Where my Heart Lies

Take me home.

"YOUUUUUUUUU AREEEEEEE COMINGG!!!!!!!!!!" Jessica squealed in joy while jumping like a kangaroo from southern Australia.

Liam chuckled from the other side. "Yes, baby. I'm coming. Just for you."

"Aww, DON'T LIE SIR!" Both of them laughed in unison. "At least you are coming. I missed you." Jessica whispered. 

"I still do." Liam kissed her through the phone and promised to be by her side by the next day before disconnecting the call.

Finally free, or rather finally free from work back home, he had work in China calling him over. It was a ball for a charity event, which seemed apt for him to take Jessica out for a leisure, relaxed outing they have not had in a long while. For Jessica's sake, he had even requested the organizers to shift the venue to Guangzhou- something they gladly accepted, much to his delight.

All was set, and devastation loomed close by.

***

The days passed by slower than usual, and all humans went to accomplish their mundane tasks, strumming through time, oblivious to the rest of the world. For Jessica, each moment was filled with anticipation, and the foible in character was obvious- she could focus no where, but on the clock.

She did think of diverting her attention to some other places of leisure- shopping, or going out to a public park even- but cancelled it all when Mary had insisted she would bring Portia along.

Jessica was really amazed by the skill of the woman she loathed; in one single meeting she had managed to turn Mary into an assiduous soul that worked just for her. She wondered if there was black magic involved.

Thankfully, a certain elderly Miss Guan, who had been acquainted with Jessica during her business hours, offered to take her to an opera show called Yueju. Although she could understand only basic conversations in the foreign language, Miss Guan had assured Jessica that she would enjoy her time. After the show, Jessica had to make a solo trip to a shopping mall, purchasing dresses for the charity event. She decided to go to a spa and spend some 'me time'. It was relaxing indeed, but as much as she tried to enjoy it all to the fullest, she could barely manage to form a smile, that too- on the surface. Solo trips reminded her of her time back in school. The time- which was with no one, and there was no Liam, or money to spend like this in her hands.

Memories came flooding by, and multiple scenes replayed in her head. It was late when she was in the cab, returning back to her home, and she would think of all the times she had to sit alone in the school bus, talking to a friend who lived in her head. 

Once she got to the doorstep of her home, she took out the key from her bag, and then she thought of the time when she came back to the home in which she dwelled with her parents; of how it was often found locked like this- with no one to receive her or listen to the plethora of words and wonderous thoughts she had accumulated throughout the school day- which had passed exactly in the familiar sense of loneliness.

When she threw herself on the couch, and the silence of her own place filled her ears, she let a tear slide down her cheek. In anguish, in solitude, in tranquility. In hopes, in yearning, in uncertainty. In loathe, in love. All, until sleep took her away.

***

Jessica checked her watch once again whilst standing in the receiving area of the airport, waiting for Liam.

He entered her vision dressed in a mahogany brown trench coat, his chin covered in a stubble making him look a few years older than he was. He pushed the baggage carousel with one hand and waved at her with the other. The sun shone brightly through the sky, and the woman felt a sensation gush inside her morbid body- the one of life.

Looking at him, she was embraced in a cozy ambiance- that was now far from love. HE had become home.

When he was close enough and extended his hand to hold Jessica's, she gave in. A beaming grin had planted itself mischievously, stealthily on her lips; something even made her shy.

Perhaps, it had indeed been a long while.

She leaned her head over his shoulder quietly when they were in the cab and let herself listen to the heartbeat of this man she called hers. Liam, had his fingers run through her hair, entwining them so carelessly, it was going to give her a hard time brushing them again. Maybe they would take a warm shower together; maybe they would cook a meal and snuggle close. Maybe they would make love in the crisp bedsheet. Maybe they would simply fall asleep on the couch. 

Now that they were together, there was so much that could be done.

Not much was done, though. The two days commencing from Liam's arrival at Jessica's place to the day before the charity event, not much could be done. Their lips had turned red and swollen, their stomach was so full of food and so warm, they were almost always dozing off, and their hearts so content, they could not keep away from each other. No one, was allowed to enter their world.

But the calendar changed. And the watch still ticked under their noses. The D-day was here, and the lovers had to let the world interfere with theirs.

These days were such bliss, Jessica had almost forgotten about Mary and the rest. Even and better forgotten Portia.

"She's going to be there. Ryan texted." Jessica sighed with concern. 

"It is all good." Liam assured.

***

More than two hundred guests had arrived at the venue when Jessica and Liam pulled in the parking lot. Jessica was dressed in a creamish gown resting on her chest, accentuating her collar bones which was decorated with rose-gold leaf lariat necklace. Liam had chosen to dress in a complementing brown suit- together, they stepped out like the flawless matching of yin and yang.

However, the 'yin' or darkness in Jessica's head was dominating. She was obsessively entrapped by the thought of one person. No matter what she did, it still lingered in the back of her head.

"Let's go." He smiled at his lady love when they were to enter the place, hand-in-hand.

"Ahm, um, is this yours, by any chance?"

Jessica shut her eyes in annoyance. 

Of course...

Liam had turned his head to look at the source of voice behind them, but Jessica knew.

And the night had just begun.