They walked towards the car slowly, hands locked together, Skyler pulling the traveling box from behind.
“Do you have any idea how happy I was when you told me you were coming?” Skyler asked, and opened the car door.
“I can only imagine,” Vanessa turned to look at him, and then entered the car.
Vanessa exhaled and trailed Skyler with her eyes as he dropped the box in the passenger’s seat.
This was a turn she wasn’t expecting, not especially how she started with the guy.
FLASHBACK.
“So, can I have your number?” Skyler asked her.
“Why?” Vanessa glared at him.
“I… I just thought I could call you from time to time. You’re leaving tomorrow,” Skyler pressed his lips together.
“So? How does that concern you?”
“I…”
“I don’t want you to call me or anything. You don’t owe me anything and I don’t owe you any also.”
“Come on, I…”
“I am leaving tomorrow, I don’t wanna stay in contact,” Vanessa hissed.
“Please. Please.”
Vanessa sighed and then stared at Skyler, it doesn’t look like the guy was going to give up asking for her number anytime soon.
“I’ll block your number if you call me unnecessarily,” she frowned.
“I promise, I won’t,” he crossed his heart with a half smile.
*
A month after Vanessa left the country, Skyler gave her a call that the lady had been looking forward to.
Even though the lady always nags him each time they talk, they still spend so many minutes or hours talking.
Skyler made sure he called her at every given time and Vanessa always looked forward to his call.
At some point, they began to tell each other everything.
Vanessa would get mad whenever the guy did not pick up her call, and the guy would get anxious and worried whenever the lady did not pick up his calls.
A few months before she arrived, Vanessa admitted her feelings to the guy on a video call, and Skyler could bet that he was the happiest guy on the earth at the moment.
Vanessa reciprocating his feelings was what he had always wanted.
When he had told her how he felt, the lady only brushed it off.
And now, see who’s finally in love.
**
“What are you thinking, baby girl?” jerking her back to reality, Skyler covered his hand on hers, his other hand on the steering.
“Just this…” Vanessa shrugged her shoulder and glanced at the guy whose eyes were on the road.
“Where are we going?” She asked and stretched her hand out of the glass gently.
“Babe, stop that, it’s dangerous,” Skyler groaned.
“Okay. How’s your brother?”
“I bet he’s living his best life in college,” Skyler answered with a smile.
“He’s in the same school with Declan and Aiden, right?”
“No. I think those guys are in the UK or something. Xyler is in Harvard,” Skyler answered.
“Wow, I thought they were to go everywhere together,” Vanessa chuckled.
“Xyler delayed himself intentionally. He’s in his third level now. I heard the guys are convocating soon,” Skyler informed.
“That’s beautiful. I’m just in my second level. I took a break for almost two years.”
“You needed it,” Skyler smiled.
“I sure do,” Vanessa raised her brows and Skyler raised her hand to kiss her palm.
“I love you,” he says.
“Me too.”
===
United Kingdom.
Declan and Aiden’s apartment.
“It’s finally tomorrow. God, I can’t wait!” Vincent screamed after he read the mail that was sent to him by the school.
“Yeah. Now, the real journey begins. Man!” Ramon exclaimed.
“Four years of friendship, four years of struggle, four years of everything! Man, it ain’t easy,” Declan clapped his hands together.
“You didn’t mention the burning of night candles,” Aiden yawned lazily on the couch, browsing through his phone.
“Yes, I remember when Declan passed out,” Vincent burst into laughter.
“I can remember how you look like walking dead during every exam,” Declan retorted.
“You’re an idîot,” Vincent hissed.
“So are you.”
“By the way, are your girlfriends cooking for the entire London? No exaggeration, they’ve spent almost two hours in the kitchen,” Ramon frowned.
“You should be grateful they volunteered to cook, Tiffany especially,” Declan hissed.
“I know, right? I bet Zoey had no problem cooking, Tiffany is the problem,” Vincent said.
“Zoey can’t prepare a proper meal,” Declan shook his head.
“Anny can only make sandwiches,” Aiden added.
“What?” Vincent raised his brows.
“So, they’ve been in there for the past two hours, making… ”
“Food is ready!” Zoey interrupted loudly, walking slowly with a tray in her hands.
“Which food?” Vincent and Ramon chorused.
“Sandwich,” Tiffany hurried in with a wide smile.
“Oh, come on!” Ramon groaned.
“What? Let me tell you something, we put all our effort into it,” Zoey said and dropped the tray on the table.
“Yeah. It’s a new recipe I came up with. You’re going to love it, trust me,” Tiffany winked.
“I don’t think I can get used to seeing the two of you looking like this,” Declan shook his head.
“I was going to say the same,” Aiden covered his mouth with the tip of his fingers.
“Why?” Zoey laughed.
“Look at you, you dyed your hair purple, and Tiffany, cut her hair to the length of her neck and dyed it gold. What’s making you two so happy?” Declan frowned.
“That sounds like my dad interrogating me,” Zoey said through gritted teeth.
“I bet it was Zoey’s suggestion to do this,” Aiden creased his brows.
“How do you know?” Zoey covered her mouth with her palm and feign a surprised look.
“Like I knew it!” Vincent laughed.
