▫️Thirty

Grey's pov

To say that I'm unsettled is an understatement.

My heart aches as my eyes fleet back to the beauty in my living room. She's so beautiful even as she laughs and sings along with Mayella and Dalton over a song that plays on TV.

They've been coming over to my house for the past week; we all hang out, play and eat together. Her friends Leila, Louis and Jordan have even visited twice.

Those have been the best moments of my life and I would do anything just to relive those times. Right now I'm counting hours, two hours before I leave and I can't just come into terms with this fact.

I won't be able to see her for quite sometime, neither will I see her eyes crinkle into little moons whenever she smiled. I would miss her soft kisses over my jaw everytime I pretended to scowl.

I couldn't bear with us separating, even for a minute.

"The team will be arriving soon," Reece speaks again and I have to force my eyes back to him. He assesses me before saying, "You don't look good man."

There's no denying because I don't feel good either. I have a mission to get to, I have a girlfriend I can't bear parting with. My heart weighs heavier as I exhale.

"I have a favor to ask," Reece gives me a slight smirk but I don't care what he'd think of me. This is what I'm feeling, I can't hide it anymore.

"Can you look out for Ginelle when I'm away, please?" I look at her for a moment before turning to Reece. "Like make sure that she's safe, comfortable and eats her meals."

Reece doesn't acknowledge my statement so I continue, "Ask her friends too to watch over her, she likes the chocolate flavored ice cream best and some swee-"

"I get it man, I'll take care of it." Reece pats my shoulder but I'm not settled at all. He gives me one pointed look that I dismiss making him roll his eyes.

"She also asked about Clarissa, let them meet when they're not busy." I think hard of anything else that I might be leaving out.

"You do talk a lot nowadays," Reece pins me a knowing look as he rolls his eyes again. Ignoring him, I see my tulip approach us, the smile on her face so bright that I feel dazed.

"Is it almost time?" I nod as Reece leaves us to go look after the children. Ginelle loops her hands over my arm, tingles arising on my skin at the contact.

"Let's get you ready then," she smiles dazzlingly that my knees almost buckle as she leads me upstairs. I can't think of how hard I'll miss her, so I scoop her up into my arms, a squeal escaping her tender lips.

"We have-" I cut off her words with a smooch on her lips as I guide us to my room. The company she claims won't see us here, not that I care if they do.

I kiss her for the longest time, my mouth tasting every part of her face as I commit every feeling to memory. I move to her neck, licking every spot of her visible skin.

She trembles, her breath catching up and I don't take a break. My lips draw to her lovely collar bones and all over the pale skin I see. I exhale a bit as I look at her face that radiates in front of me.

I'm caught by surprise when she takes lead, her hands moving up and down chest through my shirt. She attaches her lips on mine and I lean up on her, my hand resting on the door frame.

She's so sweet, her tongue tasting like the apples she had just taken earlier. I have to bit back the urge to lock us inside this room and never come out.

She leaves me breathless, our breaths heavier as we press our foreheads together. Then she smiles and adjusts the buttons of my shirt that her hands had messed with and pushes me to the bathroom to change.

I have to taste her lips one final time as I take out my military uniform. Dressing faster than I normally did, I'm done in no time and again I'm standing in front of her.

She looks at me in awe, this was the first time she'd ever seen me in these clothes. She takes a badge that lays on my dressing table and pins it over the left side of the shirt.

"My soldier," she pats my chest after fixing the badge. Her eyes remain on the clothing for a long time and so many emotions come over me that I wrap her to my chest as my hand pats her hair.

I softly kiss her forehead as we hug and she tightly wraps her arms around me, her head nuzzling deeper into my chest. We stand in the middle of the room lost in each other's embrace before I feel her pull back.

She looks away, her eyes on the carpet as she angles her head away. Before I can even say anything, she sniffles and I dart to stand before her.

I cup her cheeks as I slowly incline her head up. Tears streak down her adorable face and my heart constricts when she hiccups. "P-Promise me that you'll be safe Grey,"

I swallow thickly, my palms running on both sides of her face as I pat her hair. "I'll be fine, nothing will happen to me." I utter solemnly though her expression never wavers.

"I will be extra careful sweetheart, remember those dates you've planned for me? I'll be there with you, I always look forward to our time together."

"I still have to learn baking with you, there are also countless books that you have yet to read me. With you, I plan to explore all the places you keep telling me about."

"I look forward to all the games we play, as Dalton chases after us with his water gun, Mayella turning me into a princess as she builds a sand castle."

"There are so many things I have to do with you, so please believe me when I say I will be back. I don't want to think of a day when you're not beside me."

I reach out for the top drawer of my cabinet and pull out a small box I've kept for a while. Her tears have stopped flowing and I wipe away the remaining traces as I take her hand.

"This is my promise to you that I'll be safe," I inhale further as her eyes stare into mine. "Have faith in me that I will be careful, I'll take care of my myself, I'll always come back my tulip."

I pull out a ring, it has the moon engraved at the front, then take her left hand all the while watching her expression. She stares at the promise ring, her lips trembling.

Her eyes look back at me and then at the ring. She shakily takes a deep breath before slowly extending her hand to me.

I wait for her confirmation even after I've taken her hand. She nods and that's when I slip the ring up her middle finger. She sniffles again as she says, "I believe you."

I hug her tighter, calmly rubbing my hands up and down her back. It is to sooth her, make her breathing easier but I am the one who needs this the most.

