Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Blindfold

"Gulf, I love you. I only love you. Please marry me again."

The crowd cheered as they applauded.

I felt my face blush as I started to burst into tears again. I tried to wipe them away.

For three years, we suffered. Separately. After a very long time, and after all those pains, we are finally here. At this moment. For three years, I tried to forget about Mew. And during those years, I lied to myself.

It's time to be finally true.

I closed my eyes as I tried to feel the moment. After a little while, I opened them and looked down to him who was still on one knee.

"I don't want to..." I answered him.

I heard the people gasp in disappointment.

The ghost of a smile and excitement left Mew's face. It was replaced by sadness. He then bowed his head, feeling embarassed by my answer.

His reaction made me smile.

"...I don't want to say no to what you wish to happen," I chuckled as I finished my sentence, tears still falling from my eyes.

He quickly raised his head to face me, shocked by my words. A smile slowly crept into his face, his eyes glittering.

"Say that again!" his voice was excited.

"I said, I'm marrying you! I want to marry you again!"

He quickly slid the ring into my ring finger, with his hands somehow trembling. Good thing that the ring was my right size. It suited my finger perfectly.

He stood up and cupped my face. The evidence of pure happiness was all over his face. And then he claimed my lips and drowned me in a deep kiss.

I kissed him back. Then I heard the crowd clapping their hands in joy, wanting to share in our happiness.

"How romantic! You are one lucky guy!" the same gay man shouted from the crowd.

We broke away from the kiss but our foreheads were still touching. We smiled to each other. My tears would not stop falling off because of the overwhelming feelings.

"I love you, Gulf," he whispered.

"I love you, Mew."

When we went down the stage, a lot of people greeted us and expressed their congratulations. Some even offered us handshakes and we gladly accepted them.

After a few minutes, the airport was back to its normal busy set-up. On one hand, Mew has my luggage containing all my things I was supposed to use in Spain. His other hand was holding mine.

As we walked out of the airport, a tall guy bumped into me. Mew did not notice him.

"Sorry," he said before bowing his head in apology then walked fast away from me.

He was wearing a pair of sunglasses and a cap so I couldn't really see the entirety of his face. But I was sure that he looked familiar!

Aron!

My heart started to beat faster. I stopped walking to face the guy but he was nowhere to be found. He mysteriously disappeared in the sea of people.

Maybe I mistook him as Aron? Maybe it wasn't really him and I'm just being paranoid?

"What's wrong?" Mew asked worriedly.

I shook my head and shrugged my shoulders. Then I resumed walking.

When we got out of the airport, Mew guided me to his Ford Ranger Wildtrak. He covered my eyes with a blindfold.

"What is this for?" I complained. Now I lost vision and all I could see was darkness.

"It's a surprise. Don't cheat." I felt him kiss my forehead.

"I hate surprises. Take these off." I tried to touch the end of the blindfold to remove it but he stopped me.

"Don't be naughty. It won't take long. I'll take you somewhere."

"You don't really need to cover hmmmm."

I was not able to finish what I was going to say because he claimed my lips. It was a quick kiss.

"No. It's a surprise. So stop being nosy and just cooperate or I'll kiss you again."

As if I'm scared with your kiss! I grinned.

"Why do you need to hmmm."

He kissed me again which made me go silent.

I couldn't stop myself from smiling as I felt his lips crash into mine.

"Why do I feel like you're doing this on purpose?" he sounded doubtful.

"No I'm not!" I laughed.

"What can you see?"

"Nothing. Just darkness."

"That's how my life looks like without you." He spoke with his deep and serious voice.

My face heated because of his pick-up line. I hit him lightly on his chest as I felt butterflies in my stomach. Damn it! I wasn't expecting that.

"Shut up," it was all I could say.

I heard him chuckle. After that, I felt him fasten my seatbelt.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you," he whispered to my ear which sent shivers down my spine.

The engine started and I felt the car moving and driving away.

Five minutes into driving but he hasn't spoken a single word. I wonder what he's thinking about?

"Can you please turn on your stereo?" I asked.

"Okay."

• now playing Nothing's Gonna Stop Us by Starship •

I still couldn't see anything but I can hear the noise from other cars, which means that we are still in the city.

He increased the volume of the stereo and started singing along to the song. His voice is just so beautiful. Now I'm embarassed because I remembered that time I sang at the restaurant.

My tears began to form again. Why does the song seem so perfect for our feelings right now?

My heart started racing.

He held my left hand and brought it to his lips. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore. Good thing that I have a blindfold so he wouldn't really see me ugly cry.

Damn, this song is making me emotional.

When the chorus began, I sang with him.

