CHAPTER 108

CHAPTER 108
THE NEXT MORNING

Chase and I stood outside the house, the distant hum of the tricycle growing louder as it made its way toward us. The sky was clear, the air fresh—like it always seemed to be in this place. I didn’t want to leave. Not yet.

I turned to look at Grandma, who stood just outside the door, her warm smile never fading. We said our goodbyes to Grandma, and I felt a tightness in my chest I didn’t expect. I already missed her warm smile, her calm voice, the way she made everything feel like home.

“Take care of each other, okay?” she said, holding both our hands in hers.

“We will, Grandma,” Chase replied, then leaned in to give her a hug. I followed, wrapping my arms around her gently.

“Thank you for everything,” I whispered. “Really.”

She just smiled and patted my back. “Come back anytime, Austin.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.

The tricycle pulled up, its engine sputtering softly. Chase and I hopped in the back. As we started to pull away, I looked back one last time. Grandma stood by the gate, waving.

The house faded into the distance, but the feeling it gave me—peace, warmth, belonging—clung to me.

“I already miss her,” I muttered under my breath.

Chase looked