by L. Marcelo
"I can't believe I almost lost you… This." He wanted to say more but he also found himself lost for words.
“Since when?” He whispered as he pulled her closer.
"I got it tattooed 3 years ago. Around the time you retired and the time I graduated." He remained silent.
She pulled away enough for her to see his face. He had his arm on top of his eyes. She was worried but she didn’t do anything. She was afraid that everything was too much for him to take. She thought that maybe, just maybe, he needed time.
"How did you do it?" He asked. Still not looking at her.
She pulled away and sat beside him.
She gently removed his hand on top of his eyes. His eyes were closed but both sides of his face were wet. She thought she was imagining things but after she touched his cheek, she knew she wasn’t mistaken She took the arm that was on top of his eyes and held it while her other hand caressed his injured arm.
“Does it still hurt?” She sounded worried.
“It’s all better.” He smiled. Eyes were still closed as he asked again. “So how?”
“It wasn't easy… You may not be aware of it but I've loved you for about 6 years now... I know you more than you think I do. I also know about that thing that’s why I wanted to cut my relationship with you as soon as we finished working on Rayle’s album but I can’t.”
He would have thought of her as a stalker after he heard those words but he didn’t. He knew she loved him that much. He understood that she dedicated part of her life to him and it was something he would always be grateful for.
“I know I was thinking way ahead… I don’t even know if you’d like me but still, I wanted to end it before anything even started because I was scared that I might fall too deep. I know it wouldn’t be easy but I decided to take a risk… I decided to take a leap of faith that maybe, just maybe, it’s possible between us. But…”
He cut her off. He opened his eyes and looked at her.
"But I was an ass and fucking hurt you. I'm really sorry babe. It was all my fault. You knew that once I find out, it would be a mess. You were avoiding it and yet I was the one who dragged you to it and I made you suffer alone. I wish. God, babe… I wish I know how to make you forget all the pain I've caused you." He looked and sounded frustrated.
Watching him, it brought her to tears. She can’t afford to see him hurting.
"It's all in the past. What's important is we're now back together, this time no lies, no secrets. I won't wish for you to not leave me again but all I wish is for you to be honest with me. If there’s something wrong, tell me. If you need anything, let me help you. Just don’t close yourself from me. I want to be here for you. I know I wasn’t fully honest the first time but besides the ‘Secret’ identity, everything else was real."
He reached for her and pulled her back in his arms. He placed a kiss on her forehead. They stayed like that for a short while before he found the courage to say what he wanted to.
"Babe, you don't need to ask. I'll do anything. I’ll give you everything. Whatever it takes for you not to leave me. Don't leave me even if I tell you to. I already lost you once and it was hell. No way I’d let that happen again.”
He was dead serious. His emotions were strong enough that it vibrated all over his body. It was too strong that she felt it too.
There was silence for a moment.
They drown into each other’s warmth and enjoyed the feeling of having each other again. After almost half a year of not seeing each other, not talking to each other and not feeling each other’s company. They simply wanted to enjoy what they have.
After 6 years, Meahri finally found her happiness, her true happiness.
He let go. He pulled himself up and sat on the bed, his back on the headboard of the bed.
"Did you ever think... How if... How if we're not where we are now. You're a famous artist and I'm a producer. How if we–" He was cut off.
"Of course I thought of that too... Actually, a lot. But I don’t think I’d ever regret it. Never. You were a big part of my life and that won't change whether I'll be with you or someone else.”
“If ever we're not where we are now and I get married to someone else, then my other half just has to accept the fact that it's there. It will be there forever until my body disappears from this world. I know it sounds mushy but it's the truth." She saw a smile formed on his face and she too smiled.
It was an indescribable feeling whenever you see the one you love smiled especially knowing that it was because of you. No one can ever fully understand it unless they felt it on their own and right now, Meahri felt it.
"You know if I would be the other guy and I see another man's name tattooed on that same spot, I don't think I'll be able to make love to you. It would suck big time! It's like making love to someone who will never fully belong to me."
The two found themselves laughing at Vhynce’s thoughts.
The two may have laughed about it but it was true too. It wasn’t going to work if that was the scenario. Maybe it can but it would require a man to have such patience and understanding to be able to fully accept something like that.
“Isn’t it the same for you? I mean… How if… If I didn’t take you back?”
She saw his expression changed. Their scars were still fresh. She didn’t want to ask but she was curious. Damn she was!
“It wouldn’t change a thing. Whether you take me or not, I won’t give up. I won’t give up until I see you genuinely happy with someone else. Until that time comes, I won’t stop…” He stopped as he pulled her in his arms and he kissed her on the forehead.
The simple act made her want to melt.
“I already stole your happiness once. I have no right to steal it again. If you’re happy with someone else, much as I hate it, I’d have to let you go but the tattoo will remain with me. It will stay there forever… I don’t think I’d be able to find someone else who could be greater than you.”
