Dave’s expression stayed the same as he answered casually, “When you mentioned going back to your father’s house out of the blue, I felt restless. And last night, during our phone call, your tone sounded off. I worried about you and felt I had to check on you. I never thought something would actually happen.”
Bianca pouted playfully. “Are we really telepathic or something?”
Dave chuckled softly. “I have a question for you, too.”
Bianca nodded. “Sure, go ahead.”
In a serious tone, he asked, “Did you ever think about what I’d do if something happened to you during all this?”
Bianca’s expression grew serious. “Yes, I have.”
“Really? I’m curious about what you thought,” Dave said, raising an eyebrow.
After a brief pause, Bianca looked away, unable to hold Dave’s intense stare. She murmured, “A lifetime is a long time. It’s easy to forget someone. You might be sad for a while, but time heals everything. There are plenty of girls who are better for you than I am. You can definitely-”
Before she could finish, Dave cut her off with a forceful kiss. This kiss was rough and punishing, almost stealing her breath.
When he finally pulled back, he bit her lip gently and looked at her with angry, bloodshot eyes.
“I…” Bianca avoided his eyes, realizing she had deeply upset him.
Dave’s brow furrowed as he asked quietly, “Do you think our relationship is so insignificant? Do you believe I’ll forget about it in just a few years?”
“No…” Tears filled her eyes, and she struggled to speak.
“Then explain!” he demanded, his voice rising. “Tell me what’s really on your mind.”
As tears streamed down her face, Bianca said, “I’m not good enough, am I? I won’t be the only one in your life.”
Dave stood still, feeling helpless as she cried in his arms.
He reached out and gently wiped her tears away. When she looked up at him, he kissed her again, this time with tenderness and love.
Afterwards, he sat up and said, “Get some rest. You need it.”
He tucked Bianca in and started to leave.
But she grabbed his sleeve, her voice trembling, and asked, “Where are you going?”
Dave smiled, his face softened by the warm yellow light from the bedside lamp. “I have something to take care of. I’ll be back soon.”
Bianca reluctantly let go of him, feeling a bit disappointed but nodding as he left.
Once the door closed, she felt a deep sense of loneliness.
She knew her words had hurt him, and she worried he might see her as cold-hearted. Would he want to avoid her now?
Bianca pulled the covers over her head and cried softly.
Despite her exhaustion, Bianca tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Dave’s disappointed face kept replaying in her mind.
After a while, she heard a crackling sound, like a circuit breaking, and the bedside lamp went out.
Suddenly, she was plunged into darkness.
Fear gripped her as she felt like she had fallen into a cold, pitch-black cave. A sense of helplessness overwhelmed her again.
“Dave?” Bianca lifted the covers and got out of bed, crying out in anxiety, “Where are you?”
She wanted to search for Dave but felt immobilized as if invisible hands were holding her down.
The darkness brought back memories of her childhood when her father had left her alone during a blackout. Now, she was alone again in the dark.
Feeling broken and abandoned, she was overwhelmed by a suffocating sense of despair.
Hugging her knees, she cried and trembled, her breathing growing rapidly.
Suddenly, a beam of light pierced through the window, banishing the darkness.
Bianca looked up in surprise and rushed to the window. Leaning over the sill, she looked out and was astonished by the scene below.
Outside the window, thousands of lanterns floated gently into the sky.
The scene turned the night into something magically beautiful.
Bianca had never seen a night like this before.
Then, her phone buzzed with a new message.
It was from Dave. The message read, “May the lanterns keep shining and drive away the darkness of every long night.”
A flicker of emotion crossed Bianca’s face. Surrounded by the lanterns’ light, her fears seemed to fade away.
Instead, she felt a deep, touching warmth in her heart, the warmth of being truly loved.
Looking down, she saw Dave standing there.
Bianca grabbed her coat, rushed down the stairs, and threw herself into Dave’s welcoming arms without a second thought.
Under the lantern-lit sky, Dave pulled her into a warm hug. His voice, soothing and sincere, filled her ears.
“In this life and the next, you’re my one and only.”
Bianca rested her head on his chest, tears streaming down her face as she nodded.
From that moment on, darkness held no fear for her.
The memory of these lanterns would light up her nights forever.
The next morning, the soft sunlight peeked through the curtains, gently touching Bianca’s eyelashes. She woke up feeling the comfort and peace that had surrounded her all night.
Dave was there, beside her.
In her dream, darkness had disappeared, replaced by a river of starry lanterns. In the romantic scene, they had promised to stay together forever.
Unable to resist, Bianca kissed Dave’s face.
Dave woke up to see Bianca’s beautiful face next to him.
He wrapped an arm around her, playfully pinning her down.
“I was worried about you last night. Now you’re in a good mood and teasing me. I think you’re ready for some fun…”
Bianca’s cheeks flushed pink. “But it’s so early, and I’m not sure it’s the best time.”
“Why not?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at work?”
Dave chuckled softly. “It’s fine. I can take a day off. This moment feels more important.”
Bianca pouted. “You’re not focusing on your responsibilities.”
Dave raised an eyebrow slightly and leaned in to kiss her tenderly.
Lost in the kiss, they were almost intimate when the phone rang, interrupting their moment.
Bianca reached for her phone, but Dave gently held her wrist.
He looked into her eyes, begging, “Can it wait a bit?”
Bianca squinted and replied, “It’s my brother calling. It might be news from the police station.”
Hearing that, Dave had no choice but to sit up and pull away.
With a touch of disappointment, he said, “Go ahead. I’ll take a shower.”
Bianca pouted but reluctantly answered the phone.
“Hey, Bianc, I handed the evidence to the police last night. They called me first thing today. You won’t believe what happened.”