Love Charade

Chapter 40: 360° End

They said, to le t go of someone is a struggle, but holding on is worst. Well, it didn't apply to everyone. Especially to me, because holding on for so many years gave me my happily ever after. It was hard yes, there were roadblocks, but the journey ended with Archie and that's what mattered most.

After we figured everything out at the mountain that day, everything went out so smoothly. He returned his locket to me, the one that has a photo of us. I got to meet his parents again, I was also able to reconciled with Chantelle.

But life was not always on the bright side, I found out that Nana past away five years ago. I felt sad but Archie told me that she must've been ecstatic in heaven knowing that we finally made it back to each other's arms.

I felt contented. I was so happy, I couldn't even ask for more and that was scary. But then again, it is not true love if it didn't scare you at all.

Archie's been staying in my condo. He made sure that I could always go home after work and eat a decent meal. He decided to take a month off as the CEO of their company and asked Chantelle to take over.

However, there were times when I couldn't go home because of the scheduled surgeries I had, so he would always visit me in the hospital. He was now friends with my colleagues, actually, except for Rio. Ayaw niya talaga kay Rio.

He never went overboard though, not that I complained, I even felt respected and cherished.

I readied myself for work. I had a scheduled lecture at the university today. The hospital respected my decision of staying but they gave me a permanent teaching load for neurosurgery students.

I wore a plain long sleeve blouse inserted into a dark brown high-waisted pleated dress pants. I also accessorized it with black vintage belt partnered with my signature white loafers. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror one last time and decided to go out.

A satisfied yet blissful smile formed in my lips when my sight landed on Archie's perfect figure. It was five o'clock in the morning and he was already busy in the kitchen, flexing his well-toned body.

The sweet aroma of coffee and the mouth-watering scent of sizzling bacon made me close my eyes and made my stomach growled like a mad lion.

'Saan ka natakam, ghorl?'

"Kailangan ba talagang nakahubad ng damit habang nagluluto?" I made my way to the kitchen and watched his every move.

God has really favored me. He gave me a CEO for a cook. This thought made me chuckle.

Archie turned his attention to me and gave me a mouth-watering smirk before handing me a glass of chia seed pudding with three fresh strawberries on top.

"Good morning!" he greeted and planted a soft feathery kiss on the tip of my nose.

Awit!

"It surely is." I walked past him and put the glass on the kitchen countertop and climb my way to sit beside it. This was the best place where I could low key ogle him.

"What did you prepare for breakfast?" I asked and munched on my pudding. I saw him doing something on the gas range.

"Bacon and egg cups and sautéed cauliflowers." He looked at me and grinned.

Caulifllowers. The symbol of our love story. Odd but it's something that I could label as our own.

After finishing his business on the kitchen counter, he went straight to my direction. He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and stared lovingly at me. A heart rending tenderness was evident in his coffee brown eyes.

"What should I do to make you stay home?" His voice deep and sexy, I could almost feel the hair in my nape standing up.

Yawa!

I was a little bit distracted but I smiled at him sweetly and little by little shook my head.

I snaked my arms around his neck and draw him near to me. His eyes widened with my sudden gesture.

"I am staying, baba. You are home," I said emphasizing the word 'you'.

He nodded not leaving his coffee brown eyes from mine. His gaze went down to my lips, his right hand traveled up to cup my face. I secretly sucked in several deep breaths to calm myself. A delightful shiver of wanting ran through my spine.

As he leaned closer, anticipation get a hold of my entire being so I shut my eyes closed wishing that this time I could finally taste his lips. My heart jolted and I could feel the strong pounding of my pulse.

He moved his hand over the back of my neck, then a soft tender lip softly crashed to mine. The touch of his lips over mine sent the pit of my stomach into a wild swirl.

From a moment there, he didn't move so I decided to pull away but he drew me closer to him and he started to claim my lips with full passion of thoughtfulness. I didn't know how to respond so I allowed him to guide me. I parted my lips to give him more entrance.

As his kisses grew deeper and deeper, a fond memory crashed to my mind and a soft chuckle escaped my lips.

Archie stopped worshipping my lips and looked at me in the eyes, scowling.

"Are you laughing at me?" My laughter doubled and it took all my might to shook my head.

"Do you remember my friends, Crissa and Kyla? Back in high school they really thought that you're gay."

The revelation made his jaw tensed terribly but there was also a shadow of amusement in his eyes.

I was about to say more but his lips recaptured mine, more demanding this time and I was shocked by my eager response.

I could almost feel my blood pounding in my veins, leapt from my heart and made my stomach churn with three-hundred degree desire.

"I love you..." he said in between kisses. I replied a muffled 'I love you'.

Archie's hand started to get naughty but I gave him the freedom to explore me as I was exploring too.

A gasp escaped from my lips when he cupped my breast. But our heated morning was cut short by a loud thunderous sound coming from my phone.

I immediately pulled Archie away from me and searched for my phone. I heard a soft cursed coming from him but I choose to ignore it and focused myself on finding my damn phone.

"H-hello?"

"Doc, emergency! 25 minutes!" It was brief but I understood the message. I only had twenty-five minutes to go to the hospital.

"I-I have to go! Emergency." I jumped off from sitting on the countertop and fixed my wrinkled blouse not meeting his gaze.

"Tss. I'll drive you. I'll just get my shirt." Irritation was written all over his face. I could not help but laugh at him.

"You owe me something."

"Just be quick, baba! My patient is at risk!"

"I'm marrying you tomorrow, baba!" I heard him shout while looking for his shirt. He only received a loud amused laugh from me.

Archie Jalandoni. The perfect amount of my everything. He's the perfect amount of air that keeps me breathing but doesn't make me quiver. He's the perfect amount of pill that gets me healthy but never gets me overdosed. He's the perfect amount of life that keeps me alive and satisfied. With him, love is never too much and never too less.

Love will never be easy, but if you find someone worth fighting for, you never let go.

End ❤️