The Gift
1209 Words
MAGNUS
After less than an hour, I walked quietly towards the garden. The house seemed quiet now as the rest of the household settled after dinner. I wonder what Alexzia was going to say. I feel nervous but excited.
The evening breeze met me on the pathway as it blew on my face.
The night got colder as it got deeper. I paced around the kiosk as I nervously waited for Alexzia. I touched the present hidden away in my pocket as I tried to anticipate her reaction. I realized how much I missed her all this time. Being with her always gave me happiness.
“Magnus?”
“Gosh!” I was so startled to hear her voice. It brought me back from thinking. “You startled me!”
“I thought you saw me coming then when you didn’t react, I knew you’re lost in your own thoughts again,” she said with her smile that brought knots in my stomach.
“I was just thinking and you know how soundless your footsteps are. That’s why I call you “Bunny.” Rabbits walk noiselessly.
“Yeah, I remember. When we were ten years old, the situation was similar as now. You were just seated and as usual, immersed in deep thought. I came and you were just so frightened as if you saw a ghost,” she said then laughed hard.
Seeing her laugh like that made me smile then I said, “That was really funny! I thought it’s either you were a ghost or you had magical powers. You know, like maybe you teleported or maybe you rode a broom.” Then we both laughed so hard…
A sudden gust of wind blew as both of us fell silent.
“How are you all this time?” I asked to break the awkward silence.
She looked up and smiled slowly and said, “I’m fine. I’ve been busy with lots of school stuff and spent time with Yssa whenever we had free time. I wrote you several times too. You know how I am.”
Silence…
I thought she was going to say a lot more but then she asked, “How about you?”
“I’m glad you’ve been well… As for me, I’ve been busy too” was my first statement… then added, “School and family activities took most of my time but there’s one thing that I’ll never get tired doing though.”
“And what is that?” she asked expectantly.
“Thinking of you,” I suddenly blurted out. I was shocked initially at how I was able to say those three words.
ALEXZIA
Wait, did I hear that right? I was surprised with what I heard.
“What?” I asked, unsure if I heard him correctly.
Magnus had a serious facial expression which meant that he was not joking. He looked in my eyes and said, “Lexie, my Bunny, you know how I feel about you. I’ve always been vocal about how I felt but you just ignored my feelings. I am just a 12-year old kid and that this could be easily interpreted as puppy love but I have fallen for you. Young as I am, I am sure of what I feel.”
With that, I was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. I froze and was unable to say anything? I was shocked and happy that we had mutual feelings but I didn’t expect a confession on the first day of his coming back here. We’ve always been close as kids and I was content of our friendship but I didn’t expect this.
“Bunny? Are you okay?” he asked. He held my shoulder with a look of concern spread across his handsome face. “Please say something.”
I had deep breaths then upon recovering a little bit from this shock of my life, I said, “I… ah… don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything now, though. I just hope you’re okay,” he said followed by a nervous laugh. “Sorry, I must have startled you.”
I tried to smile but I was too nervous.
“Of course, I’m startled. I’m shocked but why do I feel happy about it?” was my reply.
MAGNUS
What a nerve-wracking moment! I didn’t expect her response. I got hope because she said she was happy although she was shocked. I smiled from ear to ear upon hearing that. I then reached into my pocket for the present I planned to give her.
“I have something for you,” I declared proudly and she looked surprised.
“Really? What is it?” she asked.
“Close your eyes and hold out your hand,” I said.
I held her hand and placed the gold necklace on her palm. It has an infinity pendant with three diamonds in the middle. One end of the chain is attached to the infinity symbol while the other end went through the infinity symbol and had a key pendant. I designed it and had it custom-made.
“Here,” I said. “Please accept my gift, a remembrance of my love and affection for you. I personally designed it just for you. The pendant is the infinity symbol which symbolizes my infinite love for you. As we grow older, so will our love for each other. The other pendant is a key and it is for something else.”
“Wow!” It was her initial reaction but then she frowned and said, “Wait! Aren’t you going too fast, Magnus? I’m just a 12-year old kid too! Aren’t you going to wait for me to tell you how I feel about your confession first?”
I laughed and realized that what she said was true. But for me, I planned this a long time ago while I was away and missing her.
“Should I wait then until you tell me?” I asked. “But why wait when I can read you like a book? Don’t tell me I’m wrong because I can feel and see that you feel the same way,” I said. No reply. With that, I got the necklace and placed it around her neck.
“It’s perfect! Please wear that all the time or I’d feel bad, okay?” I said.
“Thanks!” was all she said.
I held her hand and gently gave her a peck on the lips then on her forehead.
Her beautiful face turned red and her eyes grew big. I’m sure she was shocked all the more. I can’t help it.
After some time, she said “Hey, loverboy, aren’t you going real fast?”
“I’m sorry, I can’t help it.” I said, smiling sheepishly.
“Hmm… maybe you’ve practiced it as well, huh?” she teased.
“Hey, you’re my first kiss! What practice were you talking about? I said.
She laughed and said, “Just kidding. It’s getting late, I think we should go in now. My sister would be looking for me. We usually talk for a bit before we go to sleep.”
“Okay, there’ll be lots of time tomorrow. You go on ahead. I’ll be a few steps behind you. I’ll just watch you go then I’ll head inside after you get in,” I told her.
I went with her to the front of the other house. It was where Alexzia and her family lives. The first floor is the servants’ quarters while the second floor is where her family lives.
I didn’t want the servants to see us and talk about us. Not yet. There is a proper time for them to know about me and my bunny.
In the dark part of the garden, there was a movement. I thought I saw a figure there but when I looked again, no one was there.
- Writer
