The next day, Malad walked on the wooden planks at the side of the lake towards Nando's. It was the most beautiful sight with the ducks in the middle of the lake illuminated by the night lights around the fountains and the street lights above her head. She was already in a great mood enlivened further by the sight of a waving Amdo. He looked charming in his tight jeans and leather jacket while she went with a more formal classic black dress that flowed around her making her look nothing less beautiful than the fountain behind her.
"You look amazing!" she chuckled nervously while he exchanged the same greeting. They got to talking instantly first about the view, then about what to order (and ended up making the same choice of chicken) and then about each other.
"You know, I was wondering," Amdo began, "if we share the same interests, you and I. You know my life, my love, my passion, it is travelling. I even chose a job which involved travelling and I was wondering if..." he became breathless with anxiety as it was so important to him what her answer would be, "you would like to come with me to the expedition."
But Malad was distracted. She stared out of the window at the beautiful view. It seemed to attract her and she was driven to it almost magnetically.
Amdo followed her, "Hey, I was asking-"
"When I was little," Malad broke in, "I was always attracted to windows but I never understood why. All the kids around me would be sitting around chatting in circles of groups and I would just be standing by the window looking at the cars, the green grass, the incinerators in the distance but most importantly - the sky and the air. The wind which seemed to speak to me, invite me outside to join it." Her eyes glistened with tears as they hovered around following the wind outside "One day, a friend of mine came up to me and told me, 'I see you are like my sister. She would love to go on an adventure too, one day.' And that was when I realised." Her eyes snapped to Amdo's. "Windows are just a snapshot of the outside world. All of us humans, we weren't made to be shut up inside our rooms! We were made to go out into the jungles in the dangers of the wild exploring lands that no one had tread before and here we are shut up inside our homes with our phones and our TVs. Technology is amazing," she clarified, "don't get me wrong. But there's a thin line where the happiness ends and sorrow begins."
She looked at him with tears pricking her eyes but she did not let them shed.
"Wow," he replied, "you're so amazing, I love you."
She looked at him, perplexed to the core. Did he just say that because she implied she shared his interests?
He looked down, ashamed at the early revelation of his feelings.
"The date is over..." she finally spoke breaking the thick silence that covered the air for a good ten minutes, "so I guess I'll just leave."
"Wait," he tried, "if I'm not saying anything it's just because the only thing I can do is take my words back but I wouldn't take them back for worlds; because they are true. And someone once said 'I wouldn't be afraid to say what is true' so I will follow their example."
"You remembered?" she replied, amazement showing clearly in her eyes.
"You did too..." he continued.
"After all, those were the first moments we spent together how could I-"
"WE'RE CLOSING!" came a voice from behind them.
"If you're interested in the expedition, just call me." He informed.
"Ok." She replied.