Another one of the firsts with Simona

Time: Sunday night.

Place: In the tatami room of my apartment, under the kotatsu.

Setup: I can't remember exactly. I said something or rather(I think it was about going to Taiwan together), and Simona replied, completely unexpected, "Are you asking me if I love you?"

Pause.

Moment of truth: "Because I do."

Pause. Interminably. The second hand on my watch needed a flick on its face to get it to start moving again.

Response: I don't know, I didn't have a mirror to see the expression on my face. "Is she for real?" Probably a mixture of joy, relief, panic, chagrin(for not saying it first), and an assortment of million other things. Simona's expression was as clear and calm as a midnight lake, but it did not reflect mine. She didn't look like she was anxious for or expecting a reply from me. I cannot decipher anything at all from her expression frozen in a Mona Lisa moment. Suddenly, I knew what Morpheus in "The Matrix" felt when Neo puts his fingers up and causes the bullets from the three Agents to stop in mid-air: "I told you. He is The One."

Second moment of truth: It took me what seemed like an eternity: "I love you too."