The Last String

|18| Awakened

|18| Awakened

If it’s another moment, then I would be melting endlessly under his intense gaze right now but since his face looked so shocked with his lips slightly parted, I am so loving looking at his face. 

How cute. 

“Wow. Your anniversary would be so special and practical,” Maria suddenly popped beside us with a bucket of buttered popcorn on her hands, grinning like a mad man. “Imagine? The whole world would be celebrating it!”

Smirking, I got up and sat properly while shaking my head. “He’s not yet answering to my proposal,” I said playfully. 

“Dude! Just say yes!” Taehyung groaned and threw his arm on Maria’s shoulder. “You’re lucky ‘ya girl is willing to be with you unlike my babe who’s in denial.” He complained. I wasn’t surprised when he earned a punch in the stomach from Maria. I shook my head. So much for watching movies.

“Ah, she ruined my planned proposal,” Gavin said while shaking his head. I raised my brow, trying to hide the grin on my face but I know I looked stupid because I can’t control my emotions. Damn it. It wasn’t so long that I was masking all that emotions on my face but now I can’t even hide the happiness that I’m feeling. 

I guessed you can’t really hide genuine happiness. 

“So you’re planning to propose, huh?” I teased.  I heard the vomiting sound made by Taehyung and Maria had to smack his head to shut him up. Remind me to thank Maria later.

“I am,” he immediately answered. 

“Since when?” I asked, totally curious about it.

Gavin looked at me with a calm demeanor and said, “from the moment that I met you again.” 

“That’s cheesy as f**k,” Taehyung whined and grabbed Maria’s hand, pulling her to walk towards the door.

“Go and enjoy your time! I’ll date this vixen first—” Taehyung wasn’t able to continue what he was saying because Maria shut the door in annoyance. 

Gavin immediately hugged me, trapping me in his arms as I lay on his chest. We’re both silent, with the music from the movie blaring softly. It was comfortable. Cuddling with him is always the best thing to do to keep me calm. 

Gavin is combing my hair with his fingers and it feels so good. We’re just here, enjoying the moment of being together in each other’s arm.

“You’ve told you before that you’re the best thing that ever happened to you, right?”

Gavin looked at me, with our noses touching with his sudden movement and I can’t help but to chuckle. 

“I did,” I said. He kissed my forehead for few seconds and smiled before looking at me straight in my eyes.

“Now, have I ever told you that I love you?”

Christmas has been a not-so-special holiday for me since I was young. I can’t remember a Christmas eve with us eating all together in a single table without arguments, yet alone us sitting in together in one place. All I can remember was me eating first the foods they ordered from the restaurants because they’re too busy calling their business partners to even dine with me.

Remember, I’m not a priority.

Now, guess how shocked my face was when Gavin brought me to our house here in Upper East Side. 

What’s more shocking? He lives next door.

Just…wow. 

“What’s the meaning of this?” I asked Gavin in a whispered voice. The look that my parents are giving me is unsettling that I can’t help but to grimace. I can literally feel goosebumps prickling slowly into my skin. Damn. 

“Your bargain,” he said like it’s nothing with a sly smile plastered on his handsome face. I would love to smash his face if only he’s not Gavin Wraith Smith. 

“Gavin…” I said in a warning tone but he just laughed it off. 

“You can do it,” he said and grasped my hand tightly. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at six,” he hugged my tightly and fixed my unruly hair and hid the strands behind my ears. 

“I already sent my gift and it’s probably in your room now.” He grinned and kissed my cheek before stepping back to leave some space in between us. “See you tomorrow.”

I watched how he walked coolly towards their house which is next to ours. 

See you tomorrow, love. 

“Dinner is ready!” Mom said from afar. I checked my watch, only to find out that it’s already five minutes before midnight. Maybe I should start eating because I knew what will happen later on. 

My eyes wandered around as I make my way to the dining room. This is my first time here in our Upper East Side Mansion. I can see how they move comfortably around while I’m here, awkward with everything going on. 

There were almost little to no decorations inside the house. Aside from the wreath hung on the front door and few christmas themed centerpieces and throw pillows, it looked like an ordinary day with no special event.

The dinner table is full of foods and I can’t help but to raise my brow as some familiar foods are there. Right. They ordered from the restaurant again, huh? 

Dad was already sitting on his seat, fibbling with his phone to pass time while Mom was in the kitchen, preparing something that I can’t guess.

The smart tv from somewhere—maybe from the kitchen, is open and I can hear the excited voices of the emcees as they started their countdown. 

“Ten, nine, eight!”

Mom hurriedly sat in front of me as she straightens her red designer dress. She caught me looking at her so I looked away instead. 

“Seven, six, five!”

“Put away your phone Gin,” Mom said in a sweet manner but I can sense the underlying threatening tone in her voice. Since when did she care about using phones when dining? 

“Four, three, two!”

Dad put down his phone with an obvious frown on his face. He should’ve just continued using it. I know they wouldn’t want to eat with me. They would rather exchange pleasantries and greetings with other people. 

“One! Merry Christmas!”

The merry noises blasting from the television is the only one that makes the house a little bit lively. After few seconds, I started piling up some foods to stuff myself. I should finish this real quick because they need to give their social acquaintances a call. 

