It was a very lovely day in the park. The weather was fine and the cool wind kisses their cheeks sweetly. The shade of the tree beside them was perfect. The rays of the sun peek between the spaces of the interlacing branches.
They sat on the grass watching the swans gracefully cross the waters of the lake.
"Isn't this lovely?" Mike said. Miranda just looked at him and smiled. She shifted her attention back to the beautiful scenery in front of them and took a sip from her wine.
Mike had suggested having picnic date as a break from the wedding arrangements they'd been told to do. Miranda happily agreed. As what she said, she'll do anything to get away from her mum and Tilly. She then immediately asked Gary for a picnic basket and let Mike prepare the nibbles and wine. She had texted Mike to just meet up in the restaurant. And that was a fairly bad idea.
"Thanks for this, Gary."
"Oh, that. Not a problem. I put some cake in case you wanted one."
Miranda looked inside the basket and found the cake he made for her.
"Aww. Thank, Gary. Uhm. I'll just put this in the table. I need to use the loo. Can you tell Mike to wait for me? He'll be here any minute now."
"Mike's gonna be here?"
"Yeah."
"Sure, sure. Why not. I'll tell him to wait."
"Okay, thanks." She smiled and kissed his cheek before leaving.
Seconds after Miranda excused herself, Mike arrived.
"Gary." He said, standing stiffly in front of him.
"Mike." Tension was building up between the two men.
Stevie came following after Mike. She saw how Mike and Gary stare at each other.
"Quite erotic." She whispered, blushing, noticing how silly they look on trying to overpower one another.
"Where's Miranda?"
"She's in the loo. You two are going on a picnic."
"Yes." He answered like it was the most obvious thing. Gary squared his shoulders.
Miranda went out and joined Stevie in the corner of the restaurant. From where they were standing, she could see how Gary studied Mike and Mike stretching his full height to look at him straight in the eye.
"Quite erotic…" Miranda and Stevie said in the same time.
"Marple!"
"Well, there's your girlfriend." Gary said wearily.
"Fiancée.. as a matter of fact." Gary gulped and just looked away. Miranda ran towards Mike and held his arm.
"You ready, Quirky?" He said to her, smiling.
"Yup. Gary, thanks for the basket. I'll bring this back later, yeah?"
"Oh, that's fine. Have fun, you guys."
"Shall we?"
"Yeah. Bye guys."
Gary's followed them as they make their way out of the restaurant. When they left, Gary's eyes were still on the door. He was absently cleaning the counter when someone pinched his arm.
"Oww!" He shrieked. He searched and saw Stevie sitting on a bar stool, arms crossed. She thinned her lips, still looking at Gary sharply.
"Stev, what was that for?"
"I'm glad we did this." She said, looking far away. "Mum's getting really annoying." She felt Mike's hand holding hers, rubbing his thumb. Miranda felt him move, motioning to lean in. But instead, he lay on his back and his hand rested on her lap. They just stayed like this for good few minutes, taking the silence they needed for weeks of working. The leaves on the trees moved with the singing air making a silent hushes of sound. The branches were like dancing and the chirping birds were surrounding them, cradling them with peace. Miranda closed her eyes and took a deep breath, leaving Mike's smile unnoticed. The sunshine behind here created a breath-taking glow and Mike just smiled on how lovely his fiancée was.
"Miranda?"
"Hmm?" She opened her eyes and met his stares.
"Can you kiss me?" His voice was soft and calm and sweet, far from the usual reporter-monotone he usually used. He only show this sweetness he has every time he's with her and this will never fail to melt Miranda's heart.
Miranda smiled and happily obliged. But instead, as he leaned down, she placed a single kiss on the tip of his nose. Mike just looked at her and chuckled.
"Swans are sneaky sometimes, don't you think?"
"Sneaky? Why?"
"Well, you know. The way they are in the water. It seemed so effortless for them from where we see them but under it, they're paddling and paddling…" She said while mimicking the paddling with her hands. "… Tirelessly. When we look at them, we feel so relax but we don't know how tired they already are. Shame. It's just like life. You do a lot of things to show how you feel and care about a person yet.." She paused and fetched a long, sad sigh. "… and yet they don't even notice you. They don't even care how tired you are from waiting and waiting for years. But you still do it over and over again for them." She almost forgot that she's with Mike and not in her living room, doing monologue. "Sorry." She giggled looking down to Mike on her lap. "Was I making you bored, Monsieur?"
"Not at all." He answered, smiling.
She starts to ruffle his hair with her hand, brushing soft strands of it with her fingers. Mike took her hand away from his head; let it cup his face before kissing her palm. Miranda curled down to give him a kiss but was interrupted when Mike's phone rang. Miranda saw him reach it inside his pocket and turn it off.
"Sorry about that. The station's calling me again"
"For?"
