He placed the mugs on the coffee table in front of the couch then took a out a box of cake from refrigerator. Neatly cut and laid the cake on a plate before putting it on the table.

He sat down and patted the seat beside him. “Just sit.”

“Don’t come complaining to me if you had a hard time cleaning. My scent might linger on the fabric. And I tell you, it does not smell flowery at all.”

“Sure. Sit. Would be good if your smell does linger.”

He scooched closer as I sat down. I was perplexed when he sniffed on my neck. Covering my neck with my hand, I turned to look at him.

“Why?!” I blurted out.

“I was wondering what would you smell like if not flowery,” he answered.

“What do I smell like?”

“Just you.”

That was not an answer. Maybe. I sniffed on my own sleeves. “I smell sweaty.”

“It’s not bad, you know. I like your scent,” he muttered, pinching the tip of my nose.

“You have one peculiar sense.”

He giggled out as he leaned back on the couch. “Do you want to watch a movie?”

“Sure. Any recommendation?”

The movie he played was about a man who imprisoned a woman and declared his action as one out of love. The woman could not accepted his obsession and attempted to get away. At the end of the movie, the woman managed to escape and the man was sent to jail.

“What do you think about this plot?” he asked, turning his body toward my direction.

“Hm… I can’t say for sure. Perhaps, it’s end in tragedy because the man did not expressed his feeling well and unable to accept that his feeling was not being reciprocated.”

“What about the woman?”

“Well… She made the move first, but didn’t expect it to backfired. I would not blame her for not accepting his feeling, after all, she had her own live, her own thoughts, her own ideas too. It’s not fair for her if she was to accept him despite her reluctance. But…”

“But?”

“It such a pity it was this woman that he fell for. Maybe if he found someone else who could accept him, he would turn out better. After all, he never abused her or forced himself on her. Better than those men in domestic violence cases. Of course, I’m not saying that imprisonment is allowed. That was bad. Even for the woman, if she was not involved with this man, she wouldn’t be traumatized.”

“Would you welcome such person in your life?”

“Who? The man? Hm… I would.”

“Why? Are you not scared?”

“More than fear, I felt secured.”

“I have never heard that kind of answer.”

“If he could give me everything. Every ounce of his feeling, his thoughts, his very being. I could be so secured and I would love him with all my heart.”

“People said obsession is something fearful.”

“Sure. It is. But, without a bit of obsession, how would you know, you were important in their life. Of course, too much will be overbearing, so, as much as he was obsessed with me, I would be obsessed with him too.”

“I wonder how come you were still single despite having so much love?”

“Well… Maybe because they didn’t give me that feeling of security. Sometimes it make me wonder whether they like me or not. I would be drowned in uncertainty and lose myself in a sea of doubt. The next thing I knew, they dumped me already.”

The look on his eyes, was a look I could not deciphered. His gaze was full of melancholy as he stared at me. He brushed my hair and tucked the few strand behind my ear. Then, he stroke and pinched my earlobe.

“If it was me, I would never give you a space to even doubt about my feeling.”

I didn’t know how to answer that. I mean, yeah, although we just knew each other, he was totally approachable. It was easy and comfortable talking with him.

Every little chat we had for each day he came to cafe filled my heart with a warmth that I could not described. Some day, he would also gifted me with little present out of nowhere. In a way, he was unpredictable.

There was never a dull moment being with him. Even little talk like how was today weather made me excited yet also peaceful. Like a sense of stability I had been seeking for.

There were many things that we found in common, as much as things we found in differences. Our values and principles sometimes coincide and sometimes contradict. Still we found a common ground.

However, I’m scared of losing this little joy we had. What if everything went wrong the moment we got together and that break us apart. That would be the last thing I wanted.

“Violet,” he mumbled my name as he took my cheek on his palm. “I know you are scared, but I do hope you could give me a chance.”

I don’t know how this will turn to be. But, I wanted to make it work with him. Right!

As long as I put some effort, always communicate with each other, solving problem together, maybe everything will be alright. I do not know how the future will unfolded, but I should live the present, right?

“Let’s go out. Let’s date! You and me,” I declared.

He snorted, said, “ah~ why are you so cute. So adorable. So lovely.”

He inched closer to me and peck his lips on my forehead. His passionate gaze landed on my eyes. I didn’t knew he could have that expression on his face.

A face full of joy, and… lust. Whoops. That surprised me.

Perhaps he noticed the shiver on my skin, he uttered, “don’t worry, my honey. I would not do anything you dislike. I will wait until you were ready.”

The rain has subsided. Ground soaked with water. Puddle formed in the hollow on the road surfaces.

Splash. I hopped on the puddle and my shoes dampen. It sticky. My feet was not comfortable but my heart was in jovial.

At 25 years old, after 4 years being single, I got a lover. He was someone I knew for only a month, yet it felt as if we had known each other much longer.

