Thank you, CORMIA, for reading this and being so beautifully awesome, like all of you. Thank you guys for reading this story. Happy last reading. :)
|Andrew|
My hands began to perspire as I shyly glanced at her. She kept talking with her friend and I kept swallowing the drinks set on top of the bar counter. I couldn’t help but stare at her and sigh.
Her golden tresses were coiled in wavy curls that enchanted her shoulders in a hypnotic spectacle. Her small plump frame hid behind the imperial cocktail green dress that awake those honeyed gems of eyes. And those pair of Doc Martens perfectly combined with her dress, impaling her tomboy-ness through every eye that landed on her beauty. Enchanted, I closed my eyes at the sound of her sweet laughter that sounded as delightful as a lullaby.
Day after day she looks so beautiful it’s hard for me to stop staring at her. And day after day, I’m determined to live the rest of my life with her. And what I’m about to do will either break me or make me.
“Andrew, calm down, man,” his stupid voice said beside me, “You need to be sober for this night, dude.”
Shooting him a glare, I downed another drink. “Ayden, shut up.”
Amused, he patted my shoulder, shaking his head. “Still same old Andrew. I missed this, man. I’m glad you called.”
“Yeah,” I snorted, “If it was it for you, we’d never made up.”
And he knew I was telling the truth. After weeks being together with Riley, she told me how Ayden helped her push every fear away and confess to me. I had to thank him, because—even though we weren’t communicating—he ended up being the cupid in this story.
“I’m glad I called you too,” I admitted, winking at him, “I didn’t know if my plan was too corny for her. You know her…she’s not into corny stuff.”
“You always need me for something and I’m such a good friend…even though things happened.”
“I can’t believe you loved Lora all that time, man,” I sighed.
Immediately, he stiffened. “Don’t say that again, man. Somebody could hear you… She’s even seeing another guy. Such a…”
“I’m sorry, man.” Now it was my turn to pat his shoulder. “You’ll be alright—“
“Heck yeah—especially if that brunette over there glances at me.” We both looked at the girl across the ballroom, and effectively, she did glance back at him with a wave. “Yep, tonight is going to be a great night.”
Ayden kept looking at her while I turned back and continued to toy with my fingers. The slow music drowned me deeper in my nervousness. And maybe just maybe…I could ignore my thoughts and cheer the groom and bride who danced together romantically in the middle of the dance floor.
“Ease up, bro,” once again, Ayden joked, slapping my shoulder. “What could go wrong?”
“Everything!” I snapped. “She’s acting all weird…maybe she’s doubting this…”
“Why? I talked to her before—“
“Because I don’t know,” I almost yelled. “I’m just—“
“Scared? Nervous?”
Shocked, I met his daring smile, and I knew I had to prove him wrong. Brusquely, I climbed off the bar stool and started to walk towards her, fixing my black suit and ignoring the fancy chatting people. I wasn’t nervous, nor scared. And I was going to corroborate it.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait up, man.” Swiftly, Ayden turned me around with his arm bounded around my back. “Don’t mess this up, man. Let’s go and talk outside.”
Silently, I decided to let him led me through the glassed open French doors and into the hotel’s outside patio. While we kept walking, I could feel her gaze on me—I always felt this tingling touch within my bones when she looked at me. And I knew for sure, she was looking at us.
Some people paused the chit-chat to flash odd looks at us as we exited. But thankfully, the jazz music motioned them to continue enjoying the celebration and conversations. And as soon as we reached the hotel’s patio, Ayden released me and sighed hoarsely.
“Two long weeks of planning. Two weeks, Andrew, and you almost threw it all out the window!”
“Hey, I’m trying to get this right—it’s not my fault she’s being distant so lately,” I retorted, feeling my tie swing as I flung my arms in the air. “It’s not my fault!”
“Stop.” Ayden grabbed my shoulders and shook me, “Think. Breathe. And freaking calm down!”
“Don’t tell me to calm down! I’m calmed! I’m calmed! I’m freaking calmed!” I yelled, spits flying out of my mouth.
