Chapter Forty Four: The Question.

Damien's POV ♣️.

I laid on the bed staring at the ceiling as the moon gradually gave way to the sun. I couldn't sleep. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind and they prevented me from finding sleep.

I turned slightly to look at her face. Her chest rose and fell rhythmically and I smiled. I was very tempted to touch her but I didn't want to wake her. I quietly got up and moved towards the balcony connected to our room.

The sun was just rising and it was a spectacular view.

I wish she could see this.

I looked at her sleeping figure and smiled again. There was no doubt that she would kill me if I woke her up to see the sunrise. I brought the ring I had kept in my pyjama's pocket in fear that she would find it.

Before her, I had little to no fears. But now, I'm scared of a lot of things mostly pertaining to her. I'm scared of making her sad, I'm scared of her rejection…and I'm scared of losing her. I clenched and unclenched my jaw as I stared at the ring.

Love.

1 word, 4 letters.

But those 4 letters hold an unspoken power. Power that can drive one mad.

What I feel for her is something I have never felt before.

But…is it love?

I needed to confirm it before diving in.

I left the balcony and entered the room. She was still sound asleep and she wasn't showing any signs of waking soon. She had stayed up late waiting for me.

I picked a random t-shirt and shorts and after a long internal monologue, I picked my laptop too and went downstairs. I wasn't sure if what I wanted to do would work but I still tried it anyway.

" Kimia?" Rosa asked as her slightly groggy face came on the screen.

" Hey Rosa, it's me…Damien. Are you just waking?"

" Yeah-"

" I'm so sorry about that! Kimia told me you're usually awake by now so I-"

" I am but I'm not really feeling too well so they let me sleep in."

" Oh, I'm sorry for bothering you-"

" It's fine, really. The warden said you guys wanted to speak with me very urgently."

" Yes, we do."

" Okay. Is Kimia there or is she coming?"

I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly and sighed.

" Actually…I'm the one calling. Not Mia. I kind of want to ask you something."

" Okay…sure! Anything."

" Okay, here goes nothing. How do you know if you love someone?"

She stared at me in shock over the screen and I bit my lip.

This was definitely a bad idea.

" You know what, forget it I'm sorry for-"

" No! No! No! Damien it's fine, really. But is it really how do you know if you love someone or how do you know if you're in love with someone?"

" What's the difference?"

" There's a difference, trust me. See you can love someone without having romantic feelings. I love Kimia but I am not in love with her."

" Okay, so I guess it's the second one."

She smiled at me and then spoke,

" When you're in love with someone you want to make them happy, at all times. You're happy when they're happy and sad when they're sad. You'll do anything to see them smile and you'll always want to keep them happy. You'd rather get hurt than see them cry and you'll always want to be there and protect them.

You'll recognise their flaws and tolerate it just because you're in love. You'll always want to be near them and spend time with them. You'll  find yourself appreciating the littlest things about them and you'll always think they're perfect. Sure they'll annoy you or get you mad at them, but you'll forgive them very easily.

When you're with them, you're invincible. You feel like you can do anything! You're comfortable, safe. They make you feel loved, free, you're happy and you always have a reason to smile. That's how you know you're in love."

" Is that how you knew you were in love with your-"

" No. I loved him, but I thought I was in love with him. But I don't regret it because he gave me the most precious thing to me, Miguel."

" Thanks Rosa."

" My pleasure. And Damien…don't hesitate, just tell her. If there's anyone who deserves a chance at love, it's her."

I disconnected the call and sighed. I went to the indoor gym and put on the boxing gloves. I punched the bag each time I thought of something about Kimia.

She makes me smile.

She makes me laugh.

She cares about me.

She takes care of me.

She doesn't judge me.

She values my opinions.

She believes in me even more than I believe in myself.

She makes me feel like I'm on top of the world, like I can do anything.

She makes me want to conquer the entire world just for her.

I want to make her happy.

I want to be the reason she smiles.

I want to be the one to wipe her tears away whenever she cries.

I want to be her support.

I want her to always come to me when she's down.

I want to give her the world because she means the world to me.

I want to hold her and kiss her and to always make her feel beautiful and loved.

I want to be her man.

I delivered the last punch and the punching bag split open.

" Looks like someone's in a bad mood."

I turned to see her standing behind me.

My universe.

" Are you okay?"

" I'm fine."

" No you're not. Something's bothering you." She stated holding my face in her hands as she scanned my face.

" I'm fine. I'm just…stressed."

" I know you are but you have to take it easy. Relax, everything's going to be fine." She assured hugging me.

" Okay."

" So what do you want for breakfast?" She asked wrapping her arms around my neck.

" You."

" I'm sorry but that's not on the menu." She giggled and I tickled her side. She squirmed and ran detached herself from me.

I pulled her closer and placed my lips on hers as I kissed her slowly enjoying every second of it.

***

" Shit!" I exclaimed as the hot pan burnt my hand. I ran cold water over it and sighed.

Nothing is going the way I planned.

" This place is a disaster." Kimia said as she entered the kitchen.

" Mia I told you to stay upstairs!, I'll handle dinner."

" And you're clearly failing."

She sniffed the saucepan and wrinkled her nose.

" There's way too much garlic in there."

I ran my hand through my hair and groaned.

" I'm sorry Mia. I wanted to make something special for you but I…I screwed up."

She smiled and pulled me closer.

" You didn't. The fact that you wanted to do this for me is enough. It's the thought that counts."

" I wanted it to be special-"

She placed her finger on my lips shutting me up.

" Go upstairs and clean up, I'll handle it."

" But-"

" Don't make me repeat myself Myers."

" Yes ma'am."

***

I walked down the stairs and was welcomed by an heavenly smell.

" How were you able to make it smell so good?"

" Oh, I used a little bit of Kimia magic." She replied grinning as she placed the casserole on the table.

" Have I ever told you how amazing you are?" I asked wrapping my arm around her waist.

" Hmm…a couple times."

I pulled her in for a long yet slow kiss and she responded eagerly.

" Food." She mumbled against my lips and I broke the kiss.

We had our dinner and then I left the table to put on some music. We slow danced for a while until the song changed to James Arthur's ' Roses' and I got down on one knee.

" D-D-Damien, w-w-w-what are you doing?, Get up!" She stuttered and I gulped.

" Kimia, ever since the day we first met, I have been drawn to you. You pulled me in like a moth drawn to a flame."

" Damien-"

" Relax, I'm not proposing."

She sighed in relief and I smiled.

" Well, at least not yet."

" Kimia I know it might seem crazy, heck!, It is crazy but… I'm in love with you. Every single thing about you. Your smile, your laughter, your hair, your eyes, your personality, everything! And I know we've not known each other for a long time. It has barely been 6 months since we met but I feel like I've known you for years."

I took her hand and her eyes started to water.

" Mia you make me happy. You make me feel like…me!, You see the real me and you took me for who I am. I know I don't have much to offer you but I am offering you the only thing I can, my heart."

I brought out the ring box from my pocket. I took out the ring and discarded the box.

" Kimia, this is my promise to you. A promise that when all this is over, you and I will still be together. Do you accept it?"

She stared at me with glazed eyes and I bit my bottom lip. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest and my blood felt hot.

Please say yes.

" I can't."

***

* Cue dramatic music*

Dun dun dun!

!🤗,

Cliffhanger 😉.

Please don't kill me.

Stay tuned 😉.

Stay safe 😷.

Bye!!