?"

"but I do....."

"you've cleared the sleep from my eyes Riva. When I'm alone, all I do is think about you and nothing else. Riva, I'm going nuts for you. I'm in love Riva, I am."

"what do you take me for? A fool? I'm not falling for this...nope not buying it." I sputtered, unsatisfied.

"but I..."

"but what? What reasonable thing do you have to say? I know who you are on campus. Everyone knows! So why deceiving me? We both know that you never take your affairs with any girl seriously, NO ONE! So why the lies? Look, say what you have to say so I can get out of this place" I raved, breathing heavily.

"....never take anyone seriously?" he drawled as if meditating on the sentence.

"yes, you can't deny....." I tried to say but I was cut off

"But you aren't anyone Riva, you're that someone...that super special someone that means the whole world to me, and without you in my life, I don't know what I'd do. I love you, Riva...I do....more than you can ever imagine and I need to know that you feel the same way too..."

Love's choice, goof! I mused.

"I know it's your choice but....I need an affirmation and not denial.....my heart would break into millions of infinitesimal pieces if you don't give that expected answer and even if I recover, it might never be the same....I need you, Riva, more than anything else in the entire world...."

Suddenly, I felt a teardrop on my cloak.

WHAT?! I'M CRYING?!

I quickly wiped my eyes with the hanky I had brought with me. I was about to place it back into my cloak pockets when he grasped my hand and caressed it so gently, he asked;

"Are you okay?"

"yes I'm fine, it's just..........."

"It's just what love?"

"I love you" I confessed in a whisper.

"you do?" he asked to make sure that he had heard exactly what I said.

"I've always...... I just thought I wasn't good enough for you and that...you might use me like you do to others on campus..........."

"no, I could never do that. Like I said, you're not like them, you're different, special in your way....I love you, Riva!"

"I love you too Jake!" I answered.

Then there was silence before he spoke;

"If you love me Riva," he started, gradually assuming a one-knee kneeling posture,"will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?"

And that was the last straw for me.

#- I fainted.