From a dream.

We finally made it out of the horrible place. Lying under the bed, next to dead bodies. Watching those trolls devour human after human. It was just too horrible.

"Here. Grab my hand," I reached my hand over the edge and pulled her up. We stood there on top of the hill. Relieved.

We paused for a moment to catch our breath. "Come on!" I said excitedly and ran towards the forest, "I think they just won a battle!"

I can't wait to see him. I picked my pace as we reached the edge of the forest. The sound of horse hooves, the jubilant cheers and the shouts of victory!

I see him! There he is! Sitting on top of his horse, at the front of the pack. Next to his father and his brothers. Giving each other a pat on his back. A huge grin plastered on his face. His father, the king, looking at him proudly. A look of approval and love.

The same look that is probably on my face right now.

It's been ages since I've seen them getting along. A long time since he looked so relaxed. A long time since...Wait. I turned to my companion and told her, "You go ahead. I am heading back home," and walked away.

I don't want to be that person anymore. The one that drove them apart. That caused the rift between them. I turned and started running as tears poured down my face.

"Take care of yourself. I promised I'll come back when the war ends," he whispered into my ears as he wrapped his arms around my waist, kissed my shoulders and buried his face in my hair. I wrapped my arms around his and watched as the sun began to rise.

I won't be there. I can't.

Fight.

Broken shards of glasses on the floor. A piece of broken glass stained with blood lay across a picture of them.

"A week. That was how long it took me to get sick of you!" he yelled at her in anger, sweeping the contents of the table onto the floor. Books, magazines, laptops and their picture. Crash, crash, crash.

Too tired to fight any longer. Too hurt to yell. Too sick of crying. She stood there and stared at the items on the floor. A look of indifference on her face.

He came up to her and grabbed her wrist so tightly that it hurt, a look of maniac anger entered his eyes.

She continued to stared at the items and remained silent.

He shoved her onto the floor and stomped out of the house.

That was 8 hours ago. An hour after they had snuggled up to each other and fell asleep the whole day. An hour after they promised never to fight again. An hour after they took that silly picture and framed it up.

That very picture on the floor right now.

8 hours. She hasn't moved from where he left her. On the floor. Back against the wall. A throbbing wrist.

From a dream.

It was raining. Pouring. But I knew he will be pretty bummed about being sent home. So, here I am. Waiting for his flight to land. Clothes speckled with spots of rain and shivering from the cold air-conditioning.

This is such a stupid stupid idea. Why am I here? It's not like we are officially going out!

"Hey! What are you doing here?" I heard someone said and looked up. Oh crap. He is already back and someone is here to pick him up too. Should have known. URGH!

"I..I thought I'll come say hi," I mumbled, wrapping my hoodie tighter around me and making for the entrance, embarrassed and angry with myself.

Just as I was about to dash across the streets to the nearest cab-stand, he caught up with me and said, "Here. Take the umbrella. I'll run across and get us a cab. I'll sent you home!" With that, he pulled the hood of his jacket up and ran away.

-

The queue was pretty long and both of us stood there awkwardly in silence. Looking everywhere but at each other. It has always been a fling thing between between us. Now what? By doing sweet things is a huge "violation" of our rule. We agreed to keep things quiet. To pretend that we don't know each other in front of our common friends. Even online.

"So...you really came to fetch me?" he asked as we inched forward. I nodded and shrugged. Let's not make a big deal out this.

"That's so sweet! Smile!" he said and put his arms around my neck, wiping out his phone and taking a picture.

"Hoi! We look terrible! Delete delete!" I protested, trying to reach around him to get the phone. And that's when it happened.

He pecked me on the lips. A different peck from the thousands of peck that we had before. He pecked me on the lips, smiled at me and held my hands.

"That will be our first silly picture together," he whispered before I got off the cab.

Holding on tightly to his hands and watching the cars zoom by beneath us.

Everything is changing. So fast. So sudden. I could barely keep up.

It feels like strangers are surrounding me these days. Strangers who looked like my friends. Who sounded like my friends. But they are different. Unfamiliar. Distant. I'm scared. Everyone's changing.

I squeezed his hands and held on tightly. He turned and smiled at me, tapping the tip of my nose.

My constant. The only familiar thing in my life. I forced a smile and continued to look at the cars beneath us. Losing myself to those scary thoughts. Holding on to his hands. Afraid that if I ever let go, I'll be consumed by those thoughts. No, that cannot happen.

"Hey," he spoke softly as he turned to face me, "It's getting late. I'll send you home, okay?"

Disrupted from those thoughts, I looked at him and nodded. There's something in his face, his eyes and his smile. He looked uneasy. Something's not right. Please, don't let him change.

We walked in silence, holding hands. Enjoying the cool breeze and the starry sky. Then, he stopped abruptly and turned to look at me .

