29 | ≠ hate

I had visited the Great Pyramid of Giza when I was 7, and the Taj Mahal when I was 15. While casually walking around the beauty that is the Taj Mahal and listening to the story behind it, a very casual question had popped into my mind.

"Dad?" I asked. He turned around and nodded at me to continue.

"Why are there only 7 wonders? Why not 6 or 8?"

"There are 8 wonders," he said with a smirk on his face.

"No, dad. There are 7," I answered back, quite confident in my knowledge. After all, teenage Nathan was a straight-A kid, how could he ever get something wrong?

"Every man finds the 8th wonder on his own. When you least expect it, you see it, and once you see it, you know you've found it" he said.

I look at Aliana right now, just seconds after she has told my mother that she's in love with me, and my dad's words echo in my head. I see her stare straight ahead, trying to show my mom that she's really determined about me, about this relationship.

About her love.

But yet, I see the telltale signs of nervousness. She's playing with her bracelet, she's purposely shutting off her peripheral vision, and she looks flustered like never before.

And sweet Jesus does she look beautiful.

I watch in a trance as a brilliant smile overtakes my mom's face, lightening it up entirely. I watch as mom nods and looks at me with pure motherly love and satisfaction in her eyes. I watch as she slowly realises that it's the first time my Grasshopper has said those few words, and I watch as she slowly retreats back into the house, giving both of us some most needed privacy.

More importantly, I watch Aliana Noelle Palmer, the girl with an almost identical middle name as mine, the girl who couldn't say no and yet here she was, confidently refusing to break up with me, the girl who made me realise what love was without even me knowing until this very moment, turn to me and yet not look at me.

"You know, you look somewhat like a fish out of water," she says, still keeping her eyes away from mine.

All words have left me as I keep staring straight at her. After what felt like an eternity, she lets out a deep sigh and nods to herself.

"I fell too fast, didn't I?" she whispers, almost hoping I wouldn't hear, and that snaps me back to the living world.

She takes a step back away from me, making me jump into action, grabbing her by her waist and pulling her to me. I hear a gasp escape her as I pull her into the tightest hug I can. I feel her hands circle my neck as she raises herself on her tippy toes, burying her head into my chest. Laying a soft kiss on her neck, I watch as goosebumps arrive on her body, and when we pull away, I feel myself tearing up just the slightest bit.

"Oh my God, why are you crying?" she says with panic in her voice.

I shake my head and hold her hands, non-verbally telling her to relax.

"You said no four times today," I reply, blinking my eyes a couple of times and sniffling slightly.

She rolls her eyes and nods, "No thanks to you."

"Hey! It was my idea!"

"I had to endure it though!" she replied back with equal fervour.

"But it worked," I say smugly. She rolls her eyes yet again, but this time a beautiful smile is forming on her face.

"Yeah yeah, don't go too crazy about those no's," she says, but I know that she feels equally accomplished to have done what she has done.

"You respected each person, despite them telling you not to," I point out, and she smiles in her cute way, telling me without words that she feels proud of herself.

"My favourite was the last one, don't you think?" she teases.

I smirk, "I don't think I recall anything you said. Could you repeat everything?"

"You missed your chance buddy," she says, patting my chest and moving away from me. I pull her back in, and she laughs.

"Nay, your Mom is probably wondering why we're just standing here like fools for so long."

"Grasshopper, you just made her dream come true. She's probably fangirling over it with Dad."

She laughs and waits patiently for me to continue, but I decide to tease her just a little bit longer. She keeps looking at me, and I keep looking at her, and when a few seconds later I refuse to say anything, she sighs dramatically.

"Fiiine. Don't say it back. Not like I care," she looks away, pretending to be mad.

"Alright," I shrug, and she looks at me with narrowed eyes.

"Alright," she nods and moves away, this time me letting her out of my hold pretty quickly. I feel genuine disappointment radiating off of her, and I control my urges to pull her back.

Because I know what I'm gonna say next is gonna make it worth it.

"Alright, I won't tell you that I'm truly, deeply, madly, passionately in love with you."

All those movie nights watching Letters to Juliet paid off.

She stops walking but doesn't turn around. I watch as she lets her head dip down, her hands moving from her sides to her face. I hear a muffled scream from somewhere inside the house, and I look up to the window of my room to find Mom and Dad just spying on both of us. I roll my eyes and shoo them away, which obviously leads to no avail, making me give up, trying to focus on my girl's reaction.

She still hasn't turned around, and I take this opportunity to look back at the window and call out to dad, "Dad! I found the 8th wonder!"

And that makes her turn around.

"You took your time," she sniffles. I notice her watery smile and take two big steps and pull her into my arms again, never to let go.

"I was gonna stretch it even more," I joke as she slaps my arms repeatedly.

"God, I could've easily found someone else to love," she says, and I tilt my head to the side sarcastically.

"Sure you could've."

"What was it about the 8th wonder?" she asks, and I sneak a quick look up at my Dad, who's holding my Mom to his chest, pecking the top of her head, and my heart swells.

"Why don't you ask Dad?"

⋈ ⋈ ⋈

"I remember the first time I saw your mother laugh openly at one of my pathetic jokes. I had said to myself that there should be a personal wonder for each man, and I've somehow managed to find it," Dad recalls as we sit around the dining table.

Aliana awws, looking at both of them preparing dinner in the kitchen, and I roll my eyes in good nature, having heard this story too many times to count. I can't keep the smile off my face as Grasshopper interlaces her fingers with mine under the table. I give it a quick squeeze and get back at eating my food.

