Purple Romance

''You…'' Mirabel gulped down the glass of water by her side. They were now inside one of the private dining rooms of the restaurant. She sighed, chuckled and fanned herself not believing the reality before her.

Compared to her flustered state, Joel was more composed as he leaned against the chair watching her and a cocked brow.

''Whoa, I can't believe this. I am totally speechless right now. How could you do this to me? You look so calm even after deceiving me. You… you are a shameless man''

''A man has got to be shameless when pursuing what he wants or it will never be his'' his reply was concise.

''An IT man? Now that I think about it, you've been deceiving me all this while. Tell me the truth. Since when did you know I was 'dancing in the sky?'. You really did so well in covering your tracks. I could never have thought this sort of thing was going to happen in thousand years''

''I found out about you that day you showed me the game in your room. I was equally flustered but I overcame it quickly''

''I just find it hard to believe you. Was I too dense to figure it out or am I simply stupid?''

''You are neither of that. It was something you wouldn't have been able to find out unless I told you, but, why are you so angry? I found out just a few days ago and I didn't delay in letting you know''

''All of this just feels awkward. To think I was coming here to break it off with you and then finding out about this…'' she waved her hand between them.

''Since we are here, what do you want to do? Are you breaking if off or not?''

''I don't know. I'm still yet to process everything''

''Mira'' Joel suddenly leaned on the table closer to her catching her off guard. She blushed as he held her gaze, ''It's nice to meet you, my online wife''

''En'' Mira nodded her head smiling awkwardly.

''I am happy it was you that I met online and not any other woman'' he took her hand into his shaking it gently.

''Then, what will happen to us now?''

''The decision is in your hands. I don't mind staying married to you, but if you have a change of mind because it's me…''

''I don't mind either'' Mirabel said and regretted soon. She looked away cussing herself for been in a hurry to speak.

''Let's eat. We still have to continue our date'' Joel let go of her hand and picked his cutlery.

''Date?'' Mirabel felt that the word suddenly had a different meaning from the usual date. She really wanted to ask if they were going on a date as the fake couple or as the online married couple but she didn't have enough guts to do that.

''You promised to spend your day with me. Were you planning to break if off with me and go somewhere?''

Her mind suddenly went to what she planned to do earlier. She laughed and shook her head, ''no I was planning to take a stroll and catch some fresh air''

''I'm glad I came in time. It would have been dangerous to leave a beautiful woman to walk alone without a man by her side. Most of all, I am glad I am that man to be spending your alone time with you'' he smiled at her and started to eat his food.

'My heart is beating fast. Do I really like him or am I just confused? But, why does he look so handsome today?' she shook her head, 'get a grip on yourself Mira. You have to wait until you are sure he likes you before you do anything stupid' she reprimanded herself before eating herself.

…..

Taking a walk by the serene Harvey street road, the man and woman kept stealing glances at each other as they walked. Joel felt at peace just walking side by side with her. He wished this moment would not end. He wanted to spend more time with her. He had specially pushed all his meetings to tomorrow and rushed to the restaurant after one pressing meeting with the shareholders. They were going to soon launch a new season clothing, so things were a little hectic for him, but just been in the same place, breathing the same air with her made him feel relaxed and unpressured. It was a good feeling that he wanted to keep for a long time.

Mirabel looked up and found him looking at her. She couldn't look away as she continued to look at him while walking.

''Be careful'' Joel held her hand, pulling her closer to himself. Her upper body crashed into his chest and she subconsciously held his shirt with a puzzle look on her face.

''Sorry'' the bicycle rider who almost hit her said before riding away, but it seemed to have fallen into deaf ears as the two people stayed in the same position just staring at each other.

Mirabel blushed as she looked at him and heard his voice, ''you have to watch where you are going''

''Oh, thank you'' she said still holding unto his shirt. She could vaguely hear the sound of his heartbeat and it made her reddened even more as she felt her own heartbeat moving in sync with his. She didn't know why but she wanted to feel it for some more. She raised her hand and attempted to touch the side of his heart but he caught it fast.

''Don't start what you can't finish'' he stepped aside and gently pulled her over to the other side, ''this side is a lot safer''

''Oh'' Mirabel nodded and started walking away. She wondered what the statement meant and why he said something like that. What exactly did he mean by that? What shouldn't she start?' the ringing of her phone brought her back to her senses and she quickly removed it and answered.

''Hello, yes I am Mirabel. Who is this?'' Mirabel looked at Joel as she spoke on the phone, ''oh I see. actually, I am…'' she walked a distance away from him and he looked at her suspiciously. ''I am alone now, please speak, aunt''

''Has Joel told you that I am preparing dinner for you two tonight?'' Joel's mother asked.

'No, he hasn't''

''That boy is still shy''

''Aunt, I can't go without his permission'' Mirabel said and felt the phone been taken from her, she turned and saw Joel holding the phone to his ear.

''Mom, I told you I would bring her. What you are doing will scare her. Don't call her again'' he hung up and gave the phone to Mirabel, ''I'm sorry about that. She asked me to bring you for dinner but I didn't want to because I thought it will scare you''

''Call your mother and tell her I am coming for dinner''

''Huh? Are you sure about this? My mother and sister can be a little…''

''I don't mind. You are going to be there, what should be afraid of?'' She smiled brightly at him.

''You trust me that much?''

''Yes, you helped me with my parents. It is only right that I also help you out. We are partners after all''

''Right''

''So, don't worry about me. give your mother a call and also, let's go and buy some gifts. What does your mother like, what about your sister? Wait, I hope they won't think that I am too young for you. I know we are 8 years apart. What if they end up not liking me?'' Mirabel kept going on and on until Joel took a step closer to her, closing the distance between them. She became conscious of her closeness and was about to step back when he stopped her by holding her hand.

''Mirabel''

''Oh!!!''

''Do you like me?''

''Huh?'' she blushed and felt her heart beating faster.

''I asked if you like me?''

''Can I not like you?'' She asked back.

''You can but know this, I don't care whether we are 8 years apart. I don't care whether my family will like and accept you or not. I don't even care whether the whole world will be against us. The only thing I care about will be my feelings for you''

''Are you… confessing to me right now?'' she bit her lips.

''Oh, I am saying that I like you, Mirabel. I was happy when I found out that you were the one I got married to in the game. I was happy eating with you, bickering with you, I was happy defending you when those girls were trying to mess with you, but I was sad when you referred to me as your friend's older brother. I don't want to be an older brother to you. I am happy seeing you try so hard to appear like a mature woman to me. I am happy you took time to dress up before coming to see me. I was happy when you sent me a message while I was happy. I look at the message every night before going to sleep since that day. The time I found out that my feelings were real was the day you went on a blind date. I was happy when you didn't meet a better man than me. I know that I can be bossy and arrogant. I am sometimes careless with my words but I will work on it, I will be a better man for you. If I am going to be with someone, then that person has to be you. I like how childish you can be, how carefree and sometimes selfish you can be''

''Are you complimenting me or insulting me?''

''I am complimenting you. What is your answer?''

''Huh? My answer?''

''I just confess my feelings to you. actually, I am anxious right now, so can you give me an answer?''

''My answer is this…'' she stepped on his shoes to reach his level and landed a kiss on his cheek before running of.

''You…'' he touched his cheek and smiled before chasing after her.