"Go to the garden. I'm coming," I called out gently.
From the sound of his footsteps fading, I could tell—he was gone.
I stepped out of the room, lifting the hem of my slightly long dress with one hand and holding two lipsticks in the other. I reached the garden just in time to see him still standing there, back turned, as if waiting for a signal. A smile crept onto my lips—he really hadn't moved.
The garden glowed under the delicate sparkle of the fairy lights I had put up earlier. The open sky above us held a soft half-moon.
Everything was perfect.
"Our garden. Us."
"You may turn around now," I called softly.
He turned—and froze.
His eyes locked on me, unmoving. There were other beautiful things around: the lights, the sky, the quiet charm of the garden… but he looked only at me.
Hehe.
I walked slowly toward him. My heart was fluttering, but my lips held back the words. What was I supposed to say?
Now I stood right in front of him. We were so close. Still silent. Still searching for the right beginning.
"Salam," I finally offered.
He smiled slightly. "How are you?"
"I'm perfectly fine."
"Oh? Are you looking for someone?"
"Hm, yes. I'm looking for my husband."
"And I... I'm looking for my wife. She must be on her way."
"Maybe our spouses are late," I said, playing along.
"In the meantime," he offered, reaching for my hand, "would you like to join me on a date?"
I laughed. My fingers curled around the lipsticks I held. He noticed and raised a brow.
"Which one should I wear?"
"For now… just talk to me," he smiled, slipping both lipsticks into the pocket of his coat.
We began to dance.
Well, try to dance.
Neither of us knew how to do a proper couple dance, so we ended up stumbling and laughing more than anything. But it didn't matter. We were together. That was the rhythm we knew.
"You didn't wear a necklace with this?" he asked suddenly.
"You never bought me one," I teased.
He laughed.
"The dress looks amazing on you."
"Oh? Then…"
"Then what?" he asked, amused.
"Aren't you going to give me a bouquet?" I asked with a pretend pout.
"I gave you one earlier—inside," he said, confused.
"That wasn't this version of me. That wasn't this date."
"Ah," he nodded thoughtfully. "I forgot. I'll go get one right now."
"Good."
BOOM!!
Suddenly, a loud bang echoed from inside the house. From the kitchen.
Our smiles vanished.
We froze.