Petrichor

Part 1

There he stood, comfortably still, as if he was expecting me to be the first to give in and approach him with open arms.

"What're you doing here?" I said not moving at all and just staring with my arms crossed.

He came closer and before you know it, he was invading my personal space. This guy is unbelievable. Just so fucking unbelievable.

He opened up to me and of course, I did the same and opened up but when things got scarily serious, he ran. That bastard.

"I want you back." He cooly said without stuttering or breaking eye contact. What was I supposed to do? Say Yes? I wasn't stupid and shallow like all the other girls he hit on back then when we were still friends.

"No." I said as I slowly turned away and walking back to my door, taking my precious time in walking. What was I expecting from him? I wasn't quite sure. I still am not sure.

On my way to my door, I could hear the rain drops hitting the roof roughly but soft enough to replace a child's lullaby. It was comforting but I knew it wouldn't keep going on like this. The rain and my so called relationship with him.

He left so often and only came back when it rained, when I was in pain and when I felt like giving up. I didn't like that. I still don't.

I knew he was following me after I took my first 15 steps because I could hear his heavy footsteps trying their best not to make noise but instead, making those creaking sounds against the floorboards. Was I smiling? No.

I was silently sobbing. My shoulders lightly shook as I walked but still, I remained unwavering and kept walking. His steps grew quicker and louder as he pulled me into his arms with me facing his chest.

There, I shook violently with tears.

"You left me and I waited for so long!!" I sobbed unto his chest as he held my head and kissed my head.

The only thing he kept saying was "I'm sorry."

I don't recall passing out but I woke up the next morning in my bed with warmth on my back.

He was still here. My heart made the smallest movement and made me love him a little bit more. I turned over and met his same eyes. The only difference was the increase of lines around it. Was he crying often? Did he miss me? Had he met someone else? I had no idea.

"Why are you still here?" I whispered on his soft face that had rough edges. He looked so fragile but sturdy. He was the kind of man who I'd decide to marry in the future. He was someone I looked forward to taking care of. He was someone I planned on growing old with.

"I wanted to stay with you." He whispered back with his eyes still closed.

"Why stay when you're still going to leave anyway?" I asked with a small tear slipping from my right eye. It slid onto my nose, past my left cheek and softly crashed on the warm pillow my head rested on.

"You can't sleep on beds this big because it makes you feel lonely and cold even when the heater is on right next to you. You also hate waking up alone after a storm has passed because it leaves a cold kind of vibe that makes you sick."

He said calmly, still not opening his eyes to look into mine. Then he just wrapped his arms around my clothed waist.

"Let's stay like this for awhile. It feels nice." He muttered under his breath and of course, I furrowed my brows in annoyance because COME ON!!

I pushed him off and sat up furious. "You can tell me all of this if you cared, or if you planned on staying longer than 1 week but I WILL NOT TAKE YOUR SHIT ANYMORE! YOU EITHER LEAVE OR YOU STAY, DECIDE!!"

I yelled into the space in front of me, afraid to look into the eyes that might pull me back and make me want to wait for him forever. I felt the bed shuffle as he sat up and turned my face gently to look at him.

"I want to stay but-"

"Just go.." i said, finally giving up like the way I did when he told me the same thing before leaving last month and all the other months he promised to stay.

I turn away and get off my bed. I wipe my eyes and walk to open my bedroom door.

"If you don't plan on staying at all, just leave before anything else happens."

I said, revealing my weakness. Then, he stood to walk to me.

He didn't say anything but he kissed me in the forehead, told me that he loves me and that he'll be back again .

Then he left.

I stopped crying and went on with my life. But I did wait for him. I always waited for him.

Because I know he'll always come back. Even with the date uncertain, he still came back when I least expected it. It hurt, yes, but at least he came back.

He was the only person who ever kept that promise to me.

He always came back.