Chapter Eleven


"What if I told you that I'm entering the second phase of my contractual obligation to my mom." He didn't respond to the question, instead, he started with his own tirade. It has to go out.

"Um… that sounds great." Weirded out, she cocked her head to the side and pursed her lips. What is he talking about? Such unusual phrasing from Sheldon.

He sighed in relief, mistaking the bewildered reaction of Amy to be a reaction of someone who's on board with his idea. "Good… now, when do you want to get married?"

Amy was astounded by such a declaration. How could he say those words to her? Did he even consider what's he was gonna say to her and think this through? Has he gone drinking with his date? And what happened to his date? Did he dump her? Or maybe it was the other way around...

As thoughts flowed through, she couldn't rake her mind for an excuse that might have incited this hasty decision. With quivering hand, she held the door frame tightly, just below Sheldon's own hand. She can feel the heat emanating from his own, prompting her to retrieve back her hand and leaned on the opposite side instead.

"What do you mean 'married', Sheldon?" she asked cautiously, trying not to agitate any errors if there might be any of them. Sheldon might have misspoken. She observed him attentively. No evident alcohol smell. No twitching of the eyes. No any sudden shift in movements or whatsoever. Although he was breathing heavily, his shoulders rising up and down with every inhale and exhale and beads of sweat rolling from his forehead down to his collar.

"Yes, married… in a wedding ceremony... or just the courthouse, doesn't matter," he collectedly said to her as his breath gradually relaxed by the second. "Or would you rather a church? We can make compromises."

He was serious. Amy learned a while back that whenever Sheldon pull some pranks or tell her some jokes, he'll pause for a second and drop a 'bazinga' to her. This… this very scenario was not the case.

Amy exhaled roughly and moved away from the door. "Get inside." She developed a stern character and gestured Sheldon to follow her. Leering at his backside, she ordered him, "To the dining table, Sheldon," as he intended to sit on the couch.

It was her innate characteristic, a defense mechanism, if you will, to appear somber and strict whenever she feels afraid and shock. She does not want to be seen as someone who was limp and easily manipulated, hence the attitude. She only did it to keep off bullies away from her and not touch her. However, not all of them seemed to be affected by it.

Amy neared the kitchen counter and readied the kettle for tea. Even if a cup of tea was not on her intended menu tonight, she was aware that Sheldon will be needing one.

She watched him as his back was on hers and his shoulder slumped. He cradled his head with his hands and shook it lightly as if he was disagreeing with someone in his head.

Amy asked, "Have you eaten?" and when Sheldon replied faintly, "Not yet," her hand was instantly on the fridge door without hesitation.

As the muffled whistling of the kettle stemmed from the kitchen, accompanied by the ding of the microwave, Amy and Sheldon pretty much kept the discussion only to themselves.

Amy set down a plate of leftover potato salad in front of Sheldon before returning back to the kitchen, pouring the hot water on the mug. She carried the mug back, too, right after going back to the coffee table to retrieve her own dinner.

"Thursday is usually pizza night…" Sheldon discussed as he looked at the sloppy salad a look of disgust, scrunching his nose and moving his lips inward.

"Well, I'm sorry, I have nothing to offer you." Amy gazed at her plate and then onto Sheldon's before suggesting, "Would you rather have mine?"

He gazed at her plate the same level of disgust he looked at his'. He's not really a fan of salads and both are salads, and he had no other choice. "No, thank you," he politely declined.

Stillness radiated through the table with sporadic clicks of the tongue and clangs of their forks. A few glances thrown here and there.

Amy couldn't care less about what happened on her door, but she just couldn't let it slip off that easily. "What was that?" she questioned rather sternly as she put down her fork.

"What was 'what'?" Sheldon returned back the question innocuously. As if nothing happened. As if the bomb he dropped at Amy was not big a deal.

"Don't play innocent, Mister." She threw him an intense stare that could weaken one's knees. "You basically proposed to me."

"I did…" he said nonchalantly. His face had a pensive look on it, Amy couldn't tell if he's deliberating his actions or daydreaming about her. "...and based on our current situation, you agreed to be my wife."

