Surprise

Smiling, Armand watched the girl sitting in front of him enjoying his affogato. Spoonful after spoonful disappeared between her red lipstick covered lips. Her black hair fell on the shoulders of the dark blue blazer that she was wearing. Even in work clothes, the girl is still charming. Armand took a deep breath, trying to calm his uneasiness.

Kalyana slowly finished the last spoon of affogato. “What's wrong, Mand?” she asked, placing the spoon on the plate, blushing at Armand's gaze.

“How is it?” asked Armand.

“It's delicious, Mand!” exclaimed Kalyana as she sat and leaned back, “extraordinary! Thank you for asking me out here, even though I'm still confused, what kind of celebration is there.”

Armand smiled. He pushed aside the two plates of dessert they had finished, then stretched his left hand towards Kalyana.

Confused, Kalyana straightened her seat again, then welcomed Armand's helping hand. The lover's hand was cold and damp.

Armand held Kalyana's hand. Then, still holding her lover's hand, he placed his left arm on the table.

“What's the problem, Mand?” Kalyana asked while stretching out her left hand to join Armand's hand.

Armand just smiled. “You're beautiful, Na,” he said in a soft voice, “I'm lucky to have you.”

Kalyana's cheeks flushed red. “What are you talking about!” she exclaimed, “are you sick?”

With his left arm still on the table, Armand's right hand reached into the pocket of the jacket he was wearing. A moment later, the man's right hand came out of his pocket, and put it on the table side by side with his left arm. Something dark in color seemed to be in his grasp.

“What is that?” asked Kalyana.

Without speaking, Armand opened the grip of his right hand.

Kalyana's breath was cut short as her heart skipped one beat. She stared at a small box covered in black velvet that lay in the palm of her interlocutor's right hand. The man's left palm, which had been tightly gripping Kalyana's hands on the table, suddenly felt no longer cold. Kalyana's gaze slowly turned to the face of the box owner. Her gaze collided with a pair of black eyes that looked at her gently.

“Armand?” Kalyana said slowly a few moments later, “What is that?”

A smile slowly spread over the face which is decorated with a bluish tint in the beard area. His left hand gripped Kalyana's hands tighter. Carefully, the fingers of Armand's right hand opened the blue box.

A ring appeared, tucked among the tiny cushions in the now open box. The clear stone on the ring sparkled, refracting the lights of the dinner house into dozens of tiny rainbows.

Kalyana swallowed hard, stunned.

Slowly, Armand released his grip on Kalyana's hand, took the ring, then pinned it to Kalyana's ring finger. “Kalyana,” he said softly, “will you marry me?”

Kalyana was still stunned. The corners of her lips trembled. Slowly she raised her right hand which was now decorated with a ring, also slightly trembling. “Armand,” she muttered to the clear rock on the ring head, sounding hoarse. Kalyana cleared her throat. “Armand,” she repeated, this time looking closely at the man she was talking to, “you proposed to me?”

Armand nodded slowly, still smiling.

“Are you serious?” Kalyana continued.

Again Armand nodded.

“Why?”

“Because I love you.” The smile on Armand's face faded slightly. His eyes asked.

Kalyana smiled. Instead she was holding Armand's two hands. The metal circles on her finger felt lumpy. “Yes, I know, Mand,” she replied, “but, why are you proposing to me now?”

Armand's smile grew again. “Last week, Ardanis Inc., Ltd assigned me to the branch office in Barcelona,” jelas Armand.

The smile on Kalyana's face grew wide. “You were assigned overseas?” she exclaimed, squeezing her lover's hand tightly, “Congratulations, Mand! For how long?”

“Thank you, Na,” said Armand, “it was planned that I was assigned to two years there.”

“Wow!” Kalyana exclaimed. Suddenly she threw away Armand's hand. “Why are you just telling me now?” she said curtly.

Armand chuckled for a moment. “Sorry I just told you now. I need time to find a ring,” he replied.

“This ring?” Kalyana asked casually while twirling the embedded precious metal circle. Kalyana's jaw tightened as she tried to hold back a smile, even though her cheeks couldn't lie.

“Yes.”

Kalyana frowned again.“So you took the decision to propose to me in a short time?” she snapped.

The short-haired man shook his head. “No, I've been considering it for a few months, Na. This assignment from this company is just a trigger.”

“A trigger?” Kalyana catches up again. Slowly a wide grin spread across her tiny face. “You were afraid I would disappear while you were there, huh?” accused Kalyana. “Take it easy, Mand,” she continued, squeezing Armand's hand tightly, “I can take care of myself, really. All you have to do is just to focus on your job there.”

“I want to take you there,” said Armand curtly.

Kalyana fell silent. She let go of Armand's grasp and sat back down. Her fingers play the ring, while simultaneously reducing itching. “Then how about my job?” she asked slowly a moment later.

“If you can, just ask for unpaid leave, Na,” replied Armand, “then you come with me there.”

Kalyana slightly tilted her head. “If it doesn't work?” she asked.

Armand smiled. “Then you just resign, Na,” he replied. “My salary is enough, really, to support us both there.”

Kalyana was silent, staring at Armand closely. The voices of diners' conversation at other tables were faintly heard, interrupted by the soft clink of cutlery.

“Do you mind marrying me?” asked Armand from the other side of the table. His smile faded.

Kalyana smiled as she shook her head. She tidied her hair behind her ears, trying to get used to the rings on her fingers.

“Then what's on your mind now?”

Kalyana straightened her seat again and took her lover's hand. “I'm just shocked, Mand, didn't think you'd propose to me now,” she said with a sweet smile.

Armand took a deep breath. “So,” then he said, "Kalyana, you will marry me, right?”

Now it is Kalyana's turn to take a deep breath. For a moment her attention was distracted by the diamond sparkle that was at the corner of its eye, dazzling. “Yes, Mand, I will,” she replied with a smile.

Armand smiled broadly and let out a deep breath. “Thank you very much, Na!” he exclaimed hoarsely and slightly loudly, squeezing Kalyana's fingers.

Kalyana frowned slightly when Armand squeezed her fingers with the metal that was now coiled there. “By the way, it's clear now why, when you picked me up at the office this afternoon, you looked tense!” she said jokingly.

Armand only chuckled. His face flushed slightly.

Kalyana smiled amusedly seeing her lover. With a tall stature, cropped hair, and a black suit, the man sitting in front of her looks funny when he is embarrassed.

Armand smiled back at Kalyana.

For a while, the two of them fell silent, deep in their own thoughts.

“So,” Kalyana finally said, breaking the silence between them, “we have any plans tonight?”

Armand gasped. “Oh, yeah, it's not Saturday night!” he exclaimed, “let's go home then!”

“Okay!”

Armand calls the waiter for the bill. Not long after, he stood up, offered an arm to Kalyana, who immediately accepted it.

“You are not usually like this. Since when have you been holding me?” joked Kalyana as they walked towards the restaurant door.

Armand again just smiled as he gently patted Kalyana's right hand tucked into his elbow.

***