A Distant Memory: Part IV

"See this? Do you remember this flower?" Diane enthusiastically asked as she lifted a blue flower against Xander's face, filling his vision with the oblong-ovate petals which tickled his nose.

"Calm down. Its too close." Xander said as he gently pressed Diane's hand down, breathing the clear fresh air before turning to face her.

"This is called an Aster! There are many variants of this flower. All the colours hold different meanings... However... this one... I like to think of it's meaning... especially how it brought us together..." Diane continued, ignoring Xander's statement from earlier. Her eyes which were full of passion now soften as she looked at the flower in her hand with a tender look in her eyes.

"It... did?" Xander asked as he turned his gaze from Diane's face to the flower she held in her hand.

I don't think I've seen the flower before... What was she talking about? Xander thought as he stared at the flower, pondering whether he had seen it before. However, all he ended up with was drawing a blank at the question.

"... You... don't recall?" Diane's voice suddenly brought Xander out of his thoughts as he brought his gaze back up to look at Diane. Their eyes locking briefly before Diane turned away, a disappointed look etched on her face.

"... What... no... I do... not know..." Xander wanted to lie but instead chose to tell her the truth. Diane was already disappointed, he didn't want to upset her even more by lying that he recalled the flower that was in her hand.

"... That's fine... I can always... remind you again." Diane said as she turned to face him with a sad smile. Xander's heart twinged from the pain as he watched Diane gently stroke the petals of the flower, sorting her thoughts as she contemplated on how to describe their encounter.

By now, it had been close to two years since the fateful day they had met. Xander had promised to keep her close to his heart when he confessed and to visit her whenever he could as he was always busy with his affairs as the crown prince of the nation.

He had mustered up his courage to tell her that he was the prince, afraid that she would leave him because of their status. His anxiety being met with gentle chuckles as Diane embraced him, telling him that she already knew since the day she saw his silver hair.

Xander, relieved from his troubled thoughts then felt a little silly. Of course she would have known... Silver hair was the symbol of royalty in the Kingdom of Enoch. Nonetheless, he wanted to be the one to tell her himself. And he did.

Ever since then, Diane had suggested that they both would meet up at the oak tree in the secluded area whenever possible as she had called it 'their spot'. They always would find themselves drawn to the tree, so meeting there was practically axiomatic.

Everytime they were to meet, Xander would send her a small note tied to a messenger pigeon. Their meetings usually taking part in intervals of months, so whatever time or hour, they would always meet each other there.

This was one of those days; Xander had arranged to spend the day with Diane as he used the excuse of learning about herbs and flowers to be with her all day long.

Diane jumped at the chance and they both met up under the oak tree where they sat side by side, snuggled beneath the tree as Diane fiddled around with the flower.

"Asters... are known as many things... they hold multiple meanings and are a sign of elegance, beauty, afterthought and daintiness..." Diane said after a long pause, her voice filling in the sound of the gentle breeze as Xander's eyes trailed her figure. His gaze landing on her face.

Diane had a serious look on her face as she was describing the flower. Her eyes focusing on the blue petals that encircled the yellow floret. His eyes then swept Diane's beautiful face as it transfixed onto her plump pink lips that were opening and closing, the words she was saying drowned away by the sound of his rocketing heart beat.

Xander felt his breath grow a little heavy as he ached to press his lips against Diane's supple pink one. As Diane turned to him, her violet eyes caught his as they held eye contact for a short moment.

Diane turned away embarrassed as she felt her cheeks flush red. Xander had been staring at her this whole time after all. Despite being a couple, the two had never done anything aside from holding hands and snuggling. Hence, she felt embarrassed from the heated gaze coming from Xander.

"Diane..." Xander said as his calloused hand brushed her cheek, drawing her to face him. 

Diane followed the guidance of his hand as her gaze trailed up his body, landing onto his flushed expression. His eyes were glazed and his lips parted, Diane knew what he was insinuating but she was far too shy.

She quickly averted her gaze but felt the gentle touch on her cheek begging her to face him. Diane hesitantly turned to face him as her own cheeks began to burn.

"Can I?" Xander urged once more as he gently stroked his lover's cheek, smiling softly at her as he stared at her flushed red cheeks. She looks like a tomato...

Diane trembled ever so slightly as she nodded her head, shutting her eyes as she clenched her teeth. Xander smiled and nearly laughed at how nervous she was but decided against it. He didn't want to miss his chance.

***

Hot breath tickled Diane's face as she gulped expectantly. Maybe she should have waited before shutting her eyelids... She couldn't see anything, so the expectation and embarrassment was killing her.

As her thoughts were going wild, a warm tingly feeling went through her whole body as she felt a light peck on her lips. Her heart beat which was already beating fast felt like it was about to explode.

Before she could muster to open her eyes, the heat from her lips dissipated as she felt Xander pulling away. Diane then pried her eyelids open as she wondered why he had stopped.

"Why... did you stop?" Diane blurted out, surprised by her own straightforwardness. 

Her eyes landed on Xander's face, he had covered his mouth and turned away from her with his eyes gazing towards the vast field. As she was about to pester him again with the same question, she noticed his flushed ears and then fell silent.

Oh, he's embarrassed as well... I guess I better stop... He might not talk to me for a week. Diane thought as she stared at him with her round eyes.

"The... flower... I think I remember it..." Xander said as he startled Diane with his sudden words.

"Huh?"

"It was... the one I stepped on, wasn't it... After the k... k... erm... you know... anyways... It just reminded me of that day..."

"Oh..."

"You were also wearing a light purple dress that day. I guess... it just reminded me of that meeting." Xander said as he finally turned to face Diane, a mile plastered on his face.

".... Oh... well..." Diane stuttered, surprised that he even remembered the colour of the dress she wore that day. Her face starting to turn red in embarrassment as she thought back to how rude she had been.

"So it was called an Aster, huh." Xander said as he found his eyes falling onto the blue flower in Diane's hand.

"Erm, ah, yes. It is... ahem..." Diane found herself at a loss of words as she cleared her throat, trying to calm herself down.

"The blue Asters hold a meaning as a symbol of faith, depth and stability..." 

"I don't see how it suits us..." Xander said before being cut off by Diane.

"They also work as a means for telling your loved one how much you trust them as it shows how strong your relationship with them is. It's perfect for us... as it symbolises a long lasting relationship."

Xander blinked in wonder as he turned his gaze towards Diane who was already looking at him. She smiled softly at him as she handed him the flower.

His hand hesitated for a moment before he reached out towards it. Holding onto Diane's hand instead of the flower as he clasped both his hands around it.

"Then... let this flower symbolise our love. I... no matter how far I am... I'll always return to your side. I have faith in that. Let this be our promise." Xander said, with a voice that was laced in urgency and a firm look on his face.

"... Of course... of... course..." Diane said as her voice started to shake.

"Diane? What's wrong? Why... are you crying?" Xander asked as he questioned Diane, uncertain about what to do with himself.

"This are... tears of happiness..." Diane replied as she leaned against Xander, her tears being soaked up by his cape.

"Oh... Well..."

"I love you..." Diane muttered, her voice muffled from leaning against his chest.

"... I love you too." Xander replied, wrapping his arms around Diane as the summer wind blew.

The scattered leaves flew off into the distance as the blades of grass rustled. Chirpings of the cicadas echoed in the air as the two lovebirds snuggled closer to one another.