Chapter 17

He stayed very silently while he was holding my hand, pulling me to somewhere else. I wasn’t dare enough to speak up not even a sound I would have made…because I knew he wasn’t having a good mood right now. I followed at the back of him tranquilly, following up his pace undoubtedly.

“Jas…” I whispered to myself, with an agony, mercy voice… seems like there’s no sign of for the end journey. It seems like we’re both having an excursion to somewhere but neither of us knows where we were actually going. Jasper swerved over and hugged me compactly. He wasn’t talking…but I can feel the tiredness and exhaustion in his mind through his body movement.

“Jas…you’re tired.” I said softly.

“No, as long as you’re here, I won’t be tired… because I need to protect you.” Jasper’s words always made me feel so touchy.

“We should head home. You need some rest.” I said insistently. He didn’t speak a word but I knew he had accepted the suggestion of mine, so I pulled him along and started to walk towards the direction of. home.

“Take some rest now.” Once he lied down on the bed, I loosen his hand and he sleep immediately. He’s extremely sluggish because of the thing we argued for two whole days. I bet he’s the one who got hurt the most, which he had to sacrifice his friendship to protect our relationship. He looked so tired, extremely tired that I couldn’t imagine.

“Don’t leave.” I heard Jasper said gently as his hand grabbed my hand.

“I wasn’t leaving. I will be here when you awake.” I smiled as he grinned.

“You know I don’t mean that. I mean, stay here for a few more days. We weren’t having any time together to do something special.”

“Oh, but…” I said unwillingly.

 “Did you tell you dad that you’re going back tomorrow?” I shook my head speedily and he smiled.

“Then everything will be great. Or, you wanted to leave me behind and made this trip worthless?” What he said had made me realized that I really didn’t spend my time wisely with him at all.

“I’ll stay… but promise me you’ll get some sleep now.” I said sternly and he nodded. He went back to his sleep soon after I left his room.

After unpacking my luggage, I spent the rest of my day with Aunt Allie, helping her in the garden.

“Raven? Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, Aunt Allie. Ask whatever you want.” I said softly.

“So, did something just happen between you and Jasper?” She asked straightforwardly but I remained in silent.

“It doesn’t matter if you weren’t intended to tell me about it.” She said disappointedly.

“No, I can tell you if you want. It’s just that…Jasper forgot about our half-year anniversary but it doesn’t matter anymore.” I smiled as I said.

“Oh? That’s not cool. Jasper shouldn’t forget about it. It’s so hard for both of you to maintain this long-distance thing.” Aunt Allie had emphasized the points.

“But you can, don’t you? I believe that you were having long-distance marriage for so many years right?” I stared at her meanwhile her eyes went wide.

“Yea, it’s really hard to maintain such marriage…” Aunt Allie looked upset. “But you did managed it.” I said immediately.

“Ya, I know but things change too much.” She intentionally turned her back and started trimming the plants.

“Mr. Whine does love you. I can see it.” I grinned as she veered and smiled.

“Thank you, Raven. This made me feel better.” She smiled again.

“You’re welcome. But I believe that a lot. You are the proof to me that long-distance stuffs can work well if I insist to remain it.” I just said something that helped to comfort my relationship.

Few hours past by, Jasper woke up from his sleep and appeared at the front door, staring at me with a sweet smile on his face. Aunt Allie picked up the tools and walked into the house. I followed at the back as I stopped once I met his eyes.

“Are you tired?” He smiled and hugged me.

“Nope, it’s really nice to spend some times with your mom. Indeed, she’s cool.” He released me and touched my hair.

“Take a bath. You sweat.” He laughed. I shove him aside and he pulled me back.

“I’m joking. Don’t worry about the dinner, I’ll help my mom.” He smiled as he kisses lightly on my forehead. I grinned and went back in to take a bath before the dinner was ready.

As the bath was done, I walked towards the dining room in order to get my stomach filled with abundant nutrients after working hard in the garden. Everyone was sitting in the dining room, waiting for me to begin the dinner. They were laughing and chattering around with laughter. This was my first time feeling a sense of warmth in the house.  

“Hi.” I said unnecessarily.

“Come take a seat. Dinner is ready.” Aunt Allie smiled with joy, Jasper and Mr. Whine did the same thing too.

“Did I miss something?” I grinned.

“Not at all, we were just talking something about Jasper. I mean, when Jasper was young.” Aunt Allie laughed gently with her hand covered right in front of her mouth.

“Oh. Should I hear it?” I smiled and Jasper shook his head quickly.

“Of course you should. You should know everything about Jasper.” Mr. Whine laughed when he saw a delightful smile appeared on Aunt Allie. The dinner went by smoothly and the atmosphere of the house was filled with happiness and joy. That also will gradually become one of my desire, which I hope my home could be the same all the time… although there’s only my dad and me.

“What are you thinking?” Jasper hand shoved hand lightly.

“Nothing” I smiled as I said.

 “Take a walk with me?” I nodded. It was the second time since I came out of the house during the nighttime. The moon was round, and brightly hanging on the sky while I can barely see the stars.

“Jasper, would we be able to maintain our relationship for a really long time?” I said. “Or, it will be something that Chloe just said, you’ll be hers someday.” I sighed, wondering what it will be.

“Oh. You’re still mind about what Chloe said? And don’t tell me you’re thinking this just now.” He stared at me.

“No, not her. I don’t think she have the possibility to influence my mind that much. I wasn’t thinking about that. Just answer my question.” I grinned and patted him lightly on his hand.

“Oh, it’s really hard for me to think about it because I never thought that you wouldn’t be mine someday. I always wanted you. You know that.” Jasper was an expert coaxing people, especially me.

“That’s sweet to hear but what if we can’t maintain?”

“You’re an expert to make things difficult. You know I wouldn’t think too much about it. As long as we were fall for each other, that’s adequate for me. I thought you weren’t a person that will assume something...ahem.” He laughed.

“I will, sometimes.” I laughed. “You’re the only reason I happen to do that. It might be hard to remain the gradation so equally, there will be arguments somehow, and we’re in a long-distance relationship. Wouldn’t you think it might be hard and insecure?”

“Ray…I know it will be insecure sometimes but I promise we’ll work this out. We’ll figure this out together. We’d already figure this out for half a year right? Things will get even better as our relationship get even stable.” Jasper became mature, he telling the fact because we had already been through 6 months and everything will be fine.

“Okay.” I grinned as he stopped his pace and approached towards.

“I promise and I will do it. Just promise me that you wouldn’t let go my hand.” I nodded and smiled.

“I won’t let you go even though if you want.” I smiled and he kisses me. It was the second time that we kissed. Jasper’s kisses had conveyed the passion of his love towards and also his affections.

Looking across our eyes, spreading out the love between us, to proof how much we were important to each other, establishing the sense of security between both of us. In fact, I love him even more, even crazed.

“Jas…there’s something I wanted to tell since a while ago.” I stared into his eyes and smiled. “Even though we’re not together all the time and having a hard and long distance relationship, but with each passing day, I love you more and I can’t stop that feeling...” I grinned because I eventually spoke out the words that I wanted to tell Jasper since a while ago.

“Raven…” He hugged me tightly under an asthenic streetlight along the tranquil street in Arizona.

“I love you.” Jasper’s touchy voice appeared beside my ear and automatically transferred and brands it on my mind. The day went by promptly but with full with memories that I wouldn’t forget in my life.