My Bubblegum King - Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Diego lips almost touched mine, but my heart and head turned turned.
Now my heart started pounding and Diego's hand remain on my face. I heard him sigh and I did too, he didn't move and my hand reached up to touch his that was on my face. I felt him smile before I saw it.
"It's time to go home, isn't it?"
My eyes looked at his and if not that I've cried all the liquid out my body, I would have probably cried then again. I slowly nodded. "I'm sorry."
He held my hand and moved back, he had a smile on—not a fake one, a really genuine one. "I knew you wouldn't let me kiss you."
I blinked, "if you did, then why did you try?"
"I-I wanted you to know too."
I scoffed with a smile, "jerk."
He chuckled and we made to sit on the sand. He took huge gulps of his drink. "I've never seen love like this. I've never seen someone so in love with another person and I know I shouldn't say this but I'm so fucking jealous."
I bit on my lips, drawing my legs close to my body and relaxing my head on it as I looked at him. "I thought I loved you. At some point I probably did, probably still do but it is a different love. I was so scared I was going to lose Sebastian if we're not close. The long distance relationship I've always heard about never go right and I was so caught up in what I knew, the facts and numbers that I didn't realize that we did good. Could have been more perfect but Sebastian and I actually pulled it off. It worked and it wasn't the distance that tore us, it'll never be the distance if we keep choosing each other, every day, every minute and all the time."
Diego nodded, looking out to the blue ocean. "I don't know about Sebastian but I know you Paxton. And you're your best version when in love with him."
"We're good together too."
"Yeah, I can't lie, we really are," he copied my posture and looked at me too. "But good is not nearly enough, is it?"
I shook my head. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"I really lost my shit. I heard about the bar and our future crumbled in my eyes. I hurt him and he probably doesn't want me back. It's been a week."
"If he loves you as much as you love him, then he wants you back. I bet he feels bad about what happened and he regrets his actions and understands yours."
"But then why didn't he tell me before he bought it? What if he doesn't trust me like I think he does? What if—"
"Hey, freshman," Diego cut me off and I blinked at him. "Calm. I bet he trust you more than anything but we do stupid things when we're in love. I bet he wants to impress you and you were at the forefront of his mind when he made that decision. He really wanted it and was scared about how you'd react. Not because he doesn't trust you but he loves you too much to hurt you and at that moment, keeping silent seemed like the best way."
I looked away from his eyes and up to the sky and my tears started rolling down again. "I want to go home."
People usually say the pain gets better each other, well, I don't think they were talking about this kind of pain. This kind got worst each day and I felt like I was being submerged into water, longer and longer as hours and days moved. They say there's nobody we can't live without; well, I guess they haven't met Sebastian Crown. They say, the sorrow only last the night and joy comes in the morning; if so why have my days been all night?
If I could go back in time, I wouldn't be so obsessed about being with Sebastian in school. I'd listen and hear him out when he tries to tell me about the bar. I'd hug him and tell him that it's going to be fine. I'd support him and share in his excitement. He doesn't have to abandon his dream for me. I love him and wherever he was, was home.
Diego and I spend our last night on the island outside together. We dance to slow music and fast music, we drink cocktails but make sure not to get drunk. We draw things on the beach sand and guess what it is. I laugh so hard and even cry in the process. We race each other in the sands and lie side by side, looking at the stars until they disappear at dawn.
Diego books the fastest flight back home and I buy a phone and try to get my phone number back.
"Give me gum," I said to Diego as we sat side by side on the plane going back. I wanted to take a plane that would take me straight home but Diego said there wasn't one like that available and they could only drop us at the school and then I'd leave from there.
"Bubblegum? I don't you don't chew gum."
"I don't but I'm so nervous and I heard it helps with nerves," I said and feet was bouncing. Diego looked my over, pinching his brows together in concern. I rolled my eyes. "Just give me. Please."
"Fine," he reached into his pocket for a pack of gums. "What flavor do you want?"
"Strawberry."
Diego handed me the gum and as soon as I start chewing it, I'm attacked with memories of Sebastian and our days in highschool. From admiring him in the hallways to being paired as lab partners, to being somewhat friends and then the 'drunk' doughnut first kiss... I smiled to myself, feeling very stupid. Did I actually think for a second that I could live without my bubblegum prince, Sebastian Crown? Not after everything we've been through, not after being the reason I lived for so many years. I brought out a pen and started writing down all the things I wanted to say to him the moment we land. My thoughts were racing and I was scared I would forget it all. I didn't want to forget it, I wanted to make sure I conveyed my feelings the way they were without any misunderstanding. I wasn't even hurt about the bar anymore, I just wanted him.
The plane ride took longer than forever and I was my most impatient self. The moment we landed, I was already planning on how to take the next available flight back home.
"So how do we do it? I really have to go now," I told Diego, packing my bags as he packed his.
