The night sky above the village was jeweled with stars. The soft chirp of crickets filled the silence, and the faint glow of the lantern from the veranda spilled into the yard.
Ann stepped outside, clutching her shawl. She thought she was alone until she noticed Dennis leaning against the mango tree, his gaze fixed upward.
She paused. "Dennis… what are you doing out here?"
He turned, smiling. "Counting stars."
Ann raised a brow. "That sounds childish."
"Maybe," Dennis said lightly. "But tonight feels too beautiful to waste on sleep. Will you join me?"
Ann hesitated, then crossed the yard, her steps soft on the grass. They sat side by side, a small distance between them, both looking up at the wide sky.
Dennis: "Ann… can I ask you something?"
Ann: "Hmm?"
Dennis: "When you first saw me—really saw me—what did you think?"
Ann chuckled softly. "Do you really want to know?"
Dennis nodded eagerly.
Ann: "I thought you were arrogant. Too sure of yourself. Like one of those city men who think they can charm any girl with a smile."
Dennis pretended to be offended. "That hurts!"
Ann: (smiling faintly) "But then… you came to my father. Not many men would do that. You surprised me."
Dennis's voice softened. "I didn't want to win you in secret. I wanted to win you with pride."
Ann's heart skipped, but she kept her eyes on the stars.
Ann: "What about you? What did you think of me that first day?"
Dennis leaned back, remembering. "I saw a girl who carried herself with grace but looked as though she didn't know her own beauty. And I thought… if I could just make her smile, I'd have done something worthy with my life."
Ann's breath caught. She turned to him, searching his face.
Ann's POV
Why do his words always feel like truths my heart has been waiting to hear?
The silence stretched, but it was no longer awkward. It was warm, filled with unspoken promises.
Finally, Dennis said, "Ann, do you ever dream about the future?"
Ann hugged her shawl closer. "Sometimes. I imagine living peacefully with family… watching the seasons change… having a small home filled with laughter."
Dennis smiled. "I imagine that too. But I also imagine building something with you—something beyond home. A life where your dreams and mine walk together. Whether it's in the city or here in the village, as long as you're beside me, I'll be happy."
Ann turned fully to him now. "And if I choose the village over the city?"
Dennis didn't hesitate. "Then the village will become my city. Your choice is my home."
Her eyes widened. The honesty in his voice struck deeper than any sweet words could.
Ann's POV
He isn't just asking me to love him. He's promising to love the life I choose.
They sat there until the lantern dimmed, talking about little things—the mangoes that would ripen next month, Ann's favorite books, Dennis's childhood mischief.
When at last Dennis stood to leave, he turned to her one last time. "Ann, thank you for talking with me tonight. I feel… closer to you than ever."
Ann's lips curved into a shy smile. "Me too."
And for the first time, she didn't just feel like a village girl speaking to a city man. She felt like a woman stepping into the beginnings of her forever.