My Bubblegum King - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

(3 years later)
"I'm losing my mind," Ryder said, flipping through pages as we sat by the fountain. Her eyes skimming over her book like she was some kind of flash with super human reading skills.
"As much as I am?" I asked, turning to look at her. Then I chuckle, grabbing her book away and closing it shut.
"Yes," she tucked her red bleached and shoulder length hair behind her ears although I know it's going to take less than five seconds before it's back in front of her eyes. Honestly, it was way less stress when it was shorter. "More than you are. You're sitting there all calm and I'm literally about to shit my pants."
The hair was down again and I scooted closer to her and help her tuck it behind her ear again. Ryder and I went through a hair phase last year. I dyed my hair blond and she dyed hers red. It was all for her YouTube channel and honestly it was one of the scariest things I've done in my life but I did it. I went blond for like six months before I returned back to my normal natural brunette color. Ryder, however, loved red and stuck with it. Although she tried blond, midnight black, cotton candy pink, Billie Eilish green and white. She also cut her hair and for the longest time rocked a pixie cut until she finally started letting it grow back and now it was on her shoulder.
Sebastian loved my blond hair though at least that's why I thought because he would look at me for minutes, spacing out of the conversation and he would randomly take pictures and videos of me and always put his hand in my hair messing it up and playing with it. He didn't say anything about it and let me do me. He was even willing to help me if I wanted to bleach into another color. When I went back to my natural though, he literally gasped on seeing me and ran to cup my face with a wide smile and yell, "Flynn!" Then proceeded to welcome me back with kisses. It was one of his million cutest moments.
"Ry, you have just one paper. I have two," I show her two of my fingers incase the point wasn't getting across. "Of course I'm about to shit my pants."
She sighed. "I honestly don't know why I'm so nervous. I've read for this. I got this."
"Yes, you do, now calm the fuck down. This is going to be smooth slaying."
She smiled. "I can't believe it's our last exam in college. Like when did we get in again?"
"Ages ago," I dragged, giving her a look and she laughs.
"Come on, sincerely speaking, it doesn't seem that long anymore."
"Eh."
Some people were looking at Ryder and pointing. Although they didn't come close but they were trying to take pictures.
"Rude," I made to stand up and confront them but she put a hand over mine to stop me.
"No, leave it be," she rolled her eyes. "I wore my cute skirt today. So, I don't mind." I watched her cross her leg over the other, draw her book closer like she was actually reading it and tuck her hair away from her face so they can actually get a good picture.
I chuckled. "You attention whore."
She stuck her tongue out to me but remained in character until they were gone. Then she sighed. "This might be the last day they get to see me like this. Honestly, I want to milk it all up."
Since Ryder started a YouTube channel two years ago there has been a lot of up and downs. She started the channel to distract herself from the fact that she broke up with Fern and because of some pact they had made, she automatically had to break up with Jordy too. It wrecked her and honestly, if not for the YouTube channel, I was scared she would do bad things to herself. It was like she lost both her ribs at the same time. The channel started small and by the end of the year, it was already a huge success. She got back together with Jordy and eventually with Fern again; I really don't understand those three, it's a mystery how they function but they've been together ever since then. Apparently the break up needed to happen because Fern needed to set his priorities straight (Stella), Ry needed to focus more energy on herself and Jordy, well, Jordy just suffered because of them.
Fern has been an amazing boyfriend since then even though he graduated last year and became some sort of dance instructor/lecturer but we have both fought bullies, paparazzi students and stalkers for Ry. She was becoming a sensation and I was super proud of her.
I have also had a lot of changes in my life. When I returned back for sophomore year, I honestly thought I wouldn't make it. It was very hard leaving Sebastian back there with his business and returning back to school. He came to see me every weekend and Sim usually left the dorm for us and found shelter somewhere else. Some weekends he couldn't make it because of some repairs or shopping that needed to be done in the bar but then we'd have a lot of video calls together, it was insane. I threw myself into my studies and into dancing with Nancy. I became a huge part of their group and attended events and shows. Some that even required me to travel out of the state. I was doing well and so was Seb. We were both so busy that the distance didn't really hurt so much.
Junior year, Seb opened another branch of Prince here in town and he got us an apartment off campus. I left the dorm and Sim, it was an emotional moment with a lot of tears and moved in with Seb. My dream coming to past. Thankfully El moved in with Sim, so I wasn't worried about him being alone.
Living with Seb was the best decision and regardless of all the fights we had, that year was my best year ever. Seb built up my confidence with driving and it's as like he was teaching me how to drive all over again, he got a jacuzzi and we spent Sundays inside together from dawn to dusk. We learnt new things about each other and had the best sex ever. My grades almost plummeted but I almost lost my mind but Seb gave me the space I needed then and helped me however he could, even staying up all night to read with me until my grades got back on their feet. I had a lot of pictures on my phone of him sleeping off with my textbook on his chest and videos of him muttering laws and formulas he didn't give a shit about out in his sleep.
