39 Love gained

Michael Forrester

He waited for her to respond. The way she’s blinking and darting her eyes tells him she’s hesitating. Is his speech too unbelievable? If only he wasn’t that shaken he could have thought more sugar-coated lines to sweep her off her feet.

That might have work. Too bad he just blow his chance.

She’s biting her lower lip. Refusing to look up at him. If that was not enough, he’s prepared to express more. He took a deep breath and crouched. Bending his legs, he slid his arms down her waist.

“Wha- what are you doing?” she took a step back. His action caught her off guard when he kneels in front of her.

“I know what I said is not enough to convince you, so I’m willing to prove it. Right here, right now. Until you say yes I won’t move an inch from this spot.” he said, dead serious.

She flung her head from side to side, some of the crowds had noticed them. Some people smiled in interest and stop to watch. Michael beamed. Using people’s curiosity to his advantage, he’s hundred percent sure Katherine can’t back out now.

Her cheeks turned red. Her eyes looked frantic. Worried and embarrassed mixed in, she tried to avoid people’s eyes. Resting them in Michael’s direction.

And yet, he’s not making it any better for her. His expression tells it all. He knows Katherine hates it when she became the center of attraction. And he’s not planning to let her go unless she said what he wanted to hear.

“I thought you ask for another chance? Why are you forcing me to say yes? I need more time,” she pleaded. His expression turned grim.

“Sorry, time is the only thing I can’t give you. I wasted it once, I’m never going to miss it again. Every second ticking by, I’ll make sure I spend it with you by my side.” he reassured.

“And you think doing this is gonna convince me?” she asked in disbelief.

“No. I’m hundred percent sure doing this will make you mine.” a playful smile spread across his lips, watching her face turned beet red.

“You and you’re flattery,” she murmured, turning her head aside to hide her embarrassment.

“It’s not flattery. I’m serious. More than anything else, I’d rather have you by my side. So please, be mine. I’ll make sure you won’t regret giving me a second chance.” he cupped her left hand and kissed it.

He imagined the word second chance will change her mind, but it has the opposite effect. The creeping doubt he managed to dissolve earlier is back. It’s dancing in her eyes. Lining her creased forehead, compassing the distance between her brows.

Which only proves he shattered her trust. And that tears his heart.

“Kath, what do you want me to do?”

“What do you mean?” the crease on her forehead deepened.

“For you to trust me again. If I can’t win your trust, how can I win your heart?” he said, sounding desperate.

At first, they hold each other’s gaze. Then Katherine look away and sighed.

“It’s not a matter of gaining my trust Michael, I’m still not sure what to do. What if you hurt me? I don’t think I can survive, feeling the same pain again.”

Her pained expression stung him. He can’t blame her… he doesn’t have the right to blame her. When all this happened because of him.

“I know. I’m sorry I denied you, I’m sorry for abandoning you. I’m sorry for hurting you. Kick me, slap me, shout at me. You have every right to do so. I know it’s too much to ask for a second chance. I know it’s presumptuous of me to declare I want to make you mine. But what can I do?”

“I want you so bad I keep thinking about you everyday. I want you so bad I feel like my mind is driving me crazy from wanting to touch you but I can’t. I want you so bad I keep seeing you wherever I go. I can’t think straight when it comes to you, reason escapes me, air abandons me, my knees gave away on me… That’s how bad I want you Katherine. So please, give me another chance to make this work. I promise I’ll correct everything that has gone wrong between us.” he swallowed the big lump threatening to clog his voice.

“Please?” he gaze at her with big sincere eyes. Blinking back the tears, he searched her eyes for affection.

He’s sure it’s still there. Just covered beneath the tears, the hurt, and the scars engraved within. A single tear streamed down from her face.

“Michael, do you know what love is?” she asked, clasping both his hands with hers.

“Love is complicated,” he answered before he could stop himself. He did not think it through, it just rolled out of his tongue. If Katherine is not holding both his hands he could have smack himself for another epic moment he screwed. Again.

She fell silent for a moment. Then she leaned down and pressed her fingers on his hands.

“Love is… when you know it hurts but you still want to stay by his side.”

“And for me, that has never changed, even now.” and she gave him her bright reassuring smile.

“You - you mean..?” When she nods, he knew he gets the confirmation he needs, the reassurance he wants, and the exuberance he desperately sought, just from her smile.

Without intending to, tears won’t stop flowing from his eyes. The intense joy, relief, and sadness piled up, it came out bursting from his chest. He’s smiling while crying. He’s laughing while sniffing. He knows he looks stupid right now.

His cool, calm, and collected facade disappeared. He’s tearing down his mask, revealing what he truly is.

“Thank you…” he croaked while biting his lower lip. Swallowing the choke threatening to expel from his mouth. He stands on his feet and tackled Katherine into a hug. She stumbled back.

Unlike in movies where people clap and hoot at your successful proposal, the crowd just passed and go. They stood and watch in interest on how things turn out but after a few minutes, they left without sparing a glance.

But it’s okay for Michael. With or without support, as long as he has Katherine in his arms again, that’s more than he could ask for.

The happiness is flooding his veins with unknown surge of energy. They fill his muscles with strength, his blood with oxygen, his lungs with air. The happiness is flowing all throughout his body, taking dead stagnant cells, replacing them with youthful energetic ones.

He wrapped his arms around Katherine, feelings finally laid bare, misery put behind, they walked out of the airport with brilliant expectant smiles.

“Hey, Kath” he pressed his cheek to her shoulder blades as they walk side by side.

“Yeah?”

“We’re dating now, aren’t we?” she stopped dead on her feet. Heat stained her cheeks until it flush her face in bright red.

“I-I don’t know.” she averted her eyes and hung her head so low he can’t see her face.

“What?” he leans closer. When their noses are inches away from each other she flinched back and pushed him away.

“I DON’T KNOW!” without a second to lose, she disappeared from his sight.

“What just happened?” he asked, stunned.