With a restrained glare, Ayden released me once again to swipe my saliva off his face. “I swear this is the last time I’m helping with you with her.”
Defeated, I slumped down on the wet grass. “Why is this so hard, man?”
“I don’t even know! That’s why I’m never pulling this type of stunt—look how miserable you are.”
Shooting him a glare, I nodded. “You’re right... Maybe we should call it off.”
“What?! Don’t be a coward, man. Stand up,” he severely ordered. “I said, stand up, Andrew.”
Grunting, Ayden hauled me up on my feet and swept the dirt off my trousers. “I can’t do it, man, she’s too weird with me,” I bemoaned, “I can’t.”
“Look.” He slapped both of his hands against my cheeks and held my face closer to his. “You need to calm down and let some coherence enter that thick skull of yours. Don’t you think she’s weird because you’ve been acting like an idiot all of this time?”
He has a point.
“I—I can’t help it, man. I get too nervous…”
“Aw,” he mockingly cooed, “Aren’t you so sweet?” He twirled my face around in his hands and pressed my cheeks together, thus the swelled pout on my lips and the amused smirk on his face.
Angrily, I shoved him off, and fixed my suit. “Don’t make me punch you here, Ayden. We’re at her sister’s wedding,” I told him through gritted teeth, remembering him where we were.
Ayden looked pleased. “Why that’d be epic,” he goaded, “I’d love to see you asking it with a bloody mouth and a black eye.”
I decided to ignore him.
Rubbing my temples, I began to pace around the grass. “I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.”
“You’re pathetic, man,” Ayden laughed. “Let’s talk about something so it can calm you down.”
“Okay,” I exhaled, willing my heart to stop thumping so hard. “What do you wanna talk about?”
“Let’s talk about why I was such a butthole, sounds good?” he awaited for my nod. “I started liking Lora when you went to Colorado, and I threw that party. She looked very good, man, and I was trying to ignore the fact that I felt attracted to my best friend’s girlfriend. But…” he paused, rubbing his whiskered chin. “…we got drunk. I tried to forget her—I even hooked up with more girls, trying to not feel jealous of stuff like that.
“Nothing worked, though. Then, she told me off. You guys broke up and Riley entered the scene. I thought I could be with her, but I was wrong. Now, I saw my opportunity when I knew Riley was interested in me. Bro, I’m not trying to bring old flames—I’m just that irresistible. And well, now I feel better after apologizing to her for using her to make Lora jealous. I was a dunce.
“So I was a butthole for using your current girlfriend, for hooking up with your ex-girlfriend, and for being such a bastard. And for that,” he dramatically brought a hand to his chest, “I’m sorry.”
Even though I was resisting it, a smile appeared, and I patted Ayden’s shoulder. “It’s okay, man. Now it’s in the past. We have to look forward—we have to make memories not remember them.”
“Then that’s why I need you to be calmed,” the new Ayden—with his military crew cut—pleaded. “I’m going to give you some minutes to get yourself straight and then, do everything according to the plan. Deal? I want to see you in a coffin before I go away.”
That’s right…Ayden is going to the armed forces.
Sadly smiling, I pulled him in a brotherly hug. “Man, you better come back whole, you hear me?”
“Don’t be such a sissy, Andrew. Let—let go!”
Ayden jostled me off and fiddled his grey suit. “I’m sorry,” I apologized, glaring and at the ground and holding back some emotions. “Go. I’ll be back inside in a couple of minutes…if I don’t do it now, I won’t do it ever.”
Nodding, Ayden turned around and headed back inside the hotel. Looking up at the nightly sky, I heaved in a shaky breath.
It’s time, I thought.
The moon was bright and oddly beautiful, and the lake that silently rested at the edge of the patio was absolutely stunning. Like Riley’s beauty.
But It only took one word to either destroy me or make me the happiest man alive.
It’s time.
Determined, I headed back inside the reception. Everybody was still chatting while the jazz music swam throughout the candle lit room. I saw Ayden talking with a member of the band and I took it was my cue. Sauntering towards Ayden, I glanced at Ryan—who kissed his bride and swarmed on his feet to meet us with the band.
