RED NOTES AND KISSES-Chapter 70: FRIDA -

Time was such a beautiful thing. Autumn was slowly fading, and the golden hues of the evening sunset glowed on his face.

The breeze was soft, a perfect contrast to the chaos she felt whenever he was near.

The crazy thing was that Laz made her feel both unhinged and at peace at the same time.

He was something thrilling, something exciting, and yet, utterly calming.

With him, there was never a dull moment. She could imagine falling asleep peacefully in his arms or literally get the best mindgasm from mind fucking him.

Her cheeks flushed pink at her own reckless imagination.

His eyes looked so pure, so innocent in the soft glow of the sunset that her voice cracked as she spoke.

"Can we walk?" she asked nervously.

He nodded, and they left his car behind, walking in silence.

The evening storm had cleared, leaving behind a stunning orange sunset. The light gleamed off his dark hair, highlighting his features.

He looked good.

He looked unfairly good, and it wasn’t just his appearance, it was the way he carried himself, like he could handle anything, even her chaotic personality.

How could he tolerate her attitude? She knew it was the most annoying thing on the planet, yet he somehow endured it with that maddening calmness. Her heart raced at the thought.

"One day, you’ll meet a man who can capture you," her mother used to say, shaking her head whenever she declared she’d never get married.

Marriage? Seriously? Why on earth was she even thinking about that now?

They were in first year, geez!

She blinked uncomfortably.

He was staring at the horizon, his expression thoughtful. She smiled softly, wondering what life might have been like if they had never parted.

She sighed, brushing the thought aside. Now wasn’t the time for "what ifs."

"I’m sorry," they both said at the same time.

They exchanged a grin, then looked ahead and kept walking.

"I don’t—"

"The thing is—"

They spoke over each other again and laughed awkwardly.

The path was lined with trees, their golden, orange, and red leaves creating a picturesque scene. A stray leaf landed in her hair, and she reached up to remove it, but he was faster.

"You go first," he said, his cheeks tinged with pink.

She noticed he’d been blushing often, just like when they were teenagers.

"I’m sorry for avoiding you," she began. "It was childish, but I have my reasons. I’m complicated, and I have a lot of issues. I just... I hope my bad behavior doesn’t make you pull away from me."

She turned to him, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She hadn’t realized how much she cared for him until now. The thought of losing him again was terrifying.

He stopped walking and faced her.

Without a word, he leaned down and kissed her tears away. His lips brushed her cheeks softly, a gesture so pure it made her breath hitch.

"You’re just a girl," he murmured.

She blinked, his words loosening something within her.

"It’s okay to be emotional," he continued, his voice gentle. "I know you need space sometimes, and I understand. You’re human. You’ll get mad at me for no reason, and that’s okay. You’ll struggle to tell me certain things because being vulnerable is hard for you, and that’s okay too. I’ll wait."

He brushed a stray tear away with his thumb, then ran it over her eyelids.

"Don’t cry, my sunrise. How can I be happy if you’re not? How can I be at ease when you’re hurting? I’ll wait for you to trust me, to share when you’re ready. My pulse beats with yours, Frida. I don’t care what’s wrong; I’ll be here."

Her heart melted. He stood there in the sunset, the light casting him in a golden glow. The wind ruffled his hair, and for a moment, he looked like the most beautiful boy she’d ever seen.

"I’m the one who said I’d wait for you," she whispered.

"Even if I have to wait until the next life, I swear, I don’t want anyone else but you," he replied, his voice steady and full of conviction.

Her defenses crumbled.

He ran his thumb gently over the tip of her nose, smiling softly.

"I understand that you can’t trust me fully right now," he said. "That’s why I’ll let you take your time. I want you to be comfortable with me again."

He hesitated, then added, "Not everyone gets a second chance, and I won’t lie, I’ve been with other girls. But..." He closed the space between them, leaning his forehead against hers.

"You’re the only one who’s ever made my heart skip a beat."

Her breath caught as he handed her a bag she hadn’t noticed he’d been holding.

"What’s this?"

"Open it," he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Inside was a set of stationery: five combo-colored pens, four highlighters, red sticky notes, glitter pens, and sharpeners with erasers.

She gasped. "You remembered..."

"You’ve been forgetting to go shopping," he said with a shrug, trying to appear nonchalant.

Overcome with emotion, she stood on her tiptoes and pecked his nose.

She blushed furiously, stepping back. "Thank you."

They continued walking to her dorm in silence, but the air between them was charged with unspoken feelings.

When they reached her door, she turned to him. "Thank you," she said again.

"You’re welcome," he replied softly.

For a moment, they just stood there, staring at each other. The tension was palpable, their hearts racing.

"Frida..." he murmured, his voice low and raspy.

"Yeah?"

"Can I... steal a kiss?" he asked shyly, his eyes pleading.

She shook her head, and he pouted. But before he could say anything, she grabbed his coat collar and pulled him down to her height, kissing him deeply.

Her lips claimed his, tasting, savoring, and pouring all her emotions into the kiss.

She broke away abruptly, her cheeks burning. "Goodbye, Laz," she said hastily, unlocking her door and disappearing inside.

Leaning against the door, she clutched the bag of stationery like a lifeline.

"I’m such an idiot," she muttered. "We literally play chains and whips in my fantasies, and I’m blushing over a kiss?"

On impulse, she texted him: I fantasize about you cuffing me.

Her phone buzzed almost instantly.

That wasn’t a fantasy.

Her jaw dropped as she read his reply.

And I’ll gladly do it again next time you ask.

She gasped, her mind racing.

"Did I just... ask?"