Promise, I Will

— "You know, I really enjoyed spending time in the Netherlands. You won't believe me, but the atmosphere of HJ Street in Amsterdam was amazing. It was insanely incredible! The cafes, the street, and especially the vibes there."

As Lana described her trip, Killian fixated his eyes on her, absorbing every word. For the past thirteen minutes, Lana had been animatedly recounting her experiences, and Killian listened with rapt attention.

When she finally paused and looked at him, she realized he had been looking at her the whole time, his gaze filled with adoration and curiosity.

His husky yet romantic gaze

Her insane blush

Lana blushed immediately and playfully slapped his elbow, speaking softly.

— "Stop looking at me. You're making me nervous."

Killian chuckled and then fixed his eyes more intensely on her, as if he could kill her with their power.

While he was busy admiring Lana's outer beauty, she continued to blush. She spoke up, trying to hide her embarrassment but sounding slightly irritated.

— "What are you doing? Don't look at me so shamelessly."

Killian answered with his deep, husky whisper.

— "I'm ready to be shameless only for you."

— "You're crazy, Killian!"

— "I became crazy after meeting you."

Lana couldn't handle Killian's relentless flirting anymore.

When a handsome man starts flirting, it can be overwhelming, and she was no exception. She blushed and gently shook his arm, trying to divert his intense gaze.

— "By the way, I really want to go there, but with you. Will you go with me?"

She asked, her eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.

— "Don't worry, we can make it happen."

Killian replied, his voice soothing and reassuring. He held her hand softly, his eyes radiating adoration. Lana looked at him, and as their eyes locked, she continued,

— "I have one more thing to tell you. There's a café called 'Café Wabi-Sabi: Start From The End.' You won't believe it, but that place is perfect. Honestly, it seemed really weird at first, but once I entered, I didn't regret it for a second. The atmosphere there is amazing."

Killian, intrigued, asked,

— "Why weird?"

— "There are a lot of peculiar things and unique rules. The owner, surprisingly, is a woman. Her taste and setup choices are incredible. I wonder what she might look like. But overall, the café is outstanding. I won't tell you why it felt weird to me at first because I want to show you."

Lana explained, her excitement evident.

— "Okay, then I'll wait!"

Killian responded with a smile, eager to see the place that had left such an impression on her.

— "Promise me you'll go there!"

Lana insisted, her eyes pleading. Killian chuckled, knowing Lana's habit of wanting promises for everything. He held her hand a bit more firmly and said,

— "Promise, I will."

In that moment, as Killian held Lana's hand and promised to visit the café, he felt a deep sense of contentment.

He realized how much he cherished these moments with her, where their future plans intertwined with their shared dreams.

The promise wasn't just about visiting a café; it was a commitment to their journey together, exploring life's surprises hand in hand.

Killian sat at his desk, lost in the memory of a conversation that had taken place six months ago.

Every detail was as vivid as if it had just happened: Lana's eyes sparkling with excitement, her cheeks flushing with warmth, and her voice carrying the lilting melody of her enthusiasm.

Every nuance of her being, from her kind words to her radiant smile, had the power to melt his heart.

Now, in the wake of their separation, these memories were a source of both comfort and profound sadness.

He wasn't the type of man who would ever try to compel Lana to stay against her will. Despite his heartbreak, he respected her decision.

Yet, he felt an undeniable need to distance himself from the world they had built together, at least for a while.

His thoughts turned to the promise he had made to her, a promise to visit Café Wabi-Sabi in the Netherlands. Lana might have broken their promises, but Killian was determined to keep his.

The idea of visiting the place she had loved so much offered him a glimmer of solace, a fleeting hope that maybe in a new place, surrounded by new experiences, he might find a reprieve from his sorrow.

With a resolute sigh, he gently placed the photo frame back on the shelf. He picked up his phone and dialed his assistant, instructing her to book a plane ticket to Amsterdam immediately. His mind was made up: he would leave for the Netherlands tonight.

Killian rose from his chair and walked over to the mirror that hung on the wall of his office. He adjusted his black coat and the vintage rough black shirt beneath it, scrutinizing his reflection.

His face, usually composed and confident, now bore the unmistakable signs of his inner turmoil. His whiskey-colored eyes, normally so vibrant, looked tired and distant.

He ran a hand through his dark, silky hair, trying to pull himself together. The man staring back at him seemed a stranger, a far cry from the confident CEO he was known to be.

Leaving his office, Killian walked with a purposeful stride to the elevator.

He descended to the lobby, where the late-night quietude of the building matched his somber mood.

Outside, the city of Paris glittered under the night sky, its lights casting long shadows on the streets below.

He reached his car and slid into the driver's seat, the familiar scent of leather offering a brief moment of comfort.

As he started the engine and drove through the quiet streets, he felt a lump forming in his throat. He had always believed that tears were a sign of weakness, something unbecoming of a man.

