"Hey you kids be careful"
"We will, see you next school year Qian, Leonel"
Both Leonel and I waved at Annika and the others as they walk home. Since Leonel had offered to take me home, we decided to wait until everybody else was gone before going.
"Well then, Qian it was lovely seeing you"
I turned around and was immediately welcomed by Leonel's mom, a warm hug enveloping me as she tapped lightly on my back. It was weird, how warm her hugs were and how it felt so right to be in her arms.
"Thank you tita"
"Oh you child no need to thank me, Leo better get you home in one piece"
She then sent a knowing glance at Leonel's place to which he immediately saluted her for.
"Come by again next time, you should meet the whole family by then"
"Ma, pressure!"
I gave both of them a nervous laugh but nodded nonetheless when Leonel tugged on my arms. I waved at her one last goodbye before walking towards Leonel's motorcycle.
"You'll have to excuse her, she knows too much about you"
"Makes me wonder what kind of stories you told her"
I raised an eyebrow at Leonel but he only gave me a smirk before putting on a helmet in my head.
"I could only tell nice stories if its about you Harriett"
That made me smile, it wasn't everyday I learn that someone told only nice things about me.
"You coming?"
"Ha aren't you too eager to take me home"
I teasingly said while getting on his motorcycle but he only laughed. It was only when we were on the way when I realized that the way we were going wasn't the way home.
"You seriously thought I'd just take you home without getting that dance?"
Leonel shouted amidst the wind that was blowing through both of our faces. And here I was thinking that what he had said earlier might have been a joke or just some cheesy line to flirt with me.
But seeing how he pulled over at one of the most beautiful parks in the city where the sun sets so perfectly over the trees I knew it wasn't a joke.
Leonel pulled over and assisted me off the motorcycle while taking the helmet off my head.
"I seriously thought you were joking"
"You should know I don't joke about this stuff"
I chuckled just to keep the butterflies in my stomach down because I could seriously feel them running all over the place.
"I've never been here"
I said as my eyes roamed around the area, there were trees, a lot of them which made it seemingly perfect for a private dance area. Fairylights danced from one tree to the other and benches were on the other corner. There was a monument upfront, it featured a part of our history and it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever been to.
"Well, I'm glad I'm the first one to bring you here"
Leonel said as he took my hand and led me straight to an area out from the sight of people.
"Now, can you dance with me my lady?"
Laughter sprung from my throat as he tried to curtsy but failed to do so. I curtsied back before holding his hand.
"Only if you don't step on my foot"
"I would never want to hurt you"
He said with a smile plastered on his face. I knew he meant about stepping on my foot but there was a whole different meaning to it. An underlying message that he made sure I would never miss.
He held my one arm up and placed the other on my waist as my other arm went to his shoulders.
"What about music?"
I asked still smiling. I expected another sarcastic comeback but he only started humming as he started to move both of us. His gaze still on me as he sway both of us. It was then that I realized what song he was humming.
"Remember it?"
He asked, a cheeky grin now plastered on his face.
"That's the song you first sang for me, the one you sent as a voice chat"
Leonel smiled as he twirled me around catching me once more as his humming continued.
The song was about a wish, about two people who grew apart through time and how they both wished to meet each other again.
"I wanted to talk to you first, to ask how you were, to apologize for avoiding you, to let you know what I really feel"
He started off, his voice seemingly small as he tried to find the words he should say. But one look in his eyes and I knew he was at a loss for words.
"I'm sorry Qian"
The only thing he muttered as he pulled me closer, just enough so that it might look like an embrace.
"I was a fool, I was a coward. I pulled and ran away from you and left you hanging"
I bit my lower lip to keep myself from tearing up because I was on the verge of doing just that.
"And I thought I'll be able to stay away from you and wish you happiness but I couldn't. Not when I saw how that asshole was treating you. Not when I saw how you collapsed on that ground and that scared the shit out of me"
He continued, his voice trembled at the mention of my recent accident like the mere memory of it was something that made him scared.
"Seeing you go through all that, how could I still stay away? I left because I thought you would be happy even without me. But it looked as if you were being tortured, and I hated that"
I knew I needed to ask him a ton of things. All of the unanswered ones but my mouth couldn't move. Not when he was staring at me so intently it felt as if he was staring right deep at my soul.
I thought I had worn the perfect mask to hide the emotions that had been bothering and torturing me but it turned out to be a dense one to Leonel's eyes.
"How? How did you even know that I was in pain?"
I asked a little too carefully as the swaying of our body pulled into a complete halt. His hands still on the places where it was supposed to be and his gaze still fixated on mine.
One second, two, three, and as if time had stopped all at once, his answer came within a minute. With a smile plastered on his face. A smile that took my breath away as he said.
"Because I'm in love with you"