Chapter 36
When we reachthe entrance of our building, my words seem to dissipate into the air, swallowed by the uncertainty engulfing me. Anxiety rises within me at an alarming speed as we progress. My thoughts are a confusing tumult, a cascade of feelings I struggle to unravel. The truth I have refused to acknowledge for so long now stands before me: I am madly in love with Corentin. He has been more than a friend, and this revelation hits me now, leaving me speechless.
I silently pray the lawyer beside me does not perceive the turmoil engulfing me. However, I feel his scrutinizing gaze on me, as if he has already seen through my state of mind. My silent wish seems in vain.
“What”s wrong?” he questions me with a gentle voice, his concern detectable in his deep gaze.
“I don”t know,” I reply, my breath slightly uneven.
His gaze persists on me, intense, probing well beyond my facade. If I”m not careful, he will read all the emotions overwhelming me. Avoiding his gaze, I start climbing the stairs, feeling his presence beside me. Each ascending step brings me closer to my apartment, but my mind is elsewhere, numb with growing confusion.
Upon reaching my floor, he gently seizes my arm, forcing me to face him. His hands rest on my cheeks, and his forehead softly presses against mine. A wave of emotions rushes through me, and his warm touch makes me sway slightly.
“Florence, I can see something is troubling you,” he begins with a soft voice full of compassion. “Let me be there for you. I want to be your support.”
His fingers gently trace my skin, creating electric shivers running down my spine. I lose myself in his eyes, almost drowning in their depth. My emotions are laid bare, and I feel vulnerable in front of him.
“I”m scared,” I confess without restraint, my eyes reflecting all the confusion within me.
This whole weekend has been a succession of bewildering events. I am lost in our relationship, unsure of our actual position relative to each other. Uncertainty gnaws at me, paralyzing me. I fear letting my emotions carry me away and risking ruining everything between us. The idea of losing him because of my own feelings is unbearable.
His fingers gently slide along my neck, bringing us even closer. His contact is like an electric shock, giving rise to a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. Our lips brush, but don”t quite touch, creating palpable tension.
“Because of me?” he whispers, his warm breath caressing my skin.
“Sort of.”
In an impulsive gesture, he seals our lips in a passionate kiss. It”s as if a wave of energy passes through my being, amplifying emotions, engulfing me. My love for him surges within me, powerful and unstoppable, like a rising tide.
“What”s troubling you?” he murmurs softly, our lips almost intertwined.
The intensity of the moment overwhelms me, and I hastily pull away from him. The door opens in front of me, revealing a breathtaking sight. Tulip petals of all shades cover the floor, creating a delicate and fragrant carpet. Awe freezes me in place for a few moments, absorbing the beauty of the surroundings.
I enter the room slowly, my fingers brushing the delicate petals as if to assure myself of the reality of what unfolds before my eyes. The setting is imbued with a romantic atmosphere, soft lights creating dancing shadows on the walls, while the intoxicating fragrance of flower petals perfumes the air. It”s as if each detail has been carefully orchestrated to immerse us in a dreamlike atmosphere.
My attention is captured by a carefully attached pink box to the door of my room. The words For Florence are traced in italics, a promise of contained emotion inside. My heart races as I recognize Corentin”s familiar handwriting. A mix of excitement and apprehension fills me as I sense something extraordinary is happening.
“What”s going on?” I ask in a hushed voice, my breath slightly catching.
A shiver runs down my skin as Corentin nervously runs a hand through his hair before quickly regaining his composure. His intense gaze fixed on me reveals a glimmer of anticipation and gentle nervousness.
“You should open it,” he responds with a soft voice, a shy smile playing on the corner of his lips.
My heart beats with an almost painful intensity as I feel the urgency to discover what is inside this box. With an almost sacred caution, I peel the box off the door. My name written in italics seems to echo my own heart, vibrating with an emotion I struggle to contain.
Hands slightly trembling with emotion, I delicately undo the box to find a letter, handwritten on delicate pink paper. The words inscribed inside reach straight to my heart:
And what if we bloom this spring, and all the ones following?
My gaze lifts abruptly to Corentin, seeking answers. He approaches me, a teasing glint in his eyes, and pulls me against him with renewed confidence.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, my voice soft but filled with devouring curiosity.
A conspiratorial smile dances on his lips as he takes my hand in his, inviting me to follow. The candles around us illuminate his face, emphasizing the determination in his eyes, even if he can”t conceal a slight nervousness.
“You”ll find your explanation inside.”
My steps guide me, and I almost automatically follow, the sense of the unknown creating an electric energy in the air. We enter my room, the heart beating to the rhythm of anticipation. My eyes sweep the room, searching for clues about what might await me.
And then, I see it.
A painting is carefully placed against an easel, taking a central place in the room. The candlelight seems to converge on this artwork, highlighting shapes and colors with enchanting softness.
I remain frozen, almost hypnotized by the image unfolding before me. My breath catches in my throat as I realize what I”m seeing. It”s me, or at least a striking version of myself, captured on the canvas. My essence seems to have been transposed onto the painting, each detail reflecting an intimate part of who I am.