Sweat was now trickling down the back of my neck. With every step I took, I heard nails been hammered on my soon to be coffin. I could just picture myself dead. It all depended on how it turned out.
“Ya ready, Mr. Tight?”
Unloosening my tie, I nodded at Ryan. “I—I guess,” I stammered, avoiding the urge of scanning amid the sophisticated dressed people for her.
Ryan tipped his cowboy hat and patted my shoulder. “Ya need to let those hinges creak, boy. I taught you well, didn’t I? After all those hours of rehearsing, I bet you’ll nail it.”
Doubtfully nodding, I neared closer to the stage’s edge along with him. “I’m about to see if it’ll paid off.”
Evasively, we walked to Ayden, and the bastard had a toothy smile on his face. “Everything’s set and done. Break a leg up there, Andrew.”
Doubtfully nodding once again, I climbed up those stairs and walked to the stage’s front, stopping in front of the microphone stand. Giving a low cuss word, I tapped the microphone, the hitting sound beckoning every guest’s attention.
“Um,” I nervously started, “Can I have your attention, please?”
Gulping down, I saw how people started to look up at me before the blinding white light hit my face. I raised my hand to block the light, and somehow, I mustered enough confidence to look for a golden haired tomboy that has my existence in the palm of her hands. But she was nowhere among the crowd.
“Than—thank you very much,” I stuttered, sweat showering my entire body. “Well, I hope you all are having a wonderful evening. We know we’re here gathered to celebrate the love Ryan and Alexis have for each other. And as the Best Man, I’m obliged to say a few words. But of course, don’t tell that to Ryan.”
The tensed room eased up with chuckles and laughter. And suddenly, I felt lighter in front of hundreds of amused eyes.
“I’m kidding, man,” I glanced at Ryan, who just smiled and tipped his cowboy hat. “It was a joke to make me feel more comfortable,” I said to Alexis, who sat behind the long white table.
Her white veiled grin merged with the white curtains behind her while a cutely dressed doll with bouncy curls sat on her lap. I just couldn’t believe how fond our families grew to each other. It only took one dinner together to feel as if we were reuniting in a family reunion tradition.
“And now that I feel more comfortable around you guys, I just wanted to exhort you to rise up your cup—if you have one. If not, you’re not alone—I don’t have one either,” I ended up chuckling with the crowd. “And let’s toast to the happy years that are coming. Because this is just the beginning of new a journey together. To Alexis and Ryan.”
“To Alexis and Ryan,” the crowd echoed.
Everybody raised their glasses, and in unison we all toasted for love. “Now that the toast is scratched off the list, I’d like to dedicate a song to a special someone. I don’t know if she’s here,” I started, still looking for Butch. “Riley? Are you there?”
“She’s here!” somebody screamed.
My head snapped to my side, where Alexis sat with Olivia. And next to them, was the love of my life. The reason of why everything within me changed.
Riley…
“Well, there she is,” I said over the microphone, every bit of nervousness gone now. “Um, hi, Riley.” Dumbly waving at her, I mouthed greeting words while she chuckled in return.
The whole world stopped when she sealed her honeyed eyes with mine. I kept looking at her, absorbing every bit of her. A longing sigh slipped out of my mouth as I smiled at her. She just bit those addicting lips of hers, beckoning me to climb off the stage and kiss her.
Stage? Oh, right!
“What the best man here is tryin’ to say, folks,” Ayden suddenly appeared by my side, speaking on the microphone and facing the crowd, “is that he’s going to sing a song for his significant other. Pease, give him a round of applause so he can come back from planet love-struck.”
Thunderous laughter summoned the once gone nervousness. And all I could manage to utter was a stuttering nervous chuckle. “Thank you, Ayden,” I said through clenched teeth, slightly shooting him a glare.
“My pleasure,” he chimed in before getting off the stage.
“And I’d like to invite the groom and his band to assist me,” I said, glancing at Ryan—who joined me with his guitar in hand.
