Is this destiny?

Felix checked the time and promised Sophia that there are more things planned for the day. He took her to an Italian restaurant at Manhattan, for a seven-course dinner.

The restaurant was decorated with pink balloons, red roses and heart shaped garlands.

"The entertainment and food industry are making a fortune by selling an illusion of love.", Sophia commented while looking at the heart shaped decorations everywhere around them. Even food was plated in a heart shape.

"Why do you say that love is an illusion?", Felix asked.

"I don't want to say that love is an illusion, but that these things..." Sarah pointed at red and pink decorations hanging from the ceiling, "...are not contributing to love at all. Industry only wants to make money by selling decorations, flowers, food, jewelry. And this becomes a meaningless competition in wooing a partner with a bigger, flashier, more expensive present without a care about feelings behind it. And all needs to happen in one day."

"What is love, in your opinion?", Felix was curious.

Sophia thought for some time before responding. "Love is a lot of things: desire, trust, yearning, desperation... but mostly it's a need to be with someone."

"You are quite... practical." Felix commented. He tilted his head slightly and added. "Based on your description alone, I can tell you never experienced love."

Sophia looked at Felix, feeling a bit vexed, and returned the question, "What is love, in your opinion?" Sarcasm was obvious in her tone.

Felix took a breath, refusing to fall for her provocation, and answered calmly, "If I need to explain it, it would be the excitement enveloped with magic." He looked Sophia in the eyes, his intense gaze made her unable to move. "When I look at the woman I love, I get excited, my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my chest and present itself to her. And if she accepts it, then magic will be released, and we will soar through vastness of our love."

Sophia felt that her core shook while he spoke. As much as she thought that his words don't make any sense, his voice enchanted her and pulled her in… even if she is in the middle of the desert, she would buy a truckload of sand from him. Sophia took some time to compose herself and asked, "How come you know so much about the jewelry?"

Felix regretfully noticed her abrupt change in topic. But he knows that there is not much use trying to talk about love with her at this point. He responded to her question, "It is necessary for my work."

Sophia was confused, "I don't see the relationship between an earring and a microphone."

"Jewelry is accessories. My devices are accessories. To understand one is to make other one more appealing to the customer." After a moment of hesitation, he pulled out his phone. "Here, see what I designed for you sister. By now Aiden gave it to her, so it's safe to show you without worry that you might spoil his surprise." Felix handed his phone to Sophia.

Sophia could tell that she is looking at the ring-shaped object with multiple circuits inside. "Is this... a ring?"

Felix nodded proudly. "See? My designs can be accessories."

"Is he going to propose to her??!", Sophia panicked. 'Sarah is too young to get engaged. She is still only nineteen years old... she will be twenty in June, but even with that, isn't it too fast?'

Felix chuckled seeing Sophia overreacting, "Does this look like an engagement ring to you? It does not have a stone. It's too simple for an engagement ring."

"Then what is it?" Sophia composed herself and looked at his phone again. "Man can't give woman a ring without a meaning."

Felix shrugged, "My best guess is that this is a promise ring. And I made two, so one for each of them."

"Awww...", Sophia's face melted into an emotional mush.

Felix raised his eyebrows. "You think that is romantic?"

Sophia nodded.

Felix smirked, "And what happened with your opinion that these gifts are meaningless competition to woo a partner without a care about feelings behind it?"

"That...", Sophia had a confused expression.

Felix laughed. "No need to explain. Every woman wants to be wooed, to feel special like she is the best in the world."

Sophia frowned, "It is not logical. How can every woman be the best of in the world?"

Felix lightly shook his head before speaking, "What does it have to do with logic? To me, the woman I love is the best in the world. And I want to use every opportunity to show her that she is the best one, for me. I will buy her flowers, and take her to a romantic dinner, and please her in any way she wants, because in my opinion, she deserves it."

Sophia inhaled more than necessary and held her breath for some time. 'Is he confessing his love to me?'

Felix smiled at her reaction. He wanted to pull her close and taste those lips… but he told himself many times already that he needs to be patient. If he rushes with this, she will put him in the category with other pursuers and dismiss him easily. Felix knows that he is making progress, but fears that it's not enough… and the day is still young.

...

After dinner they watched a Broadway show, and after that headed to the Library bar for cocktails. They sat in a comfortable love seat and sipped their drinks. The bar walls were filled with books that patrons can read while enjoying their drinks. Sophia ordered Valentine's special cocktail offered by the bar which was sweet with a hint of sour. She enjoyed the taste and ended up having three of them.

The bar is close to Sophia's apartment, and Felix walked her back. Those cocktails she drank didn't taste of alcohol, but that was deceiving. She found that her legs could not walk in straight line on the way back, so she relied on Felix for support.

Like a true gentleman, he escorted her to her apartment, helped her remove her coat and put it on a coat rack, and wished her good night.