Fortified -Pau Cubarsí-

14 - crossing the line

The glow of my phone burns through the darkness, waking me from a deep sleep. I blink, disoriented, and groggily reach for it. Pau's name flashes on the screen, and I sit up straight, suddenly wide awake.

"Cesca," his voice crackles through the speaker, soft and uncertain, like he's not sure if he should've called.

"Pau?" I murmur, my voice thick with sleep, trying to clear the fog in my mind.

"I... I'm sorry to wake you," he says, and I can hear him shift on the other end, as if he's unsure whether he should continue. "I just... I need to see you. Can you come over? Please. I just need to hear your voice."

I sit up, the sudden urgency in his voice jolting me fully awake. It's 2:36 AM, and my heart is pounding in my chest. Something's wrong.

"Pau, is everything okay?" I ask, my concern flooding through, a quiet panic creeping into my voice.

"I don't know, Cesca," he admits, his voice wavering, distant. "I just... I don't feel right. And I thought maybe if you were here, if I could just hear you... I could breathe again."

I don't think. I just respond, my words spilling out before I can second-guess myself. "I'll be there soon."

I hang up, feeling a rush of adrenaline. My feet hit the floor, and without wasting any time, I grab my jacket, pull on my shoes, and head out the door. The cool night air hits me, but I don't feel the cold. All I can think about is getting to him.

The streets are silent as I ride my bike, each pedal pushing me faster, as though I could outrun the worry gnawing at me. Why does he sound so broken?

When I arrive at Pau's building, I lock my bike quickly, my hands trembling. I rush inside and take the stairs two at a time. His door is cracked open, and I don't need to knock. He's already standing there, looking like he's been waiting forever.

He looks at me, his expression a mix of relief and something more—a vulnerability I've never seen from him. I step inside, the door clicking shut behind me.

"You came," Pau says, his voice low, like he's in disbelief.

"I promised," I reply softly, my heart in my throat as I take in the sight of him standing there, wearing nothing but sweatpants and a hoodie. The apartment is dimly lit, the soft yellow glow of a lamp casting long shadows.

He looks at me, searching my face for something—maybe reassurance, maybe comfort. "I didn't think you would," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "But... I'm glad you did."

I can feel the weight of his words pressing against me. He's unsure, lost. I don't know what's wrong, but I'm here. That's all that matters.

"You're not alone," I say quietly, stepping closer. I reach for his hand, taking it in mine, a simple gesture, but it feels like everything.

"I don't know why I called you," Pau says, his voice breaking slightly. "I just... I can't breathe when you're not around. I needed you to be here."

My heart skips a beat. His words hit harder than I expected. "Pau," I whisper, feeling the weight of it all. "I'm here."

I step closer, my chest nearly touching his. His breath hitches, and for a moment, I feel like everything around us is still, holding its breath. My hands are trembling, but I can't pull away. He's here, and I'm here.

And then, it happens. He leans in, and for the briefest moment, his eyes search mine, filled with that same uncertainty, like he's asking for permission. I don't say anything. I don't need to. I just lean in, meeting him halfway.

Our lips touch—soft, tentative at first, like we're both testing the waters. The touch is gentle, the kind of kiss that holds the weight of everything unsaid between us. And then, a spark. Something ignites inside me, and suddenly, the kiss deepens, the softness turning to hunger.

His hands are at my waist, pulling me in closer, and I follow his lead, my arms wrapping around his neck, pulling him closer still. The kiss becomes frantic, urgent—our mouths moving together as if we're trying to make up for lost time, as if we're both afraid the moment will slip away.

The heat between us is undeniable. My heart races as I feel the press of his body against mine, the warmth of him seeping into me. I can't breathe, can't think, can only focus on him—his lips, his touch, the way he feels so perfect against me.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathless, our foreheads resting together as we try to calm the storm inside us.

"I... I needed that," Pau says, his voice ragged. He looks at me, his eyes soft, but with something else—something more.

"I needed you, Pau," I confess, my hands still tangled in his hoodie.

There's a long, fragile silence between us. And then he looks at me, his expression serious, searching.

"Cesca..." he says, his voice barely above a whisper. He's so close now, his breath mingling with mine, his presence overwhelming. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

The question is simple, but it hits me like a wave. It's the one thing I've been waiting to hear, but hearing it makes everything feel more real—like the ground is shifting beneath me, like this is the moment that will change everything.

For a heartbeat, I hesitate. The weight of the question sinks in, but it's not a question anymore—it's the truth, the thing we both knew was there all along.

"Yes," I whisper, my heart bursting with relief and joy. "Yes, I will."

He exhales, a sound of relief and joy. And then he smiles—soft, warm, like the entire world has just clicked into place.

He steps back, taking my hand in his, guiding me toward the couch. We sit together, my head resting on his shoulder, his arm around me, pulling me closer.

"I can't believe you're here," Pau says softly, his fingers gently brushing through my hair.

"I'll always be here," I reply, my voice steady now, the nervousness gone, replaced with something else—something deep, something that feels like home.

We stay like that for a while, talking softly, not needing to fill the silence with anything but the presence of each other. Eventually, we both end up in his bed, the soft sheets enveloping us as we fall into a comfortable sleep.

I wake up as soft, morning light starts to filter through the blinds. my body tangled with Pau's, his arm wrapped around me protectively. I smile softly to myself, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine. We've crossed the line now, but somehow, it feels like we're just beginning.

And for the first time in a long while, everything feels right.

Lunette yaps:

EEEEEEEEEK.

tell me why i went through every emotion possible while writing this......

also writing kisses and stuff is not my specialty, so im so sorry if its absolutely shit😀

any whooooo, tell me what you think of the book so far

Word count: 1164

😘😘😘