"Are you gonna stop smiling anytime soon?" Maverick says, having arrived home for a few hours before he has to get back. Madhura is with him, as both of them have fortunately bagged an internship at the same law firm.

"It's nauseating," Madhura says with food in her mouth.

"You're nauseating," I reiterate childishly, their remarks simply becoming white noise to me because of the insane amount of happiness I feel.

"Mom! Make these two stop acting so lovely dovely!" Mav shouts, making Ali smack my brother across his head.

"Oh shut your dramatic ass already," she says, her smile not even budging the slightest. I laugh as his mouth falls open, clearly shocked at her violence.

Her violent tendencies tend to come out around me the most.

"Mom! Nathan is a bad influence on Ali! She just hit me!" he calls out indigently.

"I sometimes wonder who's the elder one out of you two," Dad says under his breath, making Madhura and Ali both burst out laughing.

"Stop fighting and eat your food," Mom walks towards her chair and places a giant chocolate cake in front of us. We all look up at her in surprise when Ali suddenly gasps.

"Where is she?"

"Where is who?" I ask when she laughs.

"Mia made this cake," she says, and I furrow my eyebrows.

"Huh?" I almost say before loud screaming interrupts me.

"WE'RE HERE!" Mia and Eli jump out from upstairs, and we all jump up in shock. Both of them are wearing identical giddy smiles on their face, and I brave a quick look at mom, who's wearing an identical grin. I groan, figuring out what's happening.

"Why are you two here?" Ali asks, confused out of her mind.

"Nathan's mom called me," Eli says, casually plopping down on our sofa, "She said something important happened and we guessed that we should reach quickly."

"Mother?" I glare at her, and Dad throws his hands up from beside her, communicating silently that he played no part in this.

"I got overexcited okay!" she defends herself, making me roll my eyes.

Mia approaches Ali, and I can tell that she's trying her best to keep her excitement in.

"What did you say?" Mia whisper screams at Ali, making her cringe a little.

"You know what I said," Ali whisper screams back.

Mia looks at me and narrows her eyes, "If you-"

"Hurt her you will haunt me forever. Ya, I know. Calm down," I complete her sentence, and Eli smirks. Mia continues glaring at me, and I smirk back.

Eli looks at me, winks, and gets up dramatically from his place, placing his hand on his chest.

"HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?" Eli screams, pointing at me.

I gasp loudly, getting up from my chair and pointing back at him, "I'M SORRY IT JUST HAPPENED!"

"YOU BROKE MY HEART, WRIGHT. WE WERE GONNA DIE TOGETHER."

"I WILL NEVER-"

"I JUST CAME HOME FOR DINNER!" Mav interrupts, making the girls look at us with wide amused eyes.

"WHY AM I STILL CONFUSED AS TO WHAT HAS HAPPENED?" Madhura screams, making us all look at her. One look at her face, and suddenly we're struggling to keep our laughter in.

"Kids, STOP SCREAMING," my mom's loud booming interrupts our silent laughing spree, and we look at her with her looking at us with narrowed eyes.

"What just happened?" Mia questions, to which Dad just shrugs in response. Probably realising that she hasn't introduced herself to my family yet, she says, "Hi! I'm Mia Davis. Aliana's best friend."

"Nice to meet you!" Mom greets Mia when I find Ali smirking up at her.

"And..?" Aliana prods, seemingly knowing something which I didn't.

Mia instantly goes red in the face, but she tries to dodge the prodding, "Nathan's friend?"

"I feel like you're missing something," she says, and I see her eyes flit over to Eli just for a short second. I look at him to find him looking at Mia nervously, and that's when it clicks.

Eli asked Mia out, and this is Ali's way of getting her to answer.

"Dude," I start, making Mia glare at me. But it hardly matters to me as Eli looks at me, pleading with his eyes to make her respond, "I'm pretty sure you're missing something."

"Why is everything so confusing today?" Madhura's whisper to herself is heard by everyone, but also ignored by everyone as all eyes are trained on Mia.

"Andelisgirlfriend?" she says at lightning speed.

But judging by Eli's loud YES and Ali's wide smile, I guess everyone heard it.

"Wow, today's an interesting day for sure," Dad says, making us all laugh.

We watch as Mia and Eli look at each other and smile goofily. I watch Ali look at our best friends and look back at me, silently communicating with me that she will fight against all odds to keep this happiness and joy intact for the rest of her life.

I grab her hand and bring it up to my lips, pecking it and keeping it there, making a silent promise to her and myself.

That I'll fight alongside her forever, no matter where it takes us.

And that I'll make her mine forever and ever.

Because when you find the love of your life, it makes no sense to not put a ring on it.

⋈ ⋈ ⋈

*sniffs and wipes tears* This was the last official chapter from Nathan's Point Of View *cries uncontrollably*. This is too real ya, the next chapter is the LAST FUCKING CHAPTER. And then the Epilogue and a few bonuses (which might be from Nathan's POV but stilllll) but we're almost done guys. We're almost done. Anywayyy, tell me about this chapter? How did y'all like it? Was it good?

Question then?

Q. Have you been in love? If yes, tell me the exact moment y'all realised that you loved your partner? If no, you're with me :')

I'm annoyingly overwhelmed right now but imma keep my emotions in check and gonna leave you all here. I love love love you all. Thank you so so so much!! Ciao then!

Love,

Anya <3