Blink!

My heart raced while I sat quietly by myself on the bottom of the bleachers. The basketball team was slowly retreating to the locker room after an extensive hour of practice. At first, I was there as a mere spectator. However, today, I wasn't an audience. I was there waiting for someone. One of the players of the varsity team.

I watched with cautiously, unsure why he personally asked me to watch him practice today. My friend had a handful of ideas, which I shoved at the back of my mind as ridiculous. I don't want to have my hopes up only to be defeated with disappointment.

No. I can't allow my hope up indeed. But I did hope as much as any teenager in love.

After talking briefly with his friend, who was grinning mischievously while peering in my direction. I pretended to be oblivious but failed miserably. I kept on glancing in their direction every chance I got.

Once his friend was gone, he turned and caught my gaze. "Hey," he called, "I'm sorry about them. They don't mean to be intrusive."

I shook my head. "It's okay. I wasn't very discreet either, was I?"

He chuckled. "No, you weren't." He stood in front of me a second longer, still looking at me with his boyish grin. "Can I sit beside you?" He asked, gesturing to my side.

My cheeks slightly flushed and patted the wooden chair on my right. "Sure."

I pulled the towel hanging on his shoulder and wiped the remaining sweat on her forehead. He then hanged it back on his shoulder as he sat down close beside me. I got a whiff of his scent, which smelled sweet rather than the musky teenage sweat most boys his age. But he'd always smell good.

"I'm sorry for taking you time and asked you here," he started. "I know you'll feel – uhm – a bit uncomfortable at the bluntness of my invite. I hope I didn't start anything that'll be uncomfortable for you tomorrow..."

I interject. "No. You did nothing wrong. And I did willingly come here, did I not?"

"You did. And I'm glad that you did. I thought you won't after I've... asked you out?" His words dangled into a timid question. "I mean, I should have been the one to be waiting for you rather than letting you wait here for me." He added in a rush and started rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm sorry about that."

"Well, I should be the one who'd feel sorry for making you do this. And I'd admit, I did try and skirt away from you, afraid to face you after that – uhm – incident." I cleared my throat. "But my friends told me I was being a jerk for letting it go on so long. So here I am."

I could feel his piercing gaze boring through the side of my face. He chuckled and shook his head. "No. You weren't being a jerk. I did offer to give you some time to give your reply. I'm the who was rash and called you out here. I'm just," he paused with a frustrated sigh. "I thought that you won't ever give me a chance." He finally said.

I turned and met his gaze, which only made my cheeks flush redder. I abruptly looked away in embarrassment. "I wasn't going to..." I trailed off. A bit shy about what I was going to say next.

"You weren't going to what, Jane?" He pressed when I didn't continue.

When he said my name, I turn my back to him, feeling like my heart was going to explode.

But then I felt his warm hand on my shoulder, slowly tugged back, urging me to face him. "Jane, it's okay. You don't have to force yourself to reply. I didn't ask you to come here for it. I called you here so that I can confess to you again. And I will say it as many times until you're comfortable with me saying it." He waited until I met his gaze before he continued. "Jane Cohen, will you go out with me?"

I was stunned by his words, even after hearing him say it the second time.

He smiled. "I've said it. And if you may, will you give me the chance to ask you again? Well, I will continue to say it until you say otherwise." He added a bit timidly.

I shook my head. He recoiled his hand, which was still by my shoulder. "I'm sorry. Was it too much? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so..."

"No," I finally choke out the words. "No. You weren't too much. And I'm not saying no, Eddie. Actually, the reason why I'm also here wasn't that you asked me. I'm here because I'm going to give you my reply."

I gathered my wits and confidence, reaching out for his hand. "I'm here to say, yes, Eddie. Yes, I love to go out with you."

It was his turn to be stunned. I squeezed his hands for assurance. "Yes? You're really saying..." He stopped when I smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Eddie."

He let go of my hand only to reach out and hugged me. It nearly knocked the breath out of me. It took him a second to realize what he did and moved away. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tackle you like that... I was just happy you've said yes."

I smiled and shook my head. "It's okay. And I'm fine."

He kept his hand on my shoulder and kept me on arm's length. His eyes searched my face like he was tracing each detail with his fingers. Then our gaze met. His smile widens. "May I kiss you?" He whispered breathlessly.

I felt shy and sheepish but nodded in reply. "Yes."

I thought he would be a bit rough. But he wasn't. He was careful, thoughtful, and sweet. Our lips only brushed for a second before he moved away to kiss my cheeks. He then leaned back and grinned wickedly. "I won't kiss you on your lips just yet. I want us to be alone for that moment."

I chuckled and lightly slapped his arm. "God, you're a tease as always."

He kept on looking at me. I've not seen his smile fade since I said yes. "I can't thank god enough for finally giving me you. And I promise you won't regret it from this moment on, Jane Cohen. I promise you my love and myself for as long as you want me."

Blink!

His moss green military uniform blended stood out in the crowd of civilians. As I walked up to the podium after my name was called, I could see him standing in erect, clapping proudly, and howling in cheers as I shook hands with my dean of the art department. Once I got my picture taken with the dean, my eyes searched for him and blew him a kiss. My classmates cheered at my eccentric show of affection for my boyfriend.

