▫️Forty

Ginelle's pov

How time really flies.

It was already the new year's eve and the night had already began, everyone counting hours into the new year.

I looked at the clock just as it struck eight and walked to the door, anticipation going through me.

I'll be back home in the evening.

That was Grey's message to me and all day I'd been eagerly waiting for his return though I was starting to grow anxious each passing second.

He was supposed to be back by now.

An emergency mission had come up three days ago that he had to leave just after Christmas to look into a child trafficking case.

He had promised to be back before the new year so I decided to wait for him at his house rather than staying home.

My parents let me stay with Grey knowing that my mind would have been unsettled until he got back safely.

I walked outside and stared into the empty driveway, forcing my thoughts to take a positive turn each time I had all sorts of worst scenarios in mind.

Grey was okay.

I sat down at the doorstep, my eyes cast on the wide gate as I counted each passing minute, my heart growing heavier.

The fear of being alone didn't even faze me as I mumbled words of assurance to myself, hugging my arms to my body.

Instead of letting the worry take over me, I thought of how my life with Grey had been over the last couple of months.

Our schedules had gotten tighter and tighter that we at times hardly saw each other for days, sometimes even for weeks.

We however didn't grow apart during such times. Our hearts somehow reached out to each other even in that distance.

In actuality, I think my love for him grew even stronger then. Absence really did make the heart grow fonder.

Grey was still the amazing boyfriend I could ever ask for. He would pamper me with endless words of affection, his love for me so genuine and deep.

When he was away for long, he would check on me so often - sending gifts and at times written cards when he couldn't communicate over the phone.

Even when his schedule was so tight, he would make time for us to spend all our special days and holidays together.

We would visit each other's family at least once every two months and on days when we couldn't make it, mama would call to say that Grey had send them something.

It really warmed my heart to see him so caring to both my parents and I. He had even met papa twice during two of the weekends for their golf game.

One thing, he always prioritized our relationship. He could get so busy for weeks but he didn't fail to contact me everyday, whether it was the occasional did you sleep well, how are your parents, he cared and that's what I loved most about him.

He didn't let any misunderstanding grow between us, we talked out things rather than bottling them in our hearts.

He loved me and so did I. Ours was a love that didn't dim.

I traced irregular patterns on the tiled ground, my eyes getting cloudy when all these thoughts crossed through my mind.

This man was my everything, he had to be safe.

I couldn't mirror the thought of him getting hurt again, he had assured me severally before leaving that he would be extra careful.

"Sweetheart?"

My head stilled and I blinked away the tears that threatened to fall and listened. It was quiet, my ears might have heard it wrongly but I hopefully looked up.

"Grey,"

I whispered his name and stood up then ran over as soon as I saw him standing a few feet from me, a sob escaping me.

He dropped his bags in the process and rushed over to meet me, his arms effortlessly picking me up.

"I missed you Grey," I hugged him tight, my legs wrapped around his waist as I tightly held my arms round his neck.

I missed him so much, even for those three days.

"I thought of you every single time," he softly caressed my hair as he rested his head into my upper chest, his arms on my back.

After resting into his touch, I pulled back to cup his face, his grey eyes shining up at me as if to tell me that he was fine.

I assessed him once again and then leaned down to capture his lips, a satisfaction coursing through me when our skins touched.

He pulled he tighter and kissed me like his next breath depended on it as he expressed how much he'd been craving this.

We relaxed into each other's arms, the fear of not seeing each other disappearing like it were a memory.

"I was so scared when you didn't arrive earlier," I continued to caress his face, relieved that he was truly okay.

"I'm so sorry my tulip, our leader wanted my report immediately so I got help up for a few hours." I nodded at his explanation.

"Is that why you were waiting in the cold?" His hands felt for my bare arms and upon feeling the goosebumps on my skin, he hugged me to himself and carried me inside while mumbling that he was sorry.

Grey carried me to his room where he picked out one of his hoodies with me still wrapped against his front.

He carefully placed me at the edge of the bed and knelt down in front of me then dressed me into the large hoodie that had more of my scent than his.

Satisfied that I was warmer, he pecked my lips and leaned down to rest his head on my lap and hugged me by my waist.

"I feel so lucky to have you home waiting for me," he sighed when I ran my fingers through his hair.

"You know I'll always wait for you, every single time." He lifted his face to look up at me and I saw his eyes flash with a foreign emotion.

"I love you so much Ginelle, I'll always love you endlessly." He dropped his head and snuggled into my stomach as I told him that I too loved him dearly.

I almost forgot that he was still kneeling down until I looked at his attire and realized that he hadn't changed yet.

"This must be uncomfortable, let me get you a change of clothes." He stubbornly shook his head and continued to hold onto me.

"You'll help me put them on?" He peeked up at me and gave me a childish look though I just gave in to his request.

No one would ever know that this large and quiet man was so playful and cuddly despite the cold mask he posed to everyone out there.

Grey followed me as I chose out his clothes knowing he was comfortable with whatever choice I went with.

I then helped him out of his work clothes, his eyes never leaving my flushed cheeks when his bare skin came to view.

I performed the routine check I usually did on him when he came back from work. I would inspect each part of his body for an injury.

This time there was none, not even a single graze so I kissed him as a token of gratitude because I knew he'd been extra careful.

The mark on his chest from months ago had healed, though there was that reminder of how badly hurt he had been then.

I kissed that spot too and helped him into a brown t-shirt, having to stand up to do so because he just so big even while seated.

