Chapter Twenty: Jiemia
Trip led Hoshi into the mess hall. "Tada!" he said, removing his hands from her eyes.
Hoshi's mouth opened but she didn't say a word.
Trip frowned. "You don't like it?"
"No, I…I do. It's beautiful." She turned to him. "Where did all these roses come from?" There were red roses in clear vases on every table. She circled and said, "It's like being in a sea of crimson color."
"I had them stored for you a month ago. It was actually for another special occasion, but this is special enough." He walked to a vase and plucked a single rose from the bunch. He bowed and handed the rose to Hoshi. She sniffed its scent. Trip watched her; his heart almost breaking. She was so pale, almost transparent.
"Let's have a seat, darling," he said, guiding them to a table. He started to hunt through his denim pockets. "Here it is," he said. He took Hoshi's left hand in his.
"What are you doing?" Hoshi asked, jerking back her hand.
"Hoshi," Trip began. "You're an amazing person. You're beautiful—"
"Trip," she stopped him.
"Let me continue." He took her hand again. "You're a beautiful person. Not just because you are but because you're brave, smart, caring, and I could go on forever."
He looked into her eyes. "And because you're this beautiful person…I love you. I love the way your face lights up and you smile when someone compliments you. And the way you look at me, like now, that makes me feel I'm someone special." He quickly slipped the ring on her ring finger. "I want you to have this."
Hoshi pulled her hand away and examined the ring. It was thin, designed with leaves around. She stared at the center and realized there was the shape of a bird. "Where did you get this?"
"On Horienzi. I think the storekeeper called it a Jiemia ring. He said it was a symbol of…love."
"Jiemia," Hoshi whispered. She started to tremble.
"Are you cold?" he asked, alarmed.
"No…I'm fine. It's perfect. Everything is perfect. The roses, this ring…this moment."
"Well, that's not all." He snapped his fingers and the lights dimmed. He got up and extended his arm to Hoshi. "I do believe you had saved a dance for me."
"We can't forget that," Hoshi said, playfully.
They slow danced around the tables; Trip's hand on her back, Hoshi's head on his shoulder.
"Tell me a story," she said.
"What would you like to hear?"
"Anything, as long as I can still hear your voice."
"Once upon a time in a galaxy far, far, away…"