Dalia turned her body so she could look directly into Mikaal's eyes. They were at Kings Park, a popular tourist spot with its rolling hills of green, native flower trails and picturesque city views. The choice of playgrounds also attracted families and children, and fitness enthusiasts could be expected to frequent the Kokoda Track.

But today, they had stolen away in a newer area known as the 'Place of Reflection', sitting on a wooden bench underneath a steel structure that shaded them from the sun.

"They should rename this area to the 'Place to Make Out'," Mikaal said, a teasing look in his eyes as he moved in for a kiss.

"Hey!" Dalia said, playfully covering his mouth with her hand. "We should show a little respect for why this place was built... Plus," she continued, "I still have tonnes of unanswered questions."

His face lit up. "How about this, I get a kiss for every question I answer."

She rolled her eyes, but looking at the boyish expression on his hopeful face, she sighed out loud in agreement.

"Fire away!"

"Well," Dalia paused, trying to decide where to start. "Have you been stalking me for some time? As in...first you approached me at San Churros, then a few days later, I happened to bump into you again at Reid Cafe."

"Not stalking..." Mikaal rubbed his chin as he attempted to find the right words. "I just knew your favourite spots. I don't know how much you remember, but we were together for nearly a year before the accident." He had a faraway look before he went on, "After I promised your family and Simon that I'd stay away from you, I avoided uni, our maths lectures... It just hurt too much to see you." His eyes darted away for a moment to overcome the pained expression that overtook him. "It was only more recently that I was curious about how you were," he said, returning his gaze to her. "I guess I couldn't help wanting to see that you were okay; healthy, happy... So when I saw how sad you looked that day, it cut me up inside. You were supposed to be happier without me. It was a split second decision, but I decided I didn't care about my promise anymore."

Dalia's eyes dilated at the recollection of Simon's angry words after their maths exam. "When did you promise to stay away from me?"

"Uh..." He grabbed one of Dalia's hands, warming it with his loving touch. "Not long after the nurses told me you'd woken up. Your family didn't let me see you, not even before you woke but especially after you did. They practically stood guard at your door... I can understand how upset your mum was. She was hysterical when she saw me."

Flashes of her dream intertwined with the flashbacks from the hospital came to her. Yet his revelation brought up another question.

As if he could read her mind, he said, "She told me you didn't remember the accident nor me for that matter. She told me it meant you didn't want to remember me after what I'd—" Mikaal's voice broke. His eyes grew glassy as he looked away again. "Actually," he said, casting a thoughtful look her way, "I thought she might be lying, so I approached you at uni once when Simon wasn't around after the accident, but..." He sighed out loud. "You looked right through me like I was a stranger. I felt even more awful, losing you in more ways than one."

Dalia touched Mikaal's face, tracing his dark eyebrows, smoothing the creases between them. "Babe, it's not your fault."

"But the surfboard, I should've gotten the mini—"

"It was a freak accident. Even a soft-board could've knocked me out. And the rip, you didn't cause that." She moved closer, pulling her hand out of his grasp so she could wrap her arms around his waist. "Let's forget about that time, okay?"

"Okay... So, no more questions?" He asked, his head resting on her shoulder.

Dalia pulled back. "Oh, there's plenty more, don't you worry."

"And my kisses? You owe me," he touched a finger to his lips, "two so far."

"Okay," Dalia said, planting a soft peck on each cheek.

"That's not a kiss."

"Yes it is."

"That's not what I meant."

She shrugged, a smirk on her face as she said, "You should've read the fine print of our agreement."

Mikaal's face scrunched up.

"Actually, speaking of kisses...why didn't you kiss me after the V8 Hot Laps?" It was a bold question—to admit she had wanted him to—but it had bugged her until now.

"Man, that was hard, not kissing you. I wanted to so badly but..." He looked introspective. "You hadn't told me that you liked me too yet. I know your body was telling me," he said, one eyebrow raised in suggestion, "but I didn't want to ruin my second chance with you just in case I read you wrong."

Impulsively, Dalia planted another kiss on Mikaal's cheek, but this time, her lips caught the corner of his mouth.

"Oh, I see what you're doing," he said, grinning widely. "Keep those questions coming."

She laughed before she touched her jawline, unsure what to ask next. She reached into her backpack and pulled out her notebook.

"Whoah, okay, I agreed to answer some questions. But an interrogation?"

"I'm still forgetful sometimes, remember. I've been writing things down to help me."

Mikaal's look turned solemn.

Dalia flicked through the pages until she found what she was looking for. "This is a bit more recent," she began, "but one thing that really puzzled me was that last study date we had. You'd been so keen to catch up with me then suddenly, you just stopped. You didn't even try to contact me... And your Facebook, I know you said you didn't have Facebook before because of your female exploits. So why did you suddenly join shortly after you approached me in San Churros?"

