Temptation

39

31st December

"Hi queen," Vernon called out for Abella. He watched her comb her hair on her side.

Abella looked at Vernon's reflection on the mirror, leaning against the door. She smiled broadly at him. Vernon walked towards her. Abella placed the comb on the dressing table. Vernon wrapped his arms around her neck, putting his neck on her shoulder, softly placing multiple pecks on her nape. Abella held his arms, feeling every bit of his touch on her skin.

"Let's go. It's almost 11:20," Vernon insisted.

Abella nodded. She moved away his arms and turned around to face him.

"Let's go," she pouted as she cupped his face tightly.

Vernon held her wrist and walked to the back stairs. Today, the back stairs had lights around. It was no more dark like the previous time. Abella's face brightened at the sight of new lights set up. The handles and railings were furnished and the huge metal gate was too. No more rust or brokerage.

Vernon looked down at Abella as he slowly opened the metal gate.

The rooftop was decorated with white and yellow fairy lights. The winter winds blew, shuffling their hair. Abella's face was almost covered with her soft, light brown tendrils. Vernon helped her arrange her hair. He tucked them behind her ears, revealing her face again.

The couple held each other's waist and walked to the previous spot.

"Remember that day? When you and I stood here, watching the stars?" Vernon asked as he looked up at the sky.

"Yes. Absolutely," Abella said.

"Tonight's just different," Vernon said, "that day, we didn't yet realize how much we wanted each other, but tonight, we're here, together, from heart."

Abella gazed at Vernon as he spoke. Vernon sensed her gaze, but couldn't look into her eyes. He was shaking. In fact, both of them were shaking.

Vernon gently rested his right arm on Abella's shoulder, while Abella clutched onto his tee above his waist.

The remained standing like this for the next few minutes, exchanging looks, waiting for the fireworks to start for the New Year.

11:59:01 pm

"Let's give each other a minute before we step onto a new life," Abella proposed as she held Vernon's shoulders and turned him around at her.

Both of them looked at each other for the next one minute.

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1

Fyuuu! Blast!

The couple looked on their sides to watch the midnight blue sky fill with strings of colours as the fireworks began. They again looked at each other. Their eyes reflected the colours in the sky.

"I love you, Vernon," Abella croaked as she held his face into her hands.

"I love you"