Tulip's Destiny

XL - Stay Awake

Truth is, life doesn't get easier or more forgiving. It's you who gets stronger and more resilient.

"Are we there yet?" Raine hollered at him. "Patience, Raine." Mikhail chuckled, placing his hand on one of hers. The colors of the sky are vividly orange as they drive away from the city.

Raine watched Mikhail from the passenger seat, admiring his presence in her life. Her head started stinging and memories  flashed before her eyes.

"Mikhail..." She muttered, Mikhail guided Raine as they walked down the shore. She could remember everything on that day at the beach, their first date. Soft waves, salty air brushing against her face and the waters, they were the prettiest shade of blue almost like his. "Thank you." He breathed out, laying his head slowly and cautiously on her shoulder, waiting if she would move away. Her heart was swirling with emotions that brought back so many memories. His close presence was screaming home more than ever, she was home.

"Raine, are you okay?" Mikhail asked, cupping her cheek as they went on a stop. She squinted her eyes, trying to make his face out of the blur. Her mind began to cloud once again as he saw him in a memory, it was him... Mikhail brought his hand closer to her face again.

"Raine?" He asked, pulling her out of the daze. "My head just hurts." She smiled, massaging head. "Do you want to go see a doctor?" Mikhail clarified, fixing loose strands of hair out of her face. "No. No. I can manage..." Her voice cracked. He then raised an arm, pulling her closer to him. Raine closed her eyes, calming herself down as he gently caressed through her dark locks.

"My calm ocean, my peace, my forever resting home..." A memory slipped through her mind.

She then lifted her head off his shoulder, looking at him. But alas he was already staring at her. "Feeling better?" Mikhail asked, kissing her forehead softly. "Yeah..." She breathed out.

"Are you sure we don't need to go see a doctor?"

"We don't." Raine chuckled. "We already have a doctor here." She said playfully.

"Oh, not yet though!" He cackled, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "We'll we're already here."

"The beach..." Raine whispered in awe looking out from the window. He got out off the car and ran towards her door, carefully helping her out of the car. "And we're just in time to watch the sunset too." Mikhail motioning his hands to the sky.

She looked around in silence as he went to the trunk to get the basket. Mikhail held Raine by her shoulders as they walked down the shore. The waters were the prettiest shade of blue just like what her memory had shown. She quietly sat down on the blanket he had laid out.Raine was in disbelief, she couldn't even blink watching the soft waves crash onto the shore. The sun was already hanging low ready to disappear. "So?" Mikhail spoke, breaking the silence. "It's beautiful." She bit her lower lip, teary eyed.

"I also got us pasta!" He announced excitedly, wiping tears falling down her cheeks. Mikhail pulled out tupperwares from the basket revealing what he had prepared. "My favorite?" Her lips formed an O looking at the packed Carbonara. "I hope it's as good as your mom's," Mikhail giggled, taking off the lid and handing her a fork.

She swooped in, gobbling the whole thing in minutes with tears of joy. Mikhail watched her with admiration, wiping the cream off the corner of her lip. "Thank you." Raine mouthed. "Anything for you, foodie." He teased. "Did you just call me a foodie?!" Raine glared at him sarcastically. "Well, aren't you?" Mikhail snorted, pinching her cheeks. Raine hissed at him, lunging forward for a kiss. "Did you just steal a kiss from me?" He reacted dramatically covering his mouth. "Hey, you have to give it back."