I also helped out in the new bar branch whenever I was free. Spread his flyers for him all over campus and tried as much as possible to help the manager whenever he traveled back home to see the original bar. Seb also got a bunch of tattoos, ranging from 'don't talk to me' to a crown with roses growing around it on his left bicep, over his heart. He was aiming for a full sleeve tattoo on his arm but he didn't want to do it all at once. It wasn't full yet but we're getting there and most of it are things I wanted. I would tell him and the next day I'd be holding his palm or kissing him as he gets it tattooed over his hand. It was hot, no lies.
We traveled a lot and spent all of our holidays together. Whether with his family (mostly his sisters) or mine. He was slowly reconciling with his mother; they share more than ten words now. He was living up to the 'sugar daddy' title and best thing was that it was all his money. Prince was doing so well, it's hard to believe he started it up in that small town.
Currently, he wasn't around and it was bumming me out that he wouldn't be here on my last exams day, I would have really loved us to party together but he had to travel because he was opening up opening up a club back in Los Angeles and he has to be present.
I exhaled deeply, turning on my phone to look at my Lock Screen. It was a picture of Seb blowing out a bubblegum while looking at the shelves in the supermarket as we shopped. I was sitting inside the cart and thought he looked so hot because two of his shirt buttons were opened. When he realized I took a picture of him, he decided to take a picture of me too and pushed the cart back, taking me by surprise and taking the picture. That was also his Lock Screen, last I saw; my shocked face in a shopping cart with Doritos and tissue packs on my body.
"Thinking of Sebastian?" Ryder asked, leaning on my shoulder with a smile.
I blushed, turning my phone screen upside down. "No."
She chuckled, "lair liar pants on fire."
I shook my head with a smile, "fine, I was. Do you think everything is going fine over there? We talked last night but he told me not to call again until my exams were done."
"For good reason. I'm sure everything is fine and if it isn't, he'd tell you after the exams and he'd find a way to sort it out."
"I wish he was here. It's my last day as a student."
"No, it's not. And he'd be here for graduation."
"Would he?" I turned to her with a pout.
Ryder rolled her eyes and pinched my cheeks, "you know he would."
"Fine," I shook the thoughts out, "let me ask you some questions."
"Please do."
Ryder and I whiled away time and soon enough, Sim, El and Jordy were with us as we walked to the examination halls.
"From Fernando," Jordy said handing Ry a rose with a note that said 'CALM YOUR FUCKING NERVES'. "And from me," she grabbed Ryder's face and kissed her. "You've got this my love."
"Awn," the rest of us coo and Ryder almost melted into a pile of goo.
"Shut up," she scolded, wiping her eyes and hugging Jordy.
I checked my phone again but there was nothing from Seb. My last text to him was telling him good morning and good luck on the day and that I loved him but he hadn't replied.
"Are you guys starting the fun without me?" A hoarse voice asked and I turned around with a smile. My eyes meeting the beautiful bright green ones of Diego Royal.
I smacked his shoulder. "You're late."
"Ouch, take it easy freshman," he said, then smiled. "Sorry, I had to get some papers sighed."
I laughed, "always at the last minute, why?"
He shrugged. "It's the best minute that exists." El fist bumped him at that, agreeing with him.
"Don't listen to that lazy man, Pax," Jordy said rolling her eyes at her brother.
Diego ignored her and put his hand around my shoulder, pulling me close to his body. "You're ready?"
"Is there a time when I am not?"
He tapped my nose with a finger, "cheeky. Well, goodluck freshman."
"You too, Simba."
We parted ways with the group and Diego and I entered into our hall going to our designated seats.
Things with Diego and myself were rocky after I resumed sophomore year. He completely avoided me and it was fine. Of course I found it really hard to get used to his presence and I missed him so much but I let him be. We saw each other and waved throughout the first semester. One time he called to ask how I was doing and we talked for two hours on the phone but that was it. Second semester, we got paired in a project and to be seeing more of each other. It was torture not to flirt as always and behave like strangers but we did it for one week or so. The next week, he proposed that we still be friends and he'd try not to make things awkward and he did try. He never told me he loved me or complimented me every second but he brought me food when I was hungry, helped me carry heavy things if I was tasked and was just always around whenever I needed help.
He was like my guardian angel. Junior year the awkwardness was gone and we resumed our usual banter. I stopped by the animal clinic once in a while and he walked me to my dance rehearsals and attended the shows. He and Sebastian don't see eye to eye and although they have never fought, they barely say two words to each other. They just nodded and Diego left whenever he was present. They were both two alpha males who could exist together in the same moment. Sebastian also didn't tell me anything about Diego, whenever I talk about something Diego had done, he would kiss me shut or start a random pillow fight.
"Are you sure you're okay with me being friends with Diego?"
He shook his head negatively with a pout.
"Seb."
"Whatever, just," he grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him. His hand on my hair and he gradually lowered them down until he was cupping my face. "Don't ever give him my time. Deal?"
I grinned. "Deal."
Then he kissed my neck. "Your whole time is my time."
"Seb!" I giggled.
Diego didn't date anybody and he might have had flings but he never told me about them and I never saw them either. I didn't spend all my time on campus with him either, and got to know many other people. Now, we were fine. At least from my perspective.
