Skylar went to the memory lane where she met Vincencio for the first time after graduating, and after her life became miserable. It was a nice and warm memory, making her smile.
"After all those years of being away from you, you're the only one who never fails to capture my heart." She whispered, feeling the emotion she had back there, making her cry again, but not the pain, longing that she hadn't admitted back then.
In Skylar's memory lane, she just had a tiring job as the usual intimidating but cool CEO of her company when she decided to roam and check her company's shop on the ground floor. She was checking how things flow around when a body collided with her. She felt a light and familiar tingle over that contact, but frowned when she saw nobody standing in front of her. She was confused until she heard a soft groan coming from the semi-fitted body of a man sitting on the floor.
'It's just a light bump, so, how come he's on the floor? Is he that light?'
With a confused thought, Skylar wondered since she was supposed to be the person on the ground from that bump. Sadly, it didn't happen to her. She snapped from her thought and quickly asked the man.
'Are you okay?'
'I'm fine. Sorry, I didn't see you there. I'm looking for a gift for my mother.'
The young man stood up while Skylar watched him carefully, worried before speaking politely like a saleslady.
'You come to the right shop. Come, let me help you with it.'
'Thank you.'
He looked at her and showed his charming smile, which hit familiarity in Skylar's chest. It was quickly warming her entire being, and there was only one person she remembered who could inflict that kind of sensation on her.
'Vincencio? Are you Vincencio Monsour from Avalonial Arts & Crafts University?'
'Yes, I am.'
Vincencio squinted his eyes, trying to remember the woman before him, and something clicked, and his heart knew it. To mask his surfacing feelings, he reacted with surprise.
'Holy shit! Don't tell me you're senior Skylar Saison?'
'In the flesh.'
But in just one surprised, longing hug, Skylar's heart reacted immediately, and the flame from a long time ago, again, began spreading drastically throughout her body, making her feel alive.
'Damn, this kid. He still had this effect on me.'
Skylar smiled at the thought of their first meeting, their reunion, which she didn't think would lead to another meet-up.
"He said it started on our second meet up…my brother's involvement with him…" she sighed, thinking about it carefully, making her conclude something. "Then it means, my brother has been watching me before Vincencio and reconnected…and on nights back then, the gestures were genuine…"
Back in the memory lane, every Skylar's free night, her intimidating CEO façade was left in her building as she spent quality time reconnecting with her junior from college. They were walking hand in hand as they forgot the noises from extreme rides, the people they were passing through, and the amusement park theme song playing in their background as they strolled for the last moment.
'It's great to be with you again. It's like we've never been apart.'
'Same here.'
'Ahm, can I take out again this coming weekend?'
'I'm not sure, Vincencio. I have incoming projects to settle.'
'I see. Then text me whenever you have time.'
Skylar slightly went defensive due to the past suddenly flashing in her mind, making her guarded even around Vincencio. However, Vincencio was understanding and always was the gentleman waiting for her.
'So, where do you want me to drop you off?'
'Just drop me at the Utopia Building.'
'Okay, shall we or want to grab something to eat first?'
'Hm, I know a restaurant near here. They were serving a nice coffee and desserts there.'
'You remember my sweet tooth.'
'Of course, how can I forget when you're the responsible culprit who finished all of my shortcake back in college event?'
'Guilty. But it's delicious.'
"That was obvious since you finished them.'
Skylar laughed, and quietly, Vincencio smiled since he loved hearing her laughter, and Skylar noticed his silence.
'What?'
'Nothing, I just miss your laughter – well, everything about you. That's why when I met you that afternoon, I told myself to reconnect with you, and I'm grateful that I did. Do you feel the same?'
'Now that we're on the topic, why all of a sudden? Why just now? Why do you come back to my life, Vincencio? What is it you want from me after all these years we're apart?'
Silence suddenly filled their car ride until they reached their destination, and Vincencio parked the car. With the engine off, Vincencio unbuckled himself, still not giving Skylar the answer she needed to hear. Skylar sighed and was about to get out when Vincencio opened it, kneeling, making her surprised.
'What are you doing?'
'Skylar, I know that we're apart, and I might have had no idea what you went through for you to ask what I wanted from you. I know, I feel that you're guarding your heart, and I'm not going to pressure you into anything, but I need you to know something about the feelings I had for you.'
'Vincencio, you're scaring me'
'I know as I am too. I'm scared that if I tell you, this bond between us could change in a flash, but those years without you, I felt like I lost something, and now you're here in my life, I won't let it go. I love you. Those are the words I want you to know.'
She knew it. Her heart knew it because she felt the same, but Skylar could not say what she wished to tell him. The feelings she has been having ever since Vincencio came into her life, and being understanding that he always was, Vincencio didn't pressure her, and they had their dinner that night.
"Damn, even I still don't say it clearly, don't I?" Skylar sighed, thinking of the feelings she had for Vincencio throughout their college days. "Should I tell him too? Argh, let me think about it thoroughly."
Then Skylar went back into her memory lane, where she had a friendly talk with Medina about her feelings with Vincencio which later led her at the skyscraper of a one among a very prestige and luxury of hotel and restaurant in the Chevalier City comes the SkyLux Hotel & Gallery Restaurant where a cozy dinner date took place.
