Chapter 39- THE END

"I told you, I am good to go! I don't know why they still want to keep me here." Alec cried for the third time this week.

I eyed towards his head where the bandages were still wrapped around him— lesser than before.

I rolled my eyes, "Sure."

He stared at me wide-eyed before touching his head and pressing it lightly without wincing in pain, "See! I am not lying. I should be home now and preparing for our date rather than laying here while a nurse comes and insist on changing my clothes when in fact I can do that properly myself! It hit my head not my whole body that someone will come and help me change my clothes! I am pretty sure it's the nurse... I am telling you Serene, it's her, she likes undressing me! I am pretty sure she is the one who is convincing everyone to make me stay here."

I sighed because I have been listening to him ranting about the same topic for the past three days straight now. At this point, if it wasn't for his injured head, I swear I would have smacked him across the head by now.

"No one's keeping you here," I repeated myself for the third time, "You need to get rid of these bandages completely to go home."

He stared at me in astonishment before a wave of disappointment passed through his features.

"What?" I asked.

He shook his head, "You are my girlfriend! You should be cursing that nurse out for touching your boyfriend for god's sake!" He whined, "And you don't care?! You don't care!"

Was it just me or has he been acting more like a kid since he gained consciousness?

But still, listening to him calling me his girlfriend gave me butterflies. He has been doing the same for the past few days too but every time he says, 'my girlfriend', it always makes my heart skip a beat.

"With you looking like that," I gave his dishevelled blonde hair a sorry look, "I don't have to worry about anyone."

He had shock written all over his face as he hurriedly got out of the bed and stood in front of me. He blocked my way as he spread his arms out.

"What are you doing? Get out of my way." I tried to step aside but he always came in front of me and blocked my path. At last, I folded my hands over my chest and gave him a pointed look.

He had his brows knitted together while he pouted in front of me— trying to look cute, maybe?

"Are you sure you are not dazzled by my good looks?" He asked suddenly changing the tone of his voice to that of the deeper range.

I stared into his enchanting blue eyes for a few seconds— completely losing myself— before clearing my throat and looking away from him towards the window in the room.

"No," I muttered knowing fully well that it was a lie.

"Liar." He stated.

I didn't say anything to that knowing full well that if I opened my mouth, I would surely stutter and make him confirm his doubts.

"I am gonna go and ask the nurse," I rambled quickly and stepped away from Alec to get away from him as soon as possible.

I was not that far when he held onto my wrist softly— making me stop. I turned around slowly in a questioning way.

What was it now? I thought we were past this conversation.

Slowly, he started walking towards me making me retreat my steps until I was against the wall. I watched him as he put both his hands against the wall, caging me in.

I looked up at his face before gulping. My cheeks were turning red and probably were even looking like a tomato as he closed the distance between us.

"Am I not good looking for you?" He asked whispering.

Even with the bandages on his head. Even with the dishevelled hair sticking out in every plausible direction. Even in the fucking white hospital gown... he was enough good looking for me. He always will.

Just to tease him a bit more, I shook my head at him, letting him know that he wasn't so handsome right now.

I saw him take a deep breath as he faced away from me. I was forcing myself to not chuckle at his frustrating yet adorable side when he snapped his head to me and removing his hands away from the wall, he put them underneath my chin before cupping my whole face between his big warm hands. I gave him a quizzical look. What was he trying to do? Before I could even comprehend anything further, he pressed his lips against mine.

I stared at his closed eyes with those wide eyes of mine.

When the reality slowly started seeping in, I closed my eyes in bliss before kissing him back. I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck as he continued kissing me tenderly and with affection.

A few seconds later, he pulled away slightly, "Does it make up for the looks?"

I chuckled lightly as I gazed into the skies of his eyes with adoration, "Yeah."

A genuine smile made its way onto his face before he went back to kissing me.

Sometimes, the more unexpected the things come, the better they feel.

•••

I hummed a song to myself as I folded my laundry in my room. My mind back to the moment when Alec kissed me out of nowhere in the hospital room. I felt myself getting giddy as I clutched onto my heart.

I could hear it beating wildly against my chest.

After insisting for too long, Alec finally managed to throw me out of his room today. Usually, I would take a maximum of ten minutes to take my change of clothes and go back to him but today, he insisted that he was feeling totally fine. At least, enough to make him want to get rid of me for a few hours.

"Don't you have homework to do? Aren't you missing your studies? Look at me," he pointed towards his head, "Does it look injured enough to need assistance twenty-four/seven? No, it doesn't! Does it look like a head who cannot give amazing kisses? No, it doesn't! So, trust me. Go and rest properly for a few hours, which you haven't done in the past week and it's frustrating me."

Good lord, the guy knows how to make a point and make me agree to him on anything he wants. Except, getting him discharged. That is not happening. Not until the doctor gets sick of us and asks us to leave himself.

