First Dates

"So what's next?" Alric asked Dalia expectantly.

"Hmmm... let me see on my list." Dalia said and her eyebrows furrowed--fully concentrated with the list in her phone.

Alric could not help himself but studying her and smiling. She was just so gentle and funny. He was one lucky bastard. Suddenly, his chest felt so tight when he realize how lucky he was. The revelation was so painful that he had to set aside the overwhelming feeling. He needed to focus on the present time. Today was all about her and...maybe also him.

"You are so crazy!" He responded, tried to light up the mood.

She grinned so wide and said, "How can you just figure it out ow? Let's go! I want to take a walk in Central Park with you! Or maybe we can also ride the famous carousel?"

"What? Riding a carousel? No!"

"Coward!"

He laughed and walked beside her. Deep down, they both knew that he would ride the carousel with her in the end. Hell, he would do anything for her today!

On that afternoon, they tried to blend in with New Yorkers but her eyes were too greedy. They roamed all over the places like it was her first time. While she was savoring of the buzzing 5th Avenue, he watched her carefully. She was so carefree--so pain free. He was amazed by her. How could she do that in front of him?

Nevertheless, he knew better than that. He noticed how sometime she stared into space sadly. He wished he could envelope her and shield her from the excruciating pain. But how? Well, at least today he would endeavor to be her wishes-granting factory.

"You know what, I'm kind of curious. What kind of date--" He wondered out loud.

"Dates!" she cut him quickly and made him chuckle.

"I'm sorry, let me re-phrase that. So, what kind of dates require a lot of activity?"

"Hmmm...well, since it's our first date--"

"Dates!" he playfully mimicked her previous objection.

"Yes, I mean first dates. Gosh, you are so annoying!" Dalia pouted, made him laughing more.

"Let's go fulfilling your list before it's dark!"

"It's fine, afternoon stroll at the Central Park with you is my last list, though." She said with her toothy grin--again. Made him wanted to punch someone in the face--probably himself.

"Okay then..."

And they fell into a very comfortable silence. New York City during rush hour had spoken enough for both of them, until he remembered that she had not answered his question.

"By the way, you haven't answered my question, D." Alric whispered suggestively in Delia's ears.

"Well, because I want to make up for our lost time in the past and future." Delia shrugged Alric's gesture like it was nothing.

Alric smirked and played along with her indifferent attitude. While Delia ignored his reckless flirty gesture, Alric chose to shrug her point about their future. It was just not appealing to think about the future.

"Ah! That's your carousel! Shall we take a ride?" He asked looking at her. However, the girl in front of him was too busy looking at her feet.

"D, what's wrong?"

"Umm...well--I..umm..would you t-take my hand?" She cringed with her own question. It made Alric grinned widely. The idea of touching her was fascinating. He never tried but now that she offered her hand to him, he took her hand like there was no tomorrow. Like there was no consequences.

"Like this?" His big hand swallowed her small one. Her gaze shifted to their adjoined hands. Just like him, she seemed amazed with the newly formed bond.

"Like that..." She answered him softly and finally looked straight to his eyes, smiling sweetly. He felt that her look penetrated his soul against his will but he dismissed it immediately. He tugged her gently and embarked the carousel. 

She squealed delightfully when he lifted her by the waist onto the nearest hobbyhorse. He chuckled in return and just stood beside her after that. She was so hypnotizing. So pure... so naive. The way she soaked up all the simple happiness around her made him wanted to guard her from all the ugliness. But, how could he protect her from himself?

Simple. He could not.

If he wanted to protect her, he should have left her alone and never returned when their situation went south. The thought alone gutted him deeply, nonetheless. It seemed like she was simply unavoidable. That was her--his unavoidable. His unintended. 

When she looked up to him with that loving eyes so obvious--he kissed her forehead. If only she knew how he loved her deeply. How he needed her in his life. How he wanted her to always be there for him. Sadly, not in that way... Not in her way of loving, needing and wanting him.

They stayed like that because both of them were so selfish. That night, they threw their responsibilities out of the window. They devoured each other's happiness carelessly, and made many irrevocably cherished memories to last a lifetime. For they fully realized that tomorrow was never promised...

***FIN***

PS: I listened to Adele's "All I Ask" over and over again when I wrote this piece. Such an inspiring ballad indeed!