If it was only the Intl Love Center for everyone...

We had our ILC banquet tonight - lots of fun and good times. The food was great, the people were awesome (of course ;-) ) and the music and performance went well ^_^. It was a fun night with everyone dressing up. Laura looked so beautiful tonight. That is - more beautiful than she usually does. She wore a nice red/maroon shirt with a thin knit white jacket and a brown/tan patterend skirt. She had on make up - usually I don't really like when girls put on make up - I feel that it hides their natural features and beauty - and well, some girls don't know when enough is enough. But this time it didn't work that way - her makeup brought out her beauty instead of quenching it. She looked so lovely. I almost wanted to tell her after that she looked really pretty tonight - but I decided it'd be better if I didn't. But in case she's somehow psychic or something like that - You looked lovely tonight. At the end of the night we took group pictures together. I was giving R my camera and then they were calling me to get into the picture quickly. It was already pretty crowded in the back where the tall people were - so I just got in front and squatted. Everyone was leaning over to get close together and into the picture - and Laura leaned down and put her hands on my shoulder left shoulder. I didn't look back at her, but I could tell that the way she did so elegantly. And sure enough, when I look at the picture she looks so elegant - just gently and perhaps even cautiously resting her hands there. My heart skipped a beat when I first felt her put her hands on my shoulder. I was wearing a suit coat so there was thickness between (unlike just a dress shirt) - but nevertheless I was so happy during that moment. And of course - her smile is so wonderful in the picture. It shows controlled happiness - but not uptightness nor excessive happiness that some people express in pictures. And when you look at her eyes and smile you see not only the above, but sincerity - you can tell she is genuinely enjoying the moment the picture is taken and is not forcing any feelings or fake expressions on her face to please the camera. She is herself - nothing more nor less. I love this picture.

Yesterday she wrote me a thank you card for the gift I gave her (along with everyone else in the group), congratulating her on a successful first year at college. It was hand designed with many of our humorous sayings that have developed amongst ourselves - that made me smile. But what I latched on to were the final lines when she told me to relax, not stress too much, and sleep (x3). The previous night we ended up talking about why I was so stressed recently and into my financial situation with my parents and my college tuition (or lack there of) and how I was worried if I could afford to stay at school. She stayed up with me until 4am talking.... I was so happy when I came back from Brunch and saw the card sitting on my desk - I had two guesses as to who it was from and I was so happy that I was right. At first I thought maybe she was starting - barely - to get feelings for me. Of course I'd think that. But then a few seconds later I realized that I was dreaming that this was not the case - she was only being kind. And how kind she is! It meant so much to me getting the card. Most people don't take the time to make a Thank You card for people they see everyday and that they say thank you to orally. But she took the time to make the card - perhaps another sign of how well she was raised and how kind, mature and elegant she is? (Elegant in this sense applying to her personality). I went up to her room later that night to thank her personally for the card. It was sort of awkward I guess because I had latched on to those last lines and sort of missed the original intention of the card when I went to thank her. "Uh..well it was a thank you for the gift." "Huh? Oh yeah, well of course. But, ..(can't remember what I said)." Needless to say - I was SO EMBARRASSED. After I came back down to my room I IMed her and tried to properly say you're welcome and to explain myself (and how I latched on to the last lines). She said that she completely understood and that it wasn't a problem. So understanding, kind to listen to me the night before, and more kind to write a card when she had work to do? Wow. Maybe you're starting to understand why I like her so much.

As much as I'm trying to keep my mind focused on reality, my inner dreamer is still trying to take off: listening to me at night + card + hands on shoulder = maybe her feelings for me have changed?? That's my hopeful side - which usually expresses itself. But this time I've been able to keep my realistic side in control - she's just soooooo kind and elegant and sincere. Either way - I sure am lucky to know her. Zhou tau!