Love, a bemusing reality

“That’s too much for something as plain as this. $180 is the final amount”, argued Serena with the shop owner and hopped in to the taxi. She was impatiently checking the frantic packing of her gift for Liam while he was looking at his wrist watch, a bit skeptical about her arrival. “We’re here miss”, said the cab driver. It was a calm, star-studded sky compl opposite to their hearts. As Liam finished his 3rd glass of wine he thought to himself that he ought to go out and wait for her. Just when he got up there she was right in front of him. Looking gorgeous in a red wine dress, long black hair with minimal makeup. She looked complete. She walked up to him, they both greeted each other, he pulled out her chair like a gentleman. “I know Lila‘s been hounding you to do this but..”, Liam impulsively said. “Oh! no, no, no. I mean she could be impressively manipulative sometimes but my presence here is my decision. I wanted to come on this date myself “‘ she assured him. “Actually that’s not the reason that I’m late. I bought something for you, it’s my first date, so...” she explained but he interrupted before she could finish, “ It’s my first date as well, I’m sorry that we’re supposed to bring something”. He seemed a bit nervous but she laughed and they placed their order. “ I’m glad that you’re a vegetarian, killing animals for the sake of one’s taste and desire never made any sense to me,” commented lifting his eyebrow. “ A vegan actually and I don’t drink eithe. It’s like drinking a perfume, I get queasy”, sarcastically mentioning her quirks but gets formal again. Liam smiles but didn’t say a word. He had stereotyped women in the photography field to be severely alcoholic. “ Here’s your order, Sir, Mam. Please enjoy your dinner”, politely offered the waiter distracting Liam from his river of thought process. Serena seemed demure as if her feet were firmed to the ground and to his surprise she thanks Almighty before eating. He had only seen his mother do this. His green beautiful eyes began to spark that were distracting enough for Serena to not look him in the eye. She was amused by the act of removing the wine from the table but calling it the first date of hers’ she didn’t make a big deal out of it. “That’s salmon”, questioned Liam looking at her plate. “Yes, it is. I love fish and I can’t pretend not to ”. Her straight forward attitude was startling but he liked the fact that she was honest wit him and not falling for his personality like every other women. “ Did I rub you the wrong way ?”, inquired Serena. “ No, absolutely not. You’re blunt, I like that”, spoke Liam with warmth in his eyes and acceptance in his voice. By this time Serena had understood that he is something else but again she gave less attention to that, believing men to be prejudiced. This moment is one of the moments where people don’t but their eyes talk. However, they were both realists, without real conversation the connection is completely meaningless. “Your eyes are very expressive ”, complimented Liam. “Your eyes are rare”, Serena shot back. They both laughed and seemed very radiant with one another’s company. Dinner was done , it was time for dessert. “How about some cheesecake, I haven’t had any till date”, revealed Serena. “Really, how come?”, interrogated Liam. “I don’t know, never liked the way it looked”, she answered looking down on her nails. Liam stared at her, observing her deep dark-brown eyes, tiny nose, pink-plumped lips, wondering how much he hated anyone disliking the taste, look, texture of cheesecake. Cheesecakes, his favourite in the whole wide world but now it felt like any other dessert, not beautiful enough. “Let’s try it anyways”, she insisted and they were served their chosen dessert. They dug in and Liam finely observed her expressions like a reader. She seemed happy. “. You like it?”, asked Liam. “Like? I love it. It’s great really. I didn’t know it would taste so delicious”, giggled Serena joyfully. She was herself with him the way she’s never been with anyone yet doubtful about everything that remains unfolded. Thousands of questions on her head. “It’s not your fault”, said Liam putting the fork aside. “Huh!”, she was confused. “Let’s dance, shall we?”, he asked politely as he got up and grabbed her hand. It was no one but Serena and Liam dancing. “You look like a million dollar. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before”, complimented Liam with love in his eyes. Serena smiled nervously and turned her head to the other side then looked at him again with trust this time. “I always believed in love at first sigh, reason that this is my first date. Never looked at anyone more than a couple of seconds, never felt like I had to. Everyone was beautiful but not gracefull enough, not like you. Your reaso- you don’t trust people easily, a cynical world, I totally get it. I’m very cautious about my feelings as well.” She got tiers in her eyes like a child , very expressive yet trying very hard to not show anything. He kisses her cheeks, comforted her, shocking her to the core. No one’s ever been that close to her. She never let anyone. Despite that she felt like she found the one that is reliable, honest, wise, and loving. “ Are you not going to say anything?”, he asked. “I, uh, I don’t know, you, I didn’t expect that. I never had the luck to be looked at the way you look at me. I’ve seen and heard about people loving and hating each other. It’s not them, it’s me. I feel like I might try to work it out too much to lose myself with a bad guy if I ever fell in love. My reason- cynical world and naive me, yes( laughs ). Maybe that’s why I was the way I was”. “Works with me” he replied. She was charmed at last. Every bit of confusion faded off her mind and she was ready to fall in love. The fact that he respected every other women grew faith in her heart and she embraced him, implying that she would trust him always. “ Why didn’t you ask me to open the gift yet?” Liam pointed out. Serena burst into laugh and couldn’t stop. Liam enjoyed watching her first and when she stopped, he wanted to know the reason. “ It’s a punch box ” Serena whispered in his ear and added that she was distressed about the packing but it still is fine. They boys the were ecstatic to be with each other. As the music lightened and the night darkeNed, they got more close. Serena touched his face and he felt her touch, his eyes closed and they kissed at last.