Chapter I

“I think you are the prettiest thing I’ve seen.”

“Today? Or all your life?”

They kept looking at each other, eyeball-to-eyeball. He knew he had to answer but ‘was she the prettiest thing he had seen that day or all his life?’ Thinking about that made him smile and the smile on his face kept growing and growing. She looked away flattered and looked back up into his bright blue eyes.

“Can I ask you a question?” Agyei asked with confidence. “I’m all ears,” she said with her angelic voice feeling quite shy.

“Would you,” Agyei began and paused for a while before continuing, “would you marry me?”

Her eyes opened wide and her face was lit with shock. She stayed silent and her lips began to shake.

“Why?” Agyei asked concerned, “please, marry me.”

He held her warm hands and began to rub it with his. Her pink lips trembled more for having no answer for him. Suddenly, the wind howled and the trees made a gentle swoosh as the wind made its way through its leaves. The grass and flowers also began to shake. She turned around to look at the colorful flowers as they danced but, he kept looking at her face waiting for her response.

“I have to go,” she said gently and then freed her hand before standing up to leave.

He sat quietly and watched her walk away. His mouth was slightly open, his face painted with disappointment and his bright blue eyes, almost teary.

“I guess that’s another NO,” he whispered to himself.

He kept looking at the path she took even though she was out of sight. He shook his head and took in a deep breath.

“What did I do wrong? She always tells me she loves me. So, what now?”

He held his head with both hands and tried to stand. However, it seemed the shock from being rejected again had paralyzed him. When he was finally able to get himself up on his two feet, he stood akimbo and thought of his next move. “Home or work?” he asked himself moving his left hand to the right and then to the left.He place his hand in his pocket and brought out his phone. As he turned it on, he paused for a while and kept staring at the image that appeared.

“Oh, my beautiful one. Why break my heart again?” he sang. “Not at all. She did not reject me; she did not say NO. She just had to leave. I need to call her and ask if everything is fine,” he said to assure himself.

Of course, Agyei, the guy who never quit. If only he could believe that dreams do not always come true. The dream? That majestic entry. Walking side by side with the love of his life, to bless the long and forever journey ahead of them. Dancing to their favorite songs and posing to take pictures in the gown and suit, which they would then hang on the wall in the living room of the house they built together. Sure, it was just a dream. Agyei was not only tagged as the guy who never quit but also as the guy who dreamed big; too big for him. As he scrolled through his contacts for the number he had saved as ‘Pretty one’ with a red heart emoji, his phone began to ring.

“What does he want now?” he asked angrily as he answered the call.

“Are you coming home or what? Mom is worried-sick about you,” the male voice on the other end of the phone said harshly.

“Watch how you speak to me, boy,” Agyei warned.

“Oh, forgive me, mister. I need to watch how I speak to you because you can father me.”

“I’m warning you, Joe. Careful with your tone when speaking to me or else …”

“Or else what? What will you do, Agyei? Cry to mommy?” “Hey, boy! I won’t allow you to insult me,” Agyei said angrily and then ended the call.

He then began to walk away angrily from the spot where the love of his life had broken his heart, forgetting that he had intended to call her.