My phone vibrated on the bed. Placing the clothes on the bed properly, I held my phone high and noticed it was a call from my mom. Without a second thought, I answered it.

"Hey, mom, everything alright?" I asked.

"Of course, I was just going to go have something to eat... How is Alec now?"

"Too healthy, I guess," I said making her chuckle.

"Why? What happened?"

I rolled my eyes before picking up the clothes to put them back in the wardrobe, "He wants to get discharged. God only knows, how I have managed to make him stay there for the past few days. Mom, he thinks the nurses are assaulting him!" I let out a breath before laughing, realising how stupid it was.

"If he feels alright then I don't see the problem. He is feeling fine, right?"

I shook my head before shoving the clothes in with the others, "Too fine in fact." I said remembering his lips against mine. I shook my head to clear my mind.

Focus.

"Anyhow, I just want the doctors to confirm again that he can go home and then I won't say anything. It's not like I love keeping him there trapped like a prisoner in some white gown."

"Sounds like a modern love story."

"Mom..."

She laughed and even though I was on the other end of the phone I knew she was shaking her head.

"I'll call you later then, okay? Don't forget to take care of yourself." She said in a hurry. Probably, there was an emergency case again which needed direct attention. I hummed in response before she cut the call.

Before Alec was injured and admitted to hospital, I always hated that my mom had to work extra hours or even the fact, that she couldn't have proper meals because of that frustrated me.

But now, when I have seen and felt the anxiety and the panic of a person who is losing their close ones... when the doctors and nurses are the only hope for them in that moment.

And feeling frustrated because of that reason, seems so stupid to me now especially, when I have seen my mom coming to love her job so much. Sometimes even more than me maybe.

I threw the phone away on the bed as I watched it roll one or two times before laying there, staring back at me.

"What?" I muttered at the black screen of the phone as I felt as if it was watching me with that haunting black screen of it, wanting me to call Alec or just anyone, "Stop looking at me like that! I am not calling anyone." I scolded.

There was a knock on my window making me snap my head to my left. It's even scarier to hear a knock on your window knowing that I don't live on the ground floor that people would just go knocking on my windows!

Is this the day I die? Is this the day that I die after the killer announces that he is coming through the window to kill me?!

As I stared at the window, my face and mind went through so many emotions all at once. Surprised, confused, horrified, and now dying.

What in the name of holy Jesus am I seeing?

Other than me who had a lot of emotions stirring up in me, there outside the window, I could see Alec's facial expression which looked confused as hell as his eyes slid between me and the phone laying on the bed.

Great, he just saw my little stare down/conversation with the phone. Definitely, nothing to be weirded out about, pfft it's normal to see your girlfriend having a heated conversation with a phone while you ran out of the hospital and climbed the pipe of a three-storey building.

HE RAN AWAY!

I ran towards the window and opened it as fast as my hands could move. As soon as I felt the fresh air hit my face before Alec could say anything else I was already going wild.

"What are you doing here? You ran away from the hospital, didn't you? I TOLD YOU TO STAY THERE! Oh my god," k looked around putting my hand on my forehead, "I should have known to never leave you alone there. I should have known you were up to something! Fuck that you escaped the hospital but you even climbed the pipe of my building?! Have you gone insane! The last time I remember, you couldn't even climb down one and now you are climbing pipes after getting an injury to the head... ARE YOU ALRIGHT!"

He was still holding onto the ledge of the window as he listened to me intently. After I was done, I expected him to yell back at me or just feel guilty about whatever I said. I expected him to give me all types of emotions except... a smirk. And that is exactly what he gave me, a smirk.

I slowly pointed my index finger at his face, "Why are you smirking? Stop smirking. It's not funny. Take it seriously."

He shook his head before taking a deep breath as if he could breathe after a long time, "Everything had been so serious lately that I cannot take it anymore. I don't want to take things seriously anymore. Especially, when it is you yelling at me because you care for me. It's cute." I stared at him wide-eyed. I was scolding him. I was yelling at this guy and he still found it... cute? Romantic?

"Let's go to the doctor," I said starting to collect my belongings when Alec stopped me again.

"I am fine! Oh my god, Serene. Chill. I came here only after the doctor allowed me to go home. Don't worry! And fuck yes, I am alright! I learnt to climb the pipes after you almost threw me out of your window the last time." He pursed his lips before he muttered the next sentence through his teeth, "I don't know about you though, talking with an inanimate object."

My mouth dropped open at what he said. He just didn't- what can I even expect?! It was the truth that I was very much in fact talking to an inanimate object.

"I-uh," I flailed mid-sentence before giving him a pointed look. He looked surprised as he held only one of his hands in mid-air while holding onto for support with the other.

