home in houston ✈ c.h.

17: till we meet again

an: double update bc i love y’all !!

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“what’s our motto again?” calum asked her, cupping her cheeks as they killed the remaining time through reminiscing at the airport.

“if we weren’t meant to be then…” she started.

“fuck you destiny! you have one job!” they continued in chorus then laughed.

calum waved it off then asked another question. “how about our favorite place?”

“hm, mrs. brannon’s? the camping site? the pond? our bedrooms? what?” she trailed with giggles.

“all of the above.” calum chuckled. “okay, our favorite ice cream?”

“salted caramel!” she enthusiastically answered. she noticed him pout and so she laughed. “i’m only joking. of course, it’s coffee crumble.” and his face lit up then.

“hm, i remember when you said that red is your favorite color, but i think i haven’t told you mine yet.” he told her. “guess what’s my favorite color?”

she pulled out a thinking face. “uh, blue?” she answered, a tone of hesitation. “i don’t know. sorry.” she chortled.

“well, baby…you’re right!” he almost shouted but he remembered they were in the airport and they were already being too loud. “this is why i love you.” he said, pulling her into a hug.

“oh god! i guessed it right? i guessed it right!” she happily squealed. “and i love you, too, cal.” she said, hugging him back.

their embrace got intervened when randy came back from the rest room and cleared his throat.

“uh, dad.” she nervously uttered, tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.

“we still have 10 minutes.” randy informed, looking away, seemingly giving the chance for the two to have their moment.

she sighed as she turned to face calum, reaching up for his cheeks. “well, this is it.” she sighed. her lips began to shake again, feeling the incoming tremble in her throat. “i wish i didn’t have to leave.” she softly said, tears starting to form by the corners of her eyes.

“have you ever regretted of visiting houston?” calum asked a question stupidly.

she shook her head instantly. “no. never.” she tried to smile even though she was already crying. “why would i? how can i regret visiting the place of the person who made me feel so special? how can i regret visiting the place where my second home is? how can i regret visiting houston? how?” she muffled in her shaky voice.

“never forget me, hous.” calum reminded her for the 4th time.

“i will never forget you, calum.” she assured calum.

calum took a step forward and cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears away with his thumbs though it won’t exactly work. “promise?” he said, his face three inches closer to hers.

“i promise.” she guaranteed with a nod.

calum closed the space between them, connecting their lips together. though they were in the middle of a crowd of people in a public place called airport, he still did it without the insecurity of being judged because he didn’t care and it will take him unknown ages to feel her taste again. same goes with houston. in her mind, all she ever wanted before she would leave was to fully feel calum’s presence. they both never knew, still, if when will they ever see each other again and that’s enough reason why they have to savor every moment right there in the airport, in the middle of various people, in the presence of houston’s dad.

randy only took a glance at the two, seeing his one and only child and daughter, now in love with a boy living so far from her. unlike any other father who would probably stop the two of them from doing such public display of affection, he let it happen. he understood his daughter’s feelings because just like him, he had been left by someone he truly loved. lucky for houston and she would still have the chance to see calum again. for randy, he’s never going to see the face of flora, his beloved wife, the face of the woman he truly loved, forever. the only memory he can keep since the past five years was the pale 42-year-old face of flora peacefully laying in the glass coffin.

randy almost tore up, too, seeing his daughter in tears, sensing what she’s feeling. and as much as he didn’t want to break the moment between the two lovers, he still had to because only a few minutes left and they had to leave, and so, he cleared his throat civilly.

calum pulled away, facing houston once more. “remember our every memory. treasure each.” he said then let out a heavy sigh. “i will never forget you. i love you, houston.”

“i love you, too, calum. i’ll be back. i promise.” she managed to speak in between sobs, also trying her hardest to smile. “see you again, calum.”

calum gave her a peck one more time. “till we meet again, houston, my home.”

***

an: ok fuck you caston for making me cry while writing your sappy love story goodbye i’ll kms………………….jk

only a few chapters left i mean like 4 more (including the epilogue) im crying is this really coming to an end?? *prolongs the word ‘no’ for 10 years*