Chapter 44: Childhood Sweethearts

Her unfinished sentence was a good indicator that the plan I come up with to prove my willingness to marry her could calm her thrilled heart.

"What do you think, Gaia? Is this prove enough?" I kept my smug expression behind her back, ready to see how she will react after her initial shock wears off.

But instead of Gaia saying something, she turned to me with a blank face, slightly alarming me in the process.

I tilted my head to the side and spoke in a neutral tone. "Was the prove perhaps not to your liking?"

She looked in my direction for couple of seconds before jumping at me, aiming straight for my throat and making me wonder if her defensive mechanism got overload to the point of attacking me.

(Should I dodge or not?) I thought about avoiding whatever she planned to do, but I decided against it because I knew I couldn't be hurt in this place. At least not by her.

With Gaia standing in front of me, she got her arms on my neck in a matter of seconds and classped them around it.

And when her firm embrace restricted my access to oxygen, she relaxed her arms and hugged me tightly, just like she did when jumping on my back from Eathguardian's branches.

Then I felt a warm breath on my earlobe, followed by a quiet whisper. "I love it." Those simple words were all that left Gaia's mouth, but they expressed more than any others would.

(You were indeed a good idea.) I looked over her shoulder at Eathguardian's trunk and the prove I came up with.  It laid in the center and at first it could be overlooked because of its small size, but after noticing it no one will miss its meaning.

It was an engraving in the bark which said: G + A. A typical carving made by lovers to express their everlasting love and a place they can visit in years to come.

"I'm glad you like it." Right after saying it, Gaia's arms started shaking, showing signs of tiredness from hanging on my neck. But she didn't let go, desperately trying to keep her arms in place.

Seeing this made me put my arms around her back to hold her in the air and let her keep her embrace continue without any struggles. 

"I got you, my childhood sweetheart."

When my words reached her ears, she leaned back, revealing her confused expression. "Childhood what?"

"Childhood sweethearts...Isn't that what this carving usually represents? A promise of everlasting love between two teenagres engraved in a tree. Only we know its location and its meaning is only for us." When those words left my mouth, I realized the uncontrollable passion in my voice and that made me question if I was really only trying not to break Gaia's heart.

(Am I really falling for Gaia? But how? When?...) This question filled my mind with every moment we spend together, the same memories that occupied my mind countless times, but this time it was different.

This time they focused on her smile, her laugh, her proud and overbearing attitude which never bothered me, because I found it cute when a young girl such as her tried to act like a queen.

I sighed, looked at the branches above me and the sunlight which hardly penetrated through their leaves. (I'm doomed, aren't I? To like the woman who tried to kill me on our first meeting and who will probably try to do so when I see her older self again...Why I let it happen?)

(Was it her innocence? Or maybe because of how well we got along?) While thinking about it, I saw a split image in front of me.

On one half I saw a blurry mature woman with a hateful expression and spiked vines wrapping around her body.

On the other half I saw a young girl who had a proud smile, crossed arms and a huge tree behind her.

Both of them were the same person, the same woman, the one and only mother earth, Gaia. (But they were so different...What caused it? What changed her? What made Gaia, Gaia?)

"How can you say something like this and look away? Do you have any idea what your words even mean?" She screamed in an irritated tone, making me look at her now blushing face again, which was turned to the side and her whispering some words.

"This guy...Calling us childhood sweethearts all of a sudden."

I pretended not to her whisper and replied only to her screams. "Of course I do, I watched romance movies." I showed her a proud smile, while thinking in the back of my head.

(Not by choice, but what can you do when you have an older sister?...Actually, I wonder how is she? Did my death in my previous world affect her?)

It was the first time I thought about my previous family, but I didn't hold that thought for long for various of reasons.

"What's a romance movie?" 

(I forgot they don't have it in this world...I guess it's time to explain a little bit of modern technology to her.) "Do you know what romance book is?"

"I do."

"Can you imagine some of the scenes from that book? Maybe even paint them?"

"I guess?" Gaia didn't know where I was going with it.

"Then imagine those paintings on a bigger scale and when you do so, imagine them starting to move and showing every action from that book, from start to finish...This is called a movie. A moving picture which shows you a story."

"I think I understand." I nodded at her words, when a bright smile appeared on her face. "I can't wait to see it in person."

"In person you say?" I got quite nervous after hearing it. "You see, Gaia, there's a small problem when it comes to you seeing a movie."

"Oh, care to explain?" It was clear that Gaia didn't like the bad news.

"I can't show you a movie because I don't have necessary equipment to do so. But, I promise I will take you to a movie when I can." I hopped my offer to take her to a movie in the future will satisfy her for the time being.

Unfortunately I quickly noticed that her good mood was taking a drastic turn. While her arms exhorted a surprising amount of power.

(Wasn't she tired just moments ago?)

So without any other choice, I did the last-ditch effort in order to avoid the brewing storm.

"It will be a date." I said hopelessly.

"A-A date?.." Gaia got conflicted, before showing her defensive mechanism once more. "*Hmph* You think I will go on a date with the likes of you? You think I will lower myself to that level just to see a so called 'movie'?"

(I knew satisfying this little queen will never be so easy.)

Despite her harash words, Gaia's blush told me everything I needed to know about her real thoughts.

With this in mind, I took a step forward and placed Gaia on her favorite spot. After which I gone down on my knee, while keeping the eye contact between us the whole time.

"Sorry for my previous, plain invitation. Unworthy of a person such as you." I placed my right hand on my chest. "May I rephrase it?"

This little act flabbergasted Gaia. And even that was an understatement when her jaw dropped and her eyes started blinking repetitively.

I had a deep desire to burst out laughing, but I decided to keep my crumbling act intact, almost as if that desire never appeared.

"May I rephrase it, Gaia?"

Seeing my unfaced stance made her realize the true intention behind my actions, which in turn made her join me in in this little play.

She did it by crossing her legs, placing her hands on them and turning her expression to one of joy.

"You may, but.." She raised her hand and showed me one finger. "You have only one chance."

Her teasing made me return the smile and say. "I never thought otherwise."

"Good. Now you may begin your brand new invitation."

(Let's make it a show she won't forget.) Determined, I reached my arm out for the hand that stayed on Gaia's knee and brought in to my lips.

It began shaking while her heart rate increased, but it only acted as a fuel for my next move. So, I placed my lips on her hand and kissed it gently.

"Gaia, will you accept my humble request of inviting you to a movie date? I can guarantee it will be an unforgettable experience for both of us, and who knows...Maybe it will be one of many to come?"

"Many to come? Are you so confident, or can you lie so well?" Gaia smirked. " We will see if you can turn your words into reality. I accept you invitation."

I kissed her hand again and said confidently. "I will let you be the judge of that when the time comes."