DEVUÉLVEME MI CORAZÓN(Joel Pimentel/CNCO)

Chapter 50 : Of Marshmallows and one a.m kisses

-Jade-

It had been exactly three days after my  had met Joel, as my boyfriend, that is. It had been three days since my mother and I had last spoken. Tonight was the night before Joel and Eli's trip to Italy. And so far, all my attempts aimed at gaining my parents' permission to go, had all miserably failed.

Despite the fact I wasn't going to Italy, I still insisted on helping Joel go shopping for the supplies they would need. We went to a nearby Target and strolled down the aisle together, in search of a travel size men shaving cream.

"Gillette or Nivea?" I held up both products to Joel, who was standing on the opposite side, checking out the razors.

"Nivea, it just smells like cotton candy." He answered, kneeling down to grab a package of razors on a lower shelf.

"Right." I rolled my eyes playfully at him.

Next, we bought some travel clothes for Eli.
Which turned out to be quite the task ; given that neither of us had ever been shopping for a little boy.

"You know Biscocho," Joel commented softly as we walked out the store, "One day, we're gonna be shopping for our own kids." His words, ever so casual stole a smile from my lips, but I didn't respond because I knew that even though the trip to Italy would only be a week, after that week would come his departure. His real departure. The one from which I might never see him again. He'd meet new people. New girls. I was sure we'd grow apart, it was only a matter of time. So instead of asking him, just how dare he mess with my heart in such a way, I wrapped my arms around his neck, just as he pulled me closer.

Close enough to hear the beat of his heart thrumming in my ear. "Only time will tell." I whispered, half hoping he wouldn't hear.

But he had, I knew he had because his grip on my waist tightened gently, as he whispered back, his warm lips near my earlobe,"time need not tell, what my heart already knows."

***
I took slow, steady steps, careful not to make too much noise and avoid the branches tangling on the laces of my converse shoes, as I made my way through the challenging path.

A few minutes later I spotted him, sitting under the shade of a maple tree, staring out into the night.

His silky black hair was held back under a snapback, that complimented his wine red jacket and black skinny, ripped jeans.

I stood there, just watching him for a moment too long, just taking in his amiable figure, his silhouette casted by the light of the kind moonlight.

But then a squirrel just happened to hurry past me, and the noise immediately broke my trance as he whipped his head around, seeking the source of the noise.

"Biscocho," Joel stood up from his place under the thick maple tree he'd been sitting under, "You're here!" He took fast but steady steps towards me, until he was right infront of me.

We were back at the lake tonight, as the trees swayed symphonically with the wind, and the fireflies hastily played, surrounding us and brightening up the dark, dark night.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He reached for my hand and I let our fingers lace, the feeling never enough.

"I was beginning to think that mi suegrita locked you up in a tower, and would be awaiting for me at the very entrance with her machete and all."  He let out a low, hearty laugh, making his husky voice a true delight to my ears.

"She wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea," I admitted, "Infact, she specifically told me not to leave my bedroom tonight, under any circumstance...or else..." My voice trailed off,  as a baby deer ran swiftly, deeper into the forest up ahead.