The celebration that was going on inside the high schools had the ambient soul of the soon-to-be graduates to a broad shared smile. Yet, there was a lingering sadness in the back of their heads as they would have to leave their youthful days filled with mistakes behind and pursue a new experience in college or university.
Leaving the commotion-filled ballroom blasting with music, after having a play-dance with Leon, Zane came out of his school campus and released a sigh of relief. He was wearing a maroon suit along with a formal white shirt and black shoes. He loosened his bow and mumbled, "Why did I even wear this stupid thing?"
His eyes fell on the side of the street where a few parents were clicking photos of their children in their prom outfits. His heart sank as the images of his mom flashed in front of his eyes. If Kalen was alive, she would have been so busy clicking photos of him with Winter. He smiled sadly as he watched the other mothers.
"Zane," called a sweet voice that he was dying to hear. Since his prom party started an hour before hers, the anticipation was quite long. He wondered how she would be looking before turning around.
More than expected, his breath hitched seeing Winter in an A-line burgundy beaded chiffon long maroon gown that hugged her figure perfectly. She looked prettier than ever with light makeup and her slender arms full-on display, which made her even more attractive than always. Her hair was styled into soft curls and left open over her shoulders.
A full-blown smile spread across his face as he forwarded his hand to her like a gentleman. "You look breathtaking," he said and kissed her knuckles making her cheek heat up that made her artificial blush glow even more.
"And you look like you wanted to make my heart skip a beat, which you did," she replied, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Being extra flirty, aren't we?" He arched his eyebrow in amusement.
Winter nodded and looped her arm around his, flashing him a bright smile.
"It's such a shame I can't kiss your lips right now," Zane commented, his gaze lingering on her luscious lips.
"Just wait until we finish our dance, then you are free to kiss me." She winked at him and started walking towards her school entrance with him.
"Your scars have healed up nicely," he said.
"The credit goes to you," she replied. "You don't know what happened to me before I came here. Carla was even more excited than me to get me dressed up nicely. She clicked so many photos of me and even insisted on coming with me so that she could click our photos together, but I forbade her. And surprisingly, my dad also clicked a few of my photos. Unbelievable, right?" she chimed and he listened intently.
"Definitely unbelievable," he agreed, still in disbelief. However, he was happy that David was trying to work things out with Winter.
While talking, they finally entered the ballroom, making almost every eye snap at them. Undoubtedly, they looked the most beautiful and heartfelt couple there, just perfect and made for each other. Everything about them complimented each other.
Ignoring all of the attention, Zane forwarded his hand to Winter and asked, "Would you like a dance with me, Ms. Candace?"
"I would be honored, Mr. Astor," she responded and took his hand before going to the dance floor directly because that was the only thing they wanted to do there since she didn't have any friends there to celebrate. However, she had plans to make plenty of friends in her university with her new confidence to strike up conversations, also so that Zane wouldn't worry about her being alone there.
Winter snaked her arms around his neck and Zane looped his arms around her waist as the slow music played in the background for the couple. There were many other couples around them as it was quite crossed, but for Zane and Winter, it was just the two of them and no one else. They were lost in their own world while flirting with each other, giggling and laughing, leaving almost no space between their bodies, making the people surrounding them jealous with the love that was radiating off them.
Zane lightly pecked her lips in a way that her lipstick wouldn't get smudged and murmured, "Where will you take me after this?"
"I told you it's a surprise," she replied, trailing her fingers on the back of his neck. "Hey, is your house empty tonight?" she asked, making him take a sharp breath.
"And what are you implying by that?" he teased. He gazed into her glowing green eyes, her bold eyeliner making her eyes look prettier and long lashes that made her seem so confident and unhesitant, it made him fall for her even harder.
"Just what it sounds like," Winter replied, making him bite his lips in anticipation.
Not a minute after that, their third song came to an end. They grabbed a drink as a formality before making their way out, unaware of winning the title of the best prom couple.
Once they were out and near his car, Zane asked, "So my place?"
"No, there's somewhere else we have to be to," she answered and got inside the car. "To the café."
"Why?" Zane sat in the driver's seat and raised his eyebrows in question.
"I will answer that once we arrive there. Now hurry up."
Zane chuckled and shook his head before driving off.
°°°°°
"Why has the café been closed already?" Zane asked once they entered through the backdoor in the darkness.
"Who knows?" Winter feigned innocence and guided him inside. Reaching the main area, she let go of his hand, which made him panic as he was scared of closed rooms. "It's okay. I'm still here," she assured him, which made him nod his head.
Zane was confused as to what was going on. Although he had a guess in his mind, he didn't want to expect anything and be disappointed. However, having no expectations at all made him all the more surprised as the fairy lights lip up, covering the room in a beautiful orangish glow. And there at the end, she stood with a smile, looking ethereal, making his heartbeat accelerate.
