I Found Home [Completed]

Chapter Thirty Three

Rebecca suggested we book into another hotel, since the sun was setting and the number of people on the streets was already depleting rapidly, only replaced by others who were partying at night. I agreed with her idea, already tired and worn out, as well as worried about getting caught by her father once again. Quickly, we shuffled into another hotel and, unpacking our things, began to make plans for what we could do next. I was on my bed, laying down from the side with my legs dangling.

"I can almost feel it.." I whispered, my eyes closed, "We're so close, Rebecca."

I felt a presence beside mine, and I turned to my right, seeing her eyes sparkling back at me. "I bet you're excited."

"Beyond that.." I mumbled. Her hand held mine, and I said, "When we get there, you can crash with me. I don't want you getting lost."

I don't want you leaving me.

"Mm, maybe," she responded, her voice gentle as she cradled my face in her hands. "Don't you think your sister would be bothered? And your father?"

"If not, maybe we can get an apartment together," I suggested, my heart beating a little faster when her finger traced my jawline. I put my hand on hers, stroking her wrist with my thumb. "We've got a whole life ahead of us. We have time."

"I suppose you're right.." she whispered. She smiled in a quirky way and said, "You should focus on your family before me. You have a lot to recollect with them."

I closed my eyes again. "Yeah.. I just don't— well, I dunno. I just don't want you to be alone. I practically dragged you here with me, and you won't have anyone with you when I'm with my family."

I heard her giggle slightly. "I don't mind it. Besides, it's not like I'm disappearing as soon as you're with them." I sensed her move, and her hands brushed across my cheeks, making me hold in a blush. "I'll still be here with you, Sam."

Do you have any idea what effect you have on me..?

It's almost like a spell.

"As always, you're optimistic," I commented, not knowing what to say.

My eyes opened, and I saw her looming over me. The smile on her face was as luminous as ever. Her smile.. is really something else. That confession to the taxi driver is spinning me off the edge. She kissed my forehead lightly, and her hands disappeared.

"I just remembered something," Rebecca said brightly, a cute blush on her face.

I sat up and looked over at her as she unzipped her suitcase. Curiosity spiked me. "What is it?"

"It's pretty silly," she replied, smiling, "but my mother packed it before we left, just in case it would be of any use to us." With those words, she pulled out a white wedding dress from her suitcase, letting it flow as she held it out in front of me. It seems to be inspired from the Victorian ages. Behind the white fabric, she smiled once again. "Isn't it pretty?"

Why is she showing it to me now? I couldn't help but smile slightly at her utter excitement of the dress. No doubt about it that it was pretty. It was elegant and beautiful, just as she was, and clearly matched her. Her parents know their fashion sense.

"Do you mind trying it on for me?" I asked, sitting crisscrossed on the bed.

Rebecca flushed from behind the dress, suddenly embarrassed. "W-What?"

"C'mon," I coaxed teasingly. "I really wanna know what it looks like on you. Aren't you curious to see what it looks like on you too?"

She hugged the dress to her body, blushing wildly. "I-I guess." Turning to the bathroom, she rushed in. "I'll be right back."

As soon as the door closed, I felt my heart warming up, my ears red. She's.. showing it to me for a reason. And again, I want to believe it's because she likes me. But it's a stupid reason. A stupid thought. I huffed a little, annoyed at myself. But at least I'll get to see her in her wedding dress. One day, she'll wear it on the day of her wedding. One day, she'll marry a man she loves. And I can only hope that I will be there to see it. To see her truly happy. That's all I can hope for.

My eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. A little part of me knows I won't be there. I'll be long gone. We'll be apart. We'll forget each other. That's how life goes on. Existences pass on as we replace those of our present with our future. Rebecca will forget me one day. She'll forget and only know me as the guy who brought her to America.

But, I will remember her.

"Will you remember me..?" I whispered inaudibly.

At that moment, I heard the squeaking of the bathroom door. My attention snapped over to it, and I saw Rebecca peeking out, her cheeks tinted pink. She's embarrassed to show me.

"I-It doesn't look good on me," she said quietly, shying away from the door. "It's too.. extravagant."

"Lemme see."

"If you say so..."

The door opened, and Rebecca walked out, her hands clenching fists of the skirt. At that moment, my heart pounded, too surprised and startled by how angelic she looked in the dress. White was a beautiful color itself, but I didn't know it was possible for someone to make it purer than it already was. With Rebecca, she still managed to look like an angel. Her eyes were unsure about her appearance, and if I weren't speechless at the time, I would've told her how beautiful she was. I would've told her how I felt astonished by her.

All I could do was stare blankly, my heart beating wildly, knowing that someone else would see her like this.

Like an angel.

"You've got to be damning me," I said aloud. Rebecca jumped a little at my voice, her curly hair covering over her blushing cheeks. "'It doesn't look good' my ass."

Startled, Rebecca bowed slightly, thanking me for the compliments. After a few minutes, she settled down and sat down in front of me, the skirt of the dress taking up some space. My hands were holding hers, stroking her palms. She's going to be wearing this dress one day, and I might not be there to see it. She's going to be kissing someone else in this dress.

"I feel like an idiot," I confessed to her.

Rebecca seemed confused. "What? Why?"

My eyes glistened slightly, but I refused to become emotional. "I didn't think after my ex, I would fall for someone." Her breath stopped a little, realizing what I was going to say. "I told myself I wouldn't. That I wouldn't let anyone see me like this."

"Sam..."

"But here I am," I mumbled, pulling her hand to my lips, kissing it softly. I let her hands drop from my grasp. "Here I am, doing something I told myself I wouldn't. I've fallen for you, to the point where I don't want anyone else to kiss you with this dress on. I want it to be me. It's crazy. I know it's not practical. But then again, since when has anything in our story been practical?" I peered up at her, my eyes blank. "I know you have a better chance of being with Xander above anyone else. I know that I'm not an option."

"I—"

"Please don't say anything.." I interrupted, looking away from her. "I probably sound pathetic, because I don't want to hear words that could break me down."

A hand grabbed mine.

My eyes widened, and I felt someone hold my face. Looking up, Rebecca had a smile on her lips, her eyes bright.

"What if I told you that you were an option?" She asked. "An option I'm willing to take." Her thumbs rubbed against my flesh, and I couldn't help but continue staring at her enchanting eyes, held captive. "You said that you don't want someone else to kiss me in this dress, right?"

I nodded.

"Then be the first."

With those words hanging in the air, I felt her lips touch mine, pulling me into a kiss.