Flaunting LDR

Chapter Twenty-Six - Cecidimus

Thirteenth Day of Christmas Break

(January 2, 5:00 AM - Philippines)

Here we go again. One of the worst things long distance couples dread: airport goodbyes. And it had to be the day after New Year's Day. Can I just please crouch in the corner and cry my heart out?

"Michelle?" Marc said as he reached out for my hand from the other end of the car seat, and held it tightly. "Don't let the thought of my flight ruin the rest of the time we have left to be together." He gave me that reassuring smile I always loved. He knows exactly what to say at every specific time, and then ends it with that smile, like a stamp for every letter. He always looked so composed when I needed to be reassured, it makes me feel like he's always right and that I could trust him with everything he says. 

I leaned in closer to him, he opened his arm for me to rest my head on his shoulder, and when I did, he kissed the top of my head before resting his head on top of mine.

"We can get through this, okay?" 

I'm fortunate enough that my mouth screens and auto-corrects what my mind says. 

What if we couldn't?

"Yeah."

  ***

"This is it." He said as he turned to me, my hand in his, before he heads in for the boarding area. I focused on the touch his hand made in mine, then to the way he stood up, then to the way his hair was messier than usual, and finally to the gaze his eyes held with mine. "See you in a few?"

I nodded, and hugged him. "Few months, I hope."

"Pray for it. I'll pray for you too," he said as he tightened the hug. He stepped back, and I knew what was coming: that bittersweet goodbye kiss.

His face got closer to mine, the space between us slowly diminished as I felt his exhales soften before his lips collided with mine. We kissed the same way we did when he came up to me in my room about two weeks ago. Our lips tried to memorize the other's touch, our breaths, the other's scent and our tongues, the other's taste. No one didn't want to stop, to let go, but then again, time had to.

When we parted, Marc pulled me in for one last hug, and kissed my forehead. "That's for protection."

Stupid brim, even just the favor of having to hold back the tears, couldn't you do it?

"I love you."

"I love you too."

He stepped back and pulled the handle of his bag up and gave me a smile and turned to get in to the boarding area. I stayed where I stood because he kept looking back and the last few glimpses are more valuable than you think they are. As his figure grew smaller as he moved farther, I felt like gravity wanted to pull every inch of me.

My heart sank to my stomach. This usually meant that I'm getting feelings that something's bound to happen.

  

Seventh Week of Second Semester

(January 9, 9:20 AM - Philippines | January 8, 8:20 PM - Chicago)

Oh look, we're back to emphasizing the time differences. Fvck it.

"Athena," Rose snapped me out from my thoughts. "That's the fourth time I snapped at you today and it's only nine in the morning, and not yet half an hour to ten."

It's true. She had been snapping her fingers just to get me to listen to her again, and that's not just today. I've been dazing the past week. She already treated me Starbucks twice now, and brought coffee beans to my house to brew some for me to get me more pumped up, because coffee does that to my body. Yes, she does the brewing. She comes to my house before and after school and even during breaks.