Unspoken Love

The Proposal

Eva spent the rest of the day in a state of restlessness, haunted by Philip's words. She couldn't shake the nagging doubt that Sir Steven might have misinterpreted her actions and affections as mere gestures of comfort. They had shared a kiss and numerous hugs, but the lack of verbal communication regarding their feelings weighed heavily on her mind.

As evening descended, Eva found herself walking alone in the garden, her thoughts consumed by uncertainty. Philip returned from the university, and Eva instinctively looked around, hoping to see Sir Steven with him. However, he was nowhere to be seen.

Philip noticed the disappointment on Eva's face and offered an explanation, 'Steven will be late. He has a meeting with his supervisor.'

'Oh,' Eva responded, her longing for a conversation with Sir Steven unfulfilled.

Sensing something amiss, Philip couldn't help but inquire, 'Is everything alright?'

Eva hesitated for a moment and then replied, 'Yeah. I just wanted to talk to him.'

Philip seized the moment and asked, 'Can I ask you something?'

Eva nodded, her curiosity piqued.

Philip got straight to the point. 'I know Steven loves you. I just want to know if he confessed his love to you or not.'

Eva's cheeks flushed as she avoided Philip's gaze and admitted, 'Yes, he did.'

Philip's face lit up with excitement. 'And? Did you reciprocate?' he asked eagerly.

Eva's response, however, left Philip puzzled. 'I did,' she confirmed, but the smile on Philip's face quickly faded as he sought further clarification.

'But,' Eva continued, her voice tinged with uncertainty, 'he was sleeping then.'

Philip's shock was palpable as he exclaimed, 'What? What do you mean he was sleeping then?'

Eva, feeling vulnerable, closed her eyes and explained how she couldn't summon the courage to express her feelings when Sir Steven was awake. She admitted, 'I didn't want to call him 'Sir' but couldn't call him by his name either.'

Flabbergasted, Philip began to pace back and forth, exclaiming, 'Are you guys living in the Stone Age? It's so frustrating. You should have just told him that you loved him too WITHOUT calling his name Eva.' 

Eva's realization that she needed to address the misunderstanding left her feeling more speechless. The emotional turmoil of departing from Sir Steven was now taken over by the urgency of revealing her true feelings to him. Determination took hold as she made a solemn declaration to herself: 'I'll tell him. I'll tell him tonight.'

Philip observed Eva's newfound resolve and, wishing her luck, went inside the house. In his room, he sent a message to Sir Steven: "Buy a ring and propose to her today."

Sir Steven, in the midst of a meeting with his supervisor, couldn't help but feel his heart race upon reading the message. The sudden rush of emotions and the weight of the moment left him both excited and anxious about the prospect of proposing to Eva.

Sir Steven had dinner with his supervisor, the weight of the impending proposal heavy on his mind. On his way back home, he found himself outside a shopping mall, grappling with uncertainty. Doubt and anxiety swirled within him as he questioned the timing of his proposal. 'What if my proposal sounds desperate? I don't even know if she actually likes me or not. What if she doesn't have marriage in her mind yet? But she will leave in a few days. I should do something.'

As he wrestled with these inner conflicts, his mobile beeped with a message from Philip: 'Don't forget the ring.'

Sighing, he made a decision. He exited the car and entered the mall, resolute in his intention to purchase a ring. He was unsure of Eva's jewelry preferences as he had never seen her wear any before, but he selected a beautiful, delicate-looking ring that struck a balance between understated and elegant. It exuded an air of promise and sophistication, embodying the emotions that Sir Steven hoped to convey to Eva when he proposed.