“Howdy,” he greeted the people, testing the microphone before him and bracing his acoustic guitar closer to his stomach. “This song goes to my lovely wife as well. Sugarbear, enjoy this with little Riley. And I hope y’all enjoy too.”
Glancing back at the band behind us, my hands squeezed the microphone tighter and closer to me. “Hit it!” I shouted, ready to hear those melodic drums and stroking strings Ryan knew to play so well.
“Moonlight floors…” I softly began to sing, closing my eyes and hearing the music and eager silence blending so well. “Kiss me... Rose doors... Kiss me… Beauty revolves…Kiss me... around your eyes. Sweet endorsement and sweet life…Oh, just kiss me, softly and... Let me be your knight.”
“Kiss me,” Ryan sang as I opened my eyes to gaze at my woman, whose hands traveled all the way up to her mouth in sign of surprise. “Trees embrace... Kiss me… Cotton May… Kiss me… Love meeting no end…With you here around my arms. Just, baby, oh please, kiss me.”
“Let me be your man,” we both sang in unison, the conquering melody becoming sharper with the sound of the entire instruments’ magic. “Let me kiss you an entire lifetime and never break apart. Let me conquer your dreams and make them come to life, sweet lady. ‘Cause ain’t nothing much sweeter than your love for me. So kiss me…”
A soft murmuring applause swelled us with satisfying pride. And we both shared some smirks before gazing right into our lovers’ eyes.
“Running months,” I continued the soft ballad, “Kiss me… Ashes bring…no despair. Lover’s heart…in broad daylight. But, baby, if you kiss my lips…I promise that I’ll be your day and night…and sweet delight…”
“Corner’s turn,” Ryan sweetly caroled with his deep southern accent, “into morning cries. Toddlers run around us…letting us know that we’ve been right. ‘Cause running out of these rose doors into the moonlight floors, makes no dream alive. But if you kiss me right now…I swear I’ll try to never let you down.”
“Let me be your man,” we retook the chorus, some claps were now accompanying our voices. “Let me kiss you an entire lifetime and never break apart. Let me conquer your dreams and make them real, sweet lady. ‘Cause ain’t nothing much sweeter than your love for me. So kiss me…. And bring these dead lips to life…”
“Bring these dead lips to life…”
“Bring these dead lips to life…to life…”
“Alexis,” Ryan spoke first, “I’ve never loved a lady so much like I love you and our little piece of heaven: Olivia. Never break apart of our timeless dream, sweet lady.”
“Riley.” It was my turn to say some words to my delight. “You are my best friend, my shoulder to lean on, the one person I know I can count on, you're the love of my life, you're my one and only, you're my everything. You’re just my Butch.”
Some laughs ended up in cooing awes. And Ryan kept on stroking the guitar along with the entire band. I was supposed to continue to sing the song we devotedly wrote, but I couldn’t take it any longer.
Maladroitly, I walked over to the stage’s edge and jumped off of it to land on the floor. The crowd gasped at my unexpected move and my heart beat faster as I walked between the threads of people. And I could imagine Ryan smiling and shaking his head at ‘Mr. Tight’.
“Kiss me and let me be your man. Let me conquer your dreams and make them real, sweet lady. ‘Cause ain’t nothing much sweeter than your love for me. So kiss me…. And bring these dead lips to life…” Ryan continued to sing as I crossed the room.
“Here comes your man, Michelle,” Alexis commented to her younger sister when I reached their table.
“Riley Michelle Benjamin,” I beckoned her to stand up and meet my plea.
And so she did. Riley stood up and offered an abashed smile to the gawking guests—whose eyes I felt scorching my body in a frenzy of braveness.
“Y-yes, Boba?” she stammered, cutely and adorably gulping down her saliva.
“Would you—“
“Andy!” Olivia seized my stretched hand and tugged it down to earn my attention. “Please dance with me!”
“Olivia—“
“Riley,” Ayden suddenly joined in, “Would you dance with me? I’m sure Andrew won’t mind,” he finished, smirking at me.
“I don’t,” I lied. “Come, Olivia. Let’s dance.”
