HARI'S POV (Continuing):
I carefully set the gift box on the table.
Then I reached out and took both of her hands in mine.
She stilled instantly.
"Like what?" she whispered.
I looked straight into her eyes.
"Your heart."
She froze.
Every sound in the room seemed to disappear.
The world narrowed down to just the two of us.
I slowly let go of one of her hands and dropped to one knee.
Her mouth parted in shock.
From my pocket, I pulled out the rose I had hidden there earlier.
It was a little bent.
A little torn.
Definitely not perfect.
But somehow… it felt right.
Because it was like me.
Not perfect.
A little damaged.
Still trying.
Still here.
I held it out to her with trembling fingers.
"Ciara…"
My voice shook, but I forced myself to keep going.
"I really love you."
Her eyes widened behind those big glasses of hers.
"Since the day I first saw you, something changed in me. It felt like my heart stopped… and then started beating differently because of you."
I took a breath.
"For the first time in my life, I felt like someone had entered my world that I could love without fear. Without doubt."
My grip on the rose tightened.
"I love the way you care too much. I love the way you get nervous and ramble when you're scared. I love how you try, even when you think you messed up. I love how kind you are… how bright you are… how real you are."
By now, her eyes were shining.
And mine probably were too.
"I love you, truly, Ciara. And I know I'll keep loving you."
My throat tightened.
"I want to be the one who stays by your side. The one who celebrates your wins, catches you when you fall, and reminds you every day how precious you are."
I lifted the rose a little higher.
"So… will you be my girlfriend?"
For one terrifying second,
Nothing.
She just stared at me.
Frozen.
Processing.
And my heart nearly dropped out of my chest.
Then suddenly,
Her entire face lit up.
Bright.
Shocked.
Overjoyed.
"Y-yes!"
She nodded so fast it was almost funny.
"Yes! Yes, of course! I would love to!"
A breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding left me in a rush.
Relief slammed into me so hard I almost laughed.
She took the rose from my hand with trembling fingers, clutching it like it was the most precious thing she'd ever been given.
I stood up so fast the chair behind me almost scraped.
And then I pulled her into my arms.
Tightly.
Desperately.
Like she was the one thing in this world I couldn't afford to lose.
She hugged me back immediately, arms wrapping around me as if she had been waiting for this too.
I held her there, breathing her in, my hands pressing against her back like I needed proof that this was real.
That she was real.
That she had actually said yes.
After a few long moments, I slowly pulled back.
Just enough to look at her.
Her cheeks were pink.
Her lips slightly parted.
Her eyes wide and sparkling behind those oversized glasses.
I lifted a hand.
Slowly.
Carefully.
And gently slid her glasses off.
She blinked up at me, flustered, nervous, beautiful.
I looked at her for a second like I was memorizing every part of her.
Then I leaned in.
And kissed her.
Deeply.
Tenderly.
Like I had been waiting forever.
For one tiny second, she stiffened in surprise,
Then she kissed me back.
Soft.
Sweet.
A little clumsy.
Perfect.
I didn't care about her braces.
I didn't care about anything.
Not the late hour.
Not the empty café.
Not the world outside.
Just her.
Just the way her fingers curled into my shirt.
Just the way my heart felt like it might burst from how full it was.
And when I kissed her again, slower this time, gentler...
I knew.
This was the best birthday I had ever had.
Because for the first time in my life…
I wasn't alone.