"Wouldn't you help me get a taxi or something?" Diego asked, "you don't need to rush, we can book the flight on the website."
"I don't want to waste anymore time," I sang out, stomping my feet like a child throwing a tantrum.
Diego looked me over and shook his head. "Stop being cute and be a little more patient. Let's find a good taxi first before they all disappear."
"Diego!" I grumbled but followed him, still chewing on the gum and trying to blow bubbles. We didn't have to go far though before my eyes land on someone too familiar.
Ryder Tracey.
She was walking too but stopped when she saw me and she froze, just standing there and looking at me. She didn't seem surprised and just went I thought I couldn't get any more surprised, my eyes moved to the tall figure behind her like metal to magnet. Standing at his elegant 6"1 feet with his disheveled black hair and electric blue eyes. He had a white plain top on and black jeans and a stubble.
Sebastian... I successfully blew a ballon and it popped right in my face.
The bags in my hand fell and I slowly turned to Diego for an explanation. Maybe I was dreaming.
Diego shrugged, "I told Jordy. She must have told everyone else."
My heart was pounding so hard in my ears and my skin prickled nicely and it was like I was about to start floating. I turned back to Seb and he was walking to me. I dropped everything and started walking to him too, taking as long and patient steps as possible. I tried to read the look on his face but I couldn't. He wasn't frowning and he wasn't smiling, he looked... relieved?
We were standing inches from each other now and the pull was incredible and very hard to ignore. I looked at his eyes and the look of him hurt flashed through my mind and I tried to push it down. "Hey—"
I was cut off as Sebastian leaned down wrapped his hands around me, pulling me up and into his embrace, my feet almost left the ground. I gasped but recovered quickly and hugged him right back, wrapping my hands tightly over his hard body that I didn't even know I missed so much. My heart was pounding loudly and I could feel his too. He smelled exactly the same; sweet and more sweet. It was like oxygen and it's in his arms that I realized that all these while being away I've been drowning and waiting for someone to save me. Him. Sebastian was the hand pulling me out of the water and the oxygen I needed.
He broke off the hug and his hands quickly go up to cup my face, his eyes moving around my face like he was checking for something or inspecting. His fingers run through my hair, pushing them back and away from my face as he looked. Then he brought his head and rested it on mine, eyes closing as the tears dropped, a sob in his throat.
I clutched his shirt like I didn't want him to disappear. This could all be a dream. And my eyes closed too as my own tears fell. "Yeah, it's me. It's your Flynn." More choked sob. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm stupid and I'm sorry."
He raised his head from mine, his eyes opening and glistening from the tears and with one hand holding my cheek and the other lowering to my neck, Seb kissed me. His lips touched mine and just like that it seemed like this week of hell hadn't happen and we were back in his room, two years ago sharing our first kiss, then in the chemistry lab, then at the airport like this years back and then back in the present. It was just us in the world right now and my head and body and heart was all spinning, reveling in the love I felt around me and in me.
I melted into the kiss, kissing him back with as much yearning, my hand wrapping around him and holding his shirt tight. His lips moved over mine, his tongue easily seeking entrance into my mouth and I almost let myself moan, completely engrossed.
Sebastian smiled into the kiss and I didn't know when I was smiling too and he broke off for air, resting his head on mine again as he took a deep breathe. "You're really my Flynn, then you know that you're the most intelligent man on the planet to me and I love you. I love you so much Paxton Flynn."
I broke into tears and hugged him, burying my head in his chest as I cried. "I love you too Seb. I love you so much and I- I don't want to br-break up, I s-swear. And I don't care about anything, I'm sorry."
We just hugged, happy to be in each other's embrace once more and happy that nothing much has changed. At the end of the day we were still Sebastian and Paxton and although a lot has changed and we have a lot to work on as a couple. One thing hasn't changed all these years; the fact that we loved each other was forever going to be a constant. And I would always chose my bubblegum prince, always.
We could have been in that state hugging state for a long time if the sounds of Ryder's muffled tears hadn't caught my attention and I left Sebastian to look at her. She was squatted on the ground, her head buried down on her legs as she cried. I walked until I was standing in front of her.
"R-Ry?"
She looked up at me, fat tears running down her cheeks and the she glared, standing up. "Bad friend," she gently pushed me. "I h-hate you so much Paxton Flynn."
I slowly nodded, "Mm, as you should."
Then she dragged me forward and hugged so tight, I could barely breath. "I was so worried, oh my God."
I hugged her back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have disappeared like that. I know."
"I'm sorry. I really don't hate you, I-"
I smiled. "I know you don't. You love me too much to."
Then she smacked me again, "bad friend. You're the worst."
Then she smiled, and her eyes move from me and I followed her gaze to see Sebastian slowly walking towards Diego...
Oh shit.