▫️ Forty-one

Ginelle's pov

Saturday the 23rd of January was finally here with us. It was Grey's and I special day, the anniversary of our first meet.

The morning was so bright, the sun having risen earlier than usual and everything seemed to fall in our favor.

I couldn't believe that an year had passed by since then, my time with him so precious that it barely felt that long.

We had cleared our schedules just to spend this day together and for the few hours since I woke up, I had been smiling non stop.

I had woken up to surprise flowers Grey had prepared and a very hearty breakfast he'd brought me to bed.

My unruly morning appearance didn't seem to faze Grey at all as he had fed me, his hands occasionally ruffling my hair.

Together, we had prepared to visit that ice cream store Grey and I had once gone to that one time he helped me carry boxes into the bookstore.

I smiled at the memory of those days, Grey insisting that we recreate that moment so as to relive where our relationship had began.

Side by side, we sat at the very exact spot we'd been then and I remembered admiring him that time, the thought of someone as handsome as him wanting to be my friend feeling so unreal.

I remembered seeing the tiny blush on his neck when he ordered the strawberry ice cream and I giggled at the memory.

"What is it?" Grey looked up at my giggle and I laughed again at the smear on his nose.

"I just remembered how shy you were," I wiped away his nose and took a scoop of his ice cream, loving how the combination tasted so great.

"B-But I'm not-" I laughed lightly when he began to protest and instead fed him my own ice cream to silence him.

"I've caught you blushing severally," he looked into my eyes as if to deny but mumbled to himself that there was no need.

"It's adorable though, I love it." My hand found his at the top of the table and I felt his thumb softly rub over my skin, reciprocating my touch.

"You blush the most sweetheart," as if on cue, my cheeks warmed up and there was a satisfied grin on Grey's face.

His words of endearment always got me everytime and seeing that he won this time, I let him be.

After that, we took a stroll on the side path that led us to a park and it reminded me of that time Grey and I got on the merry go round.

"That ride was frightening, do you remember?" He looked around us and when he cleared his throat looking ahead, I nudged his arm.

"Y-yes it was," he spoke unevenly and knowing something was up, I stood in front of him to get his attention.

"Was there something else? I noticed you appeared different then." I probed further as I held onto him.

"Umm, I'm afraid of fast spinning movements." I heard him lowly speak and my eyes widened at his confession.

Then why would he go up with me if he had that phobia? I remembered him holding me to himself during the ride and I assumed it was because of the hitch.

Turns out that he was afraid. I looked up to him in question and seeming to understand what I wanted to ask, he replied.

"You were so excited to go for the ride so I accompanied you." He looked at me as if it was something natural everyone could do.

I stared back at him for a while, his genuine actions warming my heart but I didn't want him to go out of his way just for my own comfort.

"Don't do it again, okay?" He appeared puzzled at my serious face and when he didn't give in to my words, I insisted.

"I won't let you put yourself in danger for me, don't get uncomfortable just for me, okay?"

From his facial expressions I could tell that he didn't agree with me but after my insistence, he eventually gave in.

We held hands and continued our walk down the path, occasionally pointing out anything that stood out.

After an hour or so of sight seeing, Grey asked me to rest my feet as we had lunch at this restaurant nearby.

I had originally declined his offer because I didn't feel like eating especially when I had just had ice cream before.

You have to eat all your meals so as to remain healthy. He had insisted with me just like I'd done with him previously.

He made sure that I finished most of my food and after I couldn't eat anymore, he finally agreed to let us leave.

Frowning during our ride to his place, I pretended to feel offended at his words earlier as I looked outside through the window.

Not even five minutes later into the ride, he had placed his hand over my right thigh, an action that made me forget that I was supposed to be sad.

"I just want you to be okay, don't turn your face from me tulip." His ever sweet voice made me bite my lips, resisting a smile.

"You are being like this because of what I said to you earlier, right?" I saw his eyebrows lift in a frown, his hand beginning to rub over my thigh.

"Of course not, I don't want you skipping any meals." I turned towards him when I couldn't pretend anymore and pecked his cheeks.

Caring and concern were part of his nature.

The afternoon was spend with us cuddling and at some point Grey braided my hair into this style I had wanted for weeks.

Being the amazing man he was, he pampered me with everything I wanted. He wouldn't even let me get up from our spot, wanting to hold me longer as he did everything else.

I didn't really mind because it was in his arms where I felt the safest and his occasional touches, whether on my forehead, hands or waist, made me feel loved.

On the couch, we shared about our most beautiful experiences, reminiscing of those times when we were so shy to approach each other.

In spite of us having known each other for an year now, we still talked about our interests and what we appreciated about one another.

We talked for so long that I didn't even realize when the day stretched out and night eventually came in until I got up to switch on the lights.

I passed by the kitchen to get us glasses of water and a chocolate bar but something flickering outside caught my eye.

"Grey, come see!" I called out immediately as I peeked through the window to get a better look of the whole view.

He came rushing at my anxious call and then hugged me after realizing there was nothing alarming near me.

"There are lights at the backyard," I pointed out over the window thinking that someone might have sneaked in to his place.

He didn't react and neither did he look surprised.

Staring at him in confusion, he moved to stand behind me and wrapped his hands around me, his chin resting on my shoulder.

"I prepared that for us," he kissed my jaw after admitting and I almost didn't believe. We had been together all day.

I craned my neck to get a better view of what it was but Grey suddenly picked me up and carried me outside.

The view was so incredible.

