Like Dragonflies

“I scored!”

“You cheated!” he pouted.

“Hey, I played fair!”

“I want a rematch.”

I looked at him slyly. He raised an eyebrow. Several other games in the video arcade were bleeping, little children playing car races and shooting evil villains. Red, blue, yellow and green lights blinked everywhere, excited squeals erupting every few moments from the kids. I could smell caramel popcorn and ice cream.

“Let’s get some ice cream,” I suggested, leaving the air hockey table and walking toward his end.

His eyes followed me, brows furrowed in silent complain. He refused to let go of the mallet. The puck wandered aimlessly across the table. A childlike stubbornness hinted in his pout.

“You can’t do that! You cheated, Amby!” he protested.

I looked into his beautiful eyes: Ultramarine blue, one of his exotic Greek features. “Everything is fair in love and war, and this –” I pointed at him, then me, and him again “– is Love.”

Objection flashed momentarily on his face, and then he broke out into a smile, displaying his pearly white teeth that shone against his olive toned skin. “Alright. Which flavor do you want?”

“My preference would be a scoop of you with a cherry on the top,” I smiled.

His hand slid to my waist and pulled me close as we walked to the ice cream stall. Even after two months of dating, my skin tingled under his touch.

“You’re one cheesy thing,” he laughed.

We waited for my chocolate ice cream and I looked at Andrecos. He stood, watching the guy at the counter scoop up the cold dessert and plop it on the waffle, a small smile on his gorgeous face. That was the beauty of his happiness – it lit up his face and practically radiated cheerfulness.

A sigh escaped my lips, and my heart fluttered in my chest. I’d had the same reaction when I had first seen him. That was one moment etched into my memory forever.

“A cherry too,” he added, sneaking a peek in my direction.

I laughed, playfully punching his arm.

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