When I attempted to move away after helping him into his sweater, he pulled me back and gestured at his pants and I had to slap his hands away.

"That is something you can do yourself," he pouted and mumbled that I was going against my promise earlier.

"The faster you get changed, the quicker you'll get a taste of what I prepared for you," I bribed into agreeing then asked him to come downstairs after he was done.

I went out and picked up his bag that he'd left outside then walked into the kitchen to warm up the food I had prepared for us.

It was a simple chicken and coconut rice dish that reminded me of our earlier days when he had cooked this for me.

I took out our plates just as Grey walked in and I saw his nose lift into the air to inhale the aroma that filled the kitchen.

He made a beeline for me and attempted to peek into the dishes but I shook my head when he offered to help me serve.

He was tired from working day and night so I forced a glare on him and led him to the dining table when he kept on insisting to help.

I then served us our evening meal, stacking Grey's plate with more food because I knew he needed it.

I still kept note of the time, seeing that the new year was only two hours away.

"Thank you sweetheart for the food, I'll keep thanking you for the countless things you do for me," Grey changed seats so that we were seated side by side.

I kept filling his plate with more side dishes and he seemed to noticed that, stuffing more food into my plate too and encouraging me to eat more.

We later had some of the desserts I had prepared and also a bit of the salad I had made Grey, he loved those a lot.

Not being able to convince him anymore, he joined me in cleaning the utensils after we finished our meal.

After we had cleaned everything, I asked him to join me outside so that we'd watch the fireworks once the clock struck midnight.

Grey willingly gave in but he first went up to bring a shawl and then we settled at a spot on his balcony and nuzzled into each other.

"How has this year been to you?" I asked after a while as I rested my head on his warm chest.

"So perfect, I did something I once thought was impossible." He admitted seriously that I had to look up to hear more.

"What was it?" He smiled, his dimples showed and his eyes brightened even further when I stared into them.

"I fell in love," he chuckled when my eyes widened and he leaned down to peck my cheeks, adjusting the shawl over my shoulder.

"What about you?" He framed my hair out of my face and softly asked, all the while looking into my eyes.

"You made me trust again," he swallowed uneasily but I had already told him numerous times that it wasn't his fault.

One night I had shared with him about that little incident in highschool when I got ridiculed by this boy in front of everyone.

I remember how angry Grey had gotten but I assured him that I was already over that.

After learning that I really had a tough time trusting anyone else, he apologized again and again for breaking his promise during that one time he got hurt.

I told him that he didn't break my trust for him in any way. He was injured, the situation was out of his control so he didn't have to feel guilty over that.

He relaxed when I assured him that no one else mattered other than him.

Looking up, I listened to the new year countdown.

Five

Four

Three

Two

One

Shouts of happy new year filled the city around us and I smiled, turning to Grey who was already looking at me.

"Happy new year," we both said at the same time and exchanged our new year's kiss, wishing the best for our relationship.

Then I looked up at the space above us where fireworks decorated the entire sky and I nudged Grey's side.

"Wow! Look at the colours, aren't they amazing?" My face beamed at the many colours that spread out as more kept popping up.

"Mmm," Grey hummed passively and when I looked at him, I slapped his arm, offended that he wasn't looking at the fireworks.

"How can I look at something else when you're glowing beside me?" He tilted his head as if the thought of it was unbelievable.

He continued to tell me of how I easily distracted him and took the spotlight, my cheeks flushing more at his sweet words.

"I'm yours in everything," he kissed my forehead and stroked my cheeks as I snuggled into him.

"Me too," I knew I was his in everything, during ups and downs, during every stage we got to, I was fully his.

"In everything?"

"In everything,"

"I'm so happy to begin this year with you," he admitted just as my phone rang and I took it out to see mama's call.

She wished Grey and I an happy new year, her face smiling through the screen once she saw Grey and I's seating position.

Papa looked at the camera once and he too passed his wishes and after a minute, he asked mama to let us rest and ended the call.

I called Nana just after that and she answered so quick that it surprised both Grey and I though it was Mayella's face that came through after the call connected.

"Happy new year Elle and Masha!" She shouted just as Nana's voice was heard from the background, perhaps coming to take her phone.

"I didn't press anything," the screen blurred as Mayella's voice slowly disappeared and Nana's face appeared instead.

"Happy new year Nana," I smiled and added a slight wave once she was seated. She wished me back and squinted at her screen.

"How's Grey?" She asked and I turned towards Grey who was glued to my side and told her that Grey doing well.

"Forgetful boy, he didn't even remember to call his grandmother, does he think I'm growing old?" She argued while squinting her eyes.

"Of course not," I assured her while nudging Grey to say something but he just shook his head, looking at Nana through the screen.

"Where even is he? I know he never leaves your side." She asked while looking at the area around me.

"He's right here beside me," gestured to my left and Nana followed my hand and furrowed.

"Ohh, where?" I pointed at Grey's chest and she rubbed into her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I didn't see him," Grey chuckled lowly and greeted her and she seemed to relax after hearing from him.

One thing, she was surely growing old.

The rest of the Williams' family joined in wishing us an happy new year, Mayella's parents coming first then lastly Reece who had his sister by his hip.

"I'm waiting for more surprises this year, especially from you two."

Somebody slapped his back and the screen moved to the floor before the call eventually disconnected.

Well, we couldn't know what this new year would bring but with Grey holding my hand, I knew something good was going to come out us.

✪ ✪ ✪

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Honestly thank you guys, I really appreciate you all.

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)