The Best Mistakes

47. Nolan

I never knew that someone's absence would hurt this much. It had been three days since I last saw Kayra, and every second since then had been passing torturously slow. And honestly, not one second had passed without me thinking about her.

I tried gathering my thoughts and pulling myself together but the memories of her still haunted me. Everywhere and in everything I saw her and honestly I liked it. In fact, I spent most of my time at her hideout. It was the place with her most presence.

I looked over the now abandoned space that once belonged to her. The hideout and I were dangerously similar, we both were abandoned by Kayra. So, I guess that's why I found comfort here.

Every aspect of this place reminded me of her– the swing, the tree, the thorny bushes, everything. I could even see her swinging and laughing her heart out as the gentle sun rays pierce through the tree leaves and glow on her face, while her hair dances with the breeze.

I miss her. Like crazy. I think I'll lose my mind if I stay like this for a couple more days. I told her I'd wait and I knew it was going to be hard but I still did it. I have to do this for her happiness.

My fingers grazed on the sturdy rope holding the swing. I couldn't even sit on the swing, my heart just couldn't. But I hoped, almost expected for Kayra to pop out of nowhere and yell at me to not sit on her swing. But it didn't happen, it was the fourth day, and even today it won't happen.

“Nolan Gray!” Yeah, just like that. Huh?

My head jolted up, unable to make sense. I really thought that I made up her voice in my head after being deprived of her presence. But a childish hope bloomed in my heart at the sound of her voice and I wanted to turn around. Even if it was just my hallucination, I still wanted to see her.

So, I turned. I turned around and my eyes widened. Were my hallucinations always this crazy? Because I couldn't believe what I was seeing, Kayra stood there at a distance, wearing a flashy outfit with messy hair and shoes that didn't match her clothes.

She ran towards me with tears in her eyes and a smile, I was dying to see. Even if this was just my imagination, I wanted to hold her in my arms for this once. So I ran too, I ran towards her and the more she got closer the more it started to feel real.

Kayra jumped in my arms and I couldn't help but hold her tightly and twirl her around in relief. I was still confused but one thing was clear, she was real. She pulled back and took a look at me and hugged me back once again.

I buried my face in her neck and exhaled a breath of relief. I didn't know how to feel about this, my mind had gone entirely blank. “How could you let me go so easily? Do you despise me that much?”

I detached from her and wiped her tears to confirm if she was really here. My ears were dying to hear her voice, my eyes longed to see her and my fingers yearned to touch her. My fingers grazed on her cheeks and she snuggled lightly in them. She was really real.

“I-I, you're here.” I couldn't form any words. My happiness knew no bounds and I thought I was going crazy after seeing her. I was like a starved man, finally getting food. I was equally confused as much as I was happy. I took her left hand and checked it. “It's empty. You're not engaged? Why?”

I was happy to not see a ring on her finger but my mind couldn't process anything at all. I was questioning her like a dumbass. I was confused and happy, maybe more happy.

A sheepish smile ghosted her lips and pink blossomed on her cheeks. She looked up and met my eyes, “I ran away.” My eyes widened and my mouth fell agape. I was surely getting a lot of surprises today, but I was liking them. Each and every one of them. I liked giving surprises but receiving them was not bad either. But Kayra ran away? That didn't make sense. She would die but never do something that will tarnish her family’s reputation. But she was here now and it didn't look like she was lying. She indeed ran away, but… “Why?”

My eyes dived deeper into hers to search them for answers or maybe it's just that I wanted to drown in them. Kayra took both my hands and intertwined our fingers. With a light squeeze and a huge grin on her face, she spoke, “Because I love you, idiot.”

That was it. My heart was dead after skipping so many beats. I wanted to hear those words from her for so long and now that she finally said them, they sounded sweeter than I'd ever imagined. Kayra gasped when I pulled her on me with our intertwined hands.

I smashed my lips on hers and she kissed me back. Our lips devoured each other like we're hungry for each other. Like, we were dying and this was the only source of oxygen. This was the first kiss of our love and I made it worthy of its title. My lips fit perfectly on hers and the kiss felt dreamy. It was because we were made for each other.

We rested our foreheads on each other, catching our breaths. Her eyes met mine and she broke out laughing, which made a smile bloom on my face as well. “I love you too, Kay. I love you so much.”

She cupped my face with her hands and I felt like I’d returned home. This moment was so dreamy and perfect, I never wanted it to end. “You were the best mistake of my life, Nolan. And definitely the best thing in my life right now.”

Strangely, her saying that made me more happy. Her eyes were full of love and I was beyond grateful to know that all that love was for me. “I'm sorry, I left you. But I promise, I'll never leave your side ever again.”

I closed my eyes to feel her touch and leaned into her hands. My hands rested over her hands and I felt a tear slip from my eye. “You better not and even if you try, I'll never let you go.” Her thumb grazed on my cheek to wipe the lone tear. Our eyes met and her lips curved into a beautiful smile. “Yes. And I want to say this now…”

“I'm yours, Nolan. All and only yours.” My chest tightened and I wanted to pull her into a kiss once again. I was beyond happy to hear her say that. “Me too.” My cheeks ached because of the huge grin on my face but I couldn't help myself. I truly looked like a lovesick fool. This time she pulled me on her and our lips intertwined once again. We had the most relieving, romantic and happiest kiss I've ever had.

And I forgot about the certain piece of paper in my back pocket. A flight ticket to Delhi for this afternoon. But she didn't have to know now that I was going to come get her. She did something of her own accord and I was proud of her. I was proud and happy that she chose herself.

As for me, I'll tell her the truth when the time comes. I know she'll understand because I love her and she loves me.