'Is Mr. Monsour already arrived?'
'Yes, Mistress. He had chosen the balcony area for your dinner.'
'Nice taste. How long has he been here?'
'Just fifteen before you had arrived, Mistress.'
'I see. Head back to work; I'll take it from here.'
With her usual demeanor, Skylar still held a demanding respect as she waltzed toward a table where her date awaited her arrival. She smiled at how patient Vincencio was, making her take a deep breath before proceeding on her tracks.
'Sorry to keep you waiting. My meetings run long.'
'Neh, wine and this view kept me company.'
'I'm glad you like it here.'
'And you know this place because?'
'I own it.'
'Thought so, rich woman.'
'Jobless man.'
'Hey, I'm still looking for a job.'
'Not that I care. I could work for us.'
'Sky, you're hurting my pride, but I don't mind as long as it's you who will provide.'
They had a smooth dinner with simple chats and laughter like old-time friends reunited. But in between those conversations, both were holding onto something that none of them clearly stated to one another. Both were testing the bond between the lines. Skeptical. Cautious. But there was no denying one thing that was certain between them – love. The old flame between them has been fueling up ever since they reconnected, which has either made them cautious about what move to take or what words are appropriate to say without hurting the other.
However, one of them decided to take a risk, which comes from the intimidating Skylar, masking her nervousness.
'Vincencio Monsour, marry me.'
Skylar just dropped her proposal like a bomb, cursing herself through her mind for what she suddenly dropped despite knowing her growing feelings for the young man.
'Damn, where did it come from? It just rolled out of my mouth.'
Vincencio choked on his wine in the process, burning his throat. But she knew she had to make it work and masked them as she stuck with her decision.
'Is this fake or real? I mean, should I be the one who will ask you that?'
'I mean it, Vince."
'You're making it sound like a business proposal.'
'If so, would you like to take it and marry me or not?'
'This is new.'
'Get used to it.'
Skylar might have dared him, demanding, but it was only a mask for the growing feelings she has been having for him.
'Sorry, but I have to control my true feelings for you.'
With a sigh, Vincencio's tone shifted and went serious too.
'Then let me be blunt since it's you.'
'Go ahead and be my guest.'
'Then, let me remind you that my feelings were true and everything I shared with you was all real. But feeling the weight upon your shoulders, I didn't dare to place any pressure on you, that's why I can't ask you to marry me yet, which technically you beat me to it, even though there's a catch. However, I'm not going to leave you if that's what you wanted to ask.'
'Then you won't lose me if you marry me.'
'What's the catch, Sky, for you to suddenly ask me in this?'
'I hope you won't look any less of me when I tell you that in the business industry, there have been some who have been trying to bring my growing company down because of their petty reason – a single and unmarried woman. They were thinking that I'm not suitable for the CEO title and making business with them.'
'It was indeed a petty reason because you're a woman.'
Skylar could tell that Vincencio was aware of the truth and the lie that she used as her reason. She hated making excuses, but she was a woman of her word and only her trusted ones knew how she thinks and stick with her. But with him, Vincencio, she was a bit skeptical about doing it, but she had to mask something she was not ready to admit in person.
'Well, men think arrogantly when it comes to power.'
'Not all, but that's not the excuse I wanted to hear. Anyway, give me time to think about it because marriage is something I don't want to mess up, especially when you're involved.'
'Then, let me hear them after two weeks from now.'
'Deal. So, dessert?'
'Sweettooth.'
'Spare me.'
Despite their nice conversation, Skylar's deep feelings ran deeply, making her worry about the danger in her shadows.
'You're making me love you more. But if you only know my true feelings for you, Vincencio… it could put you in danger once you learn them.'
Since there was no response from Vincencio, Skylar kept going with her life, but somehow, her mind drifted to him, thinking about what he was doing or something. She was drawn, captivated, and there was no turning back. She needed him, but she must control herself, not until the last meeting pissed her off, causing her palm to bleed, and Vincencio was mad.
'WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED TO YOU?!'
'You're late.'
'Skylar.'
'She was furious about her last meeting. They had been giving the Lady Sky side comments about marriage and being a good fuck or their trophy. They thought it was just a joke, but they were being too much lately.'
'Medina…'
'THEY WHAT?! DAMMIT."
Vincencio was furious, but meeting Skylar, he softened as he removed her glasses and took her hand gently with his before sincerely yet demandingly proposing to her.
'I had more reason to lock you up with me, so marry me, Skylar.'
'Took you long enough. Yes, I will marry you.'
'Great, I'll make sure those creepers won't bother you anymore for the rest of our lives. Mark my words.'
"And you did very well on doing that…" Skylar amusingly whispered after recalling their moment before things led to their marriage, making her sit on the floor, closing her eyes, and feeling everything flow around her.
Skylar's energy burst quietly, releasing all tension, doubts, and other mixed-up emotions, entangling with what really matters. When calmness and peace came in, she began absorbing all the energies she had just released before opening her eyes, maintaining her deep fiery eyes, before standing up.
"I'd better get home in my hubby's arms." She muttered, smiling, filled with love, and headed out of the door, only to meet a sleeping Vincencio in the hall.