"Hello, my love," Winter started.
"Oh, my gosh, I can't believe this," Zane mumbled.
"About time I confessed, huh?" She chortled and took steps towards him, the end of the gown flowing behind her perfectly, a bouquet in her hand. She stopped right in front of him and handed him the bouquet filled with his favorite chocolates after saying, "I originally planned for a bouquet of flowers because I wanted to break the tradition of only boys giving flowers, but then I realized you don't like flowers very much since we can't eat. Chocolates might be more useful."
"Definitely." He chuckled, feeling emotional for no reason.
"I know this isn't much, but I wanted to confess my feelings for you through words because nothing could ever be more powerful than words," she told him, and he nodded in understanding.
Taking a deep breath, she started, "First of all, thank you for coming into my life and for showering me with so much love and affection. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life, and I wish you would let me continue being an important part of your life. I'm really thankful to have someone so amazing like you by my side. Everything that you have done for me has made me a better person. Remember that depressed, timid, shy, awkward girl who had a very fake laugh?"
Zane restrained himself from chuckling as he compared her from now to seven months ago. Indeed, the difference was huge.
"Yes, you have transformed me and have helped me throughout every stage after I came here. In fact, you must be my soulmate. You were the first that I talked to comfortably after arriving here. You were one of the very few persons in my life who has shown me kindness. Oh, I realized I never thanked you for that delicious ice cream which helped me ease my cravings during my periods. Therefore, thank you for that too."
Zane couldn't help but chuckle at the fond memory of their first meeting. She was feeling awkward to say she needed sanitary pads at a pharmacy. Only possible for her.
"I want to thank you for so many other things, but if I start doing that, the next morning will arrive but I won't stop talking." She pouted as she wanted to thank him for helping her during work, giving her rides to school, finding her mom's death truth, letting her stay at his place, for always being by her side. "Now I should stop with the thank you message since it's not Thanksgiving yet."
Winter took another deep breath while Zane watched her with curious eyes, both of their hearts beating fast in sync.
"Remember the question you asked me yesterday as to why I trust you?" He nodded, and her smile got wider. She took his hands in hers, caressing them.
"It's because I love you, Zane," Winter finally breathed out. "I love you more than anyone and everything. No one means more to me than you. I have never ever had a stronger desire than wanting to be with you. And when I say that I love you, it means that I will fight for you when you want to give up and nothing is working out, pull you up when you are in a slump, cheer you up when you are down, and give you that smile when it's hard for you to find yours. That's why I promise to treasure you through everything and care for you more than anyone else."
Zane had tears brimming in his eyes by the time she finished. His throat felt so dry as it was too overwhelming for him. "I— I am speechless," he let out, which made her let her tears out. He exhaled a breath and said, "I want to say a few things too."
"Yes, I'm dying to hear those three magical words from your mouth too," she urged.
Zane chuckled and said, "Don't worry. I love you too, and I'm sure you know that." She nodded her head proudly. "And when I say that I love you, it means that I accept you for the person you are, regardless of your changes. Just as I love the Winter from today, I love the Winter from the past as well. I don't expect perfection from you because I'm not, either. I have many flaws as well, and I'm willing to accept yours, I don't know about you though."
"Of course, I have accepted your flaws, that's why I will never lie or keep any secrets from you which might make you give silent treatment again," she responded, remembering the time when she lied about her mom's death and he gave her a cold shoulder for two weeks.
"Jokes aside, I will love you and stand by you even through the worst of times, even when you are in a bad mood or too tired to do things. Even when we are apart, if you need me, I will come running to you. You are the only one who will ever make my heart flutter except for our child," Zane said.
By then Winter was already a crying mess.
"And I will love you even when your makeup is all smudged up and you don't exactly look very pretty—" he stopped speaking as Winter hit his arm playfully and hugged him.
Zane chuckled and wrapped his arms around her securely.
As she listened to his heartbeat while letting her tears of happiness out, she mumbled, "Do you know why I brought you here out of all the places?"
"I know, but I want to listen from your mouth," he said while stroking her hair lovingly.
"Because this is where our love story began, our part-time love," she answered with a proud smile.
Though they had no idea what the future was going to look like, they were sure of one thing: even if they were apart, even if there would be ups and downs in their respective lives, even if there were misunderstandings and fights between them, they would always figure out a way to overcome it.
In the far away future, they could definitely imagine themselves being together as a genius neurosurgeon and a capable chain hotel owner and getting married when they are in their late twenties after living years in a live-in relationship, having twins in their thirties, and growing old together.
And it all began through a part-time love.
—— THE END ——
