chapter 23: proposal

As the warm rays of the morning sun streamed through the window, I slowly opened my eyes to find myself nestled in the comfort of Andrew's embrace. We had fallen asleep in the chair, wrapped in each other's arms, and I was now trying to stir.

But as I attempted to sit up, Andrew's arms tightened around me, holding me in place. "Not so fast," he whispered, his voice husky with sleep.

I giggled and tried to wriggle free, but Andrew's grip was firm. He buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply, and I felt his chest rise and fall with a contented sigh.

"Five more minutes," he mumbled, his breath sending shivers down my spine.

I relaxed back into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body seep into mine. The chair creaked softly as we settled in, a cozy cocoon of blankets and arms.

As we lingered there, I felt Andrew's lips brush against my ear, sending a flutter through my heart. "I don't want to let you go," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

As I stood up and stretched, my stomach growled with hunger. "Hum, Andrew, I want to get something to eat, I'm famished," I said, making my way to the kitchen.

Andrew yawned and followed me, his eyes still heavy with sleep. "What's up?" he asked, rubbing his eyes.

As I opened the fridge to scan its contents, I suddenly remembered Mira. "Hum, Andrew, did you see Mira?" I asked, looking worried. "She was with Anthony last night, but I haven't seen her this morning."

Andrew's expression turned thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her either," he said, his brow furrowed with concern.

I felt a pang of worry. Mira and Anthony had seemed so happy together last night, but now she was nowhere to be found. I hoped everything was okay.

"Let's go check upstairs," Andrew suggested, already heading towards the stairs.

I nodded and followed him, my heart beating with a mix of concern and curiosity. Where was Mira?

Just as Andrew and I were about to head upstairs to search for Mira, we heard the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. We turned back to see Mira herself descending, a bright smile on her face.

"Who are you guys looking for?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Andrew and I exchanged a relieved glance. "We were looking for you," I said, feeling a bit silly for worrying.

Mira's smile grew wider. "I was just taking a shower," she said, her hair wrapped in a towel. "Anthony's still sleeping, by the way."

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "I'm sure he is," I teased.

Mira playfully hit me on the arm. "Hey, don't be jealous," she said, winking at Andrew.

Andrew chuckled and wrapped his arm around me. "I think we're good," he said, smiling at Mira.

The three of us ended up having a lazy morning together, lounging around the house and enjoying each other's company. It was a perfect, relaxed morning with friends.

*********

A few hours later, Anthony finally emerged from his slumber, stretching his arms and yawning widely. "Hey, Mira," he said with a smile, spotting his girlfriend in the room.

Mira smiled back and snuggled deeper into the couch. "Hey, sleepyhead," she replied.

Anthony's gaze then shifted to Andrew, and his expression turned serious. "Hum, Andrew, your visa is ready," he said, his voice firm. "You're going to be leaving this weekend."

Andrew's eyes widened in surprise, and he sat up straight. "But I thought I was supposed to leave next weekend," he said, a hint of concern creeping into his voice.

Anthony's expression remained firm. "Plan changed, Andrew," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You need to be in the States by Monday, so we've moved up your departure to this weekend."

I felt a pang of disappointment at the news. I had grown accustomed to having Andrew around, and the thought of him leaving sooner than expected was difficult to accept. Andrew, too, looked disappointed, his eyes clouding over with concern.

I followed Andrew outside, my heart racing with anticipation. We walked to the backyard, away from prying ears, and Andrew turned to face me.

"Hey, what's up?" I asked, noticing the serious look on his face.

Andrew took a deep breath before speaking. "I know my visa came through sooner than expected, but I have to go," he said, his voice laced with a mix of sadness and determination. "I have to take this opportunity, but it means I'll be leaving you behind."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I processed his words. I knew this day would come eventually, but I had hoped for more time.

"What are we going to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Andrew's eyes locked onto mine, filled with a deep longing. "We'll make this work, no matter what," he said, his voice filled with conviction. "We'll talk every day, and I'll come back to you as soon as I can."

I nodded, trying to hold back tears. I knew we had to be strong, but the thought of being apart was almost too much to bear.

As we walked hand in hand to the serene stream fall, the gentle rustling of leaves and chirping of birds filled the air. The warm sunlight cast a romantic glow on the surroundings, making the moment feel even more special.

Andrew stopped at the edge of the stream, his eyes locked onto mine. He took both my hands in his, his touch sending shivers down my spine.

"I want to show you something," he said, his voice filled with excitement.

He led me to a beautiful spot where the stream fell gently over a rocky edge, creating a misty veil that surrounded us. The sound of the water was soothing, and the atmosphere was peaceful.

"When I get back," Andrew said, his voice filled with conviction, "we are going to get married."

My heart skipped a beat as I processed his words. Marriage? I hadn't expected him to say that, but the thought of spending the rest of my life with him filled me with joy.

"Really?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Andrew nodded, his eyes shining with love. "Really," he replied. "I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you marry me?"

Tears of happiness welled up in my eyes as I nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, a million times yes!" I exclaimed, as Andrew pulled me into a passionate kiss.

Here's a continuation of the story:

As soon as I walked through the door, Mira noticed the mix of emotions on my face. "What happened?" she asked, concern etched on her brow.

I took a deep breath and flopped onto the couch beside her. "Andrew proposed," I said, the words tumbling out in a rush.

Mira's eyes widened in surprise. "What? That's amazing! What did you say?"

I shook my head, replaying the moment in my mind. And I said yes. I just stood there, frozen. He asked me to be his wife, Mira. Can you believe it?"

Mira squealed with excitement, throwing her arms around me. "I'm so happy for you! Thank goodness you said yes Emily"

I pulled back, a sheepish grin spreading across my face. "I don't know...I guess I was just caught off guard. And what if it's too soon? What if we're not ready for that level of commitment?"

Mira nodded thoughtfully. "Those are valid concerns, but you can't deny the connection you two have. Maybe this is the push you need to take your relationship to the next level."

I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest. Maybe Mira was right. Maybe this was the start of something beautiful.