“Merry Christmas, Finn.” I was almost done finishing my vegetable salad when Mom gave me a black velvet box with a fancy ribbon. Based from the luxury brand embossed outside the box, I’m guessing that these are jewelries.

“A-hm,” I looked away before receiving the gift she prepared for me. “Thank you.”

Wordless, I ate up my foods in silence. I don’t know if it’s a miracle but we dined in together for the first time. There’s no arguments either. They didn’t use their phones to call their friends. We were just…there. For the first time, even though we’re silent, it felt like we’re a family. Something inside me awakened from the deep slumber.

I immediately excused myself after eating. I wasn’t that active the whole day but I felt drained and exhausted. My limbs and joints are aching despite of having total rest these past few days. 

Damn. I can’t believe I’m experiencing arthritis at such a young age. 

A maid directed me to my room which is located at the third floor of the mansion with the white door at the right wing. The mansion’s interior is minimal yet extravagant. You can tell that every artworks and pieces on display costs an arm and leg. They really put efforts in making the house as classy as they wanted it to be.

As soon as I opened the door to my room, the comfortable warm air from the heater welcome me together with the countless paperbags and boxes stacked in a corner. There were also flower bouquets neatly piled on the working desk. I arched my brows as soon as I saw the notes from the flowers and gifts that I had received. Those were from some MAE students who, ahm, adored me? Even the Student Council President has sent me a gift! 

However among those gifts, there were three boxes and a bouquet of red roses left on top of my bed. 

Curious, I sat down on my bed and grabbed the nearest one and my lips perked up as soon as I saw Maria’s handwriting in the card. 

To: Finn

Merry Christmas to the best girl in town! I love you! Xoxo 

From: Future-cousin-in-law

I opened the box while shaking my head and there, I saw a glass jewelry box with intricate designs. A grin was formed in my face when I saw the content of the jewelry box. Damn. This girl knows me well. I picked up another handwritten letter from her and read it. 

Just so you know, these are all customized just for the badass queen who loves piercings. Don’t worry, they’re just silvers and diamonds. They don’t costs that much but hey! I designed them. It’s the thought that count.

Wow. She talked as if diamond is cheap. I hope she’ll like the gifts that I gave her.

The next box was from Taehyung and it’s surprisingly big and heavy compared to the two boxes it came with. As soon as I removed the cover, I laughed as he slid a wacky picture of him on top of his gifts. 

He’s really the weird korean dude. 

There were like five pairs pairs of shoes from different brands. 

I picked up a written letter and I’m holding back my laughter because Taehyung’s handwriting is barely readable. 

To: Finn

I noticed you like sneakers. I know you have lots of heels so yeah. Wear one pair per day! Merry Christmas!

From: Jeon Taehyung/Maria’s future boyfriend 

He must’ve seen Maria’s note to the last minute because he wrote Maria’s future boyfriend using pink, glittery pen like the ones Maria used in her notes. I hope Maria would stop restraining herself to love her best friend freely. 

With a hint of who gave me the last box, I opened it with a smile on my face. A white designer cashmere scarf, a leather box with the brand Cartier embossed on it, and a small red velvet box were there together with a note written on a card.

To: My Sera

A scarf to embrace you when I’m not around. 

—Thank you for embracing me for who I am with all of my flaws and imperfections.

A watch because I’ll give you my time.

—Thank you for spending your time with me. I’m looking forward to every seconds of me staring at your beautiful face, to every minute that I’ll give just to make you smile, to every hour with you gazing under the starry sky and chilly night, to every day that I’m excited to be with you, to every month that we’re planning to enjoy, and to every year that I want to spend with you.

I’ve never been so sure in my life…until now. 

Open up the red box to reveal my last gift, Sera.

From: Gavin

With a knowing smile on my face, I opened the tiny red velvet box, revealing a beautiful silver band ring with diamonds in it. It looks sinple yet, elegant. I put it on my ring finger and it fits perfectly in it. How he knew the exact measurement of my finger is out of my mind. 

I stilled for a moment to stare at the ring in awe and then laughed afterwards when I realized that we both thought of the same thing! 

“Will you be my girlfriend?” I read the note snuck inside the box.

I fished my phone from the back pocket of my jeans and dialed Gavin’s number. After a ring, he answered it and I can’t help but to grin cheekily. 

“I wish I could kiss you right now,” I whined and Gavin only laughed it off and few seconds later, a knock disturbed me. 

“Someone’s knocking. Hang on a second,” I said to Gavin. With a frown on my face, I opened the door and I was ready to reprimand the person who disturbed me when a hand pushed me back inside my room and my eyes widened in shock. He grabbed the back of my head and wordlessly kissed me. 

I wasn’t nice but Santa granted my wish real quick because Gavin is kissing me right now and I’ll be damned if I don’t say that I’m loving every seconds of it. 

“So, did the ring fits perfectly on your finger, love?” 

“Yes love,” he answered. “It’s a yes.”

“Then it’s a yes too,” I answered.

Gavin chuckled heartily and it sounds good to my, like heaven in my ears. Best gift ever.

What a merry Christmas. 

# 

end of chapter eighteen