Mike flapped an impatient hand. "News stuff."
"Oh." Miranda bit her lower lip. Both of them didn't talk for a while and then suddenly….
"I want to have kids."
Miranda coughed, having chosen the wrong moment to drink her wine when Mike talked and spilling the rest of it to his face. "What?!"
Mike sat up beside here, taking off his glass and cleaning himself.
"I'm so sorry, Marple. Oh dear." She said, still coughing between lines. Mike's hands ran up and down against her back, trying to ease her coughing.
"Erm, sorry. Quirky. Was that too early to say? I mean. I just. I have plans and I just want to share it with you. I didn't mean to startle you. I'm so sorry."
"No, that's fine. That's fine. It was just—I didn't exactly expect that, you know."
Mike's phone rang again. He fetched it from his pocket and turn if off again.
"You should answer that. It might be important."
"Nah. I rather enjoy my date with my lovely fiancée." His hand coiled around her waist and pulled her closer to him.
"We better go home. It's getting dark."
"Yeah, sure. I'll walk you home."
Holding each other's hand, they were on their way to Miranda's flat when Mike's phone rang for the third time.
"Why don't you answer that? It's okay."
Mike hesitated for a second but then finally decided to take the call.
"Just.. give me a minute." He turned around and gave himself a bit of space. Respecting it, Miranda looked and admired the sun as it sets down. Behind her, she could hear Mike talking or maybe arguing.
"Yeah.. I know, it's important. It's important for me too. Yeah I—can we just wait until my wed-. Okay. Sure. Yes. I undertand. Bye." Miranda turned to face him again and saw the worry in his face.
"Xavier?"
"Yeah. Uhm. I really hate to do this but Quirky, I really need to the office. It's urgent and I need to—"
"Don't worry. It's fine! Besides, we're nearly on our way to my flat. And I need to return this basket to Gary. You go. I'll be fine."
Mike smiled and kissed her cheek.
"You take care, alright? I'll call you later."
"You,too."
"Hi, Gary."
The restaurant was quiet when Miranda arrived. Gary was sitting in a bar stool, writing something or doing the accounts.
"Oooh, you're closing really early. You got a date?" Miranda mockingly asked as she place the basket on the table.
"Oh, nothing. Just doing some wed-min."
"Arg, that!" Miranda rolled her eyes heavenwards. "Are we all starting to sound like Tilly now?"
Gary chuckled. "It's quite contagious."
"I'm really sorry, Gary, if you need to endure this, too."
"That's fine. I'm quite enjoying this. Anyway, what d'you think about the cake?"
"Oh, delicious! One of the best. I just love your baking."
"You always say that!" He smiled and crossed his arms. "Because it's free."
"Oi! Not really. Maybe.. Okay, you got me. You're right. Happy?" She held out both hands. "But don't get too cheeky, young man." Miranda joined him and sat on a bar stool. "I don't always love them. You gave me a muffin one time, with a hidden broccoli ! A broccoli. Inside a muffin. Inside a frigging muffin, Gary! Ghastly! If I want a broccoli, I'll have a broccoli. If I want a muffin, I'll have a muffin!"
"You ate everything, anyway, you dweeb." He said, laughing heartily.
"Oi!" Miranda slapped his arm.
"Oww!" And Gary hit her back with the paper. Both of them stopped, looked at each other, gave up and laughed together.
"Since you're here, might as well try the cake I'm making for your wedding."
"Oh, goody, free food!" She said gleefully like a child.
"See. Told you you'll eat anything I make."
"How. Rude."
He went to the kitchen and when he came back, he brought with him a plate full of cake in different flavor.
Without preamble, Miranda started to eat them, taking one spoonful of a flavor, moved straight to the next and to the next until she returns to the first one.
"God, you're easy." Gary said, shaking his head and grinning.
"Whatever." She said with the mouth full. "I haven't had this much of cakes since.. Do you remember Jimmy's birthday back at uni, before graduation?" Miranda saw Gary taking some icing with a finger and licking it.
"James? Mmm. Icing. Of course. How could I forget? I will never forget that you actually snatched all nibbles from the bar! You're impossible."
"No, I didn't! Okay, yes. But it was the girls' idea to bring them all home. And besides, everyone was practically drunk that night so no one would notice us."
She could stay like this forever and just talk with him for hours and hours. She's so closely acquainted with him and basically would finish each other's sentences (and songs) as easily as possible. History. That's it. That's what they got behind them. She had spent many birthdays and Christmas with him. Their actions simply speak louder than words. Gary would exactly know when Miranda needed a hug. She'll simply lose her defenses in his embrace and enjoy the comfort being in his arms. They can be silly, happy and get in to trouble together. There have been many times they held each other's hand and nothing even matters- it was just him.
