"Did you hear what I said?" Erik asked her then smiled sweetly as she continued to cry while looking up and staring at him.
She just nodded.
"You're not going to say anything?" it was Erik staring at her face.
That's when she bowed down and sniffed. "W-What do you want me to say?" she said, choking again.
At that moment, Mia knew that she was crying for a different reason.
She knew it wasn't what happened earlier, and all the hurtful words Bernie had said caused her to tears. But the two words escaped from the lips of the man she loved the most.
"Well, if you won’t say anything, I will. Because I have a lot to say," it was Erik.
The tone of his voice was happy, and Mia also saw the beautiful sparkle in his eyes when she looked at the young man again.
"Y-You got a lot to say?" she asked confused but frowning.
The young man nodded then raised the hand he was holding and then kissed it.
"You’re right. I have a lot to say," he said, starting to dry her teary face with his fingers.
“W-What?” she asked with a sniff.
Mia didn't understand but at that moment, the atmosphere inside Erik's house suddenly changed. And at the same time, her feelings also changed rapidly. Because suddenly, it was as if some kind of feeling caressed her heart and caused now a mixture of nervousness and pleasure that she couldn't deny.
"Well, one thing that I want you to know is that you are very beautiful," the young man started.
Mia laughed softly at that. "You told me that countless times already," the young lady said although like she said, Erik had told her about that a few times. But she couldn't deny that she was still thrilled.
"Yes, I just want to tell it to you, then I'll explain," he said, winking at her so eventually, her face turned red. “You are beautiful, and for me, you are the most beautiful woman in my world, in my whole world. That's what I want you to always think about no matter what others say that is not good for you. No matter what insults, disdain, think about me, for me, no one can surpass you. Because like I told you before, you always stand out in my sight.”
When she remained speechless and just stared at Erik's handsome face, that's what the young man continued to tell her.
"You know when we were in high school I do not feel any jealousy even if I was always in the second spot. I mean, being next to you on our school and class ranking is not and has never been an issue with me. The truth is that I didn’t even bother taking the first spot from you. It's okay that you're better and smarter because, for me, I prefer that. I never wanted to take away from you something that I know you really deserve because that is what I always prayed for you. I want you to always get better," Erik continued.
"But in the end, your life was better than mine. Didn't I tell you that before? That you will be more successful?” she reminded the young man.
Erik just shrugged his shoulders because of what she said before he opened his mouth again to speak.
"I was successful because it was planned. Do you know why?"
"Planned?"
"Yes, because I need to be successful so that when we meet again, I can help you fulfill all your dreams that you have not been able to do. Everything that happened had to happen for this to happen. So that we can both realize and I can realize myself that you are the woman God gave me who will complete my whole life and being. That you are the woman I will want to protect and not leave no matter what happens," the young man expressed passionately.
"I-I don't understand you," she said.
It was true, she was confused and nervous by everything Erik was saying.
And even though she didn't know where all of this was going, she couldn't deny that she still wanted to hear what else she wanted to tell her. Because just like what he had told her before, he had a lot to say, and she wanted to hear all of them.
"Everything that happened to you, and me, why we had to be apart before, all was planned, for a better story that is destined to happen when we meet again," said Erik.
"S-Story?"
The young man nodded, then he reached out and kissed her on the forehead.
"Maybe William is right, maybe I've loved you for a long time. I just didn't see it because I didn't pay attention or I didn't search for it here in my heart," the young man said with a smile and sparkling eyes.
Mia's hands got cold when she heard that revelation.
The truth is, what she feels right now cannot be described even by the word shocked. But she doesn't have to get carried away with that. She needs to correct her judgment and her thinking because she knows that after a long time, this is the fulfillment of her dream. Her farthest dream that she thought was impossible and would never come true.
"M-Mia, I love you," Erik said, and then cupped her face with his both hands.
"E-Erik," she said, crying because of the intense happiness enveloping her heart at that very moment.
"I will never leave you no matter what happens I will always be by your side. I know it's hard to believe that in such a short time I was able to admit all this to you. But William was right. Why would I ask you to marry me for protection if I do not have any feelings for you?”
He explained that he didn't let go of her face, so she remains to stare into the young man's eyes.
Because of that, Mia was able to freely see the honesty in Erik's eyes. And what she saw was enough to completely fill her heart with so much happiness.
"If only I had known that I would fall in love with you like this, I wish that even then, when we were young, I would have searched in my heart for this love that I have for you now," while staring at her those words escaped Erik's kissable red lips again.
And those words also gave Mia enough courage to hold his hands who until now had locked her face. In fact, she didn't need much explanation. Because she could feel that everything he said came from his heart. But because it was sweet to the ears and good to the heart, so she let him continue.
"Tell me, you believe me, don't you?" Erik to her.
That was when Mia nodded without hesitation. "Y-Yes, I believe you," she said.
When Erik smiled and opened his mouth again to speak, the young lady let him do what he needs to do again.
She didn't expect that her life would change so much in an instant, and maybe if it wasn't for what Bernie did, Erik wouldn't have a reason to admit all of this to her now.
So, what the young man told her earlier was true. Everything that happens to the two of them and in their lives has a good reason, and Erik proved that to him today.
"Now, if it's okay, I want to ask you something. The truth is, I have to admit to you that I was jealous in this part.”
When Erik said that Mia couldn't stop her eyebrows from knitting. “What are you jealous about? Or, I mean, to whom?” she asked.
Erik sighed before opening his mouth to speak. “Didn't you tell me that in high school you loved someone else? Not Bernie, and you said was your first love, and your love for him will remain in your heart, and you will carry that feeling for him with you even in the afterlife?"
It was like Mia was cradled in a cloud because of the many consecutive questions she heard from Erik. That's why in the end, she couldn't stop herself from smiling because of the intense happiness and excitement she felt.
"Mia?" Erik looked at her as she just stared at him.
"I-I did not love any other man, maybe that's why Bernie treated me like that because he feels that he has been sharing my heart with someone else," she began.
Mia saw the drawing of intense pain on Erik's face because of what she said. So, she wasn't surprised when the young man let go of her face and then sadly let out a heavy sigh.
Just like before, Mia felt secretly thrilled because of that. But she continued, she grabbed Erik's hand which she saw surprised when the man looked back at her.
She then squeezed it gently before continuing with the rest of what she wanted to say.