Chapter 28: Autumn Daylight.

Kai

A Week Later

My love for Stan was cruel since the beginning of how we met. All of the things that I had come to not know became so evidently true to my eyes now that I every now and then, I ought to be careful with how I treated love.

I have realized that love knows nothing of time. And there was no absolute excuse to even avoid love regardless of how strong the reason was. I realized that love for someone is everlasting and even some people would say that someday soon, you'll get tired of your counterpart attitude... I believe that with mine it wasn't true.

These eight years I have never come to be tired of Stan's love and personality or attitude. The only thing that made me not appreciate the love he had given was because of my own worthless explanation of an excuse. But I have gone past that. I will forever promise... no, I will forever remind myself that we are in this together and every single wound that would scar us will always be the one that tells me how long our journey was.

Eight years of meeting each other, growing up with each other and loving each other...

I will never take that for granted.

"Is the cakes ready yet?" I asked from the counter, wondering if the new recipe of a cake was ready yet to be showcased to the customers. My work at the company has taken its toll, and I was soon would have one here... at the café.

I heard some shuffling in the kitchen then sounds of trays falling. To make sure that everything was fine back there, I went to peak the man who was handling the baking and all. As my head pops into the kitchen, I saw the man covered in flour, and it reminded me so much of the time we cook together.

"Oops, I got the flour all over me," He mentioned, staring at me with his hands up. I chuckled at the scene, walking forward to help him. "Why are you getting bad at this?" I grinned.

"Um... maybe because I'm working with my boyfriend? And I need to do my best?" Smiling at his response, I swiped some flour from his face then put it on me.

"Want me to help you?"

He smiled, nodding as he looks to the uncooked batter. "I sure do need those hands to help," A smile cracked itself onto my face, and we began to help each other in the kitchen to prepare the cake.

Working here had me made some pretty big decisions since I'm leaving the one job that would correlate with my degree. But as I look at it now, it doesn't matter where I work. All that matters was if the work brings happiness and if it gives you the satisfaction in the end of putting a smile on your face... it would be the best work ever.

So I chose to work with my lover. I chose to work here instead in the end because not only seeing people eating the wonderful dessert smile but also seeing him smiling as well as we enjoy each other more than often. It was the best decision I have ever made in my life to be here. To spend more time with him, it was best for me to be somewhere that I know was ours.

The company was named after our last names, so I guess it was worth it.

"Are you free tonight? Or this evening?" I asked, taking a glimpse at him as he puts in the cake tray into the oven.

He turns to me with a very thoughtful face, thinking of my question like a curious toddler. "Maybe... I think I have some extra work-,"

"Hey, don't use that excuse," I crossed my arms to which he laughs at me.

"I'm just kidding... of course I'm free. We end our work at the same time, honey," He murmured, placing a soft kiss onto my lips, and it was the very best dessert I had ever tasted in my life. Needless to say, after we got back together... things seem to progress really fast. I had a wonderful time every single night.

"Alright then. I'm driving us,"

He steps back, then peck my cheek. "Where are we going to?" It was a surprise, a surprise that I wanted to do to have us together forever. "It's a secret,"

The man hadn't had his chance to say something when the bell on the counter rings a million times. "You lovebirds better not be making out in the kitchen! We, as customers want service!" Charlie voice came through along with several laughters.

In a hurry, I get to the counter to see Charlie, Ryan, Liara and Felix all here with a smile on their faces. "Oh! You guys! You came!" I exclaimed, walking to the counter to greet them. I had asked them to come over for today to taste the new cake. Although Felix had known about it, we still wanted him to come to for him to try it. He's also on a free holiday for a week thanks to all the struggles he went through alone.

"Duh! Charlie keep bugging me to be here!" Ryan spoke, nudging his boyfriend shoulder roughly. I smiled at the sight of them, it made me feel all giddy just by watching them.

"Yeah, Felix told me that the new cake was going to be a new addition so like, why not?" Liara commented, her arms slinging around Felix's. I nodded at them, then turn to see if the cake was ready yet. So for them to wait, I let them order what they wanted first and have a nice chat. "Okay, so the cake would be ready shortly but you guys can order first if you want to. Oh... and yes, it's all on the house," I winked, earning some yeay's and hoorays from them.

So that was how the day went on. Stan and I worked together in harmony and truth to be told, it has been such an experience. It was only my second week and I hadn't got tired of it or be tired because of it. It was very much fulfilling.

When our work ended, I finally got the chance to take Stan out for the surprise I had for him. He couldn't even lock the store properly as I drag him out as fast as I can and shove him into the car with laughter drifting off from my lips. The look on his face was just very much appalled and adorable to see.

Without hesitation, I drove the Maserati towards the familiar place that we had gone to before. A place of sanctuary for us. One that became a holy religion for us. Everything was golden now once I see love by its truest form. It was just beautiful.

"Woah! You have got to slow down," He spoke, clinging onto his seat for support even though he wore his seatbelt.

"I can't! We need to be fast if we want to see the view!" I exclaimed, continuing driving down the road. "You are out of your mind," said the man while he laughs.

Therefore, when we reach the place, his eyes began to smile and his lips began to gape open when he realized the place. It was the same dock where he brought me for the first time. Where he wanted to hang out with me just because I said to him that we're not friends. The place where he said he takes someone when he likes them.

"You remember this place...," He murmured, going out of the car. I follow after him and walk with him at the edge of the dock, standing there as we see the sun setting in all of its brilliance.

"Of course I remember... you brought me here... and I want to remind us about that time. That time when you secretly told me you like me," I smiled.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "That was so embarrassing,"

"No it's not... it's lovely and romantic, and it's you,"

He grinned lovingly at me, showing his pearly white teeth that compliment his handsome face even more. The way the sun hits his face really showed the extent of his impressive features. How did I even have him to love me was a big question I always asked.

"But that's not the reason why I bring you here," I muttered, fiddling his fingers as the nervousness starts to kick in.

He raised his brows at me, curios towards my purpose. "Yeah? What is it," He inquired. I started to face him and began shuffling my feet. How do I even begin this?

"Go on... I'll wait," He said, putting a hand onto my arm - grasping it affectionately. So, without further ado, I spoke the unprepared, unseasoned words that was in my mouth. It would be a mess, but I know somehow he would get the message.

"Can I... Can you- I mean will you...," I paused, staring into his eyes that was staring in mine as well. "C-can you marry me?" The words had been spoken, but then I curse myself for saying 'can' instead of 'will'.

He was silent, but he widens his eyes once he heard the utterance fully. "I didn't have a ring for you to put on but can a kiss do?" I continued but was replied immediately after when he pulled me in and kiss me square on the lips. Our lips moved in the same rhythm, the same tempo because of how used we are to kissing each other yet how it was not enough for us.

The enchanted kiss lasted longer than how it should, and I was blessed that it did because it made me feel that all my words worth so much in the end even when it was all messed up. His fingers intertwined with mine and once we pulled back from each other, he smiled so wide that it almost break his face.

"Of course I can marry you... but will you marry me, Kai Everest?" He asked back, his grin was permanently there. I move closer towards him, my eyes was fixed onto his, and I know somehow I had made the best decision there was for me.

"Yes, I will, my handsome devil,"

-the end-

*Queue credit scene and Love Story by Taylor Swift!*

Aw!