The Sweet Nothings || ✓

A YEAR LATER [II]

           THIRD OF AUGUST
                  ~ DARIA~

"You really don't want me to come with you?" Kevin asks, his voice lacing with concern. I finish buttoning up my jeans and give myself a final glance, making sure that I look decent enough.

Then I turn to look at him closely. He is sprawled on the bed, his hair tousled and messy making my fingers itch to reach out and touch them. His slight morning stubble gives him the bad boy aura that he so arrogantly flaunts. His chest is on full display for me to drool over and his sweatpants are hanging low on his waist. There is an aura of sexy around him but I try not to be lured by it.

"Kevin, I need to do this alone." I said, my voice surprisingly coming out with unwavering surity.

"I get that Ri, but you haven't ever visited her before." He paused, looking at me with worry. "I am afraid you are going to break." I watch as he sits up on the bed slowly and makes his way towards me. Reaching me, he holds my face gently between his hands and looks at me with so much love that it nearly breaks me.

"And I want to be there if that happens." He says. And as if to give something to reason with, he says, "And even I need to visit her today anyway. So it's better if we go together." He adds.

I look at him with a stern gaze.

"No. I will go alone. You can go after I come back or something." I pause. "And you don't have to worry about my probable breakdown in front of her. It will probably be for the best. I haven't cried." I state.

And it was true. I haven't cried. Even when the news reached me, even when I watched her getting lowered into the ground and even when I had been giving the speech on her funeral. I hadn't cried.

All I have felt about this whole unnerving situation, is numbness. It's like a sense of cold has swept over me, making me numb to any pain that comes my way. But through it all, Kevin held me. I cried or not, he worried about me. Cared for me.

And that was why I pitied Damien. I had seen the look of longing in his eyes every time he saw Kevin and I together. It's as if he is craving for someone to love him. Love him as fiercely as Lana did.

My thoughts came back to the boy standing in front of me. He was watching me closely as if anticipating what I am about to do next.

I gently put my hand on his chest and looked into his eyes.

"I will be fine." I pause. "And even if I am not, I will be with her."

Kevin smiled at me softly and cupped my hand, that was resting on his thumping chest, into his large ones and slowly brought it to his lips. Pressing a gentle kiss on the palm of my hand he pulled me closer till there was no space between us.

"Sometimes I wonder Daria Lynn." He says. "How can someone be so strong?"

I chuckle a little. "Oh. If you only knew how shattered it is in here." I said, pointing to my chest.

His hand slowly moved down to caress my neck and his head dipped down, our lips inches apart.

"I know. I know." He whispered and closed the little distance that was between our lips. I smiled into the kiss.