Stunned, she essentially screamed, "And where did you get that idea?" but managed to lower down her voice at the last minute.

"Because you let me enter your apartment," he clarified as if the answer was obvious enough for her to grasp.

"Oh, Sheldon," she sighed and paused, "that's because we have to talk…"

Flustered and crestfallen, he replied timidly, "Oh… I thought inviting me in means yes and shooing me out means no."

"That's not always the case, Sheldon."

"I just want to marry you," he muttered under his breath as he moved around the food on his plate. Now that he thought of it, Amy was not showing any signs of happiness when he asked her the question.

"And it's a pressing issue that needs to be resolved," Amy declared unequivocally to send Sheldon the signal that she meant business.

"So, you're gonna marry me?" The business thing seemed to stray off of him from his insistent.

Who's a genius now?

"Huh… what, no!" Amy stood up and hightailed it to the kitchen to get herself and Sheldon glasses of water.

"No?!" Sheldon distraughtly announced as he turned his head toward her direction.

Sighing, she returned to the table with two glasses in hand. "No, we are still talking, and we'll just let your question hang for a while."

"Okay."

"What prompted this, Sheldon?"

"I pondered deeply during my 30-minute walk," he revealed rather proud with his achievement

"You walked from Lazy Hog to my apartment?!" she asked worriedly as she continued with her dinner

"Yes, I did…"

"That's almost 2 miles!" she said, shocked.

"I know," he said, pleased with himself. Sheldon gulped down his water halfway and peered back at Amy. "Anyway, thank you for the water. I'm thirsty."

Amy nodded and watched as Sheldon began with his potato salad half-heartedly. Sometimes he could be innocent as a child, yet as stubborn as one. Amy wasn't expecting she would be getting that one today. "Okay. I want you to start at the beginning. No fuss, alright?"

"Alright," he agreed. He straightened his back and let out a slow breath, preparing himself for the lengthy explanation he had to unload. "When you dropped me off down at Lazy Hog, I got a bit hesitant due to some… unforeseen matter…"

"Which was?"

"I absolutely thought Lazy Hog was a strip club because of those neon lights."

"Oh…" Amy had a stunned look on her face. With her palms on the table, she leaned in and whispered like a gossipmonger, "Was it?"

"Hmm…" he considered for a second, "I don't think so. The duration of my stay does not account for the possibility of being it a strip club. It might be once the clock strikes 9." Sheldon shrugged, shoveling another bite of his potato salad. Amy just nodded with his clever explanation.

"And then, I entered and I was welcomed by this hotel bar-esque place with not a lot of people, which was a good sign for me," he continued.

Wide-eyed, Amy needed to know, "Complete with those high-end, luxury wine and spirits?"

"Exactly!"

"Oooh… fancy!" Amy declared, gesturing her head and furrowing her brows as though indulging into something forbidden.

"Anyway, Freya waved at me, I approached her… and then that's when my fifty shrunk down to twenty-five," he said downcasted, wary about his easily-beat down energy level.

"Is that some kind of sexual innuendo?"

"SEXUAL WHAT?! No, no! I was pertaining to my enthusiasm level… from fifty to twenty-five."

"Oh… my apologies." Amy turned crimson from her overt crudeness. Why is your mind about sex, Amy?! Sheldon wouldn't be pleased with that!

"Her hair was blonde - no, it was bleached blonde. You know I can't stand fake blonde. However, Penny is blonde, and I'm dubious about the legitimacy of her hair color, but I can tolerate her." He stressed his countenance to Penny with a tentative smile.

"Uh-huh."

"And she's a pediatric dentist. You know that?! For kids, Amy!"

"I know, I know!" Amy replied with vigor.

Sheldon's reluctance to be around children resonated with her. Not that she dislikes kids so much that having one would be a shame; she's at the peak of her career and just not ready for one. Maybe if she can find the stability amidst her achievements, she can then nurture a young one. Who can tell when, right?

"On her table was a platter of onion rings, nachos, and curly fries. Curly fries, Amy! Wow, might as well feast on a multicolored clown wig!"

He continued, "And you know what? She has a piercing on her nose!"