Walking towards the center of the room, I stole a glance from a rather calmed Riley. Which is rare. But being settled around staring and fussing people, obliged me to offer a smile and walk Olivia around the ballroom.
Olivia gracefully twirled under my hand, her creamy rose dress and curls swaying with every adorable movement. And along the minutes, she started running around me, pretending to be an airplane. Giggles were now surrounding me, and I couldn’t help but grin at the goofy little girl that once was so uptight and mature. Olivia was now acting like a… a kid of her age.
“Okay, that’s enough, Olivia,” Alexis interrupted Olivia’s giggles and held her hand to stop her from running. “Go and ask papa to dance. ‘Kay, darling?”
Bubbly nodding, Olivia threw me a kiss with her little hands and skipped towards the stage. Apparently, while I ‘danced’ with Olivia, Ryan finished the song and everybody was swinging their bodies to the indulgent tune the band played.
Glancing around, I sought for Riley and when my eyes landed on her, I just wanted to run to her and rip her away from Ayden. I’ve been admitting that I’m jealous, although I can’t see the jealousy. I’m normal, okay? Normal guys like me want to keep what theirs untouched. That’s why I don’t like Riley near any man. She’s too innocent to notice their shameless stares and contaminated thoughts.
But it soothed me to see her laughing at something that Ayden said while he led her in their friendly dance. My eyes glided down to her waist to see that Ayden just held her upper back—nothing else. And she carefully rested her hands on his shoulders while he continued to talk or joke about something not distinguishable. What calmed me down was to think they were dancing a goodbye dance. Ayden was leaving anytime soon—as soon as they activated him, to be exact—and perhaps, this was his coward way to bid an adieu.
“Care to dance with me?” I heard somebody say beside me. Tearing my gaze off of Riley, I came to see Alexis propounding a kind smile. “Well?” she asked.
“Sure,” I said, nodding and offering my hand.
The bride took it and she placed her other hand on my shoulder, her height meeting my chin. Respectfully, I put my other hand on her white-laced back, making sure to keep a roomful space between us.
“I hope you didn’t think Olivia was annoying,” Alexis said, apologizing. “Since Ryan and I’ve been back together and permanently, Olivia stopped worrying so much over us. Instead, she became the child she was supposed to be. The tables turned around. Now I’m the mother and she’s the child.”
“That’s a good thing,” I said to her while we slowly danced.
“That’s a great thing!” she corrected, “I was actually worried that Olivia had the need to act like a grownup. It wasn’t healthy for her. Her childhood was slipping away.”
“Right.”
“You sure are head over heels for her, huh?” Alexis commented, smugly smiling up at me.
I just nodded in response.
Sadly, she took my silence as an opening fair of talkativeness when I just wanted to hold Riley in my arms and proceed with tonight’s plans. “I hate to say it, but I think she’s head over heels for you too. It’s hard for me to see my baby sister experiencing the beauty of love. But I’m glad that it was with you, Andrew. And I got to thank you for opening my eyes with that little talk we had months ago.”
“No prob, sis,” I joked, receiving a laugh from her.
Swiftly, her laugh turned into a serious sneer as she grabbed my tie and pulled me closer to her. “Now listen very well, pal. If you break her heart, I swear by the floor that supports us now, that I’m going to cut your manhood and give it to the dogs. You hear?”
Fretfully gulping, I hurriedly nodding. “Y-yes.”
Wow, talk about violence.
“Good,” she huffed and released me, “Thankfully, Ryan told me what you were going to do tonight, so, I think that talk wasn’t necessary. But I always wanted to warn a boy like that.”
I practically gaped at her, but somehow some chuckles made their way out of my throat. “You’re good with that type of warning.”
“I know,” she chirped, “But was it convincing? I want to practice since Olivia is growing up so fast.”
“Oh no, it was convincing already,” I held, smiling down at my future sister-in-law. “You’re definitely going to scare ‘em off.”
“I will,” she agreed, laughing. “Well, you better do as you planned and fast, mister. Go,” she tilted her head to where Riley’s supposed to be with Ayden.
