You belong with me

Dreaming about the day

I walked into the living room and found Carlos absorbed in his phone. "Hey, you brought my favorite ice cream. You should've called me. I would’ve come right away," I said.

"It's nothing. I didn't want to disturb your time with Emilia," Carlos replied, not looking up.

I glanced at him, sensing something was off. He seemed angry. Taking a seat beside him, I placed my hand on his thigh. "I’ll come right away when you call me. You’re the most important person to me," I said gently.

Carlos gave me a flat "Okay" without any emotion.

"Really," I pressed, hoping for a more genuine response.

"Okay, Lando. I get it," he repeated.

My heart sank for a moment. He called me Lando, not Lanno. "You called me Lando," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, that's your name," he replied curtly.

"Why are you calling me Lando? Did I do something wrong?" I asked, on the verge of tears.

"What? No," Carlos said, his confusion apparent.

A lone tear escaped from my left eye. "I’m sorry if I did anything to hurt you," I said, bowing my head.

Carlos looked at me, his expression softening as he saw my tear-filled eyes. "Hey, it doesn't mean anything. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for calling you Lando. It’s seriously nothing," he said, cupping my face in his hands. "Please don’t cry."

"You never called me Lando," I whispered as more tears fell.

"I’m so sorry, please don't cry. It's my mistake," he repeated, wiping the tears from my cheeks.

His face was inches away from mine, and my lips quivered. In that vulnerable moment, I couldn't resist and kissed him. He was shocked at first but soon reciprocated. My hands tangled in his hair, his hands cradling my face. Those three minutes felt like heaven, but suddenly, I pulled away.

Carlos' eyes questioned why I stopped. Without a word, I left and locked myself in my bedroom. He didn’t come to knock on my door.

For the next week, I played hide and seek with Carlos. I came home when he was asleep and left before he woke up. I avoided him and Charles whenever I saw them at the university. The guilt gnawed at me. I had ruined my friendship with Carlos with one impulsive kiss. I should've resisted.

Finally, I sought refuge with Emy.

"What?" She smacked my arm when I confessed about kissing Carlos.

"When did this happen?" She smacked me again.

"Ouch! Let me answer your first question," I said, rubbing my arm. "I kissed him a week ago in my living room, and he reciprocated."

"OMG! Lando! He reciprocated? He likes you too!" Emy exclaimed excitedly.

"Oh, shut up! He doesn't like me at all. He's Carlos Sainz Jr., and I'm Lando Norris."

"What do you mean?" Emy asked, a question mark written on her face.

"He's way out of my league, Emy," I replied.

"Shut up, you're in his league," she retorted.

I gave her a sad smile.

"Oh, sweetie! You are his league, trust me. You are beautiful, intelligent, funny, and so much more. Anyone would love to have you in their life," Emy insisted.

"Come on! You don't have to butter me up, Emy. I know what I am," I said.

"And what are you?" she asked.

"Average, awkward, with bad fashion sense, zero intelligence, and not attractive enough," I replied.

"Shut the fuck up," Emy said, hitting me on the head.

"Ouch! That hurts," I protested.

"As it should. Why are you talking down about yourself? You shouldn't have to make yourself less for someone's attention. And if Carlos sees you like this, then he's the most stupid, idiotic bastard on the planet," Emy replied.

I laughed sarcastically. "You like me more than anyone. I shouldn't be gay, so we could have had a chance."

"Oh, that's right! I should've pampered you like a king then," she replied with a grin.

I stayed at Emy's until I was sure Carlos would be asleep, then slipped back to our apartment to gather my things. I unlocked the door quietly, not daring to turn on the lights. As I tiptoed toward my bedroom, the room suddenly flooded with light.

"Hi, Lanno," Carlos said.

I froze, shoes in hand. "Hello," I replied awkwardly, turning to face him. Leaning against the wall, he looked as handsome as ever.

"Can we talk?" he asked.

"Oh," I stammered, "I... I'm sorry."

Carlos frowned, confused. "Why are you sorry?"

"I kissed you, and I know you didn't like it. I like you, but I know I'm way out of your league. You must hate me now," I blurted out, words tumbling over each other until Carlos interrupted.

"Who said I don't like you or the kiss? I remember reciprocating," he said.

I was stunned. "But you're Carlos, and I'm just Lando."

"What are you talking about?" Carlos stepped closer.

"I'm ugly, awkward, and I have zero fashion sense," I muttered.

"Who said that?" Carlos cupped my face, making me look into his eyes. "Why are you talking like that about yourself?"

"I thought so, that's why I’ve been running away from you."

"You're not even close to what you described," Carlos said softly.

"Really?" Tears welled up in my eyes.

Carlos leaned closer, his breath warm against my skin. "And I really like you."

"Really?" I whispered.

"Really," he replied, brushing his lips against mine.

"But what about Roberto? You kissed him," I said.

"Correction: he kissed me, not the other way around. When he kissed me, I realized I wanted your lips, not his," Carlos explained.

"Really?" I asked again, hope igniting within me.

"Really," he said, touching his forehead to mine. "I like you, Lanno. I want to be with you, no one else."

"But you're way out of my league," I protested.

Carlos silenced me with a kiss, a kiss that spoke of all the words left unsaid, a kiss that whispered promises and dreams intertwined. He pulled away after what felt like an eternity, looking deeply into my eyes.

"You're beautiful, you're not awkward, and I love your fashion sense. You dress so cutely," he murmured, kissing me again between each affirmation.

I smiled into the kiss. "Thank you."

"Never ever think like that about yourself. My Lanno is not that. He's much more," Carlos said firmly.

"So," I began.

"So?" Carlos echoed.

"We are," I ventured.

"We are?" Carlos asked, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

"Dating?" I asked, hope shimmering in my eyes.

Carlos smiled sweetly, brushing his lips against mine again. "Yes, we are dating, my boyfriend Landito."

He pulled me into a tight embrace, so tight I thought his lungs might burst. But I didn’t care. The love of my life just said he liked me.