A/N: I've finally reached the 50k words mark, thus ending this writing challenge. I know there are a lot I have to cover for editing month, but I will think of that when the time comes. Thank you for reading this story until the end. I wouldn't have successfully accomplished this without your support. Again, thank you everyone! ~ Mel.

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Her

Day 365 – With you

For weeks earlier, all I've done was packed. However, some of my things were already boxed after I moved out my apartment. The things that I left need to cram were the clothes I wore daily. But last night, I've already put them away on my one of my carry on luggage. After getting dressed up for today, leaving a few clothes for tomorrow and tonight, I headed down stair towards the kitchen for breakfast.

I hadn't expected any guest so early in the morning. Yet welcoming by the shove, flipping a misshaped pancake was none other than Collin himself. Being a chef, the chances of him cooking were slim. But he does occasionally volunteer for the job.

"How did you get in the house?" I inquired in surprised while lingering behind the island counter, catching him briefly off guard at my sudden entrance.

"Your mom let me in. And I was supposed to surprise you with breakfast in bed," he answered sadly and turned his attention back on the heated pan.

"You've asked my mother to let you sneak in here early? Well, I'm not surprise, but her allowing you to borrow the kitchen, even I couldn't do some of my culinary experiments without her approval."

"I'm one of her favorite people. Of course she'll give me her sign of approval." He remarked, glancing at me briefly to give me a wink.

"So what are you making? I can see pancakes, but I couldn't assume with you behind the stove." I teased and walked around, studying the fry pan again.

"It's a pancake, I assure you."

"It's that chocolate chip?" I grabbed a bag of what looked like mini Hersey kisses.

"Yes, it is." He beamed, proud at the choice.

I shifted the topic about today's schedule. "Should I expect a lot more pampering throughout the day with this? Should I expect some sort of grand send off party tonight?"

He shifted slightly as he flipped the newly cooked pancake on the pan. From the angle, it was difficult to make out of his facial expression.

"It's new years eve, Emi. Of course there will be a party tonight, even if your flight is early first thing in the morning."

I pursed my lips, trying to hide my disappointment. Deep inside, though he planned it to be a surprise, I wanted to spend my last day with him and family. Not in a party crammed with people who I mostly didn't know or cared. But I know Collin wanted to have some normalcy even on our last days together before I headed out to Italy.

For weeks, we brought up the topic. Yet time and time again we'd only ended up in square one and in a mild argument. Even if we decided to work our differences, the foreseeable distance we were going to face was going to be a challenge. But we knew what we were facing after deciding to get back together. However, three days ago, we took the time to seat down for a day and just talk.

We sat in the living room couch of Collin's new apartment. The place looked like a step up from our last living situation. Everything was place immaculately, so I questioned the choice.

"Marisa did the interior design of the place before doing the major project with me on the new branch." He explained after I questioned.

"She did well on both places. I wouldn't have known if you didn't point it out."

After our brief discussion on the design, Collin and I finally addressed the reason for meeting on our last weekend together. We need to clear the air out about what was going to happen to our relationship. In movies, they made it seem like a breezy impulsive decision-making. But this was about our future. It was as important as any profession decision we had in our life. Like professionals, we decided to sit it down and discuss it like adults.

For the occasion, he brought us enough food and drink to last us for two days. I wasn't staying over for the night, but if need be – or somehow the day goes leaving me to stay over – I would not hesitate on the option.

"Emilia, I thought about it and thought it through. If we couldn't make it work, I'm wiling to compromise. I've already decided this when I realized I wanted you in my life, what little I could get from it. If need be, I will travel to Italy every month in the next five years. I might not have the money for that, but I will find ways for it to work. There are promos and stuff... I'll make it work."

"Please don't put all this on yourself, Collin. We share this burden. And I should take responsibility. I will review my contract and try to find time to come home within the five-year time limit. And I think five year wouldn't be that long. We'll make it work."

He grabbed my hand and tugged me close to him, wrapping his arms around my shoulder. I cuddled underneath his embrace, pressing my back on his chest.

"If that's not possible every month for me, we could web chat daily. Though the time difference would be a pain, but we could make it work."

The urgency to find ways for us to be together made us more lenient and accepting to the choices we couldn't accept. Even though they were practical and most couples that were in a distant relationship does it, for Collin and I, the distance was a challenge we had difficultly overcoming. Which goes to show how much we craved for each other's company and touch.

"I think being a part for nearly a year give a some head start for this. We might be able to pull it off," I suggested, remembering how the year panned out.

There was a brief silence in his direction, making me twist under him and peered over his grave expression.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked and cupped his face on my hand.

"I should have fought back that day. And maybe I would savored more time with you than made most of the weeks I've got you back. But I couldn't rewind time and get those lost days. I'll just make most of what I have now with you."