He took her and placed her on his lap like she weighed nothing. He pulled her for a long passionate kiss. They only let go when both of them were dying for air.
“I don’t think I would even find someone else worthy enough to be compared to you. If it isn’t you then no. As. Fucking. Simple. As. That.” He kissed her between his last words.
“Vhynce!” She exclaimed.
He burst into laughter. She wanted to disappear like thin air. She wasn’t used to this side of Vhynce - her rockstar, her one true love. He tried his best to stop his laughter but failed and she ended up laughing with him.
He just loved to tease her a lot.
“But we don’t need to go through that, right? We’re both here. I love you Vhynce. I always did.”
The next thing she knew, her back was on her bed and he was on top of him.
"I love you Meahri Lyfheld."
It was the last words that the two uttered that night.
Epilogue
Vhynce and the team was busy recording another song for Rayle’s newest upcoming digital single when they heard a knock on the door. Vhynce knew who it was. He had been waiting for it so he was the one who opened the door.
It was none other than his fangirl, his girl, Meahri Lyfheld.
She was about to greet everyone but her greetings disappeared in his mouth.
Ever since they got back together, it had always been how he greeted her. They had been back together for 8 months now and she was still as shy as their first meeting 6 years ago especially when he was being so affectionate towards her when everyone was around. She loved it, yes, but she wasn’t the PDA type of girl.
When he let go, she was catching her breath. Her face was crimson pink. Everyone’s attention was on them and that was something she should try and get used to but it didn’t seem like it was going to happen anytime soon.
They saw how her cheek turned to crimson pink and they couldn’t help but laugh at the inseparable couple. They haven’t got used to their CEO’s way of showing his affection
for his girl.
They knew he was a sweet talker and that he always had his way with girls but after they saw him with Meahri, they felt like they didn’t really knew the man. Not even a bit.
He had always been a great guy and a sweet man but with Meahri, he seemed to be more. She was able to unleash the greatness inside him that even Vhynce didn’t knew it existed.
She made him a better man, as simple and plain as that.
“Hey guys.” She greeted them and forced a smile hoping it would hide her embarassment but for the nth time, she failed again.
When will she ever get used to the way her rockstar showed his affection?
“Hey Meahri.”
Everyone gave their greetings with grins on their faces. They were obviously teasing her but they didn’t say a word and continued with their work. They didn’t have to. Their faces said it all.
They left the two in their own world.
“What brought you here? I thought we’re going to meet at my place tonight?” Vhynce asked as his arm never left Meahri’s waist.
“Well… About that…” She stopped.
She was staring at him and he knew what she meant. He told the team that he’d be out for a bit. Everyone nodded and bid their goodbye to her and she did the same.
“What is it?” He asked as soon as he closed the studio’s door.
“Before that… I need to give this to you first.” She took a folder from her backpack and gave it to him. He looked through it and it was the drafts for the cover of Rayle’s newest single.
“You could’ve given me this tonight. You didn’t have to drive all the way here to give me this.” He was disappointed and she knew that.
“Well that’s what I needed to tell you. Actually, I just received an email from one of my main clients saying she needs me to work on an illustration for her and that she needs it by tomorrow morning. So…” She stopped and looked at him. He looked mad.
“You’re mad…. I’m sorry.”
She took his hand and held it tightly as if it was a way for her to make him feel that she was sorry. He put his hand around her and pulled her into a hug.
“I’m not mad… I’m actually happy but just a bit sad. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy because you’re very successful now. I’m so proud of you, of what you had achieved at such a young age.” She felt him hugged her tighter.
“I’m just a bit sad that the more you become successful… I feel like the more chances that we’d drift apart.” She pulled away and held his face.
“Hey... That’s not going to happen, okay? Half of the reason for who I am today is you. Half of the reason why I’m here is because of you. I know half is not enough but you know me Vhynce. I’ve always been an independent girl. I want to work hard to achieve my dreams. I want to work hard to get what I want…”
“But none of this, I mean not a single one of this success would be possible if it weren’t for you inspiring me. So whatever success I have right now or will have in the future, I want to share it with you and no one else. It’s a success that became possible because of you.”
She tiptoed and gave him a short passionate kiss. It may be short but it was filled with love that he wouldn’t trade for anything. It made him happy. She rarely took the initiative and whenever she did, it never failed to melt his heart.
He really fell hard for his fangirl.
There was no doubt about it.
“Babe, half is more than enough for me. The fact that I can be part of your life is more than enough for me. I don’t care if I’m only one percent of the reason where you are now. Being in your life and you being in mine is all I need. Don’t ever be sorry for being you. I’m very proud of you. Don’t ever forget that. I’ve always been so proud to have such an independent girl as you.”
