HEAVEN IS YOU, freddy carter

xix. loved you since we were eighteen

(  real life! )

Samyukta got out of her dad's car as Freddy stopped the car in front of her parent's house. She didn't wanna leave her mother alone but after constantly getting scolded by her dad, she decided to take a rest for the night.

She stood at the porch, searching for the house keys in her bag while freddy parked the car. She fumbled with the numerous amount of keys and groaned when she couldn't find the right one.

Freddy came to a stop next to her and giggled at her suffering. "Shut up." Samyukta snapped, feeling quite irritated.

"Someone's in a bad mood." Freddy teased, pulling her cheeks playfully making samyukta glare at him.

"I am." She finally spoke, trying another one of the key,"I wanted to stay with mom. ."

"Come on sam." Freddy sighed and smiled slightly when Samyukta succeeded in opening the door,"You were taking it all hard upon yourself. You really needed rest, look at you. You've dark circles, you look exhausted, your hair is a mess as well─"

"Are you indirectly calling me ugly?" Samyukta gasped dramatically as she dropped her bag on the couch.

Freddy stared at her in response with his eyes wide open. "No. . that's not what i mean─" Freddy stuttered, walking up to her,"I didn't mean that. You. . . you're beautiful sam and you know that."

Samyukta smiled to herself and plopped down on the couch, resting her legs on the centre table. "Sit down." She chuckled on finding Freddy standing still.

With a shrug, Freddy plopped down next to her and took off his shoes, resting them on the table as well. Samyukta moved closer to him and wrapped her hands around his arm before leaning her head on his shoulder. The two of them sat together in silence, sound of horns and vehicles running on the road being the only thing they could hear except the loud beating of their hearts.

"Amita said that everyone thinks we're dating." Samyukta blurted out, facing freddy to watch his reaction.

"Oh?" He had no idea how to respond so he kept quiet.

"Thank you for coming over though. I feel much better." Samyukta changed the topic. "I would always be there for you Sam." Freddy smiled nervously, fiddling with his fingers.

"Why are you fiddling with your fingers?" Samyukta frowned once she noticed,"Are you nervous? You wanna tell me something?"

"No." Freddy straightforward said and stretched his hands.

"Alright." Samyukta mumbled with a shrug.

"Actually yes." Freddy spoke out of nowhere causing Samyukta to look at her with some expectation.

"Oh, what is it?" She pulled her legs to herself and turned to face him properly,"What is it?"

Freddy took a deep breath and mustered up some courage before speaking,"I've thought about this a lot sam. like a lot. I've heard everyone talking about us. They think that we're dating just like you said and I fell in a deep thought with a question bugging my mind. Why do they think I'm dating you? And I got an answer. Because we've been together for so long. There were many instances where I've felt something slightly different for you. A love which isn't platonic. Jealousy which isn't normal."

Samyukta gulped the lump forming in her throat and listened to him intently as he continued,"I don't know why I hadn't realized it earlier. You were there for me when no one else was. I love you. Really. For everything you've done for me. And not as a best friend but as someone else."

Samyukta felt a teardrop running down her cheek as she stared at Freddy in awe. She hugged him tightly and sobbed in his chest, scaring him a bit.

"I'm sorry sam if i offended you─"

"Shut up. You don't know how happy my heart feels." Samyukta laughed, wiping her tears away as she pulled away and cupped his cheeks.

She stared at him in the eye before pressing her lips onto his, startling freddy a bit. He recovered the shock immediately and kissed her back with much more passion. He felt much relieved and happy. Both of them pulled away to catch up their breath and giggled at each other's flushed faces.

"I think I have loved you since we were eighteen." Samyukta confessed, tracing her thumb over his cheeks,"I have never met someone as wonderful as you."