The Second Date — II
Nice, France.
We both were standing before the pale white building — where we were about to go for our second date — it was right by the old town and just near the market. I studied Natalie’s facial expressions as we reached our destination, and she just showed a slight smile when we stopped.
“I’m going to take my time here.” She said as she pushed the store door.
We were welcomed by the salesperson named Anastasia, whom I contacted earlier this morning. Our trip to Molinard wasn’t planned as I was still scrolling through the internet about where I should take her for our next date. Then, after a few searches and clicking through every possible website of the places I wanted to take her to, I chose Molinard.
All the reviews said every positive word and noted the best experience for some people who wanted to create that can last for years. It was near our home, too, so she could get one when hers ran out.
Anastasia explained a bit of its history as we went through the back of the shop first, where we could see all the historical moments of Molinard. There was a small television screen tt the back explaining the process of making perfume — flowers that were turned into perfume.
We returned to the store’s front area, and I stole a glance at Natalie, whose eyes were now focused on the small black bottles on the table. Anastasia explained a bit about the process of making our fragrance that we were about to do as she gave us a paper that would be filled with our chosen essences, so we could order later when we were run out.
Anastasia told us that there are stages of creating our cologne, and there were many essences to choose from, from base notes and heart, notes to top notes. Each of the perfume’s notes has their different lengths on how long they will evaporate. She quickly explained each stage with the combinations needed to make one; base notes for twenty-five milliliter and twenty-five milliliter for both the heart and the notes.
“Don’t give me that look,” Natalie said as she turned to me.
“What look?” I questioned her, still not making any slight moves from her eyes.
She puts down the paper used to smell each of the essences. “Your eyes have been on me.” She said.
Unable to contain a chuckle, I glanced away momentarily, “So, you’re nervous,” I playfully remarked, relishing in the knowledge that I could make her heart flutter.
“Anyone would be nervous if someone kept looking at them intensely,” she retorted, her cheeks now adorned with a deeper shade of crimson.
Anastasia who had been explaining the process of selecting a personalized fragrance smiled warmly at both of us. “You must be glad to have someone who still looks at you like you’re their whole world.”
I turned my head to Natalie and saw all the burning red cheeks that were clearly getting deeper each time I looked at them.
“We’re not — “
Get Amara’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
“She is my whole world,” I said. Natalie’s hand instinctively reached out to pinch my thigh in response to my bold statement, and I erupted into laughter.
“How long have you been together?” She asked.
“Years,” I said again, teasing Natalie, still focused on the essence bottles while her hands pinched me. I moved my hands on top of her to stop it and held it for a few more seconds before putting her hand back on the table. What my father said bothered me a lot — can’t get past the friendly stage or hold her hands? Well, I just did now.
“She couldn’t get enough of me, that she wanted to hold my hand all the time,” I lied, playfully sharing unnecessary details with the salesperson, who couldn’t help but laugh at our lighthearted banter.
“How surprising,” Natalie murmured in a very soft low voice that only I could hear.
“Right, how surprising,” I said back into her ears.
We spent more than an hour on the perfume-making process as we had questions about choosing the right scents.
“How did it go?” She asked when we walked out from Molinard.
“Did you get my father’s permission?”
I shook my head. Convinced her father was more challenging than any business deal or any exams I had to go through. There are no manuals on how to convince him. No textbooks whatsoever. I just had to think strategically of the pains and gains of letting her drive.
“It would take you years.” She said.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, smiling at her. “I waited for you for years already. I’m sure I able to wait more for your father’s.” I told her.
“Why do you like me?”
Why do I like her? I had thought about it once when I learned that she dated Gabriel. Why does it have to be her? But the only answer I could come up with was because it was just her — Natalie. Even when she wasn’t a Pearson, I’m sure that I would like her too.
“What part of me do you like?” She asked again. Maybe she wanted to know how and why I had feelings for her and had to hide it from anyone in our lives.
“You.”
“The answer is you, Nat. Just you.” I couldn’t resist the urge to tell her when she asked. It wasn’t because she was nice or anything like that — I just liked her. Something in her pulled me, but I just don’t know what — I want her as a whole and not only on some parts of her. She might have had an amazing smile that made my heart flutter whenever she showed it, for instance, but that wasn’t the reason.
Je l’apprécie, c’est tout.
