Bolanle

Chapter 15- Under the Moon (2)

I was so enchanted by the moon that when I turned to look beside me and saw Marlon on his knees with a box and a ring inside I was frightened.

"May I ask you a question?" he asked. I couldn't even comprehend what was happening around me as my heart was beating out my chest. It took me quite some time to calm down.
As I did I replied, "We both know this isn't going to work. Your family and friends will give us a hard time. I don't want you to be judged and ostracized from your close ones because of me. We already have to hide being friends, how much so, being together. Plus this doesn't makes sense as you're engaged to someone else soon to be married."
"It does makes sense."
"How so?"
"You see Bolanle, my fiancee's name is Alicia. She's from the  Begum family. Us rich marry among each other to keep wealth and certain secrets within our class not really because of love. Our marriage is an arranged one and from the day we were arranged to married I never approved of her. It's not like she isn't my type- rich, model-like and brown, its just that I didn't get to choose. We should have been married by now but I turned it down claiming I was waiting on the right time. Also, I love my family and friends wouldn't want to be judged and rejected by them but sometimes in life you'll have to make selfish decisions for your own happiness and peace." He told me.
I internalize all he said before I started firing questions at him, "I'm not your type so what are you doing with me? If you got to choose would you have chosen her? And if you don't approve of her, why don't you break off the engagement? Also, why did you wait this long to tell me about her?"
"You're not but as I said your intelligence and you being my confidant pulled me in. I've learnt that outward beauty will fade eventually but inner beauty stays. And if I was given the choice to choose yes I probably would have chosen her or someone like her. But I'm happy I wasn't given the choice or else I wouldn't have met you. And even though I don't approve of her it isn't easy to break off our engagement. I'll have to try really hard to do that. But for you I'm willing. Also, I don't like to talk about her and that's why it took me this long to tell you."
"I don't want you to turn your back on your close ones for me. We can continue to be friends."
"I want us to be more than friends."
"But we can't." I wanted to accept this ring but I had to think with my head and not my heart.
"Bolanle, would you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?" as he popped the question I burst out the tears I was suppressing. I was having an internal battle with myself. Eventually my heart won.
"I will," I replied. He placed the dazzling diamond ring on my ring finger and kissed my fingers before kissing me on the cheek.
"Thank you, for giving me the chance, you won't regret it." He mumbled, before suddenly lifting me up and twirling me under the moon.