MUTUAL FIXATION || WINRINA

CHAPTER 15

Karina's Point of View

She ushered me into the car, guiding me onto the passenger seat as she took the wheel. Her silence draped upon us, punctuated by fleeting glances between us.

One thing remained certain: I trusted her in all this uncertainty.

At least she stayed by my side.

At least she didn't abandon me.

"How are you holding up?" Her voice cut into the hush, breaking the silence that wrapped around us.

A wry smile tugged on my lips.

"I can't put a name to how I feel," I admitted in a low tone, looking at her face.

She nodded in comprehension.

She pulled off to the side of the road and buckled her seatbelt off before turning around to me with a cup of my cheeks in her hands, peering into the eyes.

"I thought you might have left me," my voice barely above a whisper.

She shook her head resolutely. "I made a promise to you, and I intend to keep it," she murmured. "I'll never leave you."

Her words were sort of washed over me, softening the edges of my uncertainty.

There was a shift in her then, a subtle change in her aura, speaking of hidden depths and unspoken truths. I pushed aside my suspicions, despite that veil of mystery cloaking her, and dwelled on that moment.

"My father and I talked," she revealed, her eyes meeting mine.

A spectrum of emotions danced in her eyes, a fleeting glimpse at the turmoil within her.

"Did he.... do that to you?" I asked, nodding toward the bruise on the corner of her lips.

She nodded; a wistful chuckle escaped her lips. "He was displeased," she admitted. "Called me crazy."

I listened intently, absorbing her words.

"But rest assured, I'm fine," she reassured with a smile, bright as it was bruised.

She leaned closer still and pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead. Something inside my chest quivered at the action. There she stood before me, her words hanging like a promise of safety and a binding backup in the air.

"We will ride this storm out together," she assured, her eyes locked on mine.

I nodded in silence.

It was sincerity in her voice, which wrapped me up in serenity, torpedoing my thoughts with turbulence. Her reassurance held a weight of truth that anchored me into the moment.

"Are you… serious about this?" I asked, an undeniable pitch of uncertainty ringing in my voice.

She assured, "Absolutely. I mean every word," her laughter echoing with surety.

I embraced her tightly and clung to her, pleading in my heart—I won't let you slip away.

Her tender touches and whispered reassurances wrapped me in a cocoon of safety; her words were balm to my soul, torn apart by restlessness.

"You are in good hands," she cooed, her breath warm against my skin.

Breaking the embrace, I reached out, cupping her face in mine, sealing our bond with a fervent kiss that seemed to close the chasm that lay between us. So many fears, so much uncertainty dissolved at the moment when our lips touched and were met with her warmth.

We parted, short of breath and in each other's embrace. As we broke apart, she leaned her forehead against mine.

There swirled in her eyes the kaleidoscope of all emotions, holding me entranced by the depth of what she did not say.

We stayed like this, the moment suspended in time, a fleeting reprieve from the maelstrom before Winter again grasped the wheel, propelling us down an open road.

There was no destination in mind, and I yielded to the unknown, knowing she was here beside me. With her, nothing seemed to bother me, as long as she was next to me.

The cityscape gradually became a blur as a tapestry of green and calm lakes replaced it, painting pictures of serenity.

Winter's casual glances toward me made me smile; her silent companionship was balm to the soul while she steered us through this landscape.

There was something very reassuring in her, a soft hum underpinning our travel together.

"Karina," her voice cut through the awkward silence, shifting my eyes to hers.

I answered with a low hum, detecting her unsaid understanding.

"Are you ready to get away from harsh reality of life with me?" she asked as her eyes grew hopeful.

My lips stretched into a small smile. "I am always ready, Win," I whispered back with confidence.

Her eyes met mine in a silent promise as she reached out to my hand and pressed a tender kiss to the back, their fingers intertwining with mine.

In that touch, I was comforted, amidst the beautiful backdrop of nature—a feeling of belonging that whispered dreams fulfilled.

Afternoon had turned into evening when we arrived at a quaint seaside location with calm waters in front of us, accompanied by the peals of laughter from children playing in the vicinity.

Scenes are those of a place beyond Manila, some isolated sanctuary where the timeless seemed to stand still.

We walked hand in hand along the beach until we found a place in the sand to sit and watch the sunset. Nestling against her, with the warmth of her embrace closing around me as protection from a world full of uncertainties,

"Let me share something with you," she said, low, like a soft murmur, promising secrets and revelations yet to unfold.