I finished my papers that day and came out to meet an excited group, we all just finished our finals papers and were making plans to go celebrate but then I turned on my phone and saw a text from Seb.
Babe, I'd be home soon. Come pick me at the airport please 😘
I squealed on seeing the text, happiness bubbling through me as I showed it to Ry and we both said bye to the group and ran back to my apartment off campus. He had sent his flight schedule and was supposed to land in thirty minutes.
"Oh my gosh, I can't believe he came back!" I yelled, running around and changing my clothes.
"Sebastian is such a Prince Charming, he'd do just about anything to make you happy. You should know that by now."
I ran back out, fully dressed and red like a pumpkin. "Shut up. At this point, he's just getting up to fall more in love with him."
She threw me the car key and we left the house. "I'm already in love. I can leave my throuple any day to join a throuple with you and Seb."
I eyed her. "No, you won't."
She rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Fine. I won't but only because you guys are already perfect as a couple. It doesn't get more real than what you both have."
"Let's go get my man!" I yelled driving out and we even made a stop to get flowers for Seb. I wanted to surprise him like he was surprising me.
When we got to the airport, Ryder held up a cardboard that had Sebastian written on it. I thought her there was no need but she insisted saying it would be easier for him to find us like this but I think she just really wanted to patronize the cardboard seller.
My phone beeped and it was a text from Seb; I've landed, where you at?
I described where we were and five minutes later, I see his head over the crowd and I start jumping and waving. He looked just as handsome, maybe even more handsome now because he had a nice tan. His hair fell around his face creating a nice large curl bang and I thought about giving him a nice haircut soon. I could see his angled jaws that looked like they would hurt if you bumped into them, his straight nose, small pinkish looking lips and electric blue eyes with long lashes. How was he not on some model magazine? He was 6"2 now with broader chest and very obvious bulging muscles. Sometimes when I looked at him like this, I had to remind myself to breath and remember that he was mine. My boyfriend.
Seb stopped at about 15 feet from me, he had a smile on and I raised my brow at him. Why wasn't he coming closer? Then everybody around started to clear a path, some guy was instructing them and they all moved until there was a straight empty path leading from Sebastian to me. I was so confused, I turned to Ryder and she shrugged, looking just as confused.
Sebastian just stood there, looking at me and I could see his fingers twitching, he was nervous. "Wh-" I couldn't get the words out of my mouth before I saw Cleo walk out the crowd. She wasn't a little girl anymore, should be a close to a teen now. Her eyes were almost like Seb from the distance, just with beautiful brown hair. She smiled at me and raised up the shiny cardboard she was holding. On it was written; WILL.
I blinked and then Calista walked out in the same fashion. I wasn't even sure she was Calista though but she stood beside Cleo, smiled at me and raised up her own shiny cardboard. On it was written; YOU.
I heard something fall behind me and I turned to see Ry with her hands over her mouth, eyes wide as she muttered. "Oh my gosh."
"W-what's going on?" I whispered and my heart was already pounding furiously in my chest. I turned back to the scene and saw Chloe walk out and stand beside her sisters and raise a cardboard that said; MARRY. My hand flew to my mouth and the tears that I couldn't explain where they were coming from started running down my face. "Oh God."
And lastly, the final quad walked out, nearly tripping in the process and raised her own cardboard; ME?
Will you marry me?
My teary eyes moved to Seb and he smiled shyly and shrugged. I couldn't even move or say anything or think. Not until Ryder gently pushed me, she already had her phone up in one hand. "Go."
I started walking down the empty path and so did Seb. I had the flowers still in my hand though, so much for me surprising him. We met in the middle and I tried to stop crying. "Seb..."
He cupped my face, wiping the tears. "I love you."
I smiled. "The airport, really?"
He chuckled, "yeah we've had a lot of encounters at airports, it seemed fitting and you once told me you'd like this."
I nodded with a smile, remembering when I did back when we were still in high school and promised to marry ourselves. "I did."
He took a deep breathe, "I'm going to knee down now."
I laughed. "Oh my..."
Seb went down on one knee in front of me and opened a ring box. There were two rings there, both covered in shiny gems that I could bet were diamond. "Flynn," he blushed and cleared his throat. The tears were back on my face, only God knew how many times I've dreamt of this moment. "Paxton Flynn, do me the honors, would you? Marry me." He smiled, looking down at the rings. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you either way."
"Shut up," it was a mystery how I was laughing and crying at the same time.
"So?"
I nodded and the whole place went up in a cheer. "Yes, please!"
He grinned, taking my finger and putting the ring on. Then standing up. I collected the box, gave him my flowers to hold and putting the ring on him. His hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me to his body and kissing me. I couldn't even hear the sound of our beating hearts anymore because of the uproar around.
I laughed in the kiss, pulling away. "This is so chaotic."
"So, fitting, right?"
I nodded, "very." Then I took his hand to look at his ring and I saw Prince engraved at the side. I chuckled. "I love you so much my bubblegum prince."
He smiled and raised my own ring to my face and when I saw King engraved at the side, my eyes went. "I love you so much too..." he flicked my nose with a wink. "...My bubblegum King."