Isn't it strange how we do almost anything for the people we love? Sometimes I feel like the world would be a much more productive place without love. Other times, I feel like love is what keeps our world spinning.
At this time, at this moment, I was on top of the world, not because I was on top of the Eiffel, but rather because of the words I had just heard.
I love you.
At this moment, I felt like I could do anything. This moment was magical, a moment frozen in time.
I've always heard that one describe kisses like that of fireworks. I felt something different. Something, indescribable and something that cannot be expressed in words.
The rest of the day went by like a blur. The next day we decided to visit Disneyland. We took a bus to get there. I hadn't been in a bus in ages and kinda fumbled with the payment mechanism.
"Oh sorry your highness, this is a bus, it's the way common folk like us travel"
She never did pass up on an opportunity to tease me.
We arrived at Disney land shortly. Soon we walked up to the roller coaster. I was terrified of heights.
"You go have fun, I'll just wait down here."
"Oh don't be such a wuss. Get your arse on!"
Well, I must say she didn't have to do much convincing.
It was a terrifying experience. I absolutely hate roller coasters. But her being by my side made it a bit more enjoyable I suppose.
It was a great day. As was every day when she was by my side.
By evening, I was drained. She was not.
"Let's go on the space mountain ride again!"
I did not like the space mountain ride.
"I'm actually hungry, let's go grab a bite."
"Ugh you're no fun Zavian. Live a little."
She wasn't happy about it, but she agreed to have dinner.
We left Disney world and headed to this very posh restaurant.
When the waiter came, he listed a bunch of dishes in French. Luckily, I happened to speak the language and I understood what the dishes were. However, they didn't sound very appetizing. Jewel did not speak French. She just went
"I'll have the Escargot"
I chuckled.
"What?"
"Nothing nothing. Are you sure you want that?"
She glared at me.
"Yes I'm absolutely positive."
"Okay then, I'll have the Loup de mer"
Around 10 minutes later, they brought us our dishes. Jewel stared at her plate and asked me
"Zavian, do you know what this is?"
"Why, it's what you ordered. Escargot"
She glared again and started eating. I could tell she liked the meal. If only she knew what she was eating. I was laughing constantly. I couldn't believe what I was witnessing.
"Why are you laughing so much?"
"Jewel mon amour, do you know what you are eating?"
"It's escargot."
"Do you know what that means?"
After a short pause she said
"No. What does it mean?"
I chuckled again.
"It means snail."
The way the look on her face changed was a show worth dying for.
"I just ate a plate full of ... snails?"
"Yes, yes you did."
" We have to leave. I think I'm about to hurl."
I laughed and we quickly paid up and left. She said she just had to eat something else to get the taste out of her mouth.
"And no more fancy shmancy restaurants. This time I want to eat something normal."
So naturally, we went to McDonald's.
I hadn't had McDonald's in years. It wasn't part of my routine and hence the question of fast food never came up.
"Oh my God Zavian, you have to try this. I can't believe you haven't had McDonald's in years. I'm ordering something for you and I won't take no for an answer."
"Sure sure, go ahead. I have nothing against a burger."
She bought me some huge triple layered burger. How do people even eat this stuff. (In all fairness, I myself used to eat this stuff, but that was another lifetime.)
It was a fun night. We ran into these street performers and proceeded to join their antics.
It was around 11 P.M. and we were walking down the street, back to our hotel, just talking over things when suddenly, Jewel turns to me and says.
"Zavian Mathew, I love you"
"I love you too Jewel O'Carroll."
What happened next was something straight out of one of Shakespeare's romances.
We started dancing, just us, no music, the old fashioned way.
It was the best dance of my life.
And then, I looked at the clock, it was almost 12.
And when the clock struck 12, I proceeded to sing her the age old happy Birthday song.
She laughed.
"So mon Amour, what do you have planned?"
I pulled out the gift I bought for her.
"What's this? A locket?"
"Open it."
Inside it was the same old photo of us from la tomatina. The one where I looked like an idiot and she looked like an angel.
"I love it. It's beautiful."
"Glad you like it."
We just stood there silent. Listening to the night. This was indeed, the best night of my life.
Nothing could ruin this night. It was perfect.
Perfect.
That's what I think the aim of love is. What makes love worth it. Living life to experience those perfect moments with the people we truly love. Those perfect moments make it seem like all those other things we suffered through were worth it, because it all ultimately led to this inexplicable feeling of happiness.
If only life had let me have a happy ending.