"Sorry." I muttered and lightly kissed him on the lips before pulling away. "I'm sorry if I was stubborn and hardheaded, difficult to handle, and just all around a pain in the ass. But the time I had away from you wasn't all a waste. I did realize how much I love you and wanted you in my life."

"Me too. I've never wanted you more than ever after being apart."

"I love you."

"As I love you."

We weren't able to go much farther with that conversation since words were seize and turned into actions. And that day, I didn't go back home until mid afternoon the next day.

The memory made me smile while I waited for him to finish cooking our breakfast. Once we were done, we ate and spend a good hour just enjoying the meal and each other's company. And I had to compliment him when it was due. The chocolate chip pancakes were great.

After breakfast, we decided to head out of town for a brisk walk. We took my car and drove to the city park for the activity. Collin manned the wheel, leaving his motorcycle parked by my mother's garage. It made me question whether he'll be staying over for my last night. Maybe my mother would make an exemption. Even if Collin was her favorite person, it was a steep climb to get her approval on sleeping over when we were intimately in a relationship.

When we were done in the park, Collin dragged me around the city for some shopping, which was uncharacteristic of him. It looked like an impulsive offer, but then he started tugged me towards a jewelry shop. Now my head launch on hyper drive on my chest.

Entering the store without asking or grilling him into a list of premeditated question – which I've prepared before hand in my life when it happened, I followed along his lead and stood by in the sidelines like a statue.

But then my heart depleted as we passed the ring display towards the glass counter, which held their necklaces display. It was then I've regained my verbal capability. I allowed me to pick a design, which I thought meant nothing. And then things moved so fast and he pulled out a credit card on his pocket.

"Are you serious? This necklace is too much," I inquired watching as he walked around and put the necklace on me.

"I wouldn't let you leave the country without a gift or two. And besides this one is a bit late. This should have been my present to you for getting accepted on the Italy apprenticeship. And I should make up on the lost holiday gifts and your birthday, which I didn't even bother greet – since we weren't in good term at that time."

I wanted to argue but decided against it. I'm not going to ruin the day because of my stubbornness to accept his gift and romantic gestures.

"Thank you, Collin. I appreciate it. How about I'll buy you something as well, since we are in the heat of gift giving," I suggested and turned towards the staff attending us.

"No need, Emilia. You've already made up for lost time a few days ago," he stated, stopping me.

From his suggestive grin, I reminisced again what I had pondered on this morning. I turned as mu cheeks started to flush.

In my new accessory, we gone out of the store and headed for lunch with some of his friends. And as the day dragged on, we visited a few more placed before ultimately heading to the bistro – where the year-end party was being held.

Another thing that surprised me was Collin conspiring with my mother for this party. Usually we'd held these events of function halls and clubs. But that wasn't the case this year. Everything was already set when we've arrived. I felt bad not helping out but no one had spoken out about it. They were treating me as the celebrant as well since it was also my farewell party.

Maybe earlier in the day, I wanted to be alone with a handful of people, but feeling the hyped and the cheers of a crowd for familiar faces and acquaintances had its charms. Nothing could compare being surround by a buzzed of good vibes.

When the television we set on the bar counter flashed the count down on the end of the year, Collin wrapped me in his arms, waiting for the moment to give me a kiss.

3.

"I love you, Emilia."

2.

"And I love you."

1.

We kissed as everyone cheered and yelled around us. The music blasted and party horns honked loudly in the room. But we were on our own world.

It wasn't until four in the morning we drove out towards the airport. To my surprise, my mother had allowed Collin to stay over, with the promise that he was driving me. But he was giving strict instructions to stay off my room and sleep on the living room couch. However, she didn't tell me to stay out of the living room. Before we were found out, I returned to the confines of my room and packed the last things.

The drive there was silent. My mother was still yawning from the little sleep she got. Though I had offered to let her sleep, she wasn't letting it pass her not to see me off.

As we stood on the gates, which was the line were none passengers could go, my mother was already in tears.

"I thought having your sister live in another state was tough," she whispered in my ear. "But don't be put out, my dear. I am proud of you. And five years isn't long. Just call me when you can."

"I will, mom. And I've already called Nina to visit you more frequently than a few times a year."

She gave me one last hug before giving me to Collin.

Since we were in public, he only placed a kiss on my cheeks. I wasn't put out at the choice since we've kissed a lot throughout the night. But to me, it felt like it wasn't enough.

"I'll come in visit you the moment you'll start missing me. I'm just one call, email, and web chat away, Emi."

"And don't think I wouldn't do the same."

"I know." I forced a smile and was about to say the words I didn't want to hear.

"Don't say it. You'll only make me cry." I interjected before he got the word out.

"I was going to say I love you."

"Well, that I want to hear. And I love you as well." My voice broke a bit. "No matter how much I say it, the words won't be enough to get all my love for you across. So I will say it everyday from now on."

Unable to help it, I grabbed his face and crushed down his lips on mine.

This wasn't goodbye. This was just another beginning.