"I-I DON'T understand you, Erik, I'm sorry?" Mia apologized to the young man in a confused tone.
He just shrugged his shoulders. "Someday you will understand what I mean," he said to her.
Because of that, Mia didn't say anything anymore. She heard what he said but she couldn't fully understand what he meant.
Well, if he says that someday she will also understand what he means, maybe it would be better if she just waits for that time. It's also not good to rush things because she believes that everything has its right time.
*****
The days went by fast. The night everyone was waiting for arrived, but not Mia. Because she was really nervous.
"Mia, sweetheart? Are you ready?" her Nana Rosita who is now standing at the door of her room.
She thinks it wasn't just the third or fourth time that Nana Rosita came back to see if she was okay.
She had been standing in front of the big mirror in her room and was getting dressed. But she could not remove from her chest what seemed like many rats running around. Even the giant butterfly that seems to be flying inside her stomach.
"I-I'm nervous, Nana," she said truthfully then faced her mother.
That's when Nana Rosita approached her and smiled understandingly. "You're very beautiful, my dear, I'm sure you'll win Queen of the Night," in the tone of her speech, it was obvious that her mother was sure of what she was saying.
"You're just trying to make me feel better," the young lady replied following what she said with a soft laugh.
Nana Rosita shook her head one after another. "Aurora was right, except for her, that dress will only suit you," she said admiringly.
"Thank you," Mia replied.
Her mother, Rosita did her make-up. Also, her hair is a simple low bun style which reveals the beautiful style of the back of the dress she is wearing.
The dress was not revealing. But the lace design is beautiful on the back, which for her is really worth showing off.
"Come on, the tricycle is already waiting for you. Later if possible, ask Erik to deliver to you, okay? That way I will not worry about you," she told her.
Mia just nodded."All right," she said kissing her mother's cheek.
*****
WOW, look, Erik, Mia is so beautiful!"
It was Roy who then pointed at Mia who was walking in the quadrangle of their school.
"She's with her puppy again. That man is really annoying!" it was William who he knew had a secret admiration for their beautiful classmate.
"William, stop! Someone might hear you!" he scolded his friend.
"What I'm saying is true, isn't it? The way he acted it was as if he was Mia’s boyfriend,” William argued.
Erik did not respond to that statement. Instead, he decided to leave them for a while to look for Keira.
Keira left to go to the bathroom but hasn’t returned yet.
But on the other hand, Mia is really very beautiful.
Even he was stunned when he saw her walking in the middle of the quadrangle wearing the same dress her mother had given her. Mia behaved very elegantly despite her shyness. So, he won't be surprised if after this prom a lot of boys will try to win her. Her beauty is a standout to everyone tonight.
*****
Mia couldn't tell how intense the nervousness that filled her chest was when the program started. And she has a feeling that Erik noticed that in her.
"Are you okay?" the young man asked her with a kind smile.
He was so handsome in his tuxedo. The young man really carried it off so well that it stood out to everyone.
The young lady shook her head in succession then smiled at the young man. "I-I'm nervous, scared to make a mistake," she told Erik truthfully.
Erik nodded. "Give me your hand," he said.
Mia stared at Erik after hearing what he said. They haven't started yet but they are already in formation. And since she and Erik are the main attraction, they will be the first to appear. But for him to ask for her hand right away, that's what she couldn't understand.
Mia had a feeling that Erik had guessed the question playing in her mind at that moment so he quickly explained.
"Give me your hand. That way you won’t feel alone so you don’t have a reason to feel nervous anymore," he said.
Warm feelings caressed Mia's heart because of what the young man said. Does he have a feeling, or does he know that when he does that, she will calm down?
Maybe, because Erik wouldn't do that and would tell her otherwise if not.
Even though they are not very close and often when they are together she is quiet. Mia can tell that when Erik is next to her even though her heartbeat has always been not normal due to the nervousness she feels, her heart is calm.
It's hard to understand but that's the truth. That's why her hand moved as if it had a mind of its own, and the young man immediately reached for it.
As soon as her hand touched his, Mia felt a strange flow of electricity that was already familiar to her. That's how she always felt when she and Erik accidentally came into contact. And that was also often present at the time when they were just practicing.
But this time, even though the electricity was there, she felt reassured.
When she feels that, Mia knows that Erik is the one holding her hand. And when her hand is on the young man, she is sure that she will not make a mistake. Because he will surely be there to save her.
And if just in case she falls, she can also say that he will catch her.
"Just relax, I'm here, I won't leave you," he said in a reassuring tone.
What Erik said was like music to Mia's ears. If the young man only knew how much it made her happy? She hopes there is a way for her to express how grateful she is that he is her partner.
