#WHATEVER

NARRATIVE CHAPTER: ANSEL

I took a deep breath. "I was wrong." I paused, looking down.

Time to pour out everything.

"For the longest time, I felt like I owed Vanna something from how our history went down. There was a part of me that felt obligated to help her – to turn things around – a chance to get rid of the guilt I buried deep from when we were together."

I shook my head. "I don't regret helping her out – she's a friend, but..." I looked up and met Chie's brown eyes, pleading with her to see the sincerity in mine.

"Chie, you should've been my priority. I was too confident at where we were that I didn't think about how you'd feel with her being back. I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry. You don't deserve that. You really don't deserve me."

She stayed quiet, only hugging herself and keeping her eyes on me.

I gave her a sad smile, shrugging. "You deserve someone who will always put you first. You deserve someone you can depend on, who can prove to you that it's okay to rely on someone else so you don't have to shoulder everything by yourself. You deserve someone who can assure you that they will never break your heart."

I took a tentative step closer, clenching my fists tight to stop myself from putting my arms around her. "I know you have doubts whether I can be that person or not, and I've failed to prove that to you. But... I won't make that mistake again."

"How can you make sure that it won't happen again?" she asked, with a raised eyebrow. She still had her walls up. Not that I blamed her.

"Because from here on out, I promise you..."

That seemed to catch her off guard.

A small smile stretched on my lips. "I promise you, I will always put you first. I promise to be that person you can depend on no matter what. I promise to never, ever break your trust again – nor will I ever break your heart."

"Big promises," she muttered. "I thought you don't make promises."

"For you, I'm willing to make a thousand more."

"Why?"

"Because I love you."

She blinked in surprise, taking a step back.

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep you in my life. It's selfish, I know. But I'm putting out all the stops." Stepping closer to her, I raised a hand and caressed her cheek before adding in a lowered voice, "I'm all in, baby."

Even though her eyes were starting to tear up and her low lip trembled as she took a deep breath, she kept her skeptical frown on her face. "Really?"

"I swear," I whispered.

"No more past loves looming over our heads?"

"Nope."

"You don't have any more exes in your closet?"

I chuckled quietly. "None."

"You're all in?" she asked again.

"All the way," I assured her, smiling softly.

She gazed at me for the longest time before finally wrapping her arms around me. It was all I could do not to scream 'halle-fucking-lujah.'

"How about you?" I asked, tightening my arms around her. "Are you willing to take the ultimate risk with me?"

She nodded against my chest.

"For real?" I couldn't hide the surprise in my voice. But hell, I was just too damn happy she was in my arms again.

"Yeah." She looked up at me, and whispered, "Because I love you, too."

A slow grin stretched on my face, feeling like it was a dream. Was I floating on cloud nine right now? Nobody better wake me up.

"Say that again."

"No," she said, hiding her face as she went back to hugging me.

"Aw, c'mon." I laughed. "Do it for me."

"No."

"But I wanna hear it again."

"Tough luck."

"Fine, at least admit that you missed me."

"I missed you," she mumbled.

A shit-eating grin stretched across on my face. Good enough for me.

"I missed you, too."

At some point, we ended up cuddling on the bed, not willing to let go of each other yet. We talked about absolutely everything, catching up on the time we'd lost.

I had my arms around her at last, one of my hands rested on her arm while my thumb was gently rubbing her skin. I was finally with my girl again. I was happy and content. Nothing could ruin my mood.

"Do you think..." Chie started, but trailed off.

"What?" I urged.

She pursed her lips. "Do you think we should keep this night between us? I've been doing a lot of thinking and... perhaps our friends are too involved."

I released a deep sigh. "Fuck yes."

"You think so?"

"You tell them too much of everything."

She scoffed. "They're my friends. It's only natural."

"Yeah, but 'us' is a different matter," I reasoned, wincing at how we handled things in the past. "I know they're your friends, babe. But if ever we have problems, we gotta deal with that shit on our own. That's no one's business but ours." I looked her in the eye. "Communication is key."

I couldn't even begin to express how pissed I was at Fran. But I get it, that was her way of protecting her friend. I gotta respect that.

Chie stared at me, raising an eyebrow. "Look at you, acting all mature."

I smirked. "I'm a wise man."

"...who's also a goof."

"You didn't deny it, though."

She shrugged. "There's no point in arguing with you."

I grinned. "Because you love me."

"Shut up."

I burst out laughing. "Make me."

"Is that a challenge?" she asked, looking up at me.

"What if it is?"

She rolled eyes. "You're such a kid."

"Michelle loooves me sooo m—"

And that was when she made me shut up.