"I'd given up on love, I'd let go of the hope of finding my other half, but little did I know my heart was still secretly searching. So the moment my heart skipped a beat when I saw you on that Saturday afternoon, that was probably its way of saying 'found you'."
There was truth in Ray's vows. Many years ago, whenever someone told him he would one day found his significant other, he would find himself laughing in pain on the inside. Having abandoned his desire for love, he no longer wished to continue looking for his other half, nor did he want to revisit his dreams. Yet here he was, six years into his relationship with the man he never thought he would have the chance to be with. And even crazier, they had just gotten married and were now spending the first day of their honeymoon in France.
Matt chose the destination himself, saying it was because Ray proposed to him in French, and Ray couldn't bring himself to object to such a cute idea. When it came to exactly which city they should go to, Ray immediately thought of Provence, as he had heard from his grandfather that it was a place worth visiting once in your life, and the lavender fields there were really something fascinating. Matt seemed excited when he heard about it as well, so they tried to plan everything carefully in order to arrive at Provence at the start of July, the best time to see the lavender.
Had it not been for the rings that were on both of their hands, he wouldn't have believed this was actually happening. They were really married. He was married to the only person he would ever love until the end. It was indeed a magical thing, something he had dreamt of ever since he was young.
Outside of their vacation rental, the sun had risen high in the sky, its golden light shining into their bedroom through the windows. Seeing Matt's hand on his chest, Ray took it into his own and smiled fondly at Matt, who was still in a deep slumber. Waking up next to his husband and cuddling close to him under the warm early sunlight, it was something so simple yet so endearing to Ray, and it would never get old for as long as he lived. That was one of the many reasons he looked forward to their honeymoon. He knew they were able to sleep in for however long they wanted without needing to hurry for ten days straight.
Matt stirred in his sleep, making Ray snap out of his thoughts and notice the way Matt's pair of beautiful brown eyes slowly opened.
"'Morning, angel." With a hushed voice that was filled with nothing but adoration, Ray leaned down a little to give Matt a kiss on the forehead. The whole time he was looking at Matt, he had been smiling non-stop without realizing it, but he couldn't help it. His heart was full of happiness that was almost impossible to describe, and it was making him feel giddy all over.
"'Morning, sunshine," Matt replied with a smile before reaching up to peck Ray on the cheek. "Slept well?"
"I always sleep well as long as I have you by my side."
"Can you stop being cheesy for once?" Matt rolled his eyes and Ray let out a chuckle. Sometimes, Ray's words were so sentimental that they were embarrassing, but it didn't mean that Matt hated it.
"Come on, can't I show some love to my husband?" Ray said as he pulled Matt closer, so close that Matt's head was lying on his shoulder. "Let me dote on you a little."
"You already have, ever since we started dating." Matt let out a small laugh as he snuggled up to Ray, letting Ray ran his fingers through his golden locks of hair. It was true-Ray loved showering Matt with affection and was unhesitant to express how much he loved him. "You're going to spoil me at this rate."
Ray glanced away for a few moments, pretending to think very hard about it before he spoke again. "It's not a bad thing, is it?"
"Oh my god," Matt groaned into his palm, a shade of bright red blush making its way up to his cheeks.
"Alright, I'll stop, I promise." Ray laughed as he patted Matt on the back. "Say, what do you think about going to see the lavender fields today? The weather seems nice this morning."
It was Matt's turn to avert his gaze to think about it. However, there was something... cheeky about the grin on Matt's face, and Ray couldn't help wondering what was going on in his head. But all questions left him when Matt turned his eyes back to him and gave him a nod.
"That sounds great."
"Okay, then let's get some breakfâ"
Ray was getting ready to sit up when he was suddenly pushed back to the bed. Before he could say anything, Matt had already gotten to work, nibbling his neck and eliciting a small grunt from him.
"No need to rush, honey." Matt's voice was so soft, so sweet yet so seductive at the same time, his narrowed eyes having a bewitching gleam in them as his hand slowly roamed over Ray's chest in a suggestive way. "Stay in bed with me for a little longer. I'll keep you warm."
Taken off guard by Matt's inviting playfulness, Ray was speechless for a few seconds before a smirk was seen on his face. He held the back of Matt's head and pulled him into a sensual kiss.
"How can I say no?"
They ended up not leaving the bed for another hour.
