Unfortunately, after I had the little chat with Tai in the park, I was so caught up in the moment that I didn't realize what time it was. It wasn't until I had driven onto the highway that I realized that there wouldn't be a single jewellery store opened at 11:30 at night. So, reluctantly, I turned back and headed for home. It was probably for the best anyway because I also came to the conclusion that I didn't know what the hell I was looking for. I decided that I needed help, and who better to help me look for an exquisite, Mimi style, engagement ring, then her very own best friend, Sora. I figured that with both of us knowing Mimi so well, we couldn't possibly go wrong.
"I can't believe that Tai of all people changed your mind about this Matt." Sora said as soon as she dropped into the passenger seat of my car. I had called her this morning with all of the details.
"I can't believe it myself." I replied.
"The worst part of it all was trying to hide my excitement from Mimi after you called. You're lucky that she decided to go out to breakfast with her mother, otherwise you would have had a hell of a time picking me up." she continued.
"Luck had nothing to do with it Sora." I told her. "Mrs. Tachikawa was delighted to invite Mimi to breakfast after I called her this morning with my plans for the day.
"You sly little devil!" Sora smirked. "Way to be on top of everything Ishida!" she complemented.
"Not everything." I corrected her. "I still haven't decided how I'm going to propose. It's got to be something big, to make up for my stupidity."
"You'll think of something Matt. I have complete faith in you." Sora encouraged.
"Thanks Sora. This really means a lot to me." I told her.
"I'm just happy that you included me in this little mission. I only wish that I could be there to see Mimi's face when you pop the question." she replied.
"Well, I will be there, and I can't wait!" I said.
~Sora~
As soon as we pulled into the parking lot at the mall Matt got tense. There's something about shopping that ceases a guy's muscles. I figured that it was either the mall or the concept of buying the engagement ring. This was a big step for the both of them, but for Matt especially. It was stage one in what would turn out to be a lifelong commitment, and we all know how Matt feels about commitment.
"What am I doing Sora?" Matt asked, as we stepped outside of the car.
"You're walking through those doors and then we'll make our way to the jewellery store where you can pick out the ring. I replied, pointing toward the main entrance of the Odiba Shopping Mall.
"Duh, but what am I doing at a mall? I hate malls!" he whined.
"Oh the sacrifices we make for those that we love." I mused.
"I should be made a saint." he boasted.
"For stepping inside of a mall? You're dreaming." I laughed.
"No, I should be made a saint because I'm marrying an angel." he corrected me.
"Devils don't become saints Matt." I challenged.
"This one does." he replied. "Now let's go get that ring so that we can get out of here."
"Whoa, this isn't a race Matt. Take you're time with this." I said.
"Yes mom!" he retorted.
"Thank God I'm not!" I shot back.
"I agree!" he said.
*I'm doing this for Mimi* I reminded myself as Matt and I headed into the mall.
~Matt~
"They're all so beautiful!" Sora gasped, as soon as we entered the store.
"And all really expensive." I added, checking out the prices of the rocks shown in the display cases. "But money doesn't matter. I want Mimi to have the best." I decided.
"That's the attitude Matt!" Sora commended me. The sales associate must have thought that I had the right attitude too, because as soon as I said that, he came running.
"Can I help you with something?" the short, bald man asked.
"Yes, my friend and I are trying to pick out an engagement ring for my girlfriend." I told him.
"Ah, young love blossoming into so much more with the sacred vow of marriage." the man sighed.
"Yeah... right..." that mushy crap was making me sick.
"I have the perfect ring for such an occasion." the associate said.
"That's a relief. I was so scared that the jewellery store would be out of perfect rings for this occasion." I said, sarcastically. Sora shot me a warning glance. I had never made her angry before. It was kind of fun!
"We would be very grateful if you would show us some of your diamonds." Sora said on my behalf.
"Yes, very grateful." I echoed. We followed baldy to the back of the store where the diamond display case stood. I must admit that I expected the guy to jerk us around a bit, but the first ring that he showed me ended up being the one I wanted. Sora completely agreed with me. It was the perfect ring for this occasion. It sure as hell put a big dent in my pocket book and it's not like I really needed any extra expenses at that particular time in my life, but it was one of those things that you just had to have.
