Valentina

4| The Proposal

"WHERE ARE WE GOING JAKE?" I giggle happily, walking blindly as Jake leads me by hand.

It is our six month anniversary and Jake had taken me to an expensive Italian restaurant called Alturas in Capitol Hill. It felt absolutely wonderful, enjoying the company with him. Afterwards, he told me he wanted to show me something. He had blindfolded me in the car, promising that this was a surprise I would love.

"You promise you're not just using the blindfold as an excuse to kidnap me?" I ask again playfully, shivering in the chill of the Seattle air.

"We're here," Jake walks me over to a chair, sitting me down before removing my blindfold.

I blink quickly, spots showing up in front of my eyes as I readjust to the dim lighting. Jake smiles nervously, looking at the ceiling before taking a deep breath. I scan the room, an auditorium with a large white light situated right above me.

"Valentina, we've been together for only six months, but I am absolutely in love with you," I smile at him, lost in the romance of the entire day. He looks at me as if asking me to say that I love him too.

But I can't.

I have never truly 'loved' anyone besides my parents, and now that they were gone, I am yet to find someone that I can show that emotion to.

I mean, I like Jake. I really like him, more than I've ever liked someone... but my feelings are no where close to love. I give him my attention as he continues. He walks closer to me, kneeling down on one knee as realization dawns on me.

No, as realization pummels me with a lead bat.

He is proposing – Jake is proposing.

"I can't imagine spending the rest of my life besides anyone but you Valentina," He pulls out a small, felt box. Immediately, the velvet curtains pull apart and I'm suddenly surrounded by Jake's family members and friends. They all look on with eager glances, some bringing out their phones as they record the proposal.

I immediately begin panicking, trying so hard to motion to Jake that I wasn't, nor would ever be – at least for now – be ready to marry. I am not even in love with him.

He finishes his speech, "So please, Valentina, make me the happiest man alive by becoming my wife." Jake opens the black box, exposing a beautiful silver ring with a large white diamond.

The diamond gleams at me deviously, daring me to oppose his proposal. I stand up, shaking my head as though this was all a bad dream. Jake's smile falters, finally understanding that I would not accept.

I grab his hands, cupping them against mine as I try to get him to stand up.
"Jake, I'm so sorry," I say to him, my tears fall fast, blurring my vision. "I can't marry you."

It's as if I told him I wanted him dead. Jake's eyes became darker, disappointment reigning his expression. His mom's smile drifts away as she turns her phone off. The room becomes awkward, family members moving away slowly in the direction of the exit.

Jake looks at me again with an expression of betrayal. He jerks his hand away from me, slamming the box close before standing up and walking away. "I trust you know your way home."

"What an embarrassment," Jake's grandma mutters in disgust, "Why should he propose to an ingrate like her?" She walks slowly after him, slamming the door with a bang.

I collapse on the chair in tears, unable to comprehend what just happened. I pick up my cell phone, scrolling through my short contacts list before stopping on Jake's name. The phone rings, once, twice, three times and Jake doesn't pick up.