Amy scrunched her nose. Not from the other's decision to have one; she get that, other people have whimsy. But from the discomfort she felt if she decided to get one. She wouldn't want a piercing of her own. Her mother didn't even allow her to pierce her ears and adorn it with resplendent bijou. Maybe that was the reason for that: her mother was relentless and instilled the detriment of puncturing herself.

"I know right?!" he replied as he saw Amy's facial expression. He paused mid-rant to quench his thirst before proceeding, "But she's a good person, Amy…" He softened his tone, eyes flickering from being reminiscent.

"She respected my boundaries, despite her outgoing nature. Maybe she noticed how uncomfortable I was from when I entered the bar."

"That's good on her, Sheldon," Amy assured.

"And when I said to her that I feel unwell and wanted to go home, she was more than understanding," he mumbled through a mouthful of potatoes and cream. "However, she said something that might have been the central reason why she was easy on me." He tilted his head to the side, analyzing the truth behind Freya's forgiving attitude.

"What did she say?" Curious, Amy grasped the hardwood table.

"She said she wasn't interested in men and was only forced to meet me," Sheldon hinted, raising both his eyebrows, hoping Amy would get chatter.

She did. Opening her mouth in shock, Amy reverted into her meddler persona and leaned closer into Sheldon. "Oh… was that the reason?"

Both Amy and Sheldon felt the presence of each other, their breathing melding into one as though they're sharing the same bronchi. Their proximity gave them a better look at each other.

Sheldon thought Amy's eyes were exquisite: gold specks scattered in a plane of turquoise. Her eyes never too dull in pigment—intense, glistening green that reduced an emerald into just a mere sap. He thought she was lovely.

And Amy thought Sheldon's were striking: a clear and profound sea of cobalt blue. It may be from the lighting her apartment, but Sheldon's eyes were deep and robust in color—not too bright, not too harsh. It was the kind of color a man like Sheldon would have. Now that she had a good glimpse at Sheldon, Amy can tell he was unique. She thought he was beautiful.

Of all the years of their acquaintance, and all the handful of meetings (ten meetings in total) they had for the past, this was the first time that this happened: drowning into each other's eyes in silence, being the other's their lifesaver. It was dangerous—the silence was. An uncharted territory neither one was them was equipped for the expedition. An unfamiliar feeling they ought not be having for each other.

Before too long, Amy was the first to come to awareness. She broke their eye contact and gently leaned back in her chair, flustered to what happened. Nothing immodest, just eye contact, she repeated to herself as she maintained another contact but much more mindful this time.

Sheldon was not playing innocent this time. He had observed what happened, albeit a bit hazy from all the emotions. He noticed Amy still gazed at him despite the budding tension.

"R-reason to what?" Sheldon stuttered

"That you proposed to me without any notice."

"Kind of."

"Was it hurting your ego?"

"My ego?! Lord, no! I'm not opposed to whomever she wanted to be with. However, it's not my territory to just barge in and dictate what I believe."

"Well… you said it is a factor that prompted this."

"Yes… after hearing what she said, I decided that I was done with this search."

"Were there any more reasons why offered me marriage?"

"Hmm… I can think of two..."

"Go on…"

"First was due to frustration… Frankly, I'm getting exhausted from having to meet strangers every other day." he sighed. "And I'm slowly getting detached from myself just being not able to choose from all those women. The frustration is seeping in, and I don't know if my reserved energy should be used efficiently by seeing more women!" Sheldon cradled his head for a while, ruffling his hair in one direction before peering back at Amy.

"I get that," Amy replied softly, averting her eyes at his predicament.

Sheldon steadied himself. "And secondly, I had a sneaking suspicion that you are the one I should be pursuing," he explained. With his remaining courage, he brought his hand near Amy's, lingering for a second, before grasping her cold hand with his equally clammy hand.

"But why me?" Little by little, Amy pulled away from his touch, not wanting to muddle her head with vague messages that might hurt her in the long run. She needed smart Amy now to deal with Sheldon.

"But why not you? You're exceptional! Between you and me, you were the front runner out all of the women that I met," Sheldon disclosed, putting her in the pedestal of his mind.

