Mia was confused because Erik said that. But despite the confusion, the strange touch of emotion that she always felt when the young man said something nice about her still did not disappear.
"Thank you," she said focusing her eyes on the coffee in front of her to hide her true feelings that Erik could possibly read in her eyes.
If only Erik knew that this was the man she was talking about, how would the young man feel and react?
There was silence between them for a few moments. The young lady quickly felt a strange atmosphere that filled the whole area. And that's the reason why she didn't dare to meet the stares of the man in front of her.
She can feel his gaze and that is one of the reasons why she is restless. She was even breathing heavily when Erik suddenly grabbed her hand and carefully squeezed it.
"Mia," said the young man.
Erik just made a simple gesture after all. Even the way he mentions her name. But once again, she felt the strong electric voltage that quickly spread throughout her due to the simple touching of their palms.
"Look at me," when she remained to stare down at her coffee that was the command she heard from him.
That's when Mia was forced to meet Erik's gaze. "Erik?" she said.
"I want to protect you," the young man said to her, and then he closed her hand with his two hands.
The flow of electricity in Mia's body intensified because of what the young man did. He wasn't satisfied yet, he moved to sit in the chair next to the one she occupied. He grabbed both of her shoulders and then carefully turned her to face him.
"Let me protect you," the young man repeated.
"P-Protect me?" Mia asked confused.
That's when Erik nodded consecutively. "I want to, yes. I want to protect you. I don't want you to experience again all the bad things you had before. And I don't want you to end up with Bernie again."
The last thing Erik pointed out made Mia immediately stare at him. And with questions in her, she stared at the handsome face of the one in front of her.
"Y-You don't have to do that. The truth is, I don't want you to get involved in this mess anymore, Erik. I know my ex-partner is capable of doing something bad," she said in an understanding tone, but the man ignored her.
"Just agree with me Mia, let's get married, then I'll take you to Canada. Your life will be so much better there. You can go back to school if you want, I'll cover all the expenses, that's no problem. What matters to me is for you to be okay,” insisted the young man then caressed her face.
At that moment, Mia couldn't stop crying.
She is happy with all the concern she sees from Erik, but she also can't help but feel sad and insecure because of the fact that she knows she is not the right one for him.
"I-It's not easy what you're asking for," she said, bowing her head to hide her impending tears.
"Maybe you are right, but I do not understand myself either, you know that?" the young man grabbed her by the chin and then raised her face.
At that point, Mia was no longer able to hide her tears from Erik. Because eventually, she burst into tears. It was then that she felt a deep sense of self-pity that she knew she shouldn't have.
She knew what she really felt for the young man. But she can't grab her offer even if she wants to, because she knows if she allows that to happen Bernie will not forgive them, especially Erik.
"Please stop. I told you I don’t want you to get involved in this," she said, and she ended up crying afterward.
The young man hugged her tightly. Because of that, her eyebrows met. No words came out of her mouth. But even so, Erik was able to make her heart feel that he understood her.
"Listen," it was Erik after a while.
He locked her face using his both hands so she could freely feel the warmth of his palm that she could not deny but brought a strange comfort to her confused heart and feelings.
"I know you're scared; you're always saying that I might get involved with your problem with Bernie. That is true, but Mia, I can't just leave you like that. After everything that happened to us these past few days, I felt that we were just the same. You’re just scared, yes, but you don't have to feel that because you're with me," the young man explained to her.
Mia was speechless after hearing Erik say that. She couldn't deny the happiness that filled her heart at that moment due to the fact that she didn't have to tell and explain to the young man everything. Because he knew exactly what was in her heart and mind.
But there was a part of her that seemed to want to regret all the decisions she had made before. And that was the decision that she believed everything that Bernie had said and promised her. Because if she hadn't done that, she might have had a reason to accept Erik's marriage proposal. Maybe there is no deep insecurity in her heart that says she is not the right woman for the young man. But there is nothing she can do, what happened has happened. There is nothing else she can do but accept everything and move on. Move on.
"You know what's happening to me right now, huh, Mia? I've never felt this way to any other woman, only you," the young man's lips twitched again at that moment as she kept crying. "I'm disgusted with myself because I left when I should have been with you, that's how I feel now," he continues.
Mia cried again when she heard Erik. "I-It's not your fault," she said.
Erik shook his head consecutively and spoke again. "No, because if I had had the courage to approach you and be with you always, maybe something would have changed, and maybe all this wouldn't have happened to you."
Mia just kept listening as her tears continued to flow so Erik spoke again.
"I want to protect you, that's the truth. And even if you tell me that I'm not to blame for all the thing that has happened in your life, maybe you are right. But I can't explain why my heart tells me that there is. Because of that, I feel intense guilt that I can't explain," Erik added.
Upon hearing that, Mia’s lips broke for a bittersweet smile. "Maybe you just feel sorry for me," she replied.
Maybe so, but even if that's what Erik really feels for her, it seems like she doesn't want to accept it either. Until she felt the pain in her heart intensifies just because of that thought.
"No, and I'm sure of that," insisted the young man in a tone that was obviously sure of what he said.
"I'm tired, can I go home now?" instead, that's what Mia managed to answer Erik to end their conversation.
That's when the young man looks at her with so much affection in his eyes. Then she saw a familiar and kind smile appear on his lips.
"Can you just sleep here? After all, it's late at night?" Erik's pleading request.
It took a long time for Mia to answer that question, so the young man spoke again.
"Promise, I will behave," he said, raising one hand in a swearing manner.
Mia laughed softly and then hugged Erik tenderly. "Okay," she replied.
She just can't say it, but the truth is, she also wants to always be with him. Because the idea makes her very happy. Just like when they were teens. Her heart fills with happiness and contentment with Erik’s simple glimpse. And that is what she is feeling right now.