opening up

Later that night I finally had the courage to click on Liam's contact and call him. I knew I wasn't supposed to be doing this but, this was the only way I could face my feelings.

I called him and he answered after a few rings. "Hello," his voice, familiar and distant, sent a shiver down my spine. "It's me, Liam," I said nervously, He stayed quiet for a while but then I decided to break the silence. "I want to talk to you, can we please meet at the park." Liam coughed, "Sure I'll be there." He said, Sighing as I ended the call.

I grabbed a hoodie placed on and headed downstairs. Maybe this was the better.

"Where are you going, Lucas?" Mom asked as I grabbed my car keys, "I'm just going for a ride, I'll be back." I lied slightly smiling. "Okay then, drive safe and don't come back late."

I nodded and walked out to my car.

As I drove to the park, my mind raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The night air was crisp, mirroring the tension within me. Arriving at the park, I spotted Liam sitting on a bench, surrounded by the soft glow of dim streetlights.

"Hey," I greeted, the word hanging in the air between us as I took a seat beside him. The silence lingered, heavy with unspoken emotions.

"What did you want to talk about?" Liam finally broke the silence, his eyes meeting mine with a guarded expression. I swallowed hard, realizing the weight of my words. "Umm, I've met someone." Liam looked at him his eyes telling me that he was surprised to hear my statement.

"But, it's very hard for me to move on and to let this person in." "What do you mean?" He asked, "I mean that I still love you, Liam, even after all that had happened I still love you and I can't get the thought of you out of my head." I said fidgeting my fingers. "And my feelings for you are holding me back from opening up my heart." I took a deep breath as I stood in front of him.

"I'm not here looking for an apology or asking you to give me another chance, I'm head to ask you for one favor." I said, "What is that?" I hesitated for a while and took a deep breath, "I just need you to tell me that you hate me and that you don't love me anymore." "I know that you don't love me anymore so just tell me that you hate me, maybe those words from you will help me to finally get over you," I stated.

Liam suddenly grabbed my hands and stood in front of me. He shook his head, "I don't hate you Lucas, and I also still do love you." "I know what I did to you was hurtful but, I can't bring myself to say those words to you knowing it's not true." He said gently brushing my cheek with his thumb. "I'm also happy that you found another person to love you, but just know that I'll always love you no matter what." He said, my heart skipped a beat.

I didn't know what to do at this moment, was it a wrong idea to contact Liam once again? Do I want still Liam or do I want to be with Steve? It's like my heart is being pulled apart.

"Can I kiss you this last time?" He asked in his soft husky voice. Hesitant a little suddenly I nodded my head and our lips were touching.

As our lips met, a cascade of emotions surged through me. The kiss held a bittersweet intensity, a culmination of shared history and the looming farewell. It was both a closure and a lingering echo of what once was.

Liam's kiss was tender, carrying the weight of unspoken words. It was a moment suspended in time, a farewell to a love that had defined a chapter of our lives. As we pulled away, I felt a mix of conflicting emotions—gratitude for the closure and an ache for what could never be.

"Is this goodbye," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the night. Liam nodded, his eyes reflecting the complexity of emotions that mirrored my own.

"Maybe, but I hope you find the happiness you deserve," he said, his words hanging in the air like a gentle benediction. We stood there for a moment, acknowledging the inevitable end of an era.

He kissed me once again and then released me from his grip. Somehow my heart felt so heavy, my heart wanted to see Steve and hug him. While Brian wanted to spend the night in Liam's embrace.

Torn between the echoes of the past and the potential of a new beginning, I stepped back, gazing at Liam one last time. The park, once a witness to our shared laughter and whispered promises, now felt like a sacred space marking the closure of our intertwined destinies.

With a final nod, I turned away, my footsteps echoing through the deserted park. The night air seemed to hold the essence of our farewell, a poignant melody playing in the rustling leaves.

As I approached my car, the conflicting emotions within me intensified. The drive home became a contemplative journey, each streetlight passing like a marker of decisions yet to be made. The weight of the night hung over me, and I couldn't shake the profound sense of parting.

After a few weeks of composing my feelings and figuring out what I wanted, I had a small talk about going back to the Bahamas for a few weeks before school was back in session. It wasn't very easy convincing him to let me go.

In Dad's office:

"Dad please, just this once!" I begged him, "No Lucas, you can't be flying from one country to another anytime you want. Also, school is about to be back in session and you don't want to start the school year with bad attendance." He remarked, "But dad I won't even stay that long." He sighed as he took off his glasses. "I know you would've done the same for Mom, so why can't I?!" I asked, "You know what, do it. But I'm only giving you two weeks." He gave in, "You also have a spending limit, if you pass it I'm blocking all your cards." He said.

I smiled and nodded in agreement. "Thank you so much, dad!" I hugged him. "Okay now that we have established that, can I also tag along Uncle V?" Jun asked as he suddenly walked into the office. "Were you listening to us this whole time?" Dad asked, Jun smiled and nodded. "You guys can go, but please be responsible." He agreed. "Can Erik come along also?" Jun asked, "yes whatever, now bring it in." He said as he hugged both of us.

In the following days, preparations for the trip unfolded like a whirlwind. Bags were packed, tickets were booked, and the excitement of returning to the Bahamas mingled with the lingering emotions from the encounter with Liam.

As the plane touched down in the familiar surroundings of the Bahamas, memories of the past flooded my mind. The salty breeze, the vibrant colors of the ocean, and the warmth of the sun created a comforting backdrop for reflection.

To be continued