"If I were the 'front runner', why are you only deciding now? Why not tell me right from the beginning… right from when you saw me last Saturday?!" Her voice raised an octave higher due to frustration. With dinner turned cold and neglected, the conversation heated up before anything else.

"Because I'm afraid… Amy," he told the truth. He was a coward walking in a strongman skin, flaunting that he was above himself for being such.

"You don't seem afraid…"

"Well, now that you know… I am afraid. Frightened even. You don't know how it feels." Sheldon huffed. He crossed his firm arms on his chest and rested against the chair, wishing that his vulnerability wouldn't drive Amy away from him. If Amy completely shut him off in her life, he would be back to square one, and he'll be caught in there for a long time.

"You know there is an easy out in this right?" Amy incited. She just hoped Sheldon would get her this time.

"We marry?"

Amy groaned, "No, Sheldon… just tell your mom you won't be able to go through this."

"And what? Tell her I breached our contract. No way!" he sulked. He was unmoved. No contract with his name on shall not be infracted. Never. No. If so, it would be a tedious journey of avoidance and prevention to his mother and anyone who might be unconsciously involved in this.

"Alright, continue with your dates… I don't care!" This time, Amy was the one who huffed, imitating what Sheldon did minutes ago.

"But I've already decided." He downed the remaining water on his glass.

Amy instantly snatched his glass and slipped to the kitchen, before rejecting, "No…"

She relied on the newly refilled glass of ice cold water to knock some sense into her so-called phony fiance. If and when she agrees to be his betrothed.

"What do you want me to do?" Sheldon asked, desperate for answers. In the past, he can read Amy very well, and, surprisingly, so can she. But right now, her facial features would not give him an ounce of a clue on what she was thinking. I should really find a way to get that mind-reading power.

"Think this through… think very carefully, Sheldon." Amy urged him as she sat back the glass in front of him and settled back to her seat.

"I already did… I want to marry you. I just needed your permission."

"You are so stubborn. You know that?" Amy just disregarded the number of times Sheldon unabashedly announced to her that he wanted to marry her. Three, four, or maybe five? She lost count as her mind was confounded by endless possibilities.

"How about let's keep the question hanging for a while, and I will court you, so to speak," Sheldon suggested, steadfast and straight face. Court? Sheldon Cooper will court a woman person. That's seemed straight out of fantasy.

"Before I answer that… tell me why were you afraid in the first place."

If she would be with a man for a long time, he might as well be honest with her. She does not care for dishonesty. That's why Sheldon managed to capture her trust because he was frank in nature. He knows what he likes and what he dislikes and informs her relentlessly. But she wanted to know something personal from him. No lies. No twitching. She just wanted him to be true to himself.

"I—"

"I want the truth, Sheldon."

"Alright." He sighed and gathered himself. "The real reason why I'm afraid is that I don't want to strain our relationship with me being reckless," he disclosed, perched at the edge of his seat from anticipation.

"Aren't you doing it now?" Worried, Amy voiced out her concerns.

"I am," he admitted, looking straight into her eyes to let her know he means business. "But I'm willing to risk it… Our friendship has always been perfect—all the give and take. I thought, what if it reflects our marriage? I got a friend, a wife, and my contract has been fulfilled. Three birds, one stone."

Amy does not seem to be impressed. She doesn't look irritated, too. Instead, she finished off her dinner, poking each and every leftover in her plate without saying a word. She then drank from her own glass with no rush. She seemed calm, and it was causing Sheldon to freak out a little. He observed her every action in fear of what's coming.

Finally, when Amy seemed to be done taking her precious time eating, she confessed, "This is frightening me, too, Sheldon."

Sheldon breathed in relief. He loosened his grip on his fork and comforted Amy, "So am I, Amy… but we'll be backing up each other. We'll dip our toes into the cold waters of uncertainty, and if one of us goes a little deeper, the other one must help pull him or her out."

Amy took a few seconds, "You really have to be very persistent to get my yes, Sheldon."

He nodded composedly, determined as ever, "Buckle up, because I will, and you won't be disappointed. I assure you that, little lady."


Thank you for reading!