Epilogue
"You have to be kidding me" I whisper almost to myself but I can see that Mike heard it judging from the smile in his face.
"Do you think I am?" he asks as I try to move forward and reach him.
The red petals that are thrown on the ground lead me to him and he extends his hand to reach mine.
"What's all that?" I ask looking around me. I see four lanterns surrounding us in every tree even though it's still morning. There's a table with a white cover and there are white, red and pink flowers on it. My eyes center on Mike who's looking at me smiling. He's handsome. He seems too formal to be honest. He's not wearing a suit or something like that but there's a mystery in his moves.
"This is something I was thinking about months now. To be exact I was thinking about it since before we broke up for the first time"
"Before going to Chicago?" I ask and he nods "I don't understand. A romantic picnic like all the other ones you've made?" I ask and he smiles. He takes my hand in his and I look around one more time before I focus on him again.
"Do you remember some months ago, the last day of school that we were at my locker talking about Chicago and then my parents came and said to go eat Italian?"
"Yeah. I do" it was the day I first confessed my insecurities about Mike going to Chicago with all those female dancers. He had told me I should visit him to remind him I was the most amazing girl in the world. Didn't work out like that but…
"So I was planning to do what I'm doing now back then, only a little different, but now that I have the chance I don't want to lose it again"
"Ok…" I respond waiting for him to continue and I see him taking a big breath "Is everything alright?" I ask him and he nods smiling.
"I… I have something for you" he says and I bite my lower lip. He is so nervous. I follow with my gaze his hand and then I stop breathing.
"Is that… Mike…"
"Shh… Just let me talk" he says holding a ring box in his arm. I feel my view a little blurry so I blink several times to clear it. A ring box seems….
"Mike" I whisper and I can sense my voice trembling just like the rest of my body.
"Look. The fact is… I love you. More than anything in the world. And I don't care about the fights or about anything to be honest. I care about you and only you. I… I don't want to hide anymore. You. You are the love of my life. And I've sworn to myself to never ever let you go again. So… Tina Cohen Chang" he says and my heart beats uncontrollably fast as he opens the ring box "I want to let you know that I want you to be mine forever and that I can't actually live without you" he continues and takes out the ring.
"Mike… this is an engagement ring" I whisper still trembling.
"I know… You can take it as a promise ring I guess. A promise that I love you and you love me and you know… we love each other" he says making both of us laugh.
"This is the one I saw at the ring store when I went with Blaine"
"I know… You've been talking about it a lot so it was not hard to find" he grins taking my hand hesitantly.
"I can't believe this" I whisper looking at his hand moving.
"May I?" he asks hesitant and when I nod he slips the ring in my finger.
"Tina. My beautiful Tina. I promise you, I love you so much. This ring is just a promise so don't freak out" he teases and I laugh with tears in my eyes "just to make sure how much you mean to me" I look the ring in my finger and then I focus on Mike's eyes.
"I love you" I whisper and a little sob escapes my mouth.
"I love you too" he kisses me with passion and I hug him tightly.
"Thank you" I smile and he cups my face with his hands but says nothing.
We stay there for a long time, so long that we light the lanterns. It's so beautiful and peaceful.
"You really don't know how much this really means to me" I caress his cheek with the back of my hand.
"It's something I should have done earlier"
"It's ok. Now was perfect. You always find a beautiful and unexpected way to surprise me. I love that"
"Only that?" he raises his eyebrow and I smile.
"That and a lot more. I really don't wanna lose you again Mike"
"You won't Tee. I told you I love you, I'll never let you go again"
"Promise?" I ask and he touches his forehead on mine whispering.
"Baby trust me… we're inseparable"
THE END
WOW and that was a wrap… I need to thank each and one of you for your incredible reviews, follows, favorites and views. You guys make me feel so happy and blessed. I've received so many amazing and encouraging messages. I just want to tell you : I love you so much! Thanks for everything. I hope I'll see you all in my next tike story. I don't know when I'm gonna post it, it might take a while till I decide some specific things about it but I promise I'm gonna post as soon as I can.
P.S. I am really blessed to have such amazing friends like you! Thanks you and see you soon!