A/N: Here is Caleb's part! Next chapter is gonna be Zayne's! Any feedbacks would be very much appreciated! Happy Hearts Day, everyone!
Chapter 2 - Words of Our Hearts
The moment Caleb saw the painting of the most beautiful woman - who was very dear to him, amidst the hundreds of sticky notes. The hidden feelings resurfaced and he never felt so restless. It was the worst feeling ever, than getting the lowest score about his mental health.
He knew it right from the very start that he was bound to lose her. But reality slapping it right onto his face on Valentine's Day wasn't exactly the most ideal. Not when he wanted to show her how he felt all this time, but his cowardice when it comes to her was a huge hindrance.
The first time that Caleb saw her, was on the first day of Freshman year. She was crouching while happily playing with the Pomeranian puppy of the University, the infamous Milo. He remembered how Milo enjoyed the attention from her and wouldn't let her go.
"Milo! I need to go meet my friends. I'll come back for you later, good boy. I promise!" Milo, as if he understood the statement, had wagged his tail and stayed on the spot and just watched her went away.
The encounter never left his mind ever since then. He regretted not asking for her name that day. He wanted to get to know her not because he was already attracted to her, but because he knew she was more than just a pretty face.
On the third day of hoping to cross paths with her, he found her again on Milo's usual spot, the mahogany tree across the library. Milo was on her lap sleeping while she was reading a book. He knew he couldn't pass up this chance. He was usually not this anxious around someone. Truthfully, he was used to approaching people no matter who it was. People referred to him as a 'Social Butterfly King', as a lot of people knew him. From his neighborhood to his school and every school he went to. He was not one to brag but he was pretty popular because of his social skills and for being a soccer player. Those factors were the reason why he even had his own fan pages. He got teased by his friends most of the time because of it. At first, he found the attention too absurd and overwhelming but along the way, he learned to appreciate people's support — regardless if it was genuine or not.
Being a coward was never on his vocabulary. That woman was strange for making him feel this way. And as much as he was scared to find out where things were headed, a part of him knew she would be worth it and being on her life would be a privilege. Before he knew it, his body moved and he was walking towards her and Milo.
"Milo has his own throne, I see." He chuckled, and as she looked up at him, he saw her captivating eyes.
"Yeah! He suddenly just jumped into my lap, so I let him." She giggled and he felt his heart flutter. She continued telling her stories about Milo and how she first met him on the day she enrolled in the University. How he became clingier every time he saw her and now, it was proven that Milo had taken a liking to her. And she even included some trivia that she found out about Milo based from the stories of the Alumnus she was familiar with.
"I'm sorry for blabbering a lot! We haven't even introduced ourselves yet." She laughed, feeling awkward at the realization. Don't even ask the amount of times he said cute on his head.
"It's fine! I'm glad to listen. I'm Caleb, nice to meet you." He smiled at her and extended his hand while she told him her name and shook it. He noticed how when she smile, even her eyes smile as well. She was adorable, he was utterly charmed by her, and he didn't even know her yet. It was crazy but then he remembered a lot of unusual things happen everyday, and so he decided to stop overthinking things and just went with the flow.
Caleb found out she was a Freshman like him but she was a Marketing major. She liked singing and ice skating. And was really fond of animals especially cats and dogs. While he, in turn, told her that he was an Aviation student who was fond of traveling. He loved everything that's got to do with skies. And that he played soccer. He even mentioned how he liked music and that he would like to hear her sing some time. He remembered her enthusiasm over letting him hear her voice.
He introduced her to his childhood friends — MC and Zayne, and since then, she became a constant to their lives and most especially his. While she adored of all of them, Caleb knew that he was the closest to her. She would ask him for favors, and he would be a willing lapdog for her. And even if she didn't ask him for anything, he found himself initiating for her. He would fix her hair, share his snacks with her and even cook for her. His mom asked one time about the two lunchboxes he was constantly bringing on Sophomore year. He told her that he was planning to share it with the three, and while a part of it was the truth — the other lunchbox was solely for her.
There was a time when he joined her in attending one of her favorite Kpop groups concert. She invited the three of them but MC and Zayne were busy on that day, that they were the only ones who bought a ticket together. From then on, he became her concert buddy.
He even went with her when she decided to get a hamster as a pet. And they named it together. She asked him of his thoughts about the name Nyam and he remembered looking fondly at her while she explained about the meaning behind her idea.
"Where have you been all my life, Caleb?" She asked randomly, one day and she was dead serious about it. He didn't get what she meant, but when she uttered the next words, it resonated deeply with him.
"I never thought I could find someone to share with, even the most mundane things in my life." She stared at his purple eyes, and if looks could melt someone, he would be six feet below the ground, at that time.
The years passed by quickly, and before he knew it, it was getting harder to act normal around her. He found himself showing her his feelings, most of the time. But the oblivious woman didn't seem fazed while he was left dejected that he couldn't capture her heart at all.