“Thank you,” I sincerely said, taking Alexis’ hands and squeezing them. “Thank you for talking to her and for being there for us.”
“No. Thank you, Andrew,” she replied, releasing the grip and patting my back. “Now, go!”
Nodding, I practically skipped like little Olivia did minutes ago. But when I reached Ayden, he was dancing with a brunette girl, oblivious to my puzzled look. I must’ve probably looked like a fool. I was standing in the middle of the dance floor, people were dancing with their partners by now, and Riley was nowhere to be found.
“Are you going to stand there all night or what?”
Spinning around in my heels, I met a pair of honey green eyes that pierced me with such intensity I had nothing left to hold but my hopeless hope.
“Charming as always, Butch,” I replied, managing a smirk.
“Not as charming as you up there,” she said, stepping closer and holding a smirk of her own. “That’s why you were acting so weird earlier?”
“Yeah,” I uneasily chortled, “I was pretty nervous.”
“Didn’t seem like it. Again, I must tell you that you are an excellent singer.”
“Thanks.” I stepped closer to her. “Hey, um, I wanted to show you something. Come with me.”
Grabbing her velvety hand, I dragged her to the end of the room—where double doors greeted us and gestured us to open them. And so I did. Before we dove to the stairs, I glanced back at her to see her beautiful smile gleaming the pathway we headed.
“What are you planning to do now, Boba?” she laughingly asked. “Some new corny stuff you see in movies?”
“Oh, you have no idea.”
We loped up those rows of stairs until we reached the hotel’s last floor.
“Goodness, Boba. For the Yoda and the council,” Riley started complaining, “How many more steps to go? Are we there yet?”
“Just a couple more,” I said, the enthusiasm overpowering the exhaustion I had.
After taking those couple of more steps, I turned around and held Riley’s shoulders. “Okay. We’re finally here. Are you ready?”
“I was born ready, Boba,” Riley haughtily retorted.
“If you say so,” I slyly recounted her. “Gimme your hand, Butch.”
Smiling, she positioned her hand on top of my palm and entwined our fingers together. “Done. Now surprise me.”
Now nodding at her, I held back the smirk from appearing. Leisurely, we sauntered to the cornered door—where her surprise dwelled. When we stood in front of it, I stretched out my hand, twisted the doorknob, and pushed it open. But what we saw surprised us. And that was definitely not planned.
The nerd girl and Tony were zealously making out inside the room. The room was candlelit and they were actually making out throughout the space it held, oblivious to the world around them.
“Oh my sparkling Yoda!” Riley shouted in disbelief. “Skittles! Tony!”
I brought a fist to my mouth and forced a couple of uneasy coughs. Tony just continued to wetly kiss the nerd girl as they made their way to us. They were saying some apologizing words through the kiss but it was incomprehensible, as anyone could imagine.
“So-sowhym,” one of them tried to say, but their throat was conquered with moans of pleasure.
Awkwardly, Riley and I moved aside so they could continue the fervently kiss, and exit the room.
The nerd hoped her skinny legs around Tony’s waist as he held her, their lips soppily locked all the while. Tony just shot his arm at us and lifted his thumb up.
Wow…
Glancing at a stunned Riley, I cleared my throat. “Let’s, um, just enter.”
She nodded slowly, her eyes wearing horror while they dazed off at the kissing couple. To be honest, they weren’t kissing, they were getting at it. That intimate was.
Despite the whole awkward and unplanned thing, I ushered Riley inside the room. As soon as we entered, I heard her gasp. Smiling satisfyingly, I closed the door behind me and locked it, just in case.
“Oh, wow,” she said, “This is just beautiful.”
I walked to her side and joined her in admiration. The whole room had melting tall lit candles around the corners. Its romantic windows were gaping at us, letting the moon shine through and contribute its magic to the romantic air.
Riley looked up at the ceiling and her hands flew to her mouth, muffling the awed gasped she continued to inhale.