I might have appeared calm outwardly but there is a tornado inside my heart, even the blood pumping through my veins feels uneasy.

Ginelle wipes her face again and again as I watch her before she excuses herself to clean up, rushing into my bathroom. I know she doesn't want me to see her cry.

I wait outside the looked door, my ear inclined to the wood even when I can't hear a thing. I place the empty box on my hand back to the drawer I'd previously kept it.

She stays in there for two minutes before the door clicks open and her face comes through, puffy. She has been crying and I feel so terrible for putting her in this situation.

"I won't cry again, let me get your bag." She speaks in the midst of fresh tears that I have to softly guide to my bed. I kneel down before her as I take both of her hands.

"I know this is hard for you but please stay strong for me baby." She nods once all the while toying with the ring that rests on her finger.

"I promise, I'll hold onto your word." I relax when she passes me a smile and adjusts the collar of my shirt. She presses kisses all over my face, her thumb straightening out my brows.

"Did you get everything ready?" I follow her as she examines the bag that I'd already packed. It didn't have much since most things were provided for us.

"I packed an extra jacket and a scarf." I add, wanting to hear her praise me. She zips up the bag and laughs as she slowly turns to me.

"That's good but I wasn't going to ask that, babe." She lifts up the bag to place it on the chair beside me and I pretend to scowl.

She's next to me in an instant as she kisses my pout away, something I knew she would do. I'm smiling again after her kisses.

"My obedient and handsome man," she cups my face and I grin widely as she begins to pat my sideburns. I longingly stare at her face just feeling so great with our bodies pressed together.

"Grey?" She stops moving, fully focusing on me and I stare back at her in return.

"Yes tulip?" I almost melt at how juicy my name is as it comes out of her mouth.

"I'll miss you," this time I melt. Her eyes are almost glassy but I shake my head standing closer.

"I'll miss you the most baby," I briefly kiss her lips and hug her, my hands slipping to her waist as she wraps hers around my neck.

She toys with the hairs at the back of my neck before she stands on her toes and presses a kiss over the side of my neck, just like our first kiss back at the airport.

We pull back and stare at each for the longest time. There are no words spoken between us until someone knocks on my door. I know it's time, my phone already vibrated twice.

"Let's go," in one hand she takes my bag and my hand in the other as she leads me downstairs. Reece is with Mayella and Dalton, they're so calm unlike me who's clinging to Ginelle.

Reece takes the bag from her and nods once at me. There's that familiar hoot of a van outside and I know they're waiting for me.

"Masha?" I turn to Mayella who now stands in front of me. She clenches both of her hands in small fists and raises her arms to portray the 'fighting spirit' which I sign back.

"I shall protect Elle for you," Dalton says, determined to fulfill his words as he fist bumps me. His words somehow strengthen me even as they walk me out.

Reece has already handed my bag over so I give him one last glance, silently asking him not to let me down. He nods in understanding as I watch them all for the last time.

I almost turn to leave but Ginelle suddenly jumps on me. She tightly wraps herself against me and leaving now is getting even harder.

She runs her hands down my back and I kiss her for the last time; slowly, passionately and briefly. Despite the protests of my body, I detach myself and get into the waiting van.

It then begins to move out my compound. I have to stay strong for myself and for both of us. Even as I continue to tell myself so, I can't help but turn back to watch their faces slowly disappearing into the distance.

I'll miss her dearly.

The van has half of my men, they're sturdy and quiet during the drive. I don't care of their curious gazes as they discreetly look at me, they're probably surprised.

I ask everyone to hand over their phones as we all flush them into a large bag that will be taken by the other leaders at the airport.

My hands slip to my pockets to take out mine and it's then I feel something else. It's a metallic key chain and I furrow my eyes confused because Reece already has my keys.

I take out the chain, my eyes glazing over the words imprinted there. My heart tugs and a tear almost slips.

Be safe, I love you Grey.

I stare at the words, a million thoughts crossing my head as my heart soares in fondness. I can't express the emotion I get at those words but I'm sure I want to say them back.

The girl I adored, the one who had my heart from the very first day we met, the girl whose smile would broaden just at the sight of ice cream, she loved me.

I trace the words over me metal imagining her softly whispering this to me. She was so perfect that I at times thought she was a deity. So ethereal that she appeared other worldly to me.

I close my eyes for a moment reminiscing the sound of her giggles everytime I tickled her or when I chased her down the hallways of my house.

I can't even think of the satisfaction I felt when she accompanied me to visit Nana. The two had been so carefree that it felt as if she'd always been there.

I thought of the feeling I got whenever she'd stay over at my place. I loved seeing her face at my house, her scent dominating every room and it felt like breathing in her scent every second.

We did most things together, she was even beginning to teach me baking. It reminded me of a burn mark on my thumb. I traced the spot again her panicked face coming to memory.

She had almost cried even after constantly reassuring her that I was okay. I couldn't even feel the pain, I'd been so happy when she praised me for learning the steps so quick.

She had also taken me to that date she'd promised before. She had cooked for me, fed me and even massaged my shoulders when I felt tired.

The van hadn't even reached the airport and I already missed her terribly. I wanted to get back into her arms and snuggle her never letting go. I wanted that jelly feeling I got everytime she ran her hands through my hair.

I just wanted to be with her all the time.

✪ ✪ ✪

I recently had some time to spare so here's an earlier update.

I also found myself using present continuous tense so I let it stay that way, I hope it's still nice?

This chapter is filled with so much emotions, I already feel bad for tearing this couple apart (almost crys)

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)