"I just want you to get ready for our date." He said out of nowhere, "I will get down of here and go to the main door of your apartment like a gentleman to ask you for the date but until then... GET READY! You have only a few minutes." He chirped before getting himself ready to climb back down.

And... that was it? He climbed up to tell me that? And he gave me a few minutes to get ready? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO IN A FEW MINUTES?!

I looked out of the window and saw him getting down the pipe as I yelled at him so that he could hear me, "A FEW MINUTES IS TOO LESS."

He looked up momentarily before shaking his head at me, "It's not. Just put on a good dress, I won't mind if you want to keep wearing what you are wearing either... you look beautiful."

"I NEED TO DO MAKEUP! I SMELL OF... HOSPITAL!" I was frustrated. It was our first date... and I wanted it to be good now especially after going through all the shit we have been through.

I gave him a threatening look which clearly said that I would kill him and even not go on a date with him if he refused. I heard him sigh as he rolled his eyes.

"Fine." He muttered, "I'll be back in half an hour. NOT MORE THAN THAT! Get ready!"

Half an hour is better than a few minutes! I have to take a bath, choose a dress, do makeup and my hair all in half an hour.

Watch me become flash.

••••

I heard the knock on the door exactly half an hour later.

Watch him being so punctual when he didn't even show up the last time.

I looked at myself one last time in the mirror as I ran my hands down the black knee-length dress which flowed around the end. I wasn't wearing anything grey and just cancelled any dress which had any grey in them, just fearing that something bad might happen like it happened last time when I wore grey.

I hurried towards the door in my not so long black heels and opened it to find Alec in a black shirt and white pants. He had a bouquet in his hands which were... just like the ones I bought last time.

They are the same.

"Someone's ready for fancy." He said with a smile on his face.

"You don't look so bad yourself." I smiled back as I finally saw his head without the bandages and his blonde hair were properly styled after so many days.

"Do I look good enough for you now?" He asked before offering me the flowers like a gentleman.

I felt my heart being overwhelmed as I took the bouquet from him, "You always do." I said in a soft voice to which his eyes softened, "Are these the same flowers...?" I continued.

"Not the same, but yes, they are from the same florist." He said as I looked down at the flowers and touched them tenderly, "As I told her about you, she recognised you instantly. If it wasn't for me buying you this bouquet, I swear that old lady was going to kill me and then use me as manure to her flowers and plants."

I laughed as I watched the horror in his eyes even when he conveyed the story.

"She threatened me to always love and take care of you! As if I wasn't already planning on doing that!"

I chuckled lightly as he continued babbling before going and putting the flowers on the table in the living room. When I returned I found Alec fixing his shirt looking nervous. Glad, we had a few things in common right now.

As soon as he saw me coming towards him his eyes lit up, "You look absolutely stunning." He said making me blush by the way his eyes were looking at me, "I wasn't going to wear black but glad I did in the end... we look like a couple."

"We do." I smiled biting the lower bottom of my lip lightly.

He escorted me to his car downstairs before opening the passenger's door for me. Swiftly, I sat in the car as he closed it before coming around and getting in his seat too. I looked in the front a little nervous as he revved the engine.

"Come on," I looked aside at Alec upon hearing his voice. I looked down at his extended hand in confusion.

"What?" I asked before searching the car to make sure that there wasn't anything he was looking for. I saw a pen lying in the corner where you store stuff and put it in Alec's hand.

He looked down towards his hands while he drove with another. I swear I saw him groan as he hit his head in mid-air.

What?

He looked pleadingly at me, "Serene, are you testing my patience?"

"No," I said confused.

What did he want me to do if not hand him a pen? Is there something else he wanted? I tried to look around as I saw Alec throwing the pen back in place. Yes, he literally threw it back which made a sound as it hit against the hard surface.

I looked around with a quizzical expression before I felt Alec take my hand and intervene them together,

"What are you d-"

He cut me mid-sentence, "I was not asking for a pen or anything. I just want your hand. I just want your warmth. Serene baby..." he sighed shaking his head which clearly meant that it was so stupid of me to not get what he meant.

Well, this is embarrassing.

I cleared my throat awkwardly and looked ahead before trying to look at him through the corner of my eyes. He was concentrated on driving but every now and then he would rub circles around my hand with his thumb which made me calm.

"Thank you for forgiving me." He said out of nowhere.

Thank you for forgiving him? But it was just natural for me and my feelings to forgive him. After all, we had gone through it wasn't anything but my love for him.

If anything, I should be the one thanking him to make me fall in love with him and returning my feelings.

A few days back when Alec was still being operated on, I still remember Xavier saying, "So I just hope for his sake, for the sake of all your good memories ... you will forgive him and give him another chance."

For the sake of all your good memories.

Good memories or not... they were our memories. Memories we made together. Felt together. All the memories starting from the day he stepped in front of me to help me with my chemistry project (which we are already progressing on and I am pretty sure we'll top it with Alec's grace), to the same love and understanding we have for the paintings.

