War Torn Love (10 page)

             
He smiled back, the light bounced off his baby blue eyes.

             
“Thank you, oh before I forget to give this to yo
u, here Hana.  I got you a gift
I picked it out myself. Promise me you won’t open it up in front of other people.”

             
I could tell just how happy he was to be giving me this gift - his whole face lit up.

             
“Abram, you didn’t have to get me anything - it’s your day too, and just as much as it’s mine, but since you have, and well tell me what is it?”

             
“No! Ok then, I know how you get, go ahead just open it up would you silly; I know how much you like opening up presents, I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”

             
“Ok!” Gingerly, I opened the carefully wrapped package, before gasping – “It is a necklace!”

             
He beamed and I continued “Oh, it is beautiful, Abram! Would you mind too terribly much putting it on me? I simply have to wear it now - I want to show it off to everyone, I shall never take it off. No one has given me something as beautiful as this before. “I then gave him a hug and a quick kiss on his cheek to show my gratitude.

             
“You really like it; you’re not just saying that to not hurt my feelings?”

             
“No, no I absolutely love it.”  That put a smile on his face.

             
He reached around and put on the necklace, and I went ahead and assisted him by pulling back my long hair. His hands were trembling as he put the locket around my neck, and attempted to open up the tiny clasp was giving him a bit of trouble. I was delighted he was having a difficult time, because as he was doing this, his  body was drawn in close to mine, whether it was an intentional or not. The longer I had him close to me the better, I could not help smelling him, I loved his scent, and
he
was wearing some of his father’s cologne, just for me.

             
Excitedly, as he pulled away, he grabbed onto the locket, to show me that it opened up, “Hana look the locket heart opens up - please look inside! 
It is
a picture of
you and me
. I hope you like the picture I put in of us?”

             
“Hey, Abram, I remember that day! I love this picture, now as long as I wearing this, I’ll always have you close to my heart.” He stared at me, owl-eyed,
and then
smiled.

             
“I just knew you would, it was a great day!”

             
Not sure, he had meant to say it, I think his feelings slipped out.  He blushed, though was still wrapped up in the moment.

             
Then he really surprised me, “Of course everyday with you Hana is a great day.”

             
I looked into his eyes, as he began talking again - he pulled a piece of paper out from his slacks pocket. He had something written down. He cleared his throat a couple
of times - I could tell he was quite nervous. The piece of paper was shaking.

             
“Listen up would you Hana? I’m not so good at this sort of thing - expressing my true feelings. Now I know were both best friends, and the last thing in the world I would want to do is lose you as my best friend, after what I’m about to say. But I got to come out and say it anyways, if I don’t I may never say it, then that would be the biggest regret in my life.  I just have to get this off my chest - I have been trying to muster up the nerves to say this all day. Ok here it goes."  He paused, taking a deep breath, before hurrying on.

"I really like you Hana! I think you are the most beautiful girl I have ever met, you're fun to be around, and you are easy to talk to, well except trying to tell you that I really like you.  I know we have been best friend since we were little. You always have been there to cheer me up, since the very first
moment
we met. I know it may seem weird to think of me as more than just friends, but we're not little kids any longer, you are turning into a beautiful woman Hana. I would hate to think of you with anyone else but me, as strange as this may sound, but since the very first moment I saw you, I knew I wanted to make it my goal to be you very best friend”

             
I interrupted him - I just could not hold my tongue any longer. “Well I like you too Abram, I knew the moment I saw you that we would be good friends, thanks for letting me know.” I was such an idiot - I should have let him finish, I was just as nervous.

             
“No Hana that didn’t come out right. What I am trying to say, is I have not been just thinking of you as a friend to hang out with. Oh, God please, give me the strength I need to just come out and say it, ok what I am trying to say, is I cannot seem to stop thinking about you. You are so incredibly beautiful; all I want to do is hug you - dare I say kiss you. I had hoped
that
tonight we would have our first kiss. Listen if you don’t feel the same way about me, I would completely understand. I would understand if you desired to have another boy to come calling. Anyone that did would be so fortunate to win your attention, and ultimately your heart. If this is the case, then just please if you would, be so good to disregard what I just said. If I could not have you as my girlfriend - then at the very least - I would wish for us to remain friends. I wouldn’t be able to bear the thought of losing you all together because of what I had just said.”

             
Holding back the tears, not believing what I just heard, because that is exactly what I had wanted, what I have been praying for, and here it was coming true. “Wait - you think I’m beautiful? And you want me to be your girlfriend? But does it bother you that I’m not the tomboy that I was when we first met?”

             
“Yes of course I think you’re beautiful, and no, it doesn’t bother me you’re not a tomboy, because I love the women you’re turning into!”

             
“I can’t believe I’m actually saying this to you. Abram you have always had my heart, there has never been anyone else but you that I wanted,” I had
tears of joy!
as he was saying this to me, “I wanted to say that from you
for a very long time.” Oh, I
cannot
believe I had just said that aloud.

             
He smiled back at me - obviously happy by this answer. It was odd, when I realized it was not a dream, and the two of us were both choosing to cross completely new boundaries in our friendship.

             
“Hana would you do me the honor of dancing with me, I already asked your father, and he gave his permission? And I’ve practiced a little with mother.”

             
“You did that for me? You really asked my father, and he really said it was ok?”

             
“Yes I did, I really wanted to dance with you, and he said he would be honored if I would make his daughter happy.”

             
I looked over towards Sissy who by this time was surprisingly was crying, wiping the tears away in her hanker-chief - now we were both crying. Surely my makeup was running. I was wondering what to do - this was proving to be completely new territory for me. She signaled for me to go ahead and dance with Abram. I looked over at Poppa. He looked back at me and just smiled, and whispered through the air that he loved me, he also said now go on. I whispered back that I loved him too, and I thanked him. I turned back gazing into Abram’s baby blue eyes, I had to give him his answer. I didn’t want to keep him waiting, not a second longer, or he just might think that I hadn’t wanted to dance with him, after all that he had done for me on this special night. “Abram, I would
love to dance with you. You know the only other man I have ever danced with is my Poppa.”

             
I held out my hand, the exact way Sissy had taught me. I felt just like Cinderella. He gently reached out for me, and grabbed softly onto my right hand, holding back on his strength not to prove anything. Gently leading me out to the waiting dance floor. As one, our hands held tightly onto one another, suddenly they began to sweat - it was a strange yet excitingly new impression. But I knew I didn’t want to pull away from him. Sissy had said that this sometimes tends to happen, when a couple is both nervous - and more importantly in love. Just thinking of that put a huge smile on my face. I did not bother mentioning that to Abram.

             
The Vienna Waltz played as we both glanced around the large decorated ballroom - they had done a fantastic job. It was decorated so prettily.  As we headed out to the dance floor, suddenly the once loud room was completely silent. The band-stopped playing right in the middle of the song they had been playing. With all eyes in the room now cast firmly upon the two of us, the room
crystallized
- I didn’t care, it was as though it was just the two of us in that room. I looked deep into Abram’s eyes. They all clapped for us. Then my dear sweet father told the band to please start playing once more.