The program started until it ended. Just like Erik had promised her, he was there to save her. Although she did great, she still felt the way he held her, especially in her hands, the certainty that no matter what happened, he would not let go of her hand.
That night became louder when she and Erik were crowned as King and Queen of the Night.
Mia was very happy in the way that her heart was full in that she felt like there was nothing left space to put something in because it was overflowing.
"Didn't I tell you, we will both win?" it was Erik when they were both on stage.
Mia laughed softly. "Thank you," was all she said.
"May I have this dance?" it was Erik who extended his hand in front of her.
She knows that it's a tradition at all JS Proms in the Philippines for the winners to dance along to the song King and Queen of Hearts by David Pomeranz.
It wasn't the first time they danced. But if she will look at the true meaning of the dance not including the cotillion where they became partners, that was her and Erik's first dance.
"S-Sure," she answered then extended her hand to the young man.
That's when the crowd became even louder. But the noise of the people didn't say anything compared to the loud pounding of her chest at that moment. Especially when she felt the young man's hand on her waist and then he moved closer to her.
Mis gasped as she looked up at Erik who had amusement in his eyes at her reaction.
"Your crown suits you so well," the young man complimented her when they started to dance along to the famous love song that is now being heard all around.
"Thank you," Mia replied again.
The crown Erik says is the one she is wearing now that will serve as a souvenir along with the sash that she also wears.
"Your sash suits you too," she replied telling her partner the truth.
Erik didn't answer after that. Instead, he just stared at her. Mia felt the usual discomfort because of the way his eyes surveyed her face. The reason why she tried to avoid them. But it didn't take long before their eyes met again. That was because her dance partner took her attention again.
"I have something to tell you,” that was what Erik told her.
"What?" Mia asked in surprise.
"You're beautiful, and I want you to know that you're the most beautiful girl I've ever met Mia, that's the truth," Erik said almost in a whisper.
The young man’s words quickly affected Mia. This is why she didn't have any words to respond to what he said. And her reaction gave Erik the reason to once again open his mouth to speak and continue to everything else that he wanted to say.
"If only I had the chance, if everything wasn't so messy right now, I would have dated you, that's the truth Mia," he continued.
Surprised is not the word to explain or describe the feeling that Mia felt because of that revelation from the young man.
"E-Erik," she whispered stuttering.
"If only Bernie wasn't in your life and Keira wasn't in my heart, I wouldn't have even a little time to waste. Because even though I don't understand what I feel. Why I want to protect you. I know some things are just waiting for the right time ."
"I-I don't understand you, s-sorry," that was the truth so that's what she said.
That's when the young man nodded as if he understood the confusion she had now.
"Ten years from now, if we meet again and we are both not committed to anyone, I will marry you. But when that happens, you have no right to refuse because I have proposed now. All you can say is, yes," continued said Erik, which shocked her greatly.
"What did you say?" she asked confused.
"Yes? Ten years from now if we meet again and are both single, we'll get married, I'll marry you, okay?" the young man repeated what he said.
"Erik, what are you talking about?"
"Yes? Just say yes?" he said with a strong will that she should agree to what he wanted to happen. "Mia, the song is about to end," Erik even added.
That's when Mia sighed and nodded. "Okay, yes," she answered.
Mia thought that maybe he wasn't serious, so she agreed. Besides, she doesn’t want Erik to feel embarrassed if she rejects him. Although deep inside she knew that a big part of her heart is happy and hoped that what they have agreed will someday happen to them.
"Yes," Erik said again, smiling as his eyes sparkled.
Then he stopped keeping up with the music so Mia did the same. When he bowed to her and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, it was as if she was floating in the air.
"You promised, okay? And don't forget that promise," he whispered then gave her meaningful eye-to-eye contact.
Mia then seemed to nod of her own accord. She could still feel Erik's warm lips on her forehead. And that seemed to be the reason why she became speechless and her body was paralyzed.
But whatever it was, the only thing that mattered was that Erik is seeing her now. She was wrong to think and believe that he would never like her. Because everything that happened tonight and everything he said and heard like all the sweet words from the young man was enough for her to prove that she exists in his sight.
Just like what Nana Rosita wanted to happen, she went home with Erik. They rode a tricycle together. But he didn't mention anything about everything they talked about when they were dancing so Mia didn't ask.
She is the type of person who knows how to be content.
Everything she heard and experienced was enough. That's what she believed. But if that can't be said again in a conversation, she won't force it or maybe mention it. But that doesn't mean she'll forget. Because at any time, as long as she lives, just like she said earlier, everything that happened that night will forever remain in her heart.