Sharing the secrets of our broken family together, to him helping me meet my mom, protecting me and my feelings when my father showed up. He was always there for me when I needed him. He was always there to support me, trust me, love me even if he denied it.

All the moments with him have been so special since I came back to school, it's astonishing. Our small little fights, our cooking phase where we messed up everything, me on the verge of giving up on him while he broke down and asked to give him some more time.

And how can I forget... he made me meet his mom. Her memorial. I can still not forget that weather as both of our hair blew in on our faces. As we sat crossed legs and talked about her.

So, yes. Every moment spent with him was special. Special enough to make me want to come back to him every time even if I want to give up because he made me feel feelings I wasn't even sure I was capable of feeling. I felt jealous, I felt love, I felt attached, I felt the need to care for him, I felt like holding onto him, I felt cared for and I just felt... joyous.

And I will forgive him every time for all the feelings he made me feel (while expecting the same in return).

"Of course," I said to his previous statement.

He stopped the car after a while before turning around to face me. His features had softened up as he looked straight into my soul with love and warmth. Our hands were still intervened as I felt myself being enchanted by him.

I watched him as he slowly reached out in his back pocket and took out something which he clutched into his hand without showing me.

"Close your eyes," he finally said in a small voice.

Without asking anything I closed my eyes. I felt his hands as he held onto my hand before slipping something on my wrist.

A bracelet? I could feel it was a bracelet. I felt so happy and excited as I waited for him to tell me to open my eyes back.

"If you still aren't sure about my feelings, if you still feel insecure... this is the best I can do to tell you how sincere I am about my feelings." He said making me all the more nervous before he finally asked me to open my eyes.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and my eyes directly went to my wrist to look at the bracelet. The air left my lungs. I put my hand over my mouth as I looked at Alec unbelievably shaking my head.

"No, you didn't-" I said before staring at the bracelet on my wrists. Its cold metal against my skin while the small little charm still dangling from it.

"I did." He smiled before coming forward and kissing my forehead, "I love you, Serene. And it only means that you deserve it now."

"But it's your mom's," I started,

"She would be the happiest right now." He smiled.

I again looked back at the bracelet on my wrist. It was the same bracelet Alec gave to her mom. It was the same bracelet Alec kept near her mom.

"You remember," he started taking my hand into his and intervening them together again, "I told you that I gave this bracelet as a gift to my mother."

I nodded my head in confirmation. He did tell me. How can I ever forget that day?

"Do you remember what I told you?" He said before taking the charm in between his fingers and outlining the outlines of the house, "When I gave this bracelet to my mom, I told her that wherever she was... It was my home. Even if it was her memorial.

I am sure if mom is watching right now, she would be so happy to finally get rid of this and seeing me give this to someone whom I really love again... and I want them to be my home." He whispered in the end.

I stared into his eyes as I have never been so overwhelmed by anything else.

This bracelet. Him. Nothing felt much more important than them.

"Serene," he said pressing my hands a little, "Wherever you are... no matter where, you are my home now. I will always come back to you."

I pursed my lips to stop myself from crying as I looked down at our hands before closing my eyes. I could feel the tears forming on the edge of my eyes as I tried to shake them off.

What did I do to deserve him? To be loved by him.

A tear finally slipped down my cheek as I flicked it off carefully, "Dammit," I muttered chuckling, "I will ruin my makeup at this rate."

He laughed with me before getting serious again,

"I love you." He said with so many hidden meanings and promises behind those three words.

I looked down at the bracelet in my hand and accepted it as a part of me as I smiled cherishingly, "I love you too."

He smiled widely before kissing me softly.

"Liya was right. I finally found my 'one and only'." He said before kissing me back. I couldn't help but smile as I felt that I finally found my 'one' too. My home. Someone to cherish. Someone who won't leave me.

Someone... I am in love and want to spend the rest of my life with.

Just someone who is... Alec.

"Let's go! Do you want to continue making out in the car or continue our date?" He asked finally pulling away.

"Of course, I want to go on the date. I want to forget the previous one."

"It didn't happen."

"Yeah, thanks to you."

"I am sorry!"

I rolled my eyes.

"You liked the bracelet, right?"

"I LOVED it!"

"Aren't I the most romantic guy you have ever met?! YOU ARE SO LUCKY THAT I AM IN LOVE WITH YOU AND YOU WILL GET TO HAVE EACH OF YOUR DAYS SPECIAL."

"Shut up."

"You know, I am telling the truth."

"Shut up."

"Kiss me and I will shut up. Hey! Why are you running away! Come back! Look at this girl throwing herself at me a few moments ago and now she is running away! Wait for me! We have a date TOGETHER!"

_____THE END____

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." –Audrey Hepburn

____