His jealousy streak wasn't noticeable but his heart broke whenever she told him about the guys she was interested in. He knew she would never feel the same way. It didn't help that even his childhood friend Zayne, it seemed, held affection for her as well. He caught him admiring her from afar.
She had her fair share of admirers, all throughout the years. But once he saw the painting with obvious adoration from the artisan, whoever they were, he knew he should fight for her. It might seem foolish that he was only stepping up his game because he was threatened, he didn't care at all. His impulsive yet yearner side knew he couldn't just back down without a fight. She was the most special person to him, and he needed to know, if just a little bit, even a little bit, he was also hers.
"Are you gonna let someone else take her away from you?" Lilith crept up behind him, her tone was serious.
"You knew." He stated, as she took a seat beside him. He never told anyone about his feelings for her but it seemed he was never really subtle at all.
"If I may say so, out of all the people in her life, you're the top one person who keeps taking care of her. We've known her longer than you, but you've beaten Iris and I for being there for her anytime." She smiled genuinely while she was looking ahead, staring at people who were having the fun of their lives.
"A man inlove is unbeatable sometimes, I guess." She added. She playfully nudged him, he could sense the red creeping up on his face. She was right because he was weak for her. He would do anything for her, if it really meant she would keep relying on him forever.
"What if she never felt the same way? What if I lose her in the end?" Doubts crept into him. She was way out of his league to begin with.
"Don't let fear stop you. You deserve to know the answer to those questions of yours, even if it isn't the outcome that you want." She patted his shoulder as if she was giving Caleb her blessings.
"Thanks, Lilith. I needed to hear that." With the newly found courage, he messaged her about her whereabouts. She replied instantly, and said she was on Serenade Booth. His brows furrowed, his mind coming up with thoughts he didn't wanna think about.
Was she getting serenaded by someone? He knew she deserved the adoration from people. Sure, she was a beautiful woman, but she also radiated kindness, and that was why a lot of people were drawn to her. He could never blame them. Since he himself, was also smittened with her.
He was wrong after all, as he found her with Milo, sitting underneath the tree across the booth. She was rubbing the puppy's head slowly while her eyes were closed. Making his way towards her, his heart pounded hard, once again.
"Hey, you." He sat beside her. He was fine to chill with his favorite person. This was just another day to bask in and enjoy the moment. He leaned back on the tree and admiring the view beside him.
"Caleb, you're here." She opened her eyes and looked at him. Their eyes met and he immediately looked away from her. He could never hold her soft gaze for too long. She was too irresistible and it was getting harder for him, each time. He was afraid, he would do the one thing he had been wanting to do — kiss her. But he knew it wasn't the best thing to do, crossing boundaries just like that.
"This is my sign then." She muttered something but he only heard the word sign. He was about to ask what she meant when she put a handcuff on him.
"You're under arrest, Mr. Caleb." She said with a gleam on her eyes. He looked at her, trying to decipher the meaning behind those eyes and her actions but his mind was clouded by what she had done. They left Milo and he suddenly found himself inside the Serenade Booth.
The first time he heard her sing, after she agreed to let him hear her voice, was when they were laying on the grass while Milo was in between them, asleep. She knew he was tired from a lot of things, that day. And since the three hours of the afternoon was their vacant time, she told him to loosen up and take a nap.
"I can't sleep here." He faced her, she was reading her favorite book. She closed it and stared back at him. She placed the book on him gently and covered his eyes.
"Sleep. I'll sing you one of my favorite songs." Her soft voice rang into his ears, once she started singing. Hearing her voice felt like he was on cloud nine. He could listen to her voice forever but before he knew it, his eyes gave up and sleep had already overtaken him.
Now, here he was, right in this moment. She was about to sing again. However, this time, with the intention of singing her heart out for him.
"Stay, will you, Caleb?" Her eyes pleaded with her words, as she took of his restrain. He nodded, his throat getting dry, as she went backstage for a while. When she came back to the stage, she was wearing a light blue dress. He knew what the color meant from the dress code, because he, himself was wearing the same hue. He was well aware of what was about to happen, but even if he was anticipating it, his heart couldn't believe his eyes at all.
The lights dimmed out as the fairy lights colored the stage brighter. The woman in front of her was an absolute Angel — sent for his own salvation. She sat nervously at the center stage while the sounds of the piano keys started playing. She looked behind her and nodded towards the Zero Gravity boys.
"Here are the words of my heart for you, Caleb." This time, he did his best to stare back at those pretty eyes. He vowed to never take it off of her. He wanted to cherish this moment, and keep it to the deepest parts of his heart and mind.
"I was sick a few days because my heart was overwhelmed with you. So breathing and falling asleep were so hard to do."
All this time, he wasn't the only one having these inner battles within him because of love. Like him, she was also dealing with anxieties by thinking of him. He remembered the late night conversations. She never liked phone calls, she told him. But she would ask for him to call her. He would never dream of thinking of it as something more. But now, that she was singing these words to him, a lump formed on his throat. She felt the same way.
