[winner of the one shot contest announced in the end note]
Recap: In summer of 1999, John had brought Metilda to his aunt's empty house. Metilda understood the implication behind this action. John feverishly refused that it is not what she thinks. In the summer of 2015, John brought Metilda to his dead aunt's house.
âHow True is Your Love? â
Summer 1999
They sat in John's old room at his aunt's house. By the window, watching the world drift by, the sky pale into maroons, velvety blues. Their legs a tangled mess, their hearts soaring freely as those proud sparrows. Metilda leaned into his chest, breathing deeply, she was half-asleep. There was a content smile on her lips.
John's fingers lingered on her forehead, tucking the stray strands of hair behind her ear. He sighed, his head resting on the cold glass pane.
"Metilda?"
"Mhm," She murmured, snuggling closer to him.
"I don't want to lose you, ever."
She peeked through almost closed eyelids. "You won't."
"How can you be so sure?"
He shifted slightly, her head firmly pressed above his heart. "Because I love you." It was her confession. She even as she said it causally, her voice barely above a whisper, her breaths steady- the scarlet color of her cheeks gave away her true feelings.
John pulled her closer. "I've lost too many people in my life. At times, I have to remind myself that you'll be there tomorrow, the day after that. Every moment we spend together feels like our last." He held her hand, observing how smaller it was from his, almost like a doll. "My older brother and I, we used to be such good friends. He was my best-friend. But as time moved on, he's become so estranged from me. We barely see each other. I hope that doesn't happen to us. You know, Metilda, I hope that kind of bitterness never enters our hearts."
She gripped his hand, tightly, looking up into his green eyes, she smiled. "It won't happen to us. I promise."
"What if it does?"
She pointed at the sky, where a flock of bright blue jays flew high in the sky. "They're amazing, aren't they? No-one teaches them the way, but they still know it." Light, honey colored eyes met his. "A bird always finds its way home and John, you're my home."
The wind gently caressed their skins, her hair flew haphazardly, nestling against her warm bosom.
"You know when people say its small world,"
He nodded, urging her to go on.
"What they don't realize is that the world isn't a small place. It's their hearts finding the way to one another. Just as birds, we too have that instinct. Just as birds, for whom a place isn't a home, but the birds that fly with them."
"If I drift away." John whispered. "Promise me, you'll find me again."
"I will. Until my very last breath." She smiled. "If I'm ever far away, just sing me a song and I promise I'll come back."
"You will?"
"There's no doubt about it." She nestled comfortably against him. "I love your voice."
"Even my off-key notes."
"Even your off-key notes."
They didn't talk for a while after that. The emotions between them whirled about, the skies slowly turned grey, the stars grew brighter.
Summer 2015
John watched her walk away. His face red from embarrassment. The neighbors had been watching through the blinds. He half ran, half jogged towards her, gripping her wrist tightly.
"What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're OK?
I'm falling to pieces,
I'm falling to pieces
They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
'Cause she's moved on while I'm still grieving"
He belted out Breakeven to the best of his ability. John never enjoyed singing, never. It made him a nervous wreck. But he still tried it, after all these years, just for her. Metilda turned around, torturously slowly, a pert smile on her lips.
"They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding."
She hugged him, tightly. It was the closest he had gotten to her in the past ninety days. John welcomed the warmth. Everything was worth it. Just for a second, to have her in his arms. He was willing to be a singer for the rest of his life.
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"Why did you bring me here?" Metilda whispered, holding John's hand as he led her through the deserted house. The slightest sound made the house seem alive. She half-expected his aunt to appear from the kitchen, a tray of gingersnaps in her arms.
"Just wait."
"Is this the part where you tell me that you've been haunted by her ghost?"
He laughed, shaking his head slightly. "I just might."
"This house gives me the chills without her." Metilda shivered slightly. They walked through the dark, John's cellphone being the only source of light. Since John hadn't been keeping up with the bills, the municipal corp. had cut the supply for electricity and water.
She realized that John was taking her to the backyard. It was overlooked by John's old bedroom, where they had spent their first night together. The memory itself made her blush furiously.
The evening sun provided them some light in the backyard. John didn't drop her hand, he held it tightly as he yanked open the jammed patio door. Metilda walked out with him, the overgrown yard almost resembled a junk yard. She wondered why John had brought her here.
She watched his eyes- they were fixed with resolute determination. "John," She eased his shoulders which were stiff with tension. "Why are we here?"
"To let go." He gripped her hand tightly, in an almost vice-like grip.
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"I've been seeing her at night. Whenever I closed my eyes, she would be there, telling me to forgive you. She said she won't rest in peace until I did." John and Metilda sat at the patio steps, their hands entwined together. They had buried an old photograph of his aunt by the maple tree. "I hope we can bury our past resentments with this. I know it won't be easy-"
"It never was. Loving you." She was close to him. It was almost like a dream, if he gripped her too tightly she would vanish, slip from his fingertips. He had been so close to losing her. Life wouldn't have been good without her, without Louis.
"If I could go back into time, I would change everything." His voice was pained. He could still see the past pain in her eyes.
"I wouldn't."
"Why?"
She carefully angled her eyes to his face, a soft smile playing on her lips. "We fell in love again, John. How lucky are we? Not many couples are. They just drift away until there's nothing left, no emotion, just a dull ache in the chest reminding them of what once existed."
Tears welled in John's eyes. He couldn't look at her. There was a light in her, even when she had battled the darkest battle life could offer, she still clung desperately to the shore.
"I feel the same rush of our first date, except it's so much more intense. Then I didn't really know the value of what we had. Now, I've learned to appreciate every little thing you do for me. I couldn't have been more thankful."
Her eyes shone with a sudden brightness, her cheeks were flush, and her hands were warm. John knew that she wasn't lying.
Would it be a sin if he kissed her right now?
No, it wouldn't because she was his wife. John smiled and he leaned in, very slowly, giving her the opportunity to push him away. She didn't. She wound her arms around him and their breaths collided.
The first summer rain hit them as a surprise. In the gentle shower, hands found company, hearts found compassion, breaths found forgiveness, and eyes found happiness.
It was the happiest summer of John's life. His thirty-sixth summer, where he finally earned a small piece of his wife's trust.
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Note: I don't know about you but I'm just so sad about 12th kiss ending. If I could, I would write a sequel but that wouldn't work. I don't have enough content to write it.
I wouldn't remove this book out of your library yet. I have a bloopers portion written out and a playlist that I will be posting soonish. I might do a chapter with Louis, Metilda, and John.
Okay, announcing the winner of our one-shot contest.
*DRUMROLL*
One shot contest- the 12th kiss by the_war_veteran
You guys can go check it out. It's supa sweet and adorable.
All the participators have gotten a special follow from my account @Iamrancora and if any of you want to me read your works just pm. In-fact, if any of the readers want me to read your works, just shoot me a pm at @Iamrancora. I'll try leaving constructive feedback asap.
Till the next time,
Goodbye.
p.s. and no, John didn't return to Metilda because she is beautiful. To be honest, Metilda looks like an average woman (which is beautiful). So honestly, John isn't in for the looks, he's in it for the lady and her good nature. the reason lawyer was attracted to Metilda was not because she's the next top model because she didn't judge Jannet to be the homewrecker. *remember he was listening to Tara and Metilda's conversation*
p.s. (2) I know five year old kids don't talk like Louis. he was sick. okay?