Happily Ever After

Author's Note: I'm aware that this doesn't go with the prompt. I started it last week and didn't finish it. XD But, here it is!

Once upon a time...

Nitokana jiggled her leg subconsciously. Her eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration. The look on her face was familiar to me. It was the same expression she wore when working out a difficult work deal. I slipped onto the booth seat in front of her. She glanced up at me for a moment before staring down at her hands.

We sat there in silence for several minutes. I viewed the restaurant, softly whistling. More than once, I risked a look at Nitokana, but she didn’t look at me once as far as I knew.

The two of us broke the silence when the server came up to our table.

“Hi, I’m Leotele and I’ll be your server today. What can I get ya’ to drink?” Leotele asked, her joyful tone making me smile a bit.

“I’ll have water, please,” Nitokana replied.

“Alright. And for you?” Leotele scribbled something down on her notepad, then looked expectantly at me.

“A Bud Light, please and thanks,” I said. The waiter nodded and wrote my order down.

“Here are your menus, and I’ll be right back with your drinks.” Leotele smiled at us, set two menus on the table, then walked away. If this were a normal dinner meeting, I would start chatting with my companion. But, this was not a normal dinner meeting. Therefore, I kept my mouth shut and opened up my menu. There were all the normal bar foods; wings, fried pickles, nachos, mozzarella sticks, etc.

The rest of the dinner went by in a blur; all I know is Nitokana and I didn’t speak once. The awkward silence was endless.

❤❤❤

“Thanks for inviting me over, Kana,” I said. Nitokana and I were sitting at her kitchen island, poking at salads and sipping ice-cold lemonade.

“It’s no problem.” Nitokana speared a big piece of lettuce and stuffed it into her mouth. She tapped her fork on the edge of her bowl--an odd habit she’d always had.

“How’s your mom doing? Didn’t she get a knee replacement?” I was attempting to make small talk, but it had been so long since I spoke to her that it was difficult. 

“Yeah. She’s good. How about your brother, uh, Menawan?” Nitokana questioned. I shrugged.

“He got married about a year ago. His wife is nice but real quiet. Kid number one is on the way,” I replied, then stuffed my mouth full yet again.

“Tell them I said congrats.” Nitokana looked down at the floor. Another habit she had--this one meant she was uncomfortable.

“Well, thanks again for letting me come. I’ll see you later.” I got up from my seat and left.

❤❤❤

I watched Nitokana develop that fire in her eyes. It came every time she was in a fight (verbal or physical).` All I had said was that Nitokana never cleaned the house when we were together, and she had replied with a ramble about all of the things that I thought were wrong with her. The thing is, I didn’t think anything was.

“Kana, just hear me out. I don’t mean it like that. I’m trying to be funny. Is that such a crime?” I asked. Involuntarily, my fists clenched and unclenched. I didn’t want to hurt her, no way, but the way her words hit my ears made me angry.

“I guess not, but it’s still hurtful! It’s just like before. You offend me and try to apologize, and it doesn’t work because you’re bad at saying sorry. Then, you just go on and on about how I can’t take a joke and that I’m an uptight brat. Right?” Nitokana accused. She pushed her plate of pasta away from her, then stood up, and stared at me.

“That’s not true, Kana. Maybe the part about me that I offended you on accident, but if I did, I never did it on purpose!” I snapped back. At this point, I wasn’t just angry. I was hurt by her words. They hit me hard.

“That is not true! You did it to make me mad and sad and, and just straight up degraded! And it made me the maddest because I always freaking loved you!” Nitokana cried, quietly adding, “And for whatever stupid reason, I still do.” Her features softened, and she collapsed back onto her chair. She put her head in her hands and shook it a bit.

“Really?” I asked, tentative. Muffled sobs took over her voice, and she just managed a nod. It seemed then that I was rooted in place. I attempted to get up, but I was stuck to the chair. I moved my mouth to talk, but not a single noise came out. After minutes like this, Nitokana’s sobs subsided and she looked up at me.

“Of course, idiot. We’d still be together if you would’ve trusted me. I’ve still haven’t been on a single date because I knew that no one would be better than you. I’ve rejected good guys because I knew that I wouldn’t stop loving you. I’ve been hoping that you felt the same way.” Her last sentence was a whisper. Then, she added, “Who am I kidding? I’m sure you lost all feelings for me a long, long time ago. I’ll just leave.”

I watched Nitokana get up, grabbing her purse, and that’s when I was able to move again. I leaped from my chair and stood between Nitokana and the door.

“Let me through, Lys,” Nitokana snarled.

“No. I won’t… I won’t because I’ve never lost my feelings for you. I tried to go on dates, but they weren’t like you. I gave up. I knew that you were perfect for me and that I’d made a huge mistake. I want to be with you, Kana. You just have to forgive me… Will you?” I asked. Nitokana didn’t respond. She just took a step towards me, and before I knew what was happening, she’d leaned in and kissed me. My eyes closed. I pulled her close to me.

❤❤❤

I stood next to a white crib with yellow polka-dotted blankets piled on it. A one-month-old baby girl rested in my arms, her chocolate brown eyes staring up at me. Her little arms and legs wiggled. I smiled.

A hand was placed on my shoulder, and I turned slightly to see my wife standing close to me, gazing lovingly at the child in my arms. As I looked at her, she began singing.

“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you’re fast asleep. In dreams, you will lose your heartache. Whatever you wish for you keep. Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through.” Nitokana continued to croon the rest of the song as I gently lowered our now-sleeping daughter into her crib. I stepped back as Nitokana tucked her in.

“Goodnight, Anghel,” I whispered.

“Sleep tight,” Nitokana added.

And they lived happily ever after.

THE END.