Please Enlighten Me

"The weather is lovely, isn't it?" Xavier decided to initiate conversation because the lost girl in front of him didn't seem like would - anytime soon. They had spent quite a while in silence since the moment they settled down on their respective chairs.

Xavier particularly loved the setup. Why wouldn't he? He was fond of simplicity. The small table with two chairs - just for him and her - and the soft drinks and snacks on the table - it was just perfect for him.

"It is," Sylvia mumbled, as she struggled to force a little smile. Her eyes gazed in his and one look in those dark brown eyes had Xavier perceiving the hesitation and uncertainty she was struggling with.

His hand reached out for hers on the table. "You okay?"

The touch on her skin almost alarmed her. She quickly pulled it down the table and though she didn't intend to, it left his hand to fall roughly on the table.

"It's okay. It's okay. I am sorry," he apologized, accepting that the mistake was on his part. She was not comfortable. He should have thought about it.

She darted a glance at him upon hearing him seeking forgiveness. Not appreciating the way her gesture made him feel guilty, she took a moment to calm her anxious heart. "I am sorry. I didn't mean to. Um -"

"It's fine. You don't have anything to be sorry about, Sylvia. I understand," he tried for one of the most gentle tones of his to get to work - to put the girl in front of him at ease. "This discomfort by my touch and the anxiety about the marriage - both."

His smile was reciprocated by a silent shaking of the head from her side. Xavier - still could read her? It certainly came as a surprise.

"Come on. Don't give me that look. This is no rocket science. Marrying someone whom you do not know is supposed to bring anxiety and discomfort. It is natural. It would have surprised me if you were comfortable." Xavier gave her a cheeky smile as he played around to get her to talk to him. He hadn't known Sylvia but he had somehow always felt that he understood her. "Alright, listen to me. I would love to let you know that I don't think I am ready for this either."

With that last line by him, he had all the attention of Sylvia.

He wasn't ready for it? Sylvia's eyes narrowed momentarily before her gaze was back to his face.

He continued, "You can take as much as the time you need and want - and I am sure, I am sure you would allow the same to me. Years ago - you didn't accept my friendship. You have to believe me when I say - I am just content with having your friendship before we take forward our relationship."

He took her by surprise with his simple but meaningful words, taking away everything that had been worrying her. Her face beamed as she could not resist the genuine smile that crept over her lips after a long while.

"So, you better now?" The awfully off vibe that he had felt downstairs was still in his mind.

She gave him a small nod. "I am." Acknowledging his concern, she assured.

He leaned back comfortably in his chair. "Okay then. Now I think I can say it."

She raised a brow. "Say what?"

"Hmm," he let go of his comfortable position, and leaned in, resting his hands on the table, "say that pink must be grateful today for you wearing it has increased its beauty. Say that it has been years since I have seen your smile and today that I am seeing it, I realize that I would love to see it more often. Say that… you are looking incredibly pretty like always."

He watched in awe as her cheeks blushed a faint shade of pink. His playful compliments were tapering the awkwardness in the air.

Sylvia was still absorbing the way her heart fluttered at his sweet words. She did not recall having felt the way she did, that day ever before. Was she really getting affected by him? Her saying yes to the marriage was one thing and her becoming comfortable around him was another. That too that soon!

She would not deny that her heart did warm up to the way he took the initiative to take forward the conversation when she was too lost to do that.

"Before we come to the decision of putting a confirmation on our marriage, I -"

"This is confirmed," she sharply cut him off, failing to bother about how it would sound at that moment.

A moment of silence filled the air before he inhaled a deep breath. "Sylvia, I am well aware of the reason our families are rushing this marriage, and probably, you agreeing to this in the first place, because of. I know it's because of Grandma's health but then again, I know that our families have been thinking about us for a while. Do you know about it?"

Xavier was willing to know more about Sylvia's nod to their relationship. She barely knew him and yet, she could not stand his say regarding the uncertainty of their marriage. He was amused. He hadn't expected her to be that clearheaded about their marriage.

"I know about it," Sylvia said, and just as soon as she uttered it - she suddenly became conscious of what she had just declared.

Did she sound desperate? She hoped not. She sincerely hoped that it did not come out that way.

"Xavier, I know that you are probably finding this weird that I have agreed to this when I don't know you and yes, I do not know you. I am not sure if you would understand when I say that my Granny thinks you are the one for me. She wants me to get married to you but let me assure you that - this is not the only reason. I mean, this is a predominant one indeed but I am not blindly indulging myself in you. I trust you because of what I have seen by myself."

Baffled at her admission, Xavier's brows furrowed in confusion. He wondered what she was talking about. "Please, enlighten me."