"It's beautiful Matt! Mimi is going to love it!" Sora told me.
"I hope so." I replied.
"You have absolutely nothing to worry about." she insisted.
"I know. I just have to come up with a proposal that's as beautiful as the ring." I said.
I dropped Sora off back at her house and then headed back to my apartment, where I was to focus totally on preparing the amazing proposal that I was going to give this evening. The problem was, I ended up focusing on everything else but the proposal. I couldn't think of anything! It was then that I decided to take a long shot. Tai had probably already drained his brain giving me the advice that he did last night, but I figured that it was worth a try, so I called him.
~Tai~
"How come I've turned into the advice guy all of the sudden." I asked Matt, who was on the other end of the line.
"I figured that you might be on a weird streak of some sort. Look, all I'm asking is for some ideas." he replied.
"Okay, but don't get too used to this Matt." I warned him.
"Don't worry Tai. I promise never to ask you to use your head again if you just help me out with this." he said.
"Okay, so what exactly do you want?" I asked.
"I need to find a great, romantic way to propose to Mimi tonight. After all of the shit that I've put her through, I think she deserves that much." he told me.
"Here I go Matt. I am searching the depths of my mind to come up with the perfect answer for you." I said.
"Oh brother!" he groaned.
"Music to my ears!" I laughed.
"Whatever."
"Hey Matt, that's it!" I exclaimed.
"What's it?" he asked.
"I think that you're turning into the stupid one these days Matt. You're a musician. Write her a song." I told him.
"Do you know how long that will take? You know how much of a perfectionist I am when it comes to my music Tai." he snapped.
"Matt, it doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to come from your heart." I concluded.
"I don't know what the hell happened to you Tai, but I'm starting to see you as an all knowing guru." Matt said before he hung up the phone.
~Matt~
What had taken me hours of thinking to come up with absolutely nothing, took Tai five minutes to come up with something that was absolutely perfect. What he had said at the end of the conversation really got to me too. That's two days in a row now. It's kind of scary when you think about it. "It doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to come from your heart." I swear, he must be reading Dear Abby or something. Anyway, I took his advice and wrote the song. It turned out really good too. I just hoped and prayed that Mimi would think the same way when I sing it to her tonight.
I decided on a romantic moonlit picnic in the park. It was a nice warm evening and the scenery would be perfect. For the rest of the day, I slaved over the stove to prepare food that was romantic, tasted good and was easy to carry in a basket and clean up afterwards. After all of that was complete, I grabbed the blindfold and went to pick up Mimi from her parent's house.
"Where are we going?" she asked as soon as I had arrived.
"You'll soon see." I promised, while I slipped the blindfold over her eyes.
"Just make sure that you don't let go of me while I'm wearing this. I don't want to fall or anything." she said.
"I won't let you fall honey." I replied.
We climbed into my car, Mimi still blindfolded and drove to the park, where I had already chosen the perfect spot for my little performance. I lead her down a path to my secret place, then I leaned her up against a tree while I made sure that everything was set up and perfect before I pulled off her screen.
"Matt!" she gasped. "It's beautiful." she whispered, as she surveyed all of my work.
"Not as beautiful as you." I replied. I then stole the first kiss that I had had in two days. "Come and sit." I motioned toward the blanket.
"This is so perfect! The light of the moon, the candles, the food, Matt I can't believe you did all this for me." she said.
"It's not over yet." I told her. The time had come and I walked over behind the tree. where I had hidden my guitar.
"A moonlit serenade!" she squealed with delight as I began to play my sweet melody and sing:
I see your smiling face
I know this is the right time
This is the perfect place
Inside me is this feeling
And I want to let it show
A feeling that controls me
And I want to let you know.
That a love for you, everlasting
Burns deep within my soul.
A love for you
Burns deep with in my soul
"Mimi Tachikawa, you are my light, my love, my life. You are a part of me, a part of my soul and I want that forever. Mimi, will you marry me?" I asked in a whisper and placed the diamond ring on her finger.
"Matt!" she sobbed as she stared deep into my eyes. "Yes!" she cried. Tears of joy streamed down both of our faces as he held each other and kissed passionately in the dim light of the moon.
~MPF