For the second part of the song, he let me sing alone. Even if I was silently crying, I still continued to sing.

This song speaks so much of my emotions. I can't help but cry.

Then I remembered what happened to us in the past three years. It was such an agony. That is why I am happy with wherever I am right now. Everything that I have gone through was not easy at all. Same with Mew. He also had a hard time.

But here we are. Finally together again.

I'm pretty sure that I look stupid singing with blindfolds on. But who cares? Love really does make us do crazy things.

I really hope that this time, nothing will be in our way. I am risking my heart again. All for the sake of love. So I wish this will all be worth it.

Then he sang with me for the chorus.

Nothing is gonna stop us Mew. Nothing ever will. Because I will gamble again. Gamble for love. I will fight for our love. Because I believe that this is what love is.

Nothing is certain, but you should be brave to face everything and be ready to experience pain.

If ever you get hurt again, then you won't have regrets. Because at least you tried.

I only want you, Mew. The time we spent far apart proved it to me. That it is only you. And it will always be you.

Even if Hughie was there, still nothing happened. He couldn't replace you.

That is why it is only you who I want to hold forever.

I tried to peek so I lifted the blindfold covering my right eye using my right hand. He was in tears too. But he couldn't wipe them away because his hands were busy. His left hand was on the steering wheel while the other was holding my hand. His attention was focused on the road. But the overwhelming emotions was clearly visible on his face.

I pressed his hand that was holding mine. It made me cry harder.

The song finally ended so he let go of my hand. He wiped his tears away. That duet with him was really touching. Every word was filled with emotions. Each word was spoken from the heart.

I fixed the blidnfold before he finds out that I was peeking.

Earlier, I noticed that we were going along the road headed to the sea. Where is this guy taking me?

The rest of the travel was only music. We did not talk. I heard him sniff many times that may have been the result of him crying.

We were silent. But we both felt each other's presence.

After thirty minutes, I felt the car stop. I could hear the crashing of the waves from afar.

"Can I remove the blindfold now?" I asked.

"No. Not yet."

His car door opened and I heard him run towards my side. He opened the door beside me and unbuckled my seatbelt.

He guided me down the car and I felt his palm on my head, afraid that I might hit the ceiling of the car. I smiled at his sweet gesture.

Why is he being extra-careful?

"Won't you be throwing me into the sea?" I joked.

"Why would I do that to my baby?"

My face blushed. What the hell, Mew?

He chuckled when I think he noticed my face turn red.

Mew guided me as we walked. I can smell the sea breeze and the salty seawater. We were walking on a concrete road but I am sure that the sea is just on our side. Later on, I felt that we were then walking on something wooden. Maybe we're already on the boardwalk.

He stopped so I stopped too.

"I will remove the blindfold now," he informed me.

I nodded. Then I felt him remove it.

"What can you see?" he asked.

"Wait. My eyes are still adjusting because I've been in darkness. Everything is just so bright," I complained. I'm guessing that it is already 4:30 in the afternoon.

"So bright? That's my world when you're here. You give light to it." And then he smiled.

Shiaaaa. I hit his chest with my hand again. He's so cheesy! Why is he doing this to me? I am sure that my face is red as a tomato again and I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I bit my lower lip.

He chuckled.

"Are you okay now? Have the eyes of my baby adjusted now?" he asked sweetly.

I can clearly see him now, smiling from ear to ear. His eyes are disappearing because of his smile and the sun's rays are hitting his face.

He's so handsome.

I turned away and faced the sea.

"Baby? I'm too old to be your baby. And one more thing. I agreed to marry you again but it doesn't mean we're totally fine. You have to court me again first," I grinned.

I noticed a familiar yacht. I won't forget that yacht. The one that we used to go to the island of Kurumba Maldives where our honeymoon took place.

The place where we first made love.

"Gulf Chandler Gibson, will you run away? But this time, with me?"

He is starting to make me cry again. I couldn't do anything but just nod. I am lost with words.

"Hush now, my baby," he pulled me closer to him and cupped my face. He wiped my tears away as he looked me in the eyes.

We met each other's gaze.

"I promise that I won't hurt you again." He kissed my forehead.

"I promise that I will not let anyone bother us." Then he kissed my left cheek.

"I promise that I will make you happy everyday." Then my right cheek.

"I promise to always stay with you and protect you." He kissed the tip of my nose.

"And I will never let you down. I promise that I will be a good husband to you from now on. The sun and the sea are my witness. I love you Gulf. Only you."

---

Someone's Point of View

Enjoy yourselves for now and I'll just stay here and watch from afar.

But don't you ever think that I will remain this way. Mew might think that he got away from me. Well, he's totally wrong.

Because we will all suffer. I will make them suffer too.