Nothing more, nothing less

Jason looked up to find Jenny not with a look of happiness, but with shock and surprise. This was not what he had hoped for. He had been too hasty. He should have followed the plan. But was marrying him really that shock worthy? Weren't they getting along? Wasn't this the purpose of their visit? He felt his firm stance shaking and he slowly started lowering his hand. If she rejected him, what would happen to them? He had now known what it was to have her in his life, he wasn't about to give that up again. He could only wait for Jenny to deliver her sentence on him.

Jenny could not believe what had just happened. What had Jason just said? Had he actually proposed to her? Did she hear him wrong perhaps? He wouldn't actually propose after just one week, right? Anyone would think that was insane. But he has a ring in hand and is on one knee... Oh dear, what was she to say to this man with his dejected expression who still had a glimmer of hope. This was clearly not the reaction he was expecting. "...Uhm.. I am not one with the most tactical words when confronted with situations like this, so I am going to be straight with you. Please don't take my words to heart, but I don't understand what is happening. What are u thinking? How could you think we were ready for marriage. We started off in the worst possible way. We have spent this week trying to get to know each other in order for us to get back to a good place, but I hadn't even considered us getting married up to this point. From this I think you can understand that my answer to your proposal is, no..." Jenny clasped her hands and rubbed them against one another out of nervousness. She was anxious about Jason's reaction to her response.

As expected. It was a rejection, but why did the time they have known each other have to matter so much. Wasn't it the same for him? "I can't say your words don't hurt, but I appreciate you being honest. Though I agree that one week is a short period of time, why should feelings be bound to a clock or calendar? If time was a deciding factor, then love at first sight wouldn't be able to exist. Plus if you look at it differently we have known each other for a lot longer than a week. Normally people don't spend 24/7 with a person of interest. They see each other maybe two - three hours a day. And people have jobs, educations to attend to, a hobby or sports. This would make them be able to meet maybe twice a week. So if we take that into consideration we have already spent 168 hours together, this makes it 84 days and 42 weeks. This is almost a year! Plus I am not asking to marry me today, I am asking you to promise yourself to me. We can be engaged for however long you want. All I want is to know we are heading in the same direction, which is marriage. Right?"

"Time isn't our only enemy. The biggest problem is the lack of romantic feelings. I have just looked at you as a possible friend. Nothing more, nothing less. I haven't even considered you in that way. How can I suddenly make myself see you like a potential love interest. You are most undoubtedly a handsome man and I am sure that I could live my life in luxury by becoming your wife. but that isn't enough for me. I need to feel something. I want butterflies. I want to be giddy when we walk next to each other. I want to be too nervous to speak when you are in my room. Sitting on my bed. At the very least I should be flustered. But right now I don't feel any of these things. Right now, you are at the level of good acquaintance on his way to becoming a good friend. For me to even consider marrying you and moving here, I need to at least feel sparks, chemistry and a sense of excitement. Do you understand what I am trying to say?"

This was a punch he wasn't ready for and he was left with a loss for words. She felt nothing? It wasn't that she wasn't ready yet, but she hadn't even considered him at all. What kind of joke was the universe playing on him. Was this the punishment he received for the pain he had brought to others? For the harsh rejection he had given them? He needed some time to think, so without saying another word, he stood up and left. Not allowing Jenny to say another word.