Courting a Salamandrian

Chapter 2: Lost In His Thoughts

My eyes widened and my heart began to beat fast, "W-what?" I quickly sat up, gently removing Mona from my arms.

"Are you and I married?" she said, repeating the question as she sat up.

I didn't know what to say, so I just asked her, "Why do you ask that?"

"You said that a marriage on your planet is a relationship that has trust, care, and respect for one another. We have that in our romance. You also said that when two people truly love each other, they are married. And I love you dearly, Raphael, and you love me. You even said I was your mate, your 'perfect mate' to be exact, so we must be married. Aren't we?" She gives me a cute little smile, making my face heat up.

"I love you too, Mona," I said still shaking from the question, "but um.." I scratch the back of my head, unsure of what to say, "Mona, you and I are..." I looked at Mona, seeing a mix of joy a curiosity in her eyes. Will my answer upset her? I don't want to do that, but I don't want to lie to her. I take a deep breath and I said, "No... we're not married."

Mona tilts her head in confusion, "We're not?"

"Yeah...we're not..."

"Oh.. I see..." Mona's look of confusion turned to a slight look of disappointment and uncertainty.

"Mona, I love you. I really do," I said quickly as I sat in front of her, "I don't want you to think that I don't care about you."

"Don't care about me?" She laughs "I know you do." She gently places her soft hand on my cheek. "I already know you love me. I was only curious about the marriage tradition on your planet. That's all."

"...Mona Lisa, I'm-"

Mona gently places her finger on my lips, hushing me, "I understand, Raphael." Mona says as she gets up from the ground. She grabs my hand she lifts me onto my feet. "I apologize for my assumptions."

"You don't have to apologize. It's just..."

Mona lifts my chin up and looks at me with a smile, "I don't want you to worry about this topic," She kisses me on the forehead and smiles, but I don't react. I'm still confused about what just happened. How is she so calm?

"I love you, Raphael. We don't need marriage to prove that, but I wish to ask you this."

"W-what?"

"What are we?"

"What are we?" I repeated.

"In our relationship? If were not married than what are we?"

"Mona..." Unsure what to say, so without thinking, I quickly answered, "We're dating. It's just you and me."

She was quiet for a moment as she stared at me with her beautiful eyes, but soon she smiles.

"Then, that's perfect for me," she says softly as she gives me smile, "I should be heading home. It's far past curfew." She begins folding the blanket we had while lying on the roof. "I promised the Mutanimals that I would help them with their training tomorrow morning. Would you care to walk me home, my love?"

I noticed that she was offering me her hand, for which I give her credit -- finally learning that on Earth it doesn't mean you want to challenge someone to a fight. But I don't take it. Mona's question was all I could think about. She's right for asking. If we are not married, then what are we? Boyfriend and girlfriend, right? That's basically what I told her. We're a couple, we've been one for a while now. But not anything more.

"...Raphael?"

I come back to reality, "Oh, ugh, yeah. Sure." I take her hand and we begin to leave the building's roof.