It had been three days since Dennis and his parents had come with their proposal. The memory still lingered in the village—neighbours whispered, relatives asked questions, and Ann's family tried to carry on as if life was ordinary.
But it wasn't. Not anymore.
That evening, Jacob appeared at their doorstep. "Uncle, Aunty," he said cheerfully, "my mother insists you all join us for dinner tomorrow. It's been too long since our families shared a meal."
Ann's father raised a brow knowingly. "Dinner… or another excuse for those youngsters to meet?"
Jacob grinned. "Can it not be both?"
Ann, who was listening from the kitchen, nearly dropped the ladle. Her mother, hiding a smile, agreed. "We will come."
The next day, the air at Jacob's house was warm with spices and laughter. Children ran about, elders exchanged stories, and amid it all, Dennis arrived with his quiet composure, greeting Ann's family respectfully.
Ann wore a pale green salwar that evening, simple yet graceful. When Dennis saw her, his usual steady voice caught slightly. "You look… nice," he said, softer than the noise around them.
She looked away, murmuring, "Thank you." But the corner of her lips curved before she could stop it.
Dinner was lively—Ann's father discussed farming with Dennis's father, while her mother and Dennis's mother compared recipes. Jacob teased both Dennis and Ann mercilessly, making everyone laugh.
But beneath the laughter, Ann felt Dennis's eyes on her now and then—never intrusive, but always present. And strangely, she didn't dislike it.
When she stepped out into the courtyard to bring in more plates, Dennis followed quietly.
"Ann," he said, his voice low so the others wouldn't hear, "I wanted to ask… are you angry with me? For coming so quickly that day?"
She turned, surprised. "Angry? No. Just… shocked. You barely knew me."
"I knew enough," Dennis replied firmly. "Enough to be certain. The rest… I wish to discover with time. If you'll allow me."
Her breath caught. No one had ever spoken to her like this—clear, unwavering, without games.
Ann's POV
Why do his words make my heart race? Why do I feel safe even when I tell myself to be cautious?
Before she could answer, Jacob's voice rang out: "Oho! Secrets in the courtyard already?"
Ann flushed and hurried back inside, while Dennis only smiled, unshaken.
That night, as her family walked home, Ann's father remarked, "The boy is steady. He doesn't waste words."
Her mother nodded thoughtfully. "Steady… and serious. That may be what our Ann needs."
Ann said nothing, her eyes on the road, but inside, her thoughts whispered restlessly.
Ann's POV
Amma says love grows slowly. Maybe mine has already begun—quietly, without my permission.
And somewhere behind them, under the starlit sky, Dennis watched her retreating figure, his resolve only deepening.