Bound to Us (Bound Duology Book#1)

Prom Proposal

It was a chilly afternoon when Emma found herself hurrying through the nearly empty school hallway, textbooks hugged to her chest. The campus was starting to quiet down, with most students either heading to after-school activities or on their way home. She didn't expect to see anyone, but as she rounded the corner to her locker, there he was-Ilario, leaning against the row of lockers, a familiar, easy smile on his face.

"Hey, stranger," he said, his voice warm and teasing. There was that spark in his eyes again, the one that made her heart flutter every time.

Emma's pulse quickened. It wasn't unusual for them to meet up like this after classes, but the way he was looking at her now was different, more serious, almost like he was building up the courage for something.

"Waiting for me?" she teased, giving him a grin. But beneath her playful tone, she was keenly aware of every detail—how his hair fell just so over his forehead, the way his fingers fidgeted in his pockets, and how his gaze softened every time it landed on her.

Ilario smirked, pushing himself off the locker and stepping closer, his hands still tucked in his pockets. "Maybe," he replied, his voice low. "Actually... yeah, I am. I wanted to talk to you."

The way he was looking at her made Emma's heart beat faster. "What's on your mind?"

He hesitated for a second, glancing down before meeting her gaze with a shy smile that looked almost out of place on him. "Okay, this might sound stupid, but... do you want to go to prom with me?"

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Emma could only stare at him, her mind spinning. ilario... her prom date? Somehow, she'd always imagined prom as one of those moments out of a cheesy movie, but she'd never pictured herself going. And now, here he was, asking her.

"Prom?" she echoed, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck in that familiar way he did when he was nervous. "I mean... it could be fun, right? Dance, fancy clothes, bad music. But... us."

Her heart raced, and she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. It wasn't the idea of prom that made her feel so suddenly flustered; it was him. This wasn't part of their so-called fake relationship—this was real, as real as it got. They had let the lines blur, fallen for each other somewhere along the way, and now, it was like he was reaching out, closing the gap.

"So... this is you asking me to prom for real?" she managed, trying to keep her tone light, though she could feel the weight of her question.

Ilario stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "Emma, nothing about this feels fake to me anymore. I stopped pretending a while ago," he murmured, his voice low and earnest. "I don't want this to be just some act. I want it to be real. I want us to be real."

Emma felt like her heart was about to burst. She reached out, gently touching his arm, feeling the warmth radiate through his shirt. "Ilario, I... I stopped pretending too."

The relief in his eyes was palpable, and his smile grew as he took her hands in his. He let out a soft laugh, almost as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "So, will you go with me? As my real date?"

Emma's smile widened, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Yes, Ilario. I'd love to."

Without another word, he pulled her into his arms, holding her close. She could feel his heartbeat against her cheek, steady and strong, and she closed her eyes, letting herself melt into his embrace. When he pulled back, his hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin with a tenderness that sent warmth through her.

"You have no idea how happy you just made me," he said softly, his eyes searching hers. There was something different in his gaze now—an openness, a vulnerability he usually kept hidden from the rest of the world. But here, with her, he let the walls fall down, and she could see the depth of what he felt.

Emma's smile softened. "You don't have to keep it together all the time, you know. Not with me."

Ilario's thumb traced her cheek as he smiled. "Good, because you're the only one I want to be like this with."

They stayed close, neither wanting to move, letting the moment stretch out between them as if time had paused just for them. For the first time, it felt like they were truly seeing each other without any masks or pretense. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, and she felt the depth of his affection, his care. And in that moment, she knew that whatever happened at prom, whatever challenges lay ahead, they'd face them together.

Finally, Ilario pulled back, laughing softly as he ran a hand through his hair. "Okay, now comes the hard part—finding something to wear."

Emma laughed, a lightness filling her. "I think we'll survive prom attire."

"Think you'll manage to put up with me in a suit?" he teased.

She rolled her eyes, but her smile was genuine. "We'll see, but I have a feeling you'll clean up just fine."

They walked out of the school together, side by side, their hands brushing with every step. And though they hadn't said the words, both of them knew that this wasn't just some high school fling. It was the beginning of something real, something that went far beyond dances, prom nights, and shared hallways.

still waiting for ur opinion,

Bisou,