Pitbabe S2, Chapter 29 pg 7

 Pitbabe S2, Chapter 29 pg 7

   CHARLIE:

   “I’m back.”

   My greeting was softer than usual, but for such a grueling day, this was already a big effort.

   The living room was empty, no sign of the homeowner. But all the cars were parked out front, so I was sure Babe hadn’t gone anywhere. He was probably doing something upstairs.

   “One sec!”

   As expected, the homeowner’s voice called back from the second floor. I didn’t reply, just dragged my heavy feet to collapse onto the sofa, exhausted. I hadn’t done much today—sat at the computer, read data, argued with Dr. Chris, drove back and forth—but I felt like I’d just returned from a battlefield.

   Less than three minutes later, I heard footsteps rushing down the stairs.

   “Why’re you back so early?” Babe walked toward me. As he got closer, I felt an inexplicable urge to cry. Seeing his adorable smile, I grew even more fragile, like someone tapping my shoulder and asking, You okay? after a day full of awful things.

   “Work wrapped up early today?”

   I didn’t know how to respond. My throat suddenly tightened for a moment. I looked at him and spread both arms wide. Babe’s face lit up with a broad smile the second he saw my gesture. He shuffled toward me with quick, short steps, standing between my legs before pulling me into a hug. I buried my face in his warm stomach, his familiar scent making me feel safe and relaxed in a way that was almost miraculous.

   “Missed me, huh?”

   I think Babe really wanted to ask, Are you okay? But this was his way of communicating, the one he’s better at.

   “Yeah, missed you tons,” I said, still nuzzling his stomach tightly, sneaking a few kisses out of longing. Of course, Babe didn’t mind my clinginess, despite the fact that I’d only been out of the house for a little over three hours. “What were you doing just now, Babe?”

   “Guess.”

   “Up in the bedroom this late… probably something weird.”

   “You don’t think I was sleeping?”

   “Replying that loudly? Doesn’t sound like someone who was asleep.”

   “You know everything,” Babe said through gritted teeth, like he was playfully scolding a kid, while ruffling my hair until it was a messy puff. But I loved it. Being doted on by him made me feel like the most valuable person in the world, even though, in reality, I’m just a stubborn kid muddling through each day. “I was talking cars with Phii Alan

   “Cars again?” I looked up at him, surprised that Babe was fussing over cars again, considering he’d just gotten me a new one a few days ago. My RX-7 is sleek, powerful with Phii Alan’s tuning, and has an engine sound that’s pure music. Babe got it exactly to my specs, delivered right on time. I didn’t expect much at first, but seeing him pull it off like he promised made me secretly proud. “Buying another car already?”

   “Haven’t decided yet. Just asking around, seeing if Phii Alan can track one down.”

   “And if he can?”

   “I’ll buy it.”

   “There it is,” I said, playfully nipping at his stomach, but I only caught his shirt. Guess I’ll have to fatten him up a bit more. “Why buy so many? We’re running out of space to store them.”

   “Keep ‘em at the showroom.”

   “Phii Alan better expand the showroom soon if you keep buying like this.”

   “Then expand it.”

   Babe didn’t care one bit that his endless passion might cause problems later. His stubborn, I want it, I get it attitude isn’t something easily fixed—especially since he has no interest in changing. If we ever go broke, we’d probably sell the cars to get by. But with that many, we’d have enough to live on for a lifetime, so Babe probably wouldn’t care either way.

   “Which model are you looking at?” I gave up arguing about something I knew I’d never win, pulling out of the embrace to tug the gorgeous racer down to sit on my lap. Babe giggled delightedly, leaning his head against my shoulder. I added a quick kiss to the crook of his neck. He’s like an affectionate kitten, no doubt about it. I feel like the luckiest one in a million who stumbled into adopting a cuddly cat by chance.

   “Skyline.”

   “GT-R?”

   “R34.”

   “What’s this… suddenly into Japanese cars?”

   “Well, Papa’s got an RX already,” Babe said in a sweet voice, his warm hand stroking my chest and neck, not forgetting to playfully nip at my earlobe. Today, Babe is pulling out all the stops with his charm. “So I’ve gotta get something to drive as a pair with Papa.”

   “Gotta have a matching pair for every car?”

   “Of course.”

   “Expensive.”

   “But it’s cute, isn’t it?”

   He doesn’t realize that having matching cars isn’t even half as cute as he is right now. Before I knew it, my exhaustion had completely melted away. Just seeing his face, holding him close, bickering a little— that’s all my life needs. If praying to sacred powers actually worked, I’d beg for our peace to last forever. But knowing life doesn’t work that way, I pour my heart and soul into plans that make the person I love cry time and again. If we all end up in heaven or hell when we die, I hope the keeper there understands the sins I’ve committed with this intention.

   “I love Papa so much,” Babe said, peppering kisses all over my face, pressing his lips everywhere. When he ran out of space, he started over, never seeming to tire. “What would I do without Papa… I couldn’t live.”

   I’m the one who should be saying that.

   I couldn’t live… without him.

   I’ve always thought it but tried to stop myself from saying it out loud. I know those words would make him happy and touched by my love, but the cost is too high. I don’t want to bind him with the word “love.” I don’t want to hang my life on the attachment we have. Because if fate betrays us one day, he’d be hurt badly, and that’s the future I fear most.

   “I love you too.”

   That’s the most I can give.

   “May I have you in my life forever.”

   As my plea ended, I pressed a kiss to his soft lips instead of affirming my resolve, wrapping him in my arms, pouring my feelings into a deep kiss, hoping he’d know that no matter what our future holds, he’ll be my one and only love—unbreakable, irreplaceable. I’ve chosen to dedicate the rest of my life to him, whether he loves or hates me.

   I had made up my mind, and I’d promised Jeff I wouldn’t use the sense unnecessarily. But right now, curiosity was overpowering everything. I never thought I’d be this weak—weak enough to need reassurance from the future that everything would be okay. As my lips pressed against Babe’s in a deep kiss, my hands rested on his arms, my mind fixated on visions of events yet to come. I completely forgot my own resolve, forgot the promise I made to my brother. I was secretly peering into Babe’s future for my own peace of mind.

   Hundreds of moving images flooded my brain in mere seconds. I sank into a dark sea of time, swimming with trepidation, choking on unexpected possibilities several times before the kiss ended, pulling me back to the present.

   “How could there not be?” He smiled at me, his warm hands cupping my cheeks. I should’ve been overjoyed at the promise he gave, but in reality, my heart was trembling with fear. “There has to be… forever.”

   I smiled back at him.

   But inside… fear was coalescing into an ocean.

   “That’s good then.”

   I smiled at him.

   But in my head… I was battered by visions of a future I shouldn’t have meddled with in the first place.

   “Hearing that makes me feel a bit better.”

   I kept praying the same prayer over and over, even though I saw clearly that his future didn’t include me.

   

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