“What’s making you so happy?” Tiffany rolled her eyes.
“You two are so dramatic.”
“Shut the fûck up and stuff the sandwich in your mouth,” Tiffany hissed.
“Woah, your girlfriend is so sassy. How the fûck do you end up with her? I wanted Jessy for you,” Vincent hissed and covered his mouth with his palm.
“Who’s Jessy?” Tiffany frowned at Aiden.
“Babe, Vincent is saying rubbish. Jessy is a coursemate,” he exhaled.
“Then, why did he want her for you?”
“I… I don’t know,” he stuttered.
“You just stuttered,” Tiffany raised a brow.
“Babe, come on. There’s nothing between Jessy and me,” he drew his brows together with his hand.
“Hey, who is Jessy?” she turned to look at Vincent.
“Hey, you look so terrifying. It was just a slip of the tongue.”
“I don’t trust you,” Tiffany shook her head.
“Tiffy, there’s nothing between Jessy and Aiden. I swear,” Declan said.
“Shut the fûck up if you’re only going to swear. Where’s your phone, Aiden?” Tiffany asked walking towards Aiden who points his phone at her immediately.
“Just show me how you saved her contact,” she said.
Aiden only shook his head as she went through his phone.
Meanwhile, everyone watched as Tiffany interrogate her boyfriend like he was some fugitive.
“Call her,” she said after she stared at how Aiden saved the number for a few seconds.
Huh, good for him that he only used Jessy.
“Hey,” Aiden frowned and said as soon as the girl picked up the call.
“What’s up? To what do I owe this call?” She said in a British accent.
“I just…”
“Don’t tell you you’re feeling bad for rejecting me already? I mean, you publicly turned me down, claiming you have the greatest girl ever. Did she leave you for another guy? We’re convocating tomorrow, you think we can work now?” she asked almost breathlessly.
“No, he doesn’t think you can,” Tiffany said, snatched his phone, and ended the call.
“Sorry,” she pressed her lips together and looked away.
“You don’t trust me,” Aiden shook his head.
“I do, and you know that,” she pouts.
“You don’t,” Aiden shook his head.
“I’m sorry,” she apologized.
“Since someone is apologizing already, can we devour the sandwich already? I’m hungry,” Ramon frowned.
“Eat, and go to hell,” Zoey rolled her eyes.
“You two don’t look a bit like a two hundred level students at all. You act like high schoolers,” Vincent sighed.
“Hey!” Tiffany and Zoey chorused.
“Babe,” she turned to look at Aiden again.
“It’s fine, let’s eat.”
“I love you. You know, right?”
“I know,” he answered and nudged her gently with a smile.
“I love you.”
==
The next day.
Zoey and Tiffany cried out joy as they watched the convocating students throw their graduation caps up in the air excitedly.
“Everything feels so real. It only makes me remember when they were graduating from Western high school,” Zoey sobbed softly.
“I know, right,” Tiffany smiled and pulled her closer.
“Wait, Marlie didn’t come,” Zoey widened her eyes.
“She said, her flight got delayed or something,” Tiffany answered.
**
“Congratulations, brothers,” Xyler smiled and handed a bouquet to each of them.
“What the fûck. Receiving a flower from you is so creepy!” Aiden yelled and laughed.
“I know. Just shut the fûck up and accept it,” Xyler laughed.
“Are you a loner? You didn’t show up with any lady,” Declan frowned.
“You don’t know? I am a certified loner!” he laughed.
“Àsshôlé,” Aiden hissed.
==
One year later.
Dinner gathering at Han’s mansion.
“How long have you two been seen each other? Shouldn’t you get married already?” Martha eyes Tiffany and Aiden who wouldn’t stop dipping food in each other’s mouths.
“Five years, mother. Five years,” Tiffany grinned.
“It’s over five years, babe. We’ll be celebrating six years soon,” Aiden cupped her cheeks palm with his palms.
“Woah, what an eyesore,” Zoey rolled her eyes.
“Babe, are we not going to be celebrating six years soon also?”
“That’s right. We will be,” Zoey nods her head.
“It’s really an eyesore,” Martha nodded her head.
“No, I think it’s cute. They remind me of us when we were younger,” Theodore whispered to Martha who only snorted irritatedly.
“We have another certified loner,” Declan glanced at Marlie and everyone burst into laughter.
“Not so soon,” Marlie picked up her vibrating phone, stood up, and walked away from the dining room.
“Where are you going?” Declan asked.
“To get my man. The one I’ve been with for almost seven years,” she snorted and walked away.
“No way,” Tiffany covered her with her palm.
“No way!” Zoey laughed.
“Yes way. You guys don’t want her to have a man?” Lawrence hissed.
“No, but your daughter is very flirty!” Declan groaned.
===
Zoey returned, entering gently, her lips pressed together, “I’m back.”
“I guess your man didn’t show up,” Declan mocked.
“Hello,” he entered slowly, bowing slightly as he did.
“I am Mason. Mason Donald,” the tall guy with brown hair greeted with a wide smile.
“Fûck, there was indeed a man!” Zoey half screamed.
“He is Mason, my fiance,” Marlie smiled widely and locked her arm in his.
TBC…