Home is Always You

Something Happened Part 3

Huh? Me?

"I don't follow.", was all he could say.
"Remember the last time we both came home but you had to cut it short because you had to go back and do your recording for your album?" Jade paused, and Jake nodded and asked her to continue.

"On your last night here we all went for drinks but I had to go back home early because I wasn't feeling too well." Jade said, trying to make him remember.

"Yeah, you didn't want me to drop you off so you took a cab. We stayed behind at The Watering Hole. I remember getting so drunk that night, which I immediately regret the next morning. What about it?" He saw Jade's eyebrows furrowed. She took a sip of her wine again.

"You don't remember calling me at 4 in the morning?" Her heart raced. Jake's eyes widened at the information.
"You were the one I called?" Jade nodded. "I remember talking to someone on the phone and the conversation was quite hazy. I don't remember, I'm sorry." Jake now feels like a fool for not remembering. That was more than a year ago and all he could remember was he called someone. He didn't even bother checking his phone the next morning. He now feels horrible.

Why did I have to drink too much then and not remember this?

"Wait, why are you saying sorry?"

Confused, he asked "I shouldn't be?".
Jade chuckled, amused at the situation.
"Well, I didn't want to believe it. For the longest time people have told me things, but I just assumed they just liked teasing me. I didn't want to believe it until you told me that night. You even played the guitar and sang a song for me. You said it was my song."
A subtle blush spread across Jade's cheeks.

Jake's face turned red from embarrassment, as he tried so hard to recall what happened that day. But also because he did write a song for Jade. It was supposed to be his "confession song". He planned on singing it to her once he's gathered enough courage to tell her.

So that explains the guitar on my bed and the music and lyrics sheet on the table.

He was zoning out when Jade nudged his chest, "Hey, are you okay?".
He put down his glass on the table. "I ah... uh... am.. so embarrassed! I'm sorry you had to hear it like that." He burried his face into his palms. She laughed at how Jake was so flustered. This is surprising to her since Jake's not one to get shy so easily. He's always been good at hiding his feelings or emotions.

He is so cute when he does this.

She took his hands off his face and cupped them. Looking at his almond eyes, she felt like bursting. She likes how he is flustered, how he is showing a bit of his vulnerability- she finds it so endearing, she finds herself wanting to kiss his plump lips. "Don't be embarrassed or be sorry."

While still processing what he just heard, he looked at her face so near him now. Her cupping his face telling him not to be embarrassed or sorry for his feelings is making him feel things. Her cheeks are a bit red from the wine, or maybe she's just shy; her palms are soft, her gaze is intent.

Can I just kiss you now?

"Okay.", was all that came out of his mouth. She flashed him a wide reassuring smile. He finally relaxed after seeing her smile like that.

They both settled at the couch while sipping on their Cabernet Sauvignon. Though they were just lounging on the couch, Jade could still feel the tension from Jake and she was determined to turn it around. She put down her glass and faced him. She took his left hand and held it. His hand was a bit cold, a bit tensed as evidenced by the visible veins on his arms.

"Why are you still so tensed? I told you, it's okay." She stroked his hair.
"I'm sorry. It's just for the longest time I had pictured it perfectly in my head how I would tell you. This did not go accordingly." He nervously chuckled.
"I don't mind."
They both looked at each other, shyly smiling but with glimmer in both their eyes.

Oh God, I really want to kiss her.

He leaned forward and swung his arms wide. Jade instantly moved closer and leaned her body onto his as Jake enveloped her in a tight embrace.
"Hey Jade?" she looked up, her head still leaning on his chest.
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Everything. And the assurance that it's okay."

She smiled at him, eyes glistening and her body still wrapped in his warm embrace. She has always liked to bury or throw herself physically into his hugs. They were warm and comforting. This time was no different.

He kissed her on the head and hugged her even tighter. He can let go of all his inhibitions now that she knows. He doesn't have to act cautiously around her. She can accept it or not, it's totally up to her. But right now, what matters is this warm fuzzy feeling he has with this embrace. This feels right. This is what he has been missing.

She likes hugs. She always gives the best hugs. And I have always loved being wrapped around her arms.

He sighed a bit heavily, eyes closed. Jade turned around breaking the embrace and looked at him with concern. "Are you okay? What's the matter?"
He didn't answer. He just looked at her intently. She took both his hands and held them, intertwining their fingers.
"You're spacing out again, babe. What is it?"

His heart skipped a beat. There it is. She called me babe. I haven't heard her call me that in a long time.

"You know, you're not allowed to be this endearing or this pretty in an oversized shirt and sweatpants?" He answered, chuckling. He lifted his left hand, fingers still intertwined with hers, and kissed her hands softly. She smiled back as she run her fingers through his hair. Her heart is beating faster by the minute, she didn't know so was his.

She feels like her heart is going to explode any minute. Them being this close changes everything now that Jake finally admitted his once drunken confession. Jade is happy but her emotions are still a bit guarded. Jake, on the other hand, is ready to risk it all. He no longer wants to hide.

"Endearing. You're funny. Good night, time to sleep." She pecked his cheek and stood up. Suddenly Jake grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him. She is now wrapped in his arms as they are both standing, facing each other. Her heart just keeps pounding stronger by the minute. He leans over as he slightly brushed her face, his other hand holding Jade's hips.

Oh God, just kiss me already!

"I love you. Always have." Jake leans closer to Jade's face, lovingly gazing at his first love. Jade blushed and looked away but Jake turned her gaze upon him. His intent gaze and smile were enough to make her knees weak. He looked at her peckers, he then leaned in closer and gave her a soft kiss- pressing his plump lips on to her thin pink flushed lips. Both closed their eyes and without hesitation, Jade kissed him back.

Their kisses were slow and intimate, reeling of shyness. Soon enough, their kissed progressed into an intense one. The yearning, years of being locked up inside, the wishful thinking. It's time to finally let it all go. They made their way in to the bedroom, bodies melting into the heat of their emotions and stripped off of all inhibitions.

"Jade?" Jake asked, as he brushed Jade's hair away from her face. They were both still in bed, Jade wrapped in Jake's warm embrace.
"Hm?"
"I love you. I won't  force you to feel the same, but just letting you know that nothing changes- even after tonight." He then kissed Jade's head, humming while smelling the rose scent on her hair which he likes.

Jade didn't respond, her mind still processing what just happened. Her heart still beating faster. She doesn't know what to say. Instead, she just held Jake's hand even tighter. Jake didn't mind. He felt safe, this warmth and Jade's hand intertwined with his was enough they drifted off into deep slumber.
-------