The back of his house was lit with many small colorful bulbs that went round a center spot which had cushions and flowers laying over a white frayed blanket.

There was a brown basket that lay untouched on one end and on the other were two items that appeared like clothing.

Still in his arms, I flung my hands tighter around his neck telling him that he was the most amazing guy and that I'd always love him.

Looking at the sight before us again, I hugged him. It just felt like a dream to have someone prepare this for me.

He carried me to that spot and placed me at the center, making sure that I was comfortable by adjusting the cushioned pillows to my back and arms.

I watched him take out one of our couple hoodies and I happily put on mine, loving how good we looked when matching.

Then I peeked into the basket beside me and noticing my curiosity, he let me check what was there.

First there was a card and I opened it to see that he'd written the note himself. He wished for our relationship to remain strong and thanked me for being in his life.

I kissed him just after reading the last line and excitedly looked at what was next just to see a familiar journal.

It was a diary I had began filling in just two months ago. I would note down our moments and add some pictures of us after every month.

I don't know how Grey had gotten hold of the journal but I flipped it open to see the adjustments he had made.

The cover of the book now read 'to our first year' and there were bits of his handwriting in there.

Where I had expressed my thoughts about something we did together, he had included his own feelings on that.

It felt like two point of views, making it appear to be more of a novel. I read through his lines, smiling brightly at all of them.

"This is so amazing, it's now complete this way." I read through the first pages, knowing I would stay up late reading this.

"I wanted us to record our story so that we could tell-" he cleared his throat and said this instead. "So that the memories remain with us,"

There was a slight alteration in his voice and before I could focus much, he distracted me by showing me the pattern of the big dipper in the sky.

My interest was immediately shifted to the stars and I gushed at how numerous they were in the sky, leaning onto Grey's shoulders.

"I feel like a princess," I suddenly blurted out and laughed just after saying the words.

"You're already one," I felt him lovingly peck my forehead as he shifted closer so that my head would comfortably lay on his chest.

"And you, my prince." I lifted my head to look into his eyes and saw him smile then leaned to kiss me.

He really did make me feel like one.

While stargazing, we evaluated ourselves, our achievements, our love and planned for this new year.

"To many more anniversaries," I leaned up to kiss him, the love I had for him seeming to triple each time.

"To many more," he stared at me for long after I'd pulled back and grinning, he kissed my whole face making me giggle excitedly.

"I love that sound of yours," he lifted me up so that I was seated on his lap while facing him and continued reaching for my face with his lips.

Reciprocating his actions, I felt him tighten his hold round my waist as he pulled me closer to himself.

I reached for every part of his face I could while gently tagging the back of his hair, earning a muffled sound from him.

He loved it when I tugged his hair while kissing him.

I looked up into his eyes to see them closed and I lifted my hand to feel his bushy eyebrows that highlighted his handsome face.

"Why did you stop?" He opened his eyes and frowned when he realized that I had stopped kissing him.

"We are going to do something exciting instead," I saw his face brighten again as he held my waist, subconsciously tracing the flower pattern on my dress.

"We're going to ask each other some couple questions, okay?" His face dropped, perhaps because that wasn't the exciting thing he was looking up for.

Being so easy to read, I leaned up to whisper in his left ear. "We'll do the exciting part later, alright?"

He eagerly agreed and I proceeded with my first question. "What was your favorite moment with me?"

"Every moment," I blushed. He replied instantly like it was so simple and didn't need any thinking.

"At least tell me your best one," I bit back my lips from smiling again. He was just so straightforward.

"When you confessed to me. I wanted to have you with me all the time, I didn't want to be away from you, I never want to."

He felt for one end of my braid with his fingers while telling me and I just stared up at him as I listened.

"When you say that love me, when we cuddle and when you tell me that I am the best. What about you?"

"I loved it when you read me a story, the sound of your voice was so soothing that I at times got distracted by it."

"When you buy me endless gifts and give me a surprise visit at work when you come back earlier."

He smiled widely and it reminded me that I too loved his dimple. I just loved every feature of him.

"When did you start liking me?" I asked my next question, watching his eyes shift to the space behind me as he answered.

"I have always liked you from that time when you held onto me that night on the bus, I knew I had to see you again."

"I used your lost card as an excuse for that and came to visit your bookstore, mine was a love at first sight."

His eyes fleeted back to mine after he'd spoken and I almost cried at the sincerity in his words.

He loved me from the very start.

"At first I usually admired you for how strong and quiet you were. I liked how kind and considerate you always were, I loved it when you noticed the smallest details about me."

"You would notice when I was interested in something, when I was afraid, when I was upset, you always noticed everything."

"I love it when you care but above all do you know what I love the most?"

He shook his head and looked at me, anticipating my reply. Smiling, I took his hands and pecked them lightly.

Staring at the veins popping out on his arms, I traced over the largest as I replied. "I love it when you call me your tulip,"

"My tulip?" I looked up almost immediately, his gaze playful but filled with so much love that I blushed.

"I love it when you look into my eyes and smile," he caressed her cheeks lovingly, his grin widening when I blushed the more.

He continued to gaze at me lovingly that I felt shy and hid my flushed face into his broad chest.

His hands softly rubbed over my shoulders as he hugged me then leaned into my ear, "Can we now move to the exciting part?"

My face flushed, this man was something else.

✪ ✪ ✪

There's an exciting chapter ahead, remember to vote for the chapters you love - I'd appreciate that.

(⁠๑⁠˙⁠❥⁠˙⁠๑⁠)