"I...I..This may not be a good time but..I really like you, D. I don't want to do...this anymore," he blurted out, looking confused, scared and frustrated.

I kept quiet. Refusing to look at him. Millions of thoughts flooding in. What, what is it that he wants? No, please.

"So what are you suggesting?" I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes as my fear wrapped it's ugly its ugly claws around me.

"I don't want to be just your friend anymore. Let's start dating because I think I, "he hesitated and held onto my hands tightly, "I..I love you."

I swing away his hands and started running. Tears spilling from my eyes.

No, even he has changed. Now, he's ruined it. I hate him. I hate my life. I hate it. Just let it end, please.

"Hey," he said softly, "Thought you might need this. It's kind of chilly out here."

She took the sweater from him and laid it over her legs. "Thanks," she said before slipping back into her own world again, staring at the night sky.

Both of them sat on the garden bench in the dark. Not exchanging a word. She was lost in thoughts while he sat there and looked at her. He was worried. She's been quiet for the whole day. Like something is bothering her.

It was the perfect kind of night. The sky was clear after the afternoon rain, the breeze was gentle but cooling and the stars are out.

"Hey, look! Fireworks!" she exclaimed as her face broke into a smile.

Random.

Leaving on a Jet Plane.

They swayed gently with the music, enjoying the moment. The third wedding they are attending this month. He was oblivious to what was going through her mind. And it made what she was going to do so much harder.

As the music stopped and everyone starts leaving the dance floor, she held on tight to him. She buried her head and took in his smell – a mix of aftershave and shampoo.

“Hey. Let’s go back to the table. Dessert is about to be served. You won’t want to miss it,” he whispered and gently let go of her.

She looked up into his eyes and forced herself to smile, still not letting go. She leaned in for a kiss and it was the sweetest one ever. “Come on,” he smiled and dragged her towards their table.

“Hang on. I need to go to the washroom,” she said and ran forward to hug him.

He knew her behavior was weird but he didn’t think much about it. Wedding has that effect on her. Always. She’s always cuddly and touchy after weddings. But that was okay with him. Because he knows that’s her way of hiding her fears.

He nodded and let go of her hands, “Shoo shoo.”

She smiled and watched as he walked towards their table, tears threatening to escape. It’s for the best. It has to end on her terms and not on his or anyone else’s. She strolled to the entrance, got onto the cab and headed to the airport.

-

The dessert he saved for her was melting and she was not back yet. It was her favorite – Strawberries Sundae. As he watched the strawberry sink into the melting ice-cream, he started to get worried. He hurried towards the washroom and waited outside the ladies.

Just when he was about to go in to make sure she was alright, his handphone rang.

“I love you(: And that’s not okay,” the text message read, “I’m sorry.”

Taking the leap.

As she rounded the corner and came into view, his heart started racing and he broke into a grin. She was talking animatedly to her friends and did not notice him. It felt so good and familiar to see her again. The way she gestures and the way her face comes alive when she talks.

She looked away from her friends and spotted him. Their eyes met and for a moment, they just stood there. She broke into a sprint and ran straight into his arms. He tightened his arms around her tiny waist and buried his face in her hair. So familiar, so comforting.

“I missed you,” he whispered as he pulls apart from her. She grinned and turned around to say goodbye to her friends before dragging him away.

Because even though she’s only been away for a week, it seems like so many things have changed and so much time has passed. They have so much to catch up on. And as he listened to her travel stories, he realized something. He never ever wants to lose her. He wants to protect her. He wants to make this thing between them official. He wants to make her his. An open relationship is not enough for him anymore.

-

“Hey, we’re home. Come on, I’ll piggy-back you home,” he said in his best soothing voice. Not daring to raise his voice or do anything loud. She looks so fragile, just like a beautiful glass angel. It feels almost as if by raising his voice, it will hurt her. That will be something he’ll never do.

As he tucked her into bed, she woke up with a sly smile on her face. She pushed him onto the bed and straddled him, kissing her way down and making him groan with anticipation.

-

As they lay in bed, snuggled up against each other, he decided to make his move. Because if he didn’t, he feels like he might explode.

“Babe,” he shifted so that he is facing her, “Let’s make this official. Exclusive. Proper. Shall we?”

The tiny smile on her face disappeared. Her gaze shifted away from him. Not saying a word.

She feels the same way about him. Initially, she thought that he was just like any other guy she had had flings with. But that week apart really brought everything together. She likes how he takes care of her and how he cares more about her than she did about him.

But is she willing to let go of her fear of being reliant? Is she ready?

“I…Okay. But once anyone breaks the rule, it’s over. Okay?” she replied in a hesitant voice, still not looking at him.

“Definitely. I love you,” he said as he started necking her. The very action he knows she love.

-