Once we were dismissed as graduates, I quickly found my way to my family and friends. But the first person to greet me was him. He ran and met me halfway, hoisting me up in his embrace.

"Oh, my love. Congratulations! I'm so proud of you!"

"I can't believe you're here." I choked out, near in tears. "Why didn't you tell me you'd be here?"

"It was a surprise. And," he paused to put me down. "Surprise!" He held out his hand dramatically. "I can't miss your graduation. Not for the world."

I jumped and wrapped my arms around his neck again. "Thank you, my love. I'm happy you're here. This is enough gift anyone would have given me on this day." I whispered in near tears.

"Then I think this would have been a waste then," he stated and slowly pry my arms a bit loose. But it was only so he could look at my face, and then kiss me.

Blink!

There wasn't much light in the backyard of my childhood home but a handful of lanterns dangling by the huge oak trees above us. The half-empty bottle of wine and box of pizza was forgotten. Even the chill of the night approaching autumn didn't bother me either. I was distracted as I watched him slowly getting down on his knee. His eyes looked like the stars that night, twinkling wonderfully beside a crest moon.

"I know we aren't settled yet in our lives, but I did promise you on that day at our school basketball gym. I will love you for as long as you wanted me. However, after the years I have with you, I've become greedy. Because having your love wasn't enough anymore. I want more of you, and I want to be someone more in your life. Please give me the pleasure of finally calling you, my wife"

"Eddie, I'm..." I was too happy to get the proper words out.

"Just one word is enough for me, my love." He smiled encouragingly.

"Yes. Many times, yes." I started laughing as tears streamed out my cheeks. I reached out. He knew and reciprocated, enveloping me in the nook of his chest. "I'd love to be your wife," I added.

"Then I shall add a vow to you," He whispered softly by my ear. "I promise to make you the happiest and loved wife for as long as I have a breath to give and protect you with all my might as long as I have bones in me. And if I fail in this vow, you have every right to tear my heart out and walk away since my heart is always with you."

I looked up and met his gaze. "As you have my heart with you, always," I whispered in between tears.

"I will protect that as well." He remarked with a chuckled.

I grinned and shook my head.

Blink!

My doorbell rang. I peered through the peephole. It was a military man. But it wasn't him. My heart was heavy as I opened the door wide enough for him to peek through my living room.

"Hello, sir. How can I help you?" I asked in greeting.

"Are you Ms. Cohan, ma'am?" the soldier asked.

"Yes, that's me," I replied as he handed me a letter. "This is for you, ma'am."

I got it out of his hand, studying it with curiosity. "Is there something wrong, sir?" I inquired, looking back up to him.

His face was stoic as he answered. "I'm sorry, ma'am. You can read everything in the letter." He paused to give me a brief military salute. "I will take my leave, ma'am."

Without much as a goodbye, and stupefied at his appearance, I watched him walked and out of sight.

I was filled with questions, and as he did say the letter had my answers, I hurriedly opened it. I studied the back, checking if it was addressed to me. It did. So, I ripped the side and slowly slid out the content as I kicked the door closed behind me. Once I opened the folded letter, my knees slowly gave out.

Dear Ms. Cohan,

Please accept my condolence and deepest sympathy and of every member of the unit on the death of your fiancé, Sergeant Edmund Lewis, who died in the service of his country on March 16 during a military raid mission. His platoon had encountered an unexpected ambush on...

I couldn't finish reading the word. My eyes were hazy. My breathing was ragged. My chest started to tighten. I crunched down and curled into a ball as my cries of pain echoed in the empty apartment.

Blink!

I was standing in front of his tombstone. His name craved in the marble. Edmund Lewis. Loving son and brave soldier. May you rest in peace.

"You have my heart. You promised to protect it. You promised to make me your wife. You..." I trailed off as my grief consumed me again.

~~~~

I woke up from a warm touch on my cheeks. My eyes fluttered, clearing up my blurred vision. His familiar face reassured me of his presence, for only a moment until I remembered the dream.

"Hey, did you have a nightmare?" he asked.

"It wasn't really a nightmare. More like a memory." I muttered sadly.

He was quiet, unsure of what to say for a moment. But he tried to comfort me. "If you need someone to talk to about it, I'm here to stay and listen."

I gave him a sad smile. "Thank you, doctor. I'm fine. I don't think you're getting paid enough to listen to your patient's sob stories." I sarcastically quipped.

He chuckled. "No, we aren't. But we do end up listening to them from time to time. And it's rare for us to offer it."

"Well, thank you for the offer, doc. But I'm fine. You should go on and check your other patients."

"You're also my patient, Jane." He whispered as he turned away and made his way to the door. He stopped and lingered by the threshold, looking back at me. "Well, if you need any help at all..."

"I know, doc. Click the button right here," I interjected and pointed at it in emphasis.

He chuckled and walked away, leaving me alone and at peace.

~~~~

This novel is my entry for Nanowrimo. Thus, it is also a draft. Updates are every day. Enjoy and happy reading.