"When I walked you to the train station, I was psyching myself up to ask you out again, until I saw your face... You looked so stressed and everything about your expression screamed, 'I don't want to see you again.'." He paused. "I think you already know the answer to question two."

"Maybe...but still tell me."

"It was the only way I could think of to get in contact with you that didn't involve freaking you out."

A puzzled expression crossed Dalia's face. "Freaking me out?"

"I couldn't give you my number because if I called or messaged you, you'd learn that I was already in your contacts."

"Oh, okay..." Dalia hesitated. "Mikaal, you're actually not in my contacts."

He raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah... Oh, that reminds me, did we take many photos together?"

"Yes, lots."

"On my phone or yours?"

"Both." He looked at her questioningly at first but abruptly, his face flickered with realisation.

"What is it?"

"Uh..." He avoided her eyes.

"Mikaal, tell me," she said firmly.

He touched her shoulder then passed a hand through her hair to stall for time. Finally, with a cautious look, he said, "I think I remember seeing your mother with your phone in the hospital..."

Dalia grew quiet, her expression blank but her lips started to tremble. And then it hit her, a significant detail she had forgotten that was the answer to her repeating question of 'Why?'

She remembered the tension at home, her mother's strong disapproval of Mikaal from the very beginning. "What's he studying?" her first question had been. "So he's the same age as Daveth, yet he doesn't even know what he wants to do with his life?"

"Education isn't everything, Mum," she had said in defence.

"Education is everything. You've had it easy thanks to education giving me and your father a much better life, a life our parents never dreamed possible. Life isn't a fairy tale, Dalia. You're wasting your time with him. He won't be able to make you happy."

In the beginning, it had only been opposing words Dalia tried to block out. But as months passed and the answer to her mother's question continued to be, "Yes, we're still together..." her condemnation became stronger, louder.

"I don't approve of you being with him. I'll never approve! I won't support you even if ten years passes! You're making a huge mistake. What can he even offer you?"

"Baby, don't cry..."

Mikaal's consoling voice and strong arms interrupted the onslaught of painful memories, but her tears continued to flow with more urgency. She sniffled into his chest, hugging him tighter as it dawned on her the lengths of her mother's betrayal—all to erase Mikaal from her life. She hadn't understood her mother's expression when she had learnt that Dalia had lost her memories, but there was no doubt in her mind its meaning now—delight.

"I know she only wants the best for you. Sometimes parents think they know better."

"It doesn't make it okay," Dalia said, pulling back, her grief replaced by a surge of anger. "It's not her choice. I'm the one living my life."

"I know," he said, stroking a strand of hair out of her face. "It'll work out," he said, his eyes sure. "Now that I've got you, I know we can face anything."

The love and warmth that exuded from his pools of green lifted the tension from her shoulders and filled her body with peace. Without warning, she planted another peck, this time on his lips.

He needed no encouragement, pulling her into a slow, lingering kiss. "I love you so much," he murmured before his kiss deepened, the sensations causing her knees to go weak.

When they pulled apart, he traced her top lip with his forefinger affectionately and said, "Before I forget, I have a question for you too."

Dalia waited with curious eyes for him to continue.

"I don't know if you remember that dinner we had before your birthday at Silk Road? The night you wore that smoking-hot red dress." Mikaal's lips curled up one side in a teasing grin.

Dalia's cheeks flushed. She bit her lip then said, "Actually, that's the one night my mind didn't want me to forget!" She went on to explain her recurring dream she'd had even before she met him again in San Churros.

"Wow... So the Big Guy up there was rooting for me after all," he said, shaking his head in awe.

She laughed. "I guess so. He must think you're alright," she said teasingly.

Mikaal grinned from ear to ear. "Babe, you're distracting me." His tone had changed. "I was starting to say... When I had to return that phone call I missed, I was actually a bit frustrated. I'd just learnt there was going to be a delay with something I was getting made for you..."

Dalia's curiosity piqued when Mikaal pulled out a package from his backpack that was the size of a shoebox.

"I wanted to surprise you with this on your birthday straight after—" his voice faltered. He blinked away the guilt he still carried and instead said, "Open it."

Dalia unwrapped the shiny silver paper, only to discover it opened up into a smaller box with a note attached. "I love you because I can be myself with you," it read. She unwrapped another layer that led to an even smaller package, square in shape. A strip of paper with black, cursive handwriting was stuck on with tape.

"I love you because I want to be a better person when I'm with you."

Dalia looked up to see Mikaal's eyes dancing with amusement as the boxes grew smaller, each with another message until finally, the box she was left with was about the size of her palm. There was no more wrapping paper to tear off, but there was one last note.

"I love you and I love a future that's with you by my side."

---

**Drumroll**

Hehehehehe not going to say any more ;-)

Phew, 11:22pm, I'm cutting it close today with my release, I know (had a crazy busy weekend...)

We're metres from the finish line now... until next week, thanks for the lovely comments and votes!!!! Love love love you all :)

-Noelle