Hundreds of yellow roses were waving at us from the ceiling. They were dangling upside down, covering every inch of the ceiling. I must admit that it was truly wonderful and magnificent. But my eyes slid down to see something more beautiful than the arrangement of flowers—to beheld her staring up at the decoration. And the sparkle her eyes held made everything worth it.
“This is the room of love confessions,” I started explaining, walking over the open window. “As you can see, we’re on the peak of the hotel. And this room was made for love confessions. There’s a rumor that a couple confessed their feelings to each other in here and they lived together for a hundred years.”
A baseball—that sat on the windowsill calmly—caught my attention. Ayden could be whatever he is, but he sure likes to plan things and do it accordingly.
Leaning against the windowsill, I grabbed the baseball and smoothly, started playing with it. “Riley?”
She was still absorbed by the dangling roses. “Oh, Andrew. This is just so,” she glanced at me to glance up at the ceiling again, “so beautiful.”
Now smirking, I signaled her to join me by the window. With one last glance at the ceiling, she totteringly walked and joined me.
“You know what’s more beautiful?”
Blinking, she chuckled, a knowing smile adorning her rosy lips. “What?”
“You,” I wooed.
“You know,” she started, gazing off outside the window, “Sometimes I wonder how you find me—a warsy tomboy—beautiful.”
“Because socially constructed ‘beauty’ sucks,” I wittily answered. “You see the beauty of the night?” I pointed outside the window, and we both looked around, taking in the milky darkness creeping in a chalky twilight.
“Yeah.”
“Like you see the natural God-made night’s beauty, I see your beauty. It’s the same.”
“How so?” she asked, frowning up at me.
But I kept on staring at the night, feeling her eyes on me and swiftly glancing at her through the corner of my eye. “The night’s beauty has always been there. You choose whether to see it or not. You’ve always been there, Riley. But now I’ve chosen to see your beauty. That’s why I see you. And what I see is the most beautiful created human.”
“Boba,” she breathlessly uttered, my eyes meeting hers and locking in a strong chemistry.
“When are you going to choose to see your beauty, Butch? It’s your choice, you know,” I said, the grip I had on the baseball now catching her attention.
“What’s that?” she glanced down at my hand.
“I miss you when I'm not with you. When I'm not with you, all I do is think about you. When I think about you, I just want to be with you. And when I'm with you, it's like all of my dreams have come true,” I nonchalantly said, glancing at her and at the moon.
“Andrew, what are you—“
“If you look into my eyes, you’ll find me. Look into my heart and you’ll find you. ‘Cause you’re the only one that dwells there,” I continued to interrupt her. “Riley, for me you’re no one.” Her eyes widened at my comment while I just smiled down at her. “Because no one is perfect.”
“Boba,” she furiously grasped my tie, almost throttling me. “Stop with the corny words and phrases. It’s killing me!”
“Within you I lose myself, without you I find myself wanting to be lost again,” I continued to say. This time it came out with laughs. “Are you a dictionary, Riley? Because you add meaning in my life.”
“Stop it, Boba. I mean it. This is too much,” she smilingly warned, punching my arm.
“Okay, I’m stopping now,” I said, “If you don’t like me to tell how I feel about you, then I’ll stop. But let me tell you this one last thing. I’ve chosen to love you and see you like the beauty you are. I see you, Riley.”
With the last sentence, I slowly stroked her face, my fingertips slightly gliding down until it reached her chin. Twisting my fingers around it, my thumb stroked it, pulling it up closer to me. Then, I caringly pressed my lips against her forehead, closing my eyes the second that it lasted.
When she pulled away from me, she brushed her hands down my face as well. “I see you too, Andrew.”
The contact ignited my heart in joy. “Now that that’s established,” I started, “I want to ask you something.”
“What is it?” she probed.
“Could you please look out the window and shout, ‘Yada-yada’?”
I saw how her face scrunched up in curiosity, but she nodded nonetheless and leaned into the window. “Yada-yada!” she shouted, clearly not embarrassed at all. “What about it?” she asked me over her shoulder.
“Look down,” I answered, gripping the baseball tighter.