But tonight, he found it hard to adhere to that belief. The urge to cry was overwhelming, a raw testament to the depth of his grief.

Desperate for a distraction, he switched on the radio. Music filled the car, but instead of offering solace, the melancholic tunes seemed to echo his inner turmoil.

It was as if the universe had conspired to match his sorrow with its own symphony of sadness.

He drove aimlessly for a while, the city lights blurring through his unshed tears. His thoughts were a chaotic whirl of memories and emotions.

He remembered the day he proposed to Lana, the nervous anticipation, and the overwhelming joy when she said yes.

He remembered the countless moments they had shared, each one a precious fragment of a life that now seemed distant and unattainable.

Despite the late hour, the streets of Paris were still alive with the hum of activity. Yet, for Killian, it felt as though he was moving through a world that was somehow detached from his reality.

He was a man adrift, seeking refuge in the echoes of a promise made to the woman he had loved more than anything.

As he drove towards the airport, he tried to focus on the journey ahead. The thought of visiting Café Wabi-Sabi, of walking through the streets Lana had described with such enthusiasm, gave him a sense of purpose.

It was a quest to reclaim some part of himself, to find meaning in the midst of his heartbreak.

As the city of Paris faded into the distance, Killian allowed himself to hope that, in the quaint streets of Amsterdam and the unique ambiance of Café Wabi-Sabi, he might find the strength to move forward, even if just one step at a time.

As Killian drove through the dimly lit streets of Paris, the radio seemed to conspire against him, playing a song that struck painfully close to home. The haunting melody filled the car, and the lyrics resonated with the rawness of his emotions:

"Girl you know we belong together

I don't have no time for you

To be playing with my heart like this

You'll be mine forever baby

You just wait

We belong together

And you know that I'm right

Why do you play with my heart?

Why do you play with my mind?

Said we'd be forever

Said it'd never die

How could you love me and leave me

And never say goodbye?"

The lines echoed the depth of his despair, perfectly capturing the sense of abandonment and the void left in his heart.

It was as if the universe, in a cruel twist of fate, had chosen this moment to amplify his pain through the radio. The melancholy tune mirrored his feelings, making it impossible to escape the reality of his loss.

When I can't sleep at night

Without holding you tight

Girl, each time I try

I just break down and cry

Pain in my head

Oh, I'd rather be dead

Spinning around and around

Although we've come

To the end of the road

Still I can't let go

It's unnatural

You belong to me

I belong to you

Come to the end of the road

Still I can't let go

It's unnatural

You belong to me

I belong to you

Killian tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. The song played on, each word slicing through him like a knife.

He couldn't help but think of Lana, of the plans they had made, and the dreams that had now crumbled to dust.

The radio continued:

Girl, I know you really love me

You just don't realize

You've never been there before

It's only your first time

Maybe I'll forgive you

Maybe you'll try

We should be happy together forever

You and I

Will you love me again

Like you loved me before?

This time I want you to love me much more

This time instead

Just come to my bed

And baby just don't let me, don't let go

The pain was almost unbearable, yet he couldn't bring himself to change the station. It was as if he needed to hear these words, to let the music articulate the sorrow he couldn't express.

Although we've come

To the end of the road (end of the the road)

Still I can't let go (the end of the road and I can't let go, baby)

It's unnatural

You belong to me

I belong to you (I don't know what I'm gonna do)

Come to the end of the road (I don't know what I'm gonna do)

Still I can't let go ('cause I know I've come to the end of the road)

It's unnatural (oh my god, oh my god, help me out a little bit, baby)

You belong to me

I belong to you

Girl, I'm here for you

All those times at night when you just hurt me

And just ran out with that other fella

Baby, I knew about it, I just didn't care

You just don't understand how much I love you, do you?

I'm here for you

As the song drew to a close, Killian felt a single tear escape, tracing a path down his cheek.

The radio had unwittingly given voice to his heartache, making the reality of his situation all the more poignant.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He knew that he needed to keep going, to honor the promise he had made to Lana, even if she no longer cared. He took another deep breath and listen the ending song by "Boyz II Men"!

I'm not out to go out there and cheat at night (maybe I'll forgive you)

Just like you did baby, but that's alright

I love you anyway (maybe you will try)

And I'm still going to be here for you until my dying day, baby

Right now, I'm just in so much pain, baby (we should be happy together forever)

'Cause you just won't come back to me, will you? (You and I)

Just come back to me

Yes baby, my heart is lonely (lonely, lonely)

My heart hurts baby, yes, I feel pain too (lonely, lonely)

Baby, please

This time instead just come to my bed

And baby just don't let me, don't let go

He turned off the radio and got out of his car. He really needed to breathe in open air, to be in a spacious place.

The street around was just calm, as it was already late at night. He didn't know what will happened in the future but right now he had have to go Netherlands.