He sounded so sincere that she almost lost her strength on her knees. If it weren’t for his hands around her waist, she should’ve been on the floor by now. He can’t stop his laughter. His girl was too cute for words. He pulled her closer and kissed her on the forehead.
“I made the right choice, didn’t I?”
She can’t hide her happiness. She never thought she’d ever be back in his arms and now that she was, there was never a day that she wasn’t happy.
She knew it will not always be happy but she also knew as long as it was Vhynce, she was willing to give everything. He was worth everything.
“I’m lucky to have you, aren’t I?”
She giggled at his words and he adored the sound of it.
“Damn you are!” She sounded proud and she was. She was so happy that her love finally understood how she had been feeling for the past 6 years.
He pulled her into a hug.
“We’ll probably finish late tonight. You know recordings.” He admitted. She pulled away.
“I’m pretty sure you guys would work ‘til morning again. Like you usually do. If you want, you can just come over when you guys are done. You know, you’re always welcome at my place.” He had to smile at that.
She never failed even once in making him feel at home whenever he was at her place. She continued, “I’ll most probably be up ‘til morning too and won’t leave the house anytime soon. Work this week is quite a lot.” She sounded apologetic.
Both of them were busy with their own work and she didn’t want him to stop just because of her. She knew that he didn’t want her to stop either. They’re both doing what they love and finding what you love to do in this life wasn’t easy. It never was.
They may be busy but they make sure that it will never be a reason for them to not be together.
“I’ll be happy to! I’ll see you later.” He pulled her into a kiss before bidding their goodbyes.
********
It was past 5 in the morning when she heard someone outside opened her door. She knew who it was. There was no one else who’d come to her place so early in the morning except her rockstar.
As he opened the door, he heard his girl greeted him. He went past the small hallway and saw his girl on the couch browsing through TV channels. Snoopy’s head was on her lap. It wasn’t new for him anymore but he always wanted to be a dog whenever he saw the not so little fella in that place.
“Why are you still up?” He asked as he walked towards her.
When he was already in front of her, he gave him a kiss before he sat on her other side.
“I just finished working but I’m still waiting for the client’s feedback so I can’t sleep until she gets back to me.” She sounded tired. She was. She hasn’t been sleeping recently. Her number of clients for the past few weeks have increased and she knew what caused it.
The next second, she felt a very familiar arm around her. The arm that always made her feel safe. He pulled her towards him until she was leaning on his chest.
“You should get some rest. I also think you should limit the projects you’re taking.” He was worried about her. He wasn’t telling her to stop doing what she loved. He was simply worried about her health.
“You know… I’m considering that. For the past few years, the reason why I was taking everything that comes my way was because I want to make a lot of money. I want to earn enough money to get my own place and I always wanted to give my uncle and his family something after all the things that they had done for me... I never planned on changing my routine but recently, I was considering to limit it even a bit.”
He kissed her hair. She felt it instead of seeing it. She took his hand and held it with both hands. She always does it whenever she was about to confess something and he felt weird that he found it adorable.
“Besides, now that I have you by my side, I can’t afford not to spend time with you. It’s weird. We see each other everyday but whenever we’re both busy with our stuff, I find myself missing you.”
She didn’t know what happened but he was now in his arms. The only thing she saw was Snoopy was now awake. Of course, he was. He was sleeping on her lap and now that Vhynce was carrying her,
she was pretty sure that the not so little fella’s head fell on the couch and woke him up. She felt bad for him
They were headed to her room and when they were inside, He pushed the door with his foot when Snoopy was about to enter.
“If you find that weird then how about me? The moment you’re not by my side, I miss you like crazy.“ He put her down on her bed.
She didn’t seem to hear what he said because she was busy looking at his expression. The moment he closed the door, the look on his face. It was priceless.
“Oh my god!”
She tried her best not to giggle but she can’t. He didn’t say a thing but instead he was laughing.
“You’re jealous of Snoopy?” She had to say it. She had to. She can’t help it. His jealous face was so freaking adorable. And he was even jealous over a dog.
“I don’t like the idea of sharing you.” He confessed.
Both of them can’t stop laughing.
She can’t believe of all things, he’d be jealous over a dog. He too found it funny but it was the truth. He was jealous of Snoopy. He had always been especially whenever he sees him sleeping on her lap or anything that involved the two sleeping together.
If Snoopy was a man, he could have been in prison for sexual harassment since the first time he saw the two together.
“You do know that he’s a dog, right?”
She had tears in her eyes for laughing too much but she had to keep pushing it.
“He’s always all over you. He’s always sleeping on your lap. He even sleeps beside you, on your bed. If he was a man, I’m pretty sure you’re pregnant by now.” He sounded so possessive.
The way his words hit her felt like he owned her and that whoever goes against it would not see sunlight ever again. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t stop her laughter.
He wasn’t simply jealous. He was jealous as hell.