He was younger than I am, by 2 years, that was unexpected. I first thought he was my age, or even older. He look composed and mature to be seen as a young lad.

After he agreed to go out with me, I asked to leave. Because I saw it had stop raining. Actually, I was quite nervous and felt a little bit shy to face him.

First, I thought he might reduced the frequency of his visit to the cafe, but on the contrary, he stay even longer. He waited for me until the end of my shift and walked me home.

Of course, the manager and the newbie received the news well. The newbie said, “well, I already predict that.”

Manager added, “isn’t it obvious he would made a move? I mean, look at how he treated you so far. As a fellow gentleman, I got to say, he was quick.”

“Violet, looks like going out with him means you had to manage that too, huh,” the newbie stated, pointing her finger toward the window seat.

Even before we started dating, since the day he frequent to our cafe, other customers had been asking for his number. Some even asked him out. He was too popular. It’s unavoidable considering his look.

The pretty woman who was talking to him stomped her feet. She turned around and scowled at me. It almost felt I was being pierced by a dagger. How scary.

Looking at him, he waved his hand. Unlike the cold indifferent demeanor he gave to other, he greeted me with a tender smile. Who wouldn’t fall for that?

“Well, it’s not like he was the only popular one,” manager mumbled.

“Who else? You? Pft…”

“Rude brat. It’s you.”

“Me? You sure it’s not Lily instead?” I said, beckoning to newbie who was making latte with full concentration.

“Yeah, you. Oh. But I think you stop garnering attention since he came here. He really make it clear with that you were his, you know.”

“...”

“True. He would glower at anyone who look at you with admiration. I thought it was a bit creepy, but since he never really hurt anyone, I don’t say anything.”

“Is that so.”

Hearing that sent a gush of wave within my heart. A feeling of relief and something more passionate. If I were to throw my rationality, I would already be running up to him and hug him so tight.

Somehow, just the thought of it made my heart fluttered. Is this how it felt to be cherished and to cherish? What a lovely feeling.

I might have held myself when I was on working mode. But, the moment I took off my working attire, I jumped on him and embraced him like there’s no tomorrow.

“Eden!”

He hugged me tightly in response and nuzzle his head on mine. “What make you so excited?”

I leaned backward, pushing him away little bit, grumbled with a pout, “you don’t like it?”

He pulled me back into his embrace. “No way. I like it. No. I love it. Do it more. Hug me more.” He proceed to take a sniff on my head, then my neck.

“I smell like sweat.” I smacked his back.

“Didn’t I told you before. And I like it. It’s yours. I love everything about you. Your eyes, your nose, your lips, your ears, your hair, your body, your scent, your belonging. Everything that is yours, I love.”

“Ah! It’s today right? You said you had something important you wanted to reveal.”

“That’s right. Brace yourself.”

“Pft. What so secretive? So mysterious…”

“You will see.”

At this day, marked the second day I went to his house, and the day he truly invited me into his world. What I saw left me baffled at first. It took few second to process everything. But…

“This…”

“You want me to go into this room? Alright,” I said, twisting the knob of the door.

The room was dark. The light flickering and permeated the whole room. I saw an astonishing view. The wall was decorated with the picture of myself. Most of it was candid. Taken without my knowledge.

One side of the wall had all writing, memos, pictures of myself. All my information was there. Even my daily routine and my schedule was written on it.

On the desk was few thing I have discarded. Even a strand of hair sealed neatly in the plastic. Clothes I threw. Pen I didn’t use anymore.

He came from behind and wrapped me in his embrace. Nuzzling his chin on my head, he said, “will you still accept this side of me?”

“I could accept my pictures and my information. But not the trash I threw. Throw it away, now. You already got me!”

There was a moment of silence. Did I said anything wrong? I tilted my head, looking up to his face.

He look even more puzzled than I am. “What?” I asked.

“Don’t you feel repulsed? Or disgusted? Don’t you think I’m creepy?”

“No. You just love me too much.”

“You don’t hate it?”

“No. I love you even more. I can’t do what you do, but I can love you with all my being. Loving you to the point you will became tired of me.”

“No way! There is no way I would be tired of you!”

“We can’t be so sure about the future. That’s why I wanted to cherish our present and do my best to make you fall in love with me each day. I don’t know how other’s love. But, I wanted to renew our love each and every day. So, every day will be filled with love, even if it’s different from other. I wonder if you could accept me for who I am?”

“So, we were worried about the same thing?”

“It seem so.”

We laughed. Our heart became lighter and I could feel I am opening up to him even more. My love was not ideal, and so does his.

But, we accepted each other, and learned to compromise. We learn to communicate. We learn to be honest. We are not perfect. But, so what? No one was perfect.

We vowed to walk this path together. How will the future unfolded? That, none of us knew.

How do you think it will be? Guess it yourself. But, let me say this… Live in the present. And… be real, be true, be honest.