Who Am I?

[PART TWO]

I rushed to the shop next to our house: La Sein's Ice Cream Shop. Apparently, the owner of my favorite ice cream shop (yes, it is my favorite) is a woman who is the same age as my mother, being 40+. But I won't say any more.

I just grabbed my jacket and quietly sneaked outside to the shop... in my pajamas. I know. It was a bad, really bad decision. However, I didn't see anyone except my brother's best friend, Lou. He liked tricking me into eating ice cream for no reason. We were pretty close until one day, he decided not to talk to me anymore. Which is exactly when I chatted that stranger online. Come to think of it, where is he?

"A," He smiles. "You looking for something?"

"Yea. I was looking for a guy. But he's not here, I guess. Probably got my hopes up." I faked a laugh.

"Nah. He didn't. He's right here." He chuckled.

"What do you mean he's right here? There's nobody else except — "

And that's when it hit me. Lou wasn't only weird. He used to talk in some foreign, weird, British accent. When I was a kid, I always thought it's cool. But now, I think that's debatable. Besides, it couldn't be him for real, right?

"It's... you?" I asked.

"It's me, all right. Hi, A. I'm Lou. And I'm your secret admirer." He smiled sincerely.

"You actually like me? Your best friend's quirky, little sister?" I couldn't believe it. The guy who made me smile everyday, the guy who asked me things that nobody else would ask me when I needed it is... my brother's best friend?

"Yeah. What's wrong with that?" He steps closer to me and holds out a ring. "Aeris Demitri Paris. Will you please be my girlfriend?"

It all happened so fast. It all happened so fast and yet I felt excited. I was glad and very thankful. I liked Lou. I really did. But I never thought it would be to this extent. And to the point that he would stalk me online. "Lou, would it kill you if I wore the ring already?"

He held me close and put his face closer to mine. "Sure."

He slipped the ring on my index finger and kisses me... on the cheek.

Did we live happily ever after? Who knows.