Apeke laughed as Michael told her ,yet another joke. They had been by the lake for a few hours now and the hour of departure was drawing closer.Apeke didn't want the day to ever end. The day was perfect,it was magical. All good things must come to an end but they didn't have to think about that now.
She stood up and offered him her hand. She was asking him for a dance,he declined.
"Come on, I'll even do my supposedly funny dance but only if you dance with me." She still held a grudge about his insult towards her dance. How could she call a seductive dance funny? He simply didn't understand the art of dance. Yes,that had to be it. Apeke thought.
"Fine,but you aren't going to dance like this for anyone but me."
"Ok,now let's dance!"
They danced to non-existent music. Love really does make you do crazy things. Michael never really liked dancing. He wasn't really a fan but now he was dancing his heart out without a beat. It's marvelous what love can do!
Apeke got tired and slipped, Michael tried to help and they both ended up falling, together with Apeke on top of him. They stared at each other for a while before Apeke burst into laughter and Michael smiled admiring her beauty.
"You are so beautiful." He whispered dreamily like he was speaking to a creature out of this world. He wouldn't be surprised if she was. Honestly,it would probably make more sense to him if she wasn't human. An angel,maybe. Yes,that would make more sense.
He had never met someone like her. Someone who was so different. If it were any other person, they would have jumped at the opportunity to marry the crown prince,to be a queen,to wield power but here she was running away from it so stubbornly and even sticking by a love that had every potential to fail.
She really was a stubborn woman. His sturbbon woman.
Sadly,he realized that he had to leave.
He told her he had to leave and she didn't try to stop him.
She held him closer to her and kissed him. It felt like the kiss conveyed words that couldn't be said;Apeke's need for his presence , Michael's reluctance to leave at all but he had to.
They both pulled away,breathless. She held onto him in hopes that it would be enough to hold him back.
"Please, don't make this harder than it already is." Micheal said.
Apeke realized that it could'nt be easy for him as well so she let him go ,stood up and turned her back to him.
Michael vowed to himself that he would be back and this time be would be prepared to have her hand in marriage. No matter the cost.
He gave her one last hug and left.
She watched his retreating figure with an expressionless face but when she was sure he was completely gone,she broke down in tears.