I Love You ~

Two Days Later
Quebec City, Canada ||
Winter Night

Shivaay walked down the snow-filled pedestrian path. That winter wind with its toothy bite didn't excited him as usual. Instead of the snowflakes, he was seeing his breath exhale as vapour.

When he was a child, it scared him how he can't be outside without an adult's supervision. When he was a teen, it scared him how his whole life depends on how well he's going to do as a teenager. When he was an actor, it scared him how society wants him to be flawless.

Now, it's just a new fear. When he's in love with her, how much her absence is affecting his entire living.

He shook his head and tried to distract himself. He entered his house and removed the scarf around his neck. He plonked on the sofa and pulled out his ringing phone.

"Hello. Vincent. What—-you're waiting outside ? What are you even saying ?" Shivaay quickly opened the door. He saw Vincent leaning over his car and waving at him.

"Come inside, Vincent"

"Thank you, Sir. But, I've to leave somewhere. I know you asked me to stop everything. I'm sorry for disobedience" He apologised extending a cover to Shivaay.

"There are twenty-four pictures. The girls who had Ash on their camera. I'll take your leave now. Good night, Sir"

"Night night" Shivaay wished smilingly and went inside his house. He placed the cover on the glass table.

"I don't want to see. I don't" He blinked rapidly to avoid the tears rolling out. He ran to his bedroom in the upstairs and locked the door behind.

He frowned when the calling bell rang without a pause. "Who is playing with the calling bell now ?" He sighed tired and went downstairs again.

He opened the door to see no one. He harshly slammed the door closed.

"Huh! I'm so done!" He whispered to himself when the calling bell rang yet again.

"Who is that ? Listen kid! If you're so interested, go and play keys. Don't play with the calling bell again! I warn you kid!"

"Will you ever stop shouting ?"

"My—-heh! Annika ?" He hurriedly stepped forward. He looked hither tither. His respiratory system to refused to function right when his eyes caught the sight of her.

She stood in front of him. In an oversized emerald coloured hoodie. A cloth mask. Free hair. Her eyes twinkling like a steady flame. She walked towards him and stood some inches away from him.

He could see each sculpted flake before before her with eyes at restless. Icy wind making it difficult for them maintain a steady eye contact. Wintry trees, sans leaves poised to show its brown glory. And, the woman who placed a canvas for his dream.

"We should get inside"

He denied shaking his head.

"Don't be a kid. Come" She pulled him inside and closed the door behind.

His right hand raised before her face. His fingers slowly pulled down the face mask whilst his eyes let the gathered tears down.

"You came to me. Finally" he whispered. He sobbed as if it could bleed an ocean through the eyes.

He hugged her to him. It was not a hug where just the bodies brush, it was a hug where the souls struggles to breath in the tightness of the arms.

"You're so mean. So mean" he said making her chuckle. He moved back from the hug and said, "I mean it. You're a big fat meanie! Heartless woman!"

"I understand people distance themselves whenever they're in a bad mood. But were you in a bad mood for the whole five years ? At least you—-" She pressed her finger flat above his lips.

"I know you didn't shouted on me deliberately. I know you were guilty. I know you were trying to rectify your mistakes. Shivaay, you don't know. Battling between what you know and what you felt is worst than anything. I know you're a good human but there was something inside me which always restrained from reaching you. Call it ego or baseless, or even psychotic. I just did what my mind wanted me to" She removed her finger from his lips.

"That's why people say that you should listen to you heart"

"That's why I'm here. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have been here, explaining myself to you. This is absolutely not the person whom I grew up as. I was extremely protective about me. But on a serious note, you made me believe that losing someone close to your heart changes you as a person. So..."

"So ?"

"So what ? I love you"

"Tha—thi..is this how you propose me ? Like this ? Woman, you're a writer. Act to it" he whined at her.

"I'm a thriller genre writer. If you really wants me to act to my profession, I should get you to the hilltop. Then, roll you down. Then..." She rolled her lips between her teeth seeing his frowning face.

"Okay. You tell me. How do you want me to propose you ?"

"You—-wait!" He turned around taking the cover on the glass table. He made her sit on the sofa beside him.

"These photos ? Oh! Oh! That's me!" She exclaimed amazed taking the photo from his hands. "How did you get them ?"

"I just got them sometimes before. I didn't intend to open this. I was slightly having a thought that you might be the girl that I've been looking for all these years. An—-" She cut in, "How ?"

"Your eyes. It'd be such a cliche to say that we're destined for each other"

"Honestly, I feel awkward" She said making him chuckle. "Aren't you angry on me, Shivaay ?"

"A conversation about how you felt isn't supposed to be an argument. I respect you" She said, "It's not good to be so good. Be selfish at times"

"I'll be selfish. Only for you"

"I see all cliches come tumbling out of you now" He chuckled, "Haan. Why not. Moreover, I'm an actor who's too good at romance"

"It's okay. Love is cliche"

He looked up at her and said, "I love you"

"Would you have fell in love with me if I wasn't the girl ?"

"You happened to be the girl is just a bonus. I fell in love with the woman who walked away; taking my heart away, every time. Not with the girl who disappeared because of a mere shout. Darpok"

"Shut up! Must you be so dramatic for a simple question, Shivaay ?" She shook her head. He smiled pulling her for hug. She reciprocated patting his back slowly.

"What's that Ash, actually ?" He asked still in the hug. "It's my nickname. Or precisely, a ship name. My school friend kept it for me"

"Like who the hell she shipped you with ?" He asked a little annoyed.

"Who else ? Obviously it's you. The sh in Ash stands for Shivaay"

"Wow! She did a great thing. Where is she now ? Didn't you let her know about the incident ?"

She replied, "No. Only me and Rudy know about the incident. Now, you can add yourself and Om. Sh—-" He cut in breaking the hug, "What ?! Omkara knows ? And he never told me ? Wo—-what on earth!"

"Calm down you. You're such a impulsive jerk"

He asked, "Impulsive what ?"

"Quiet! He got to know just two days before. And about my friend. I don't know anything. I lost her contact"

"I think you're a master at losing contact" She rebuked, "Shut up! Jerk"

"Yeah yeah. Only a jerk like me can love you. Rude rhino!" He said pulling her into his arms again. She slapped on his back.

The new relationship, fresh start, familiar eyes, gentle arms. It's a love - you be you. I'll be me. Cliche...but it is love. At last.

Epilogue Up ~

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Gratitude, Love Comrade