“But you still want to go home.”
“Yes,” she said again. “My entire life is there, and my new job. And I could never ask you to come with me. But maybe…” She didn’t have a plan. Not even an inkling of a plan. She didn’t knowwhere they would end up or how. But if she saidthis,at least, it would be a start. “…Can I fly in and see you again? And you can see me when you can, maybe?”
It wasn’t a plan. Plans had steps, had KPIs, had success and failure factors and points for improvement. Plans had an end goal in mind. This was just a vague idea, a desire and determination to keep what they had. It was just a little bit of hope. And it was all Lia had to offer now, scared as she was that she would end up alone again.
“I don’t know how we’re going to make it work,” she admitted. “But I know that we have to do it together.”
“As my ex?”
“No,” she shook her head. “As your one. Your only. If you want me to be, that is.”
A great sigh escaped his chest, and Lia didn’t know if it was relief. Not until he swept her into his arms and swung her around the room, and he gently laid her in bed before he kissed her, his hand on her hip as he rested his thigh between hers. Just a kiss, they were too tired for anything more. But it was the kiss that Lia would keep close to her heart and remember.
“My one,” he said, squeezing the skin under her shirt as he looked at her face. Moonlight illuminated his face, handsome as ever. But his eyes were on her, and he could see her so perfectly clearly that it made her heart ache. She felt so loved in that moment, so safe. She would have been silly to let him go. “My only.”
“My bias,” she told him, and he buried his face in her neck and laughed. They settled into the bed shortly after, Lia under the covers in her socks (he’d drawn the line at the jacket) and Cal sans his shirt and his jeans. He gathered her in his arms.
“I can’t wait to go back to Manila.” He was grinning. “I won’t tell my parents, Eomma hates surprises. And I can’t wait to goaround to restaurants with you. I heard there’s a great tasting menu in Chino Roces. And a mushroom gyudon in Salcedo?”
“You are such a Makati boy.” Lia rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. She was incandescently happy.
“I just like a good restaurant.”
“Me too.”
There was still time there, time in between the night and the dawn that would take her away. Lia wanted to be able to say everything to him before this ended. Before she contented herself with being a part of his past, of everything they had, staying where it was meant to.
“I don’t know what happens next. But I’m excited for all of it. That we can still be bitter 30-year-olds together.” He said, even if his voice was getting lower, sleepier. “Tired 40-year-olds.”
“Retired 50-year-olds if we’re really, really lucky.”
“Oh no. I’ll be a rockstar until I die. I’ll singBolt of Blueuntil my dentures fall out mid-song.” He shook his head, and even as he chuckled, she could see him succumbing to sleep. Lia smiled and brushed the gelled hair that had been made to artfully fall over his face, even if it got in his eye while he was sleeping.
“And I’ll be the lola fan in the front who’ll catch them,” she joked.
Lia saw the exact moment the light in the sky start to turn to the dawn, in that slow lazy way the sun did on cloudy days. It was there before you noticed it. She saw the moment Cal fully fell asleep, his exhaustion winning out as his hand stayed on her skin, warm and heavy.
“Love you,” Cal said, words muttered in sleep.
She was loved. She was seen. And she wasn’t alone.
“Love you too.” She meant it in all the ways it could be taken, the best and the worst. Delulu rule number three. Know when to quit. Lucky for Lia, there was nothing delusional about the way she felt.
[ANNOUNCEMENT] COBOLT ALBUM “LIGHTNING STRIKES” RELEASE
Hello. This is Damask Entertainment.
We are thrilled to announce the release of 2nd generation band CoBOLT’s new mini album, Lightning Strikes.
Lightning Strikes tells the story of the band and their journey to win back the love of their fans, exploring CoBOLT’s new style. We hope that the fans pick up on the band’s eager hope to be heard and that they provide love through their music.
Thank you for your continued love and support for CoBOLT and their new mini album, Lightning Strikes.
Pre-Order Date: (KST)
Release Date: (KST)
Lightning Strikes Track List
