Original Love

Episode Twelve

"Ouch! What the--" Austin yelps in surprise, glaring down to Samantha, while he rubs the area on his shoulder she had pinched again. Samantha could not believe he was too careless, being so taken away with that short embrace. He looks at her with an annoyed expression and chooses to sit down on his seat, ignoring her glare.

"We have a deal." she reminds, sitting back beside him.

"I know," he grumbled.

"And I think it's about time you finally prove to me how really serious you are about her."

"You still don't trust me after everything I'd just confessed to you two days ago?" The drunken mistake. He scoffs at her.

"It's guilt and conscience who's talking that night. And you were drunk. So it does not count."

"Gosh, I completely bared my soul to you, flaws and tears, and it's still not enough?" He can't believe her. She must be really a hard nut to c***k if she did not feel the pure thick pain and resentment he had poured on her that night. She should know that it is not that f*****g easy for a man to just shamelessly shows his vulnerable side to anyone he wants to. And Samantha was the last person he had wanted to confide in with, so she's definitely must imagine how was it for him.

"That's why we had a deal." She gives him a look instead and slowly grins. She needs him to be ready and well-changed for this. Samantha is going to make sure Elle will never get hurt by him again.

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The slow music filled the hall as the host of the evening party announces through the speakers that it is finally time for the romantic dance. Samantha and Austin temporarily settled down into silence while they both watch the couples around them, one by one, move towards the center of the dance floor.

From a distance, Elle stood beside her parents as she smiles at something the fair-looking guy in front of her had just said. He had introduced himself as Dorian McCovey, a son of one of the known successful businessmen in Prime East. She must admit, Dorian's very nice, witty, and attractive in a sweet-gentleman-way. They've been talking for quite a short while now but Elle still cannot stop herself from gazing back to the guy her heart has been looking for, sitting with the beautiful golden girl she's now just jealous of.

Austin watches Elle from his seat across the hall, with a disdainful expression as he hated the fact that she is talking to someone else. Not long after, he sees her being pulled towards the dance floor by that same guy she was talking with and Austin suddenly felt like he wanted to punch something hard.

"Who the f**k is that?!" Samantha hisses softly, careful not to be heard by anyone aside from Austin, who was sitting beside her and completely aware of the guy who'd just invited Elle for a dance. "Someone's trying to steal her!"

"Honey," Austin mutters, standing up from his seat. He has decided to act upon their deal since he knew that just letting Elle be swept away on that dancefloor, would also be like letting his one last chance slip away from his reach too. He looks down at Sam with a sly smile emerging on his lips, before formally offering her a hand, "I think it's time for us to show them a real dance."

Samantha blinked back at him, surprised at his unexpected act but slowly smiles and pleasingly places her hand above his. "Glad, you've finally asked."

They made their way through a throng of dancing couples, finally settling on a place not far from their mutual target. With Sam's hands resting on Austin's shoulders and his on her waist, they managed to dance decently through the tune of "Fly Me to the Moon" while occasionally stealing glances at where Elle was dancing. Austin also took his time enjoying the moment with Sam's matching dancing skills, as he watches Elle, from a distance, dance awkwardly with her very lousy partner who seems to not know his right foot from his left.

"They don't look like they're enjoying the song, honey," Austin leans closer to Samantha, his mouth hovering just above her ear, and the two of them both smile at what he had said.

"Good," she replies shortly.

"You know what?" he slightly pulls away, just enough to look at her face, and finally decides to give in, "I think I really owe you thanks for trying to help me with Elle. I know I'm not the nicest guy you can rely on about honest feelings. I've fooled women, punched faces, and had f****d up my life..." he takes a deep breath before continuing again, "But I'm willing to change now, really. And I'm giving up all of those things, Sammie. I'm gonna resist those girls, the fights, the hangovers... If it means I'm getting Elle back, I'm willing to do it. Because I love her and you know how much I do... And I'm fighting for her." He releases a long sigh this time. And for the first time after three years, he finally felt lighter after telling someone all the burden and pain he has been digging down under his heart.

"Good," Samantha murmurs softly, raising a hand up to his face to gently brush the few hairs that had fallen down above his eyes and she smiles.

"And one more thing also..." he continues, mirroring her smile, "I'm saying absolutely yes to that deal, Sam." He gave her waist a gentle squeeze.

"I'm saying yes," He repeats, in case she still hasn't heard it, and this time he was sounding more relaxed and carefree. Austin closes his eyes and leans his forehead against hers. He likes how her warm skin compliments his cold one, then he likes it more how she felt against his chest, but likes it most how her sweet cherry scent comforts his state of mind. Samantha has never once made him feel uneasy and nervous, and that was why he had never pushed her away even when he was so mad at the world for the last three years he had been thoroughly broken and lost. Samantha was the only true friend that he can trust, even when she annoys him on some occasions. He let himself get drowned to the song playing around them for a moment, while he sways the two of them together to the rhythm and held her closer. Closer to know she's there for him.

"Do you promise not to cheat anymore?" He hears Samantha asking him softly, her breath warm against his lips, making him smile.

"I promise."

"Do you promise to quit bullying the geeks?"

Ha, he knew it. Austin chuckles, pulling her closer. "I promise."

"Do you promise never to exchange any flirty looks with the other girls aside from the only one who matters?"

She really knew how to play this. "I promise."

"Do you promise not to drink?"

Austin opens his eyes quickly, hesitant to answer the question as he catches her staring intently at him, "Can we consider that one at least?" He suggests.

"Fine, I was just testing you, anyway," she says with a noncommittal shrug then pauses, "Do you promise never to hurt Elle's feelings anymore? Or if in any case, you did, are you willing to do everything to win her back again, be the best version of yourself to prove that you're worth it, and accept all the sacrifices in the process?" Samantha looks straight through his eyes, eagerly searching for the right and true answer.

He gave her his sincerest smile that broke the walls of his defenses and stared back at her intensely. "Yes. I promise." Right then, Samantha knew that he is now telling the truth.

"Then, let's make a deal," She whispers, inching closer. Their lips barely touching.

"Yeah, let's," Austin smiles, closing the remaining distance. And there, at the middle of the dancefloor, he sealed their deal with a long, open-mouthed kiss in front of all the couples dancing, with Amelie Kingsley, their parents, and the rest who don't matter that much for them. It wasn't a kiss that crosses the marking line between friendship and romance, nor a kiss that suggests something more than what the two are offering to each other. It was just a simple kiss, on which both Sam and Austin knew, only meant that they are already and finally committing to their agreement. And they're going to make sure they're getting what they're aiming for, whatever the hell that thing they're aiming really is about. No matter what comes in their way, they have to get it.