"Whenever I'm with you, my heart couldn't go next to you. I'm always longing for you. Again today, this longing turns into tears."
Longing? He knew that feeling very well. She was so close to him but at the same time, it always felt like she was out of reach. There were times that as much as he wanted to go beyond the border, and have her in proximity, he was terrified that she would hear the sounds of his beating heart for her.
He couldn't imagine her crying over him. The painful realization that she might have been drowning in her feelings for him, thinking he would never feel the same way she did, hurted him. He wanted to go on stage and tell her, he had loved her since that fateful day.
"I wanted to tell you. I wanted to call out to you. But I always swallow all over and over, words of my heart."
The melody started exhibiting such desperate plea sound, and her voice trembled as she sang. He was in deep in trance with everything that was right in front of him. He couldn't look away.
His mind kept running in circles. Rehearsing his lines of confession for her, had become a habit for him. He would randomly gain courage in some days, but as soon as he tried to get it out of his mouth, no words would come out. He would look at her bright eyes and her breathtaking smile, his mind would stop working right off the bat.
"No matter how much I shout out, I guess you can't hear it everyday. Only on the inside, only with my eyes. I had to tell you, words of my heart for you, my love."
This brave woman. The vulnerability in her voice and the lyrics made him just want to say how irrevocably inlove he was with her, how she unknowingly stole his heart with no remorse at all.
He'd always known he was special to her. But he never allowed himself to think of it as a budding relationship to something more, instead categorizing it as a deeply cherished friendship. The fear of losing her in his life, the connection they had, and insecurity that he wasn't suitable for someone as remarkable as her, were the reasons he held back. He couldn't and wouldn't let all of those, jeopardize their years worth of bond.
"It becomes a long tiring day. I will just keep on waiting for you. Just like breathing, it became so natural."
She didn't have to wait anymore. His heart had always been hers. His spinelessness had made the only woman he loved suffer. He would beg on his knees, if it meant she would forgive him for the harm he had caused, without him knowing it.
"I wanted to tell you. I wanted to call out to you. I always take them out, but hide it back again, words of my heart."
Those expressive eyes for hers. The way she would look at him intensely, as if he was the only man in the world. She would listen intently to his stories as much as he would do it for her. He was her go-to person through the highs and lows of her life. That much was obvious, but he was too much of a chicken, in the matter of reading between the lines. Now, every bits and pieces were know clicking on his head. He was experiencing a lot of emotions, all at once. This woman really had the power to make or break him.
"No matter how much I shout out, I guess that you can't see my heart. Behind this bright face, how many teardrops must i erase? that you will never know, my love."
The thought of her weeping because of him, made his heart ache. He didn't want to know how many tears she had shed for him. He knew it would make him hate himself more. He could see her eyes glistening with unshed tears, as she belted out the song. He hoped her tears wouldn't flow because he might really come up on stage and wipe it for her. He would do anything to protect and keep that smile on her face. He would shield her, even from himself.
"This is my first time feeling this way. Even when I'm next to you, I miss you. Just once, I wish I could be in your arms and call out your name."
The bridge of the song felt like a plead of reciprocation. He missed her when she wasn't around, and he still did, even when she was right in front of him. He wanted nothing more than to have her in his arms, feel their heartbeats fall into the same rhythm, as he whisper the words of his own heart for her.
"No matter how much I shout out, I guess you can't hear it everyday. Only on the inside, only with my eyes. I had to tell you, words of my heart for you, my love."
As the song ended, her tender smile for him, he understood that was reserved only for him, broke out of her face. And he knew, right then and there, he couldn't let her slip away from his fingers. He would do anything to deserve her, to be worthy in her eyes. He would never take for granted, the leap of faith that she took for him.
After she thanked the band, they didn't say anything, as they came back to get Milo. There were a lot of things to process but the air was already filled with a mutual understanding between the two of them. Caleb this time, was also ready to show her his heart. He spontaneously pulled her closer to him. And as they stared into each other's eyes, he leaned in and captured her lips in a slow kiss — filled with his deep-rooted feelings of despair, longing, happiness, relief and most of all, the love he had for her, ever since the first time he saw her. The wait was now finally over for the two hearts that had been longing for each other all along.
He pulled away slowly, just enough to brush her hair softly. His hands were still on her waist. "I love you more than words can express. I've been inlove with you all these years." He uttered her name softly, and there it was, that smile he had learned to treasure broke out of her face. The contagiousness made him smile as well. He kissed her forehead, savoring the moment. He had no plans of letting her go, now that she was in his arms, where she truly belong.
"I know that now, my love. And I love you so much, Caleb." As she stated those words, Caleb for the first time in his sky-filled dreams, felt like the ground was his final destination.
Wherever his future path would lead him, he knew he finally had a home to come back to. She was his home, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
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