The painting depicts a moment I know by heart, etched in my memory from a year ago. It was our first meeting, in the elevator. I was there, seated, wearing a green dress, slightly embarrassed by cake stains on me. My eyes sparkled with a mischievous and curious gleam, a shy smile stretching my lips. The image is so vivid and palpable, the impression of reliving the moment overwhelms me.
But there”s something different in this familiar scene. I quickly realize the perspective is not mine. It”s as if I”m seen through Corentin”s eyes. My heart races at this idea, understanding this is how he saw me from day one. A wave of emotions washes over me, and I let myself be engulfed by this canvas seeming to hold a multitude of meanings. Each brushstroke seems to have captured a fragment of my soul, of our budding story.
“It”s me,” I murmur, my voice laden with indescribable emotion. My finger gently brushes the canvas, caressing the colors with infinite tenderness. It”s a work of art, of course, but it”s also a piece of our history, of our shared feelings. My eyes lift to Corentin, seeking answers in his gaze.
“Did you paint this?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.
He stands there, by my side, a mix of pride and vulnerability in his expression. A tender smile stretches his lips, and his hand moves gently to caress my cheek. Each touch of his skin against mine generates an electric sensation, accentuating the intensity of the moment.
“Yes, Florence. It”s my gift to you. A way to capture what you mean to me, from the first day our paths crossed.”
“I”m completely lost. When? How? Why?” I ask, genuinely confused.
“Manille and Charlotte helped me a lot to set everything up during my absence.”
Strangely, this answer doesn”t surprise me.
“Okay, but why go through all this, painting this picture and capturing the essence of the moment?”
He stands beside me and strokes my cheek with his thumb.
“This evening marks the beginning of everything. I realized I could always be close to you. My heart overflowed with you, and I discovered you had conquered such a deep place in me, and not even distance could erase it. Since then, everything has tangled in my head, and I didn”t know how to handle what I felt. I wanted to confess to you many times, but I pulled back each time, scared by the magnitude of my own feelings. I resented poor Lucas because he had taken a step I hadn”t mustered the courage to take. He was with the most extraordinary woman I know, the one who haunts my thoughts from sunrise to sunset and continues to obsess me even when night falls.”
My eyes widen as the beats in my chest quicken. Breathless, I listen to him pour his heart out. His words resonate in me like an enchanting melody, awakening emotions I thought I had buried.
“I am madly in love with you, and from the beginning, I keep diving headfirst. When you look at me. When you talk to me. When you smile at me. When you let me be there to support you during your crises, even if it breaks my heart to see you suffering. You are the one who restored my faith in this world and showed me I could find my place outside my family. You entered my life when I least expected anything from it. You disrupted my existence, and you became my sun, the one who disperses the dark clouds to make way for your radiant glow. My tulip.”
Tears stream down my cheeks, carrying away doubts and questions. The weight oppressing me has evaporated, and all remains is the unconditional love he declares. As each word caresses my heart, I realize Corentin has loved me in silence, waiting for the opportune moment to reveal his soul.
He approaches, his thumbs gently wiping away the traces of my tears. Emotion surrounds us, envelops us, creating a cocoon of tenderness.
“Could I have your answer to this question? Well, if you want to answer,” he pleads with his eyes, and all I need is to let my heart speak.
My arms wrap around his neck, pulling him closer until our breaths mingle. Words seem superfluous as my lips find his in a kiss filled with passion and promises. Kissing him has not made more sense. The contact, the caress of our lips generates an electric shock coursing through my being. Our breaths intertwine in a symphony of burning desire, and our tongues dance in a passionate and intimate waltz. The kiss intensifies quickly, our bodies harmonizing with the rhythm of our long-buried passion. He lifts me with unparalleled tenderness, our mouths obstinately refusing to part. I lose myself in this embrace, where love and the fusion of our souls finally take shape.
“I love you, Corentin. However, I have to warn you before,” I whisper, my words slipping between our intertwined breaths.
His forehead slightly wrinkles, but he doesn”t let go, our gazes connected in a way words cannot express.
“Tell me,” he replies, his voice filled with gentleness and curiosity.
“I”m a cool girl, but I sometimes have a lot of issues in my head. Do you still want me, despite my flaws?”
“Florence, I love you as much for your qualities as for your flaws,” he answers without hesitation.
A weight lifts from my chest at his words. The vulnerability of this confession is swept away by his unconditional understanding.
“I”m working on it, but it won”t be easy at all times, and I apologize for the challenges.”
“Don”t apologize, especially not for striving to live your best life despite the demons around you. I will always be there to support you and ensure your light remains undiminished.”
A smile forms on my lips as I press them against his, merging our emotions and feelings in this kiss charged with promises and love.
“So, does it mean what I think?” I tease him, my eyes sparkling with joy and questioning.
“That you”re my girlfriend? My heart belongs to you? I am yours for eternity? Yes, it clearly means all of that,” he replies with a sincere smile.
I raise an eyebrow, playful but completely conquered by his words.
“For eternity, it”s an extended period, my Corentin. Are you sure you can put up with me for so long?”
“There”s no doubt about that, my Floflo. And you?”
My heart envelops itself in infinite warmth, and my smile widens under his gaze, conveying much more than words.
“Without hesitation.”