What A Beautiful Face She Has

Impressed?

Mathew's POV:

I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the fresh tattoo inked across my chest.

Stella’s name, bold and permanent, was etched into my skin. A desperate attempt to prove my love. I traced the ink with my fingers, the burn of the needle still lingering. It was supposed to be a symbol of my undying love, a gesture to show her that I was serious. That I could be the man she deserved.

"Kandipa, avaluku indha tattoo pudikum," I said.
(She’ll definitely like this tattoo.)

I put on the shirt that lay on the bed and picked up the bouquet of white lilies I had bought, Stella’s favorite.

Today was the day. I was going to win her back, no matter what.

I left my apartment, rehearsing the words in my mind, clinging to hope.

I drove to her apartment, my heart pounding with expectation. I stood in front of her door, hesitant and nervous. With trembling hands, I pressed the doorbell.

Finally, the door opened. Stella’s expression immediately shifted to frustration when she saw me holding the bouquet. I forced a smile, holding the flowers out like a peace offering.

"Hi, Stella. Unnakaga un favourite flowers vangitu vandhuruken. Naan... Naan pannadhu ellame thappu dhaan, othukuren. Aana ipo naan maariyachen. Sathiyama solren. Naan unna pathi nenaikadha naal illa," I said, my eyes filled with love.
(Hi, Stella. I got your favorite flowers for you. What I did was wrong, I admit it. But I’ve changed now. I swear. There hasn’t been a day I didn’t think of you.)

But Stella didn’t budge. She crossed her arms, her face cold and unyielding.

"Mathew, ethana vaati dha namma ingaye stuck aagi nikradhunnu thonudhu. Flowers kondu vandha ellam seri ayiduma, Mathew? Flowers won’t fix what’s broken. I’ve moved on. Why can’t you understand that?"
(Mathew, how many times are we going to be stuck in this same place? Do you think bringing flowers will fix everything?)

My heart sank, but I refused to give up.

"Stella, please purinjiko. Unnaku en love-a prove panradhukaga... idho, I’ve tattooed your name on my chest, Stella! Paaru. I can’t live without you. Just… just give me one more chance."
(Stella, please try to understand. To prove my love… look, I tattooed your name on my chest! See. I can’t live without you. Please, give me one more chance.)

I unbuttoned my shirt slightly, revealing the fresh tattoo.

"Unnakaga dhaan idhellam. I want to show how much you mean to me, how serious I am. Just… let me make things right."

She stared at the tattoo in disbelief, not with admiration, but anger. Her eyes flickered to it for a moment, then her expression hardened.

"Do you think that a tattoo can change anything? That you can just erase all the pain you caused with some ink? You think a grand gesture will make me forget how you treated me? You don’t get it, Mathew. You never did."

"Vera enna seiyanum? What am I supposed to do to win you back?" I asked.
(Then what should I do?)

"Sollanuma?" she snapped.
(You want me to tell you?)

"Please..." I said, barely holding myself together.

"Enna vitudunga. I don't want you. Ennaku inime unga kuda vazha pudikala. So leave me. Unga kuda vaazhndha andha 8 months were like living hell to me. Please, go away from my life."
(Leave me. I don’t want you anymore. I don’t want to live with you ever again. The 8 months I spent with you felt like hell. Please, just get out of my life.)