Nostalgia. He'll look at her and their story's reread. Gary had always hoped she'll stay. And she did. But it was him that needed to leave. But came back for he'd lost the familiarity his body and heart seeks. He missed her day after day, constantly wanting to tell everything that had happened in his life. But now, she's here. And he'll never want to leave her again. He knew he grew too comfortable, too safe, too sure that she'll always be in his side so he never did anything. He thought he did not need to do or say or ask anything because Miranda would never leave.
He was her classmate, her best friend, her first love but never a proper lover. She knew she needs to move on but every time she takes a step forward, all those years knowing him keeps on dragging her back to the start. That was his edge: He knows her very well. And she loves him more.
Miranda was with him now but he still misses her badly.
She took a sip from her tea.
"I remember the karaoke session we did that night."
"Oh yeah.. You and Stevie totally own that night. It was a blast!"
"Well, you know." She flicked her hair. "Who wouldn't want a bit of the allure, right? Hahaha. A lot of single men came after this one. Well, mainly to Stevie. And Tilly. And Fanny. And Stinky. Okay! Not to me then."
"At least, you had me that night." Gary nudged an elbow to her hip.
"Yeah, at least, you lucky bastard.!" She said, laughing heavily.
"Oh really."
"Yaaahhh.."
"Dweeb.."
"Dunce." Gary reached out and messed up hair. He then stole a handful slice of cake and ate it greedily in front of her. After he did, Miranda's jaw dropped in disbelief. Gary just chuckled at her reaction.
"That was mine!"
"Couldn't help it. I bake really well, don't I?" Gary licked his fingers teasingly.
"Well, have it all then." Miranda got a lot of icing and shoves it all over his face. She looked and laughed at him with all her lungs.
"Oh, no. You did not just do that!" Gary took revenge, taking a lot of icing with a finger and whipped it across from one cheek to another. They stared at each other and the mess they had made and just laugh until tears formed in their eyes.
"You're such a child."
"You're a child. You started it. That was good food, Gary!"
Gary started licking the icing in his lips. Miranda though, she had kissed those pair of lips and it had tasted better that anything she had. She mimicked what Gary was doing, biting her lower lips and trying to feel his kisses again.
"Miranda?"
"Hmmm?" She shook her head and went back to reality.
Gary, already clean, offered her a towel. "You okay?"
"I'm fine!" She took the towel and cleaned herself up. "Gary, I need to go."
She stood up and Gary followed her. They stood in front of each other and just stared. Without any warning, Gary threw himself to her and hugged her. She was startled but she closed her eyes and hugged him back, even pulling him closer and wrapping him in her arms tighter. Words were not spoken for the fear of spoiling anything they were in.
She sank deeper in to the waters of her bath tub and let all her muscles relax. The scented candles and the music from her laptop on the table she had moved to her bathroom created a soothing atmosphere. She ran her hands up and down her arms, letting herself feel the bubbles all over her body. She tried to change the music but unfortunately pushed a wrong button. A photo of her in a wedding gown popped up. It was one with Gary on her side. She looked at it, studying how they smiled at each other. Genuine and happy. And it felt right. She snapped the laptop shut and drew her knees closer to her chest and her hands clasped around them.
She was already ready in her pajamas and ready to sleep when someone knocked on the door. When she opened it, she saw Mike, standing outside, holding a rose.
"Mike! What are you doing here? Oh sorry. It's just really late and I'm already in my pajamas." Mike went inside the threshold and gave the rose to her.
"Well, I thought, I'll make it up to my fiancée. After I left you in the park."
"You really love calling me your fiancée, do you?" She smiled and he smiled back. "You don't have to make it up to me. But thanks. Thank you for the rose." She said, turning into crimson.
They were lying next to each other, snuggled up, and curled in his arms with his arms tucked around her waist.
"Are you okay, Quirky?" He said in a whisper. His breath brushed against the back of her ear.
"Tired, I guess."
They both looked at the wedding dress hanging in the open closet of her bedroom.
"You'll look perfect in that."
Mike kissed her shoulder, sending shivers to her spine. She turned to her side to face him and kissed him once and then deeply. He pulled her closer. His hand caresses her back, to her hips and up to her rib. She broke the kiss and buried her face in his shoulder. She felt a kiss on her forehead and close her eyes.
"Goodnight, Miranda."
He sat up and got out of bed. She turned and her eyes followed him leaving the bedroom. She looked at him standing by the doorway, switching the lights off. In the darkness, he smiled to her.
"Goodnight." She heard his voice speak again and close her eyes.
When she heard the front door close, she opened her eyes and gave the dress another look. Maybe she'll be happy to wear it but all she could think of was how she and Gary looked so happy together in that photo and the time she had with in restaurant. She loves him more. She gave it one last look and went to sleep.
Note: Thank you very much to all of you my dear reader chum. xx And please do review/suggest/comment. It will be very much appreciated.