Getting Over Him

Savior

Pran's P.O.V:

Just as I settled into the quiet comfort of the car, the tension from the night melting away, I felt Pat's hand slide into mine. His touch was warm, familiar, grounding me in the present moment. Outside, the world was still, save for the occasional car passing by in the distance. The glow from the dashboard cast soft shadows over his face, highlighting the faint smile that tugged at his lips. He turned to me, his eyes catching the light just enough for me to see the affection and relief in them.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice low, as if speaking any louder would shatter the fragile peace between us.

I nodded, leaning into his touch. "Yeah," I said, "Now I am."

The night had been suffocating—too many relatives, too many prying questions, and far too much pretending. I'd played the dutiful son, smiled when I was supposed to, nodded along to conversations I didn't care about. But all the while, my mind had been elsewhere. I'd been counting down the minutes until I could leave, until I could see him. And now, here I was, finally free from the banquet's stifling atmosphere, sitting beside the person who made everything feel lighter.

Pat chuckled softly, his thumb tracing idle circles on the back of my hand. "I figured you'd need an escape," he said. "That's why I came."

I couldn't help but smile at that. He knew me so well. "You're a lifesaver," I replied, leaning over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

He grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made my heart skip a beat. "Anything for you," he said, his voice teasing but sincere. "So, what's the plan now? Wanna head in, or just stay out here for a bit?"

I glanced out the window, watching the soft glow of the streetlights flicker over the quiet campus. The idea of sitting here with him a little longer, away from the noise and expectations of the world, was tempting. But part of me also wanted to retreat to the comfort of my dorm, where we could be alone, truly alone, without the worry of someone catching us.

"Let's head in," I said after a moment, giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "But... let's take our time."

Pat's grin widened. "Your wish is my command," he said, leaning in to press a lingering kiss to my lips before pulling back and slipping the key into the ignition.

As the car hummed to life, I couldn't shake the feeling of contentment that had settled over me. It was moments like these that made everything else—everything difficult—worth it. Being with Pat, even in the simplest of moments, was like a breath of fresh air, a reminder that, despite everything we had to hide and all the challenges we faced, we had this. We had each other.

We drove in comfortable silence, the quiet streets passing by in a blur of shadows and light. The radio played softly in the background, but neither of us paid much attention to it. Instead, I found myself lost in thought, my gaze lingering on the way Pat's hand rested on the steering wheel, the way his fingers tightened ever so slightly when we turned a corner. He looked so at ease, so effortlessly himself, and I couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth spread through me. This was my person.

When we pulled up to my dorm building, Pat turned to me, his expression soft. "Here we are," he said, his voice a little quieter now, as if the weight of the moment had caught up with him too.

I nodded, not quite ready to leave the safety of the car just yet. We lingered there for a moment longer, neither of us speaking, just taking in the quiet and the closeness. Then, with a sigh, I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door, stepping out into the cool night air. Pat followed suit, and before I knew it, he was by my side again, his hand slipping into mine like it belonged there.

Together, we made our way toward the building, walking slowly, our steps in sync. I could feel the tension of the evening finally ebbing away, replaced by a sense of peace that I only ever felt when I was with him.

What I didn't realize, though, was that someone had been watching us. Hidden in the shadows near the edge of the parking lot, a figure stood with their phone raised, recording every moment. They must have spotted us when we'd shared that kiss in the car, or maybe even before that, when we'd walked out of the banquet hall together. Either way, they had their phone trained on us now, capturing the way we moved in tandem, the way our hands remained locked together as we strolled toward the dorm.

Unaware of the eyes on us, Pat and I kept walking, our conversation light and easy. He joked about the ridiculous fake glasses he'd worn to disguise himself earlier, and I laughed, playfully shoving his shoulder. It felt good to be with him like this, to let down the guard I always had to keep up around other people. Here, with him, I didn't have to pretend. I could just be.

When we finally reached the door to my dorm, I turned to Pat, not quite ready to say goodnight. "Wanna come in?" I asked, the invitation clear in my voice.

He smiled, his hand tightening around mine. "You sure?" he asked, though the glint in his eyes told me he already knew the answer.

I nodded, pulling him closer. "Yeah," I said softly. "I'm sure."

Without another word, we slipped inside the building, the door closing quietly behind us. The hallways were empty, the soft hum of the overhead lights the only sound as we made our way to my room. My heart was racing, but not out of nerves—out of excitement, out of the sheer happiness that came with being close to him like this.

As we reached my door, I fumbled with the key, laughing quietly at how clumsy I was being. Pat just watched me with that affectionate smile of his, patient as always. When I finally managed to unlock the door, I pushed it open and gestured for him to step inside.

"After you," I said, grinning.

He chuckled, stepping into the room and glancing around like he always did, even though he'd been here a hundred times before. "Feels like home," he said softly, and I knew he meant it.

I followed him in, closing the door behind us. For a moment, we just stood there, taking in the silence, the safety of the room around us. Then, without warning, Pat turned to me, pulling me into his arms. His lips found mine, soft and slow, and all the tension, all the stress of the night melted away in that kiss.

When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against his, breathing him in. "I love you," I whispered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Pat smiled, his eyes shining with a softness that made my heart ache. "I love you too," he murmured, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

And in that moment, as we stood there wrapped in each other's arms, the world outside didn't matter. It was just the two of us, and that was all we needed.