She looked down and immediately gasped. Ayden and I planned to have the entire guests and people around the hotel held signed posters. I leaned in next to her, to look down at the grinning crowd that looked like small ants holding posters like I imagined it’d be. Ayden was a slick bastard. Very slick.
The posters they held together in unison read, ‘Yes you must say, Riley,’ and ‘The force with you, is. If yes, you say.’
Riley waved down at Alexis, Ryan, Olivia, and Tony—who waved up at us and shouted words.
“Say yes, Riley!” Alexis—I think—yelled, followed by a round of applause and cheers from the other people.
Taking their hollers as another cue, I stepped back and kneeled down behind Riley.
She continued to laugh and wave at them. Seconds after, she glanced to where I used to lean on. “Say yes to what? Boba?”
“Riley,” I started; sweat now covering every inch of my body.
She spun around on her combat boots and gasped—again—down at me. “Boba Fett! Wha—what are you doing?”
“Riley.” I stretched out the baseball to her. “Will you be my tomboy?”
I’ve never seen her eyes so widespread. And I was sure she was reading what was written on the baseball’s front side—which it was ‘Be mine forever and ever. And a bit more after that.’
“Andrew!” she emotively choked out, clearly holding down the tears and the emotions. “This is so beautiful. Everything.”
“Butch!” I exasperatedly interrupted her, reclaiming an answer. “Will you be my tomboy? Forever and ever and a bit more after that?” I repeated.
“Gosh, yes, Boba!” she excitedly answered.
“Yes?” I asked her, standing up and handing her the baseball, “You sure? Forever is actually a really long time—”
My taunting was caught amid when she suddenly grasped my tie, once again, and pulled me close to her. So close I saw the sparkling desire in her eyes and the jagged breath puffing out of her tasteful mouth.
“Stop teasing,” she ardently said. “And kiss me.”
Now grinning at her, I was willing to undertake her order, but I had to do something else. “Wait a sec,” I told her, holding up a finger and poking my head out of the window. “She said yes, people! She said yes!” I yelled out and immediately everyone started cheering for us. “Hit it!” I yelled at Ayden, who I hoped was still within the crowd and ready for the last phase of our plan.
Suddenly, wine and cobalt colored fireworks blasted out to the dark sky, igniting it with its beautiful resplendence and smiling down at every one of us.
“Where was I?” I said to Riley while we continued to hear the burst of the fireworks and the cheers of people. “Ah, yes. I was about to kiss you. May I?”
“You talk too much,” she barked, feigning annoyance and pulling me closer to her.
At last, our lips crashed in a blistering passion we both knew we’d never grow tired to feel. She sneaked her hands around my neck and I sneaked mine around her waist, closing any painful gap between us. Our lips shifted sweetly without any glimpse of drowsiness, as if we were addicted to each other’s taste and lips.
And let the truth be told, I was addicted to her. I was a hobo that forever loved his cart. I was the fat kid that would never let go of his happy meal or chocolate cake. Riley was my exclusive chocolate river. And I couldn’t dream of more.
As we continued to explore each other’s mouths with the sizzling hunger, I reflexively raised my leg behind me. And I didn’t care. I was happy being the hopeless romantic girl that raised her calf every time a boy kissed her in cliché movies.
As long as Riley was the one kissing me, I’d always be the squealing romantic girl. I just feel that as long as Riley holds my hand, I can conquer the whole world.
As for our relationship, I don’t know what the future has for us. All I see in it is a carwash. And I’m hoping that I would see it pronto.
And I’m not able to categorize our relationship into a label—though I gladly would if I knew what label we fell under. We’re just a pair of best friends that constantly fight with each other to end up making out on a couch. Gotta think of a name for that type of couples.
So, there is our story.
It’s not perfect. It’s actually frustrating, if somebody asks me. It was a heck of a journey—for her to know that she loves me, and for me to grow some balls. But it’s our story.
Like I said, I don’t label our relationship, because it’s simply unlabeable—if that’s a word…
We’re just Boba and Butch.
We’ll forever be Boba and Butch. Forever and ever…and a bit more after that.