STORIES TOLD, STORIES LIVED

Chapter 20

ARINA'S P.O.V

"Why did you do that?"

My raspy voice echoed in our room. Alessia was here too. But she let me have my own space; she read that 'Arina' book with headphones on.

"Because I want to be a writer too."

"Stop it Riley!" I cried too deep, barely could hear myself.

"You stop it." He replied softly. "I love you but you didn't care. I told you I'm not lying but you didn't listen."

"I did! But-"

"Can we talk for once without worrying stuff or people? I've been suffering enough. You're too far. I want to have a walk at the beach with you again."

I closed my eyes. Riley was so gentle. I wanted to hug him again. But how could we even make it, when we knew we probably wouldn't meet again?

"I miss you." He said it again, ten times already.

I took a deep breath. "Me too."

"Do you really?"

"Please-"

"Answer me."

"Yes." I whispered.

"Okay stop right there. Please don't give me excuses about why we should not miss each other."

I stared at Alessia's back who was busy reading Riley's book. I smiled. Between his strong personality, Riley was everything I could ask for; even too much. I did feel like I didn't deserve him. He had whole girls screaming and dying for him, too. I was just one of them, who lived so far away, who's barely in reach.

The rest of our talk, we decided to have lighter topic. It was mainly about the band, Connor and Toby, the crew, future plan, music promotion - until I heard his very soft snore from across the line. Once again, I smiled. We're struggling over this together. I thought Riley didn't even care about me or how I felt; turns out I wasn't the only one trying.

"You guys done? Why you stop talking?" Alessia turned to me.

"He's falling asleep." I whispered, still didn't hang up.

"The book is out of this world beautiful." She sat in her bed. "He loves you that deeply, that much."

"He makes it hard." I put down my left earphone so I could talk to Alessia as well as listened to his snore.

"No, Arina, you make it hard. I understand how you're trying to collect the pieces of this, that you don't have enough experience to take a note from. But let me tell you. Your friend right here, has enough story in her life, just enough to tell you that she never saw a guy loved his girl this much before."

I was taken aback by her words. Riley made me a book. Yes, a book, within not even forty-eight hours. He convinced himself that writing that book was worth losing his rest time.

"What I have to do now?" I murmured.

"Say yes to him."

"Excuse me?"

Alessia handed the book to me. "Open the last page of it."

I did what's told. My fingers were running through this pretty thick novel, til I reached the page Alessia meant.

"Yes, we're miles apart; but would you radiate so I know my way home?"

I jumped to Alessia's bed and hugged her so tightly. I was too stubborn to even read it carefully. The main question it was. But then here I was, stupidly questioning his reasons. Spending almost three months with him, I should've known that we're both got cut in the throat.

"Say yes." She repeated her word.

I nodded.

"Thank goodness." Alessia rolled her eyes again. "Wow you're so hard to be convinced."

"I'm sorry." I chuckled in my tears.

"Alright! I'm gonna shower first. We need lunch, girl. I'm hungry."

She went to the bathroom. Now there's only me, this silence tone, accompanied by his snore that filled my room. It was so calming. I kept listening to it, with my phone right next to me, embraced every second of it. He risked everything.

"Hey."

I suddenly heard his voice. He even sounded so cuddly already.

"Hey." I replied. "You want to hang up?"

"No, sorry I'm just so tired. Should've not fallen asleep-"

"I love you too."

I bit my bottom lip. It was either a bad or good decision. I could hear his gasp. Damn. This silence was too much.

"You finally reached the last page of it, huh, love?"

"Oh dang." I smiled so bright. "Just did, ...hun."

"Listen, Arina. I know things will be tough from here. But I'm willing to travel miles away only to see you, as often as I can. I can't promise you much, but let me prove you with all I have."

"Don't rush anything. You know where to find me."

"Yeah...like at the airport, right? I technically don't know where you dorm is."

And he laughed so hard at this very midnight EST time. He's happy, and I was twice as happier. The voice that's been my lullaby every night, turned finally bright. We both could now take a deep breath and accept the fact that we're dating.

"Alright. I'll talk to you later." I finally ended the call after four-something hours.

"Okay. Get some lunch now. You need to still be alive." Riley made another joke. He's been happily joking around.

"Okaaay." I sighed playfully.

"I love you, Arina." He whispered.

Alessia just came out of the bathroom. What an unfortunate, I put him on speaker.

"Arina loves you back, Rileeeeeeeey!" She, you know, did that embarrassing thing, like of course.

"Hello, Less!" They ended up talking to each other with me innocently holding my phone. "Thanks for convincing her."

I immediately glared her. "Convincing me? I've heard the word twice today. Is there something I should know?"

"Uh..." Alessia blew a kiss to me. "You're welcome, bro. Glad to help."

"Oh can you guys not." I rolled my eyes. "Bye Riley, I need to shower."

"Hahaha..."

And the silence note hit us again. He didn't hang up just yet. I was confused. Alessia was busy already doing her hair.

"Uhm," Riley cleared his throat.

"Oh! My goodness, I really should adapt." I sighed.

"So...?"

"I love you too, Riley."

"That's right, babe." He did that cute chuckle again. "Talk to you soon."

"Absolutely. Bye bye."

And that's a wrap. Alessia looked at me with that glare, and laughed her lungs out til almost pass out. Yeah. I had a boyfriend.

And hey, it's Riley McDonough.