Yusuf hurried out of the office building and made his way to the nearby restaurant, his eyes scanning the interior the moment he stepped in, searching for Kirana. A sliver of doubt chilled him. Did she ignore my message? he wondered, anxiously checking the surrounding tables. đź‘€
A wave of profound relief washed over him when he finally spotted her seated at a table in the far corner. She looked beautiful, illuminated by the soft, warm light of the setting sun filtering through the window. Steeling himself, he began walking towards her, each step fuelled by his singular mission. He could feel his own heartbeat, an erratic and rapid drumming in his ears.
He reached her table. Seeing him, Kirana rose from her seat with a polite, slightly curious smile. They both sat down, and Yusuf, his voice a touch unsteady, ordered a light appetizer for them both. đź‘Ł
"Why did you ask me to come here? I really should get home before it gets dark," Kirana inquired, glancing briefly at her wristwatch.
"I... I asked you here because I have something important to say," he began, needing to start somewhere. "But first, tell me, is that family friend, Stephan, the one who was staying at your place, still there?" đź—Ł
"No, he went to Canada at the end of the month before last" , she replied, her expression softening. "He always saw me just as a younger sister. There was never anything more between us, not like what you might have thought."
"Okay. Good. What I needed to tell you is..." He started to reach into his blazer pocket for the ring, but at that exact moment, the waiter arrived with their food. Politely, they both thanked him and focused on arranging the dishes, the moment interrupted. 🍸
After the waiter left, they quietly began to eat the appetizer. A brief, comfortable silence settled between them. Then, summoning every ounce of his courage, Yusuf reached into his blazer. He brought out the small velvet box and the red rose he had carefully preserved.
He moved, getting down on one knee beside the table. He opened the box, revealing the solitaire diamond that sparkled under the restaurant lights, and extended it towards her. đź•Ż