__________
It was only the first day of their honeymoon and they already had a whale of a time. After breakfast, they went to the Valensole Plateau to see the lavender, and Matt was absolutely mesmerized by its beauty. The lavender fields were vast and outspread over the horizon, the flowers' deep violet color matching perfectly with the clear blue sky above, and it was indeed a sight to behold. Later in the day, they visited many other tourist attractions, and every place they went to amazed Matt with its uniqueness, whether it be the picturesque scenes, the culture or the history behind it. It was such a delightful experience, making him look forward to more.
However, as the sun began to set, he found it pleasant to just stand here at the balcony and gaze at the striking scene in front of him. He didn't know why, but there was something about it that gave him a calm feeling. Perhaps it was the gentle and stunning combination of red and orange with a touch of pink and purple, the colors blending together harmoniously and painting the clouds with their exquisiteness. Or perhaps it was the peaceful atmosphere of his surroundings. Leaning over the balcony railing, he let out a relaxed sigh as he listened to the way the leaves rustled along with the cool breeze, a soothing sound he had a soft spot for.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Matt turned his head back to see Ray walking towards him, and he returned his smile.
"Yeah," he replied as Ray stood next to him, both of them admiring the magnificent sight before their eyes. They had just returned from the restaurant where they had dinner, and after a long day going from places to places, they didn't mind enjoying some quiet alone time together. "Did you have fun today?"
"I did." Ray let Matt's head lean on his shoulder. "What about you?"
"I did too," Matt answered with a big smile on his face. "I had a great time, so thank you for being here and spending this vacation with me."
"No, thank you." Ray's eyes locked with Matt's with love in his eyes. "Really, I don't know how many times I've said this, but I'm grateful to you for being a part of my life. You've made it more meaningful ever since the very first day of our relationship,"
Matt felt happy. He truly did. Ray's words were so romantic and touching that they melted Matt's heart, yet there was something deep inside his mind that gave him a very sad feeling. Something was stuck in his throat, and it took him a good few seconds to fully regain his voice as he took Ray's hands into his own.
"To be honest, I'm glad to have you in my life too. You make me happy everyday, so happy that sometimes, I, I fear this isn't real at all."
The sun was still setting. The wind was still blowing. The leaves were still rustling. The world around them was still moving, but they were just standing there with the newfound silence between them. Not hearing anything from Ray, Matt clutched Ray's hands and continued, not daring to make eye contact.
"I'm, I'm afraid of losing you, of not having you by my side. There are moments I suddenly wonder if everything that's happened between us is merely a figment of my imagination." Matt's voice was shaking, his hands beginning to quiver. "I'm scared that one morning, I'd wake up to find out this is just a very long dream. If that ever happens, I, I don't think I'll be able to deal with it, knowing our relationship's never a thing and the moments we've shared never exist."
When he finally looked up, the tears he had been holding back were already rolling down his face. "R-Ray, I beg you, don't ever tell me this is just a dream-"
Before he knew it, Ray had wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into a tight embrace, cutting him off.
"Matt, believe me when I say this isn't a dream. Our relationship is real. Every moment we've shared together is real." Ray's voice was almost like a whisper as he spoke, his hand wiping away Matt's tears. "I've vowed my love for you and I'm now standing here as your husband. I'll forever love you and be there for you, so please, don't be scared anymore."
Matt was silent for a few seconds before his lips curved into a smile, a relieved and blissful one. No word was exchanged between them afterward, but the comforting silence was what both of them needed. They stayed like that for a while, indulging in each other's warmth, until they broke the hug. With a radiant spark in his eyes, Matt captured Ray's hands into his own once again, their fingers slowly intertwining as they stared into each other's eyes.
"Ray, please... stay by my side till the end."
With a smile as tender as the eternal love he held for his partner, Ray gave Matt his answer.
"Always, Matt. Always."
They leaned in to share a deep and sweet kiss, sealing their lifelong promise.
__________
Hello, I'm here to announce that we've reached the end of the story. Thank you so, so much for sticking to the very end! It's been such a fun experience writing this story, and your support is one of the things that keeps me going.
This is actually my first original novel, so when I started writing it, I was afraid that not many people will like it, but you guys show so much love that it keeps me motivated. I'm extremely grateful for it, and I truly hope you had a great time reading this. Goodbye!