Missed Call

XV. Romeo

I spent hours staring at my phone screen. The blinking line in the message box ticks me, pressuring me to type something. I want to text him. I want to talk to him. I want to let him know that it's okay, that I'm not like his sister. He's not ugly.

Driving me home, feeding me tacos and nuggets, lending me his hoodie, offering me coke, fist bumping with my brother, wiping my make up off, calling me heart, telling me he loves me, hugging me, kissing me... no, he's not ugly at all. Not even a bit.

Come back, heart - A

As I press send, I immediately heard a message beep. The beep came from a shadow in my terrace. From the way he leans on to the hand rails and physique, I'm 100% sure it's him.

I slowly take steps towards him. Afraid that if I rush over he might run away or turn into an illusion. Finally reaching the glass that separates me and him, I slide it open.

"Hey." He greets me with the same expressionless face he have.

Tears race down my cheeks as I greet back, "Hey."

"13 stitches," he starts, "I was introduced to the whole clan that day. They were all smiling, so I did too." I realized that Dion must've called him and told Dom everything she plotted herself, and I'm glad she did.

Keeping his eyes on me, he continued, "But behind my back, they say "His mother must've been forced to take him in"; "He's how old and no one adopted him until Llana? Must be trouble"; "I can't believe Llana would take in her dirt again"; "Is he suicidal? Look at the lines in his arms" and many, many more."

"Little do they know that the lines then were caused by a whip. Nuns are not that nice to bad boys like me. I always try to escape. I was never a fan of squash, they always feed us that." Even without facial expression, I know he's making the atmosphere light for me. And maybe for him as well.

"The voices from my so-called family kept echoing in my head that I have to ram my car to the post... hoping that it will stop." He tried to smile but failed. Dom cracks his neck, easing him from the heavy flashback he had been through the past minutes.

I tiptoe towards him, giving him a gentle hug. "Dom is a moron and I'm a dork. I think we match."

"I don't understand." He said still not responding my hug, probably assuming that I'll run away from him after his story. Wrapping my arms tighter around him. Hoping that my gesture would assure him that I'll stay.

"I'm trying to be the voice that repeats in your head. Instead of ruining expensive cars, you can just smile like the moron you are." Finally, I hear his laugh. With his arms now wind up around me, it confirms that I'm not delusional. He's here, Dom is back.

"Dom..." I trailed, "Welcome back, heart." The little space between us was completely gone as he squeezes my body in between his arms. I felt my shirt get damp from his crying.

"I'm back." Even in tears, I could feel his lips form a smile.

We stayed like that for a few minutes more. Absorbing the conversation we had, making up to the missed days of being apart through this hug. When we finally let go, I wipe his cheeks with the back of my hands while he does the same for me. Then suddenly laughing together, feeling the connection between us.

"There's one more thing that I require you to repeat over and over in your head!"

"What?"

"I miss you."