Chapter 14

"I want to kiss you."

I SAID IT! HOW EMBARRASSING!

She fell silent. Then her eyes seemed to avoid me and I see both her cheeks turn red.

"If you think it's a joke, I'll get mad at you," I said.

"It's not that... I'm just surprised that you would say that." her face blushed even more.

"Is my request weird?"

"Why are you so obsessive about me? You're a handsome guy, I think there are other girls prettier than me that you can approach, I don't want to be played with."

"You know... yesterday when I lost you for a while. I realized that you are a very important person in my heart. I was so scared yesterday until I finally found you in such a bad condition, it made my heart hurt...I cried when you were still unconscious."

I said it all.

"I really love you..."

She fell silent again. But this time longer than the previous one. I knew this was going to end badly. But somehow I was still hopeful.

"If you love me, you should say it properly... and say my name too."

"Eh...?" am not dreaming right?

"I'm waiting."

I took a long breath and let it out. My eyes again focused on her eyes.

"I do really love you... Julia, will you be my girlfriend?"

She nodded.

I approached her lips.

When our lips almost touched, she stopped my lips with her finger.

"To be honest, I've never been in a dating relationship, so I beg you to take it slowly, will you?"

This time it was me who nodded.

She removed her finger from my lips and I resumed my original intention.

I kissed her lips.

***

I woke up because of the alarm from my cell phone.

Was it a dream?

I immediately get up from my bed and go downstairs for breakfast.

I see my auntie preparing breakfast.

"Good morning."

"Good morning, Joseph. Would you like some coffee?"

"Yes please."

I sit down and she put down her glass and pours in the black coffee that still smoking. I can smell the strong aroma from it.

"Thank you... auntie."

Suddenly the expression on her face change, it looks like she's a bit upset.

"What's the wrong Auntie?"

"Why do you call me that? As your girlfriend, I'm mad!"

"Heh, girlfriend? Wait... that wasn't a dream?"

"Dream? Yesterday you confessed to me and the afternoon we went home from the hospital, don't you remember?"

"Ah... sorry, I thought it was a dream... that's why..."

"Your words are hurtful, you know I don't like hmm...."

I kissed her lips, again.

"Right... this is the second time I kissed your lips. I really miss the taste."

"You're a horny guy, are you?"

"Welcome home... Julia."

"I'm home. Thank you, Joseph."

We enjoy our breakfast while talking to each other. Now I feel like the wall between us is falling down. This is the moment when our new love story begins.

***

Christmas is just a few days away.

Right now Julia and I are at the mall, we want to prepare ourselves for Christmas.

When inside the mall we were already greeted by Mariah Carey's song, you must already know the title of the song that I mean.

"I hope we don't run out of turkey," Julia said.

"Don't worry, I predicted this, shopping earlier than the day before Christmas is the right decision."

Hopefully.

"Anyway, how does it feel to wear eye lenses now?" I said.

Yesterday Julia decided not to wear glasses anymore because she seemed traumatized when her glasses came off, it became difficult to see, she said.

For me, it's the opposite, but I don't want to get into that.

"It was a bit difficult at first, but over time I got used to it."

It was only yesterday, but she adapted very quickly. Is this what's called girl power?

Along the way, I see an ice skating park in the mall.

"Wow, let's go see it!" I pull her hand while walking there.

"W-wait..."

When we arrive there, I'm like a kid looking at a playground.

"Let's try it!" I said.

"That's fine, but we have to buy some things first."

"That can be later, anyway if we shop first, it will be difficult if we come here again while carrying groceries."

"You're right, but won't we run out of turkey later?"

"Take it easy, trust me, everything will be fine."

"Alright then."

Before entering, we registered first and the staff gave us a pair of skates.

When I entered for the first time, it was a little difficult to balance myself at first, but as a villager, balance is not a difficult thing.

It didn't take long before I was able to stand upright. But it is a different story with Julia.

"Are you okay?"

"Please help me, Joseph."

"Try holding my hand."

She holds my hand, then I pull her to the center. She was scared at first, but I calm her down.

"It's okay, just look around."

Her fearful expression begins to change, replacing it with a cheerful one.

I pull her hand again, this time trying to get her to skate together.

"If you're scared, just focus on me. I won't let you fall, I promise."

Finally, her body starts to relax, now we are finally skating together.

There are a few couples also doing the same thing with us. I guess it's a tradition here.

I can finally see her cheerful laughter.

Until finally we were too engrossed in playing and forgot to shop.

The sign at the supermarket says; turkey is sold out until the early new year.

In the end, we decide to order KFC on Christmas Eve.