Chapter 39: A Path Of Roses

BLISSFUL EUPHORIA

Jay stood there in shock, feeling like he was frozen in time. He took a deep breath, trying to process Aria's unexpected proposal. His mind raced, unable to formulate an immediate response. Sensing his confusion, Aria called out to him, her voice tinged with concern, "Jay! Are you okay?"

After a moment of stuttering, Jay finally managed to respond, "Ah, yes, I'm sorry. My answer is yes. Your proposal caught me completely off guard. I've been thinking about this for days, but hearing it from you just left me speechless. I didn't know how to react. I'm sorry for the panic."

Aria gently placed her hands on Jay's shoulders, trying to reassure him, "Hey, it's okay. Take a deep breath. I had planned to give you this ring when we were at the beach, but since you found it now, I decided to propose to you here."

Jay rummaged through his bag and pulled out a small box, opening it to reveal an antique ring. He turned towards Aria, a nervous but hopeful smile on his face, as he said, "I got this for you a while ago, hoping to surprise you with a beautiful proposal. But things kept getting in the way. I realized there might never be a perfect time or perfect way to express how I feel about you."

woman on bike reaching for man's hand behind her also on bike

Moving closer to Aria, Jay gently took her hand in his and continued, "Since the day I met you, my soul has been drawn to you. Whenever I'm near you, my heart races, and every time we argue, it feels like my heart sinks. Without you, my life feels empty. Your smile is enough to brighten my day. Thank you for showing me what it means to truly live. Please, accept me for the rest of your life and marry me, honey."

Aria's smile widened, and she reached up to put her hand behind Jay's head, touching her forehead to his. Jay closed his eyes, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort enveloping him. Aria's voice broke through his thoughts, filled with love and certainty, "Who said this isn't beautiful, dear? Everything is perfect when it comes from the heart. Yes, I do want to marry you and spend the rest of my life with you."

Overwhelmed with joy and emotions, Jay kissed Aria's forehead and wrapped his arms around her tightly, feeling like the happiest man in the world in that moment.

Jay slid the ring onto Aria's finger, and she reciprocated by placing hers on his. They both beamed with joy, cherishing the moment, and decided to capture some snapshots to preserve the memories. With their camera in hand, they explored the picturesque location they had chosen for their trip, creating joyful memories at every turn.

Later, Aria shared the pictures with her sister Cathy, and the two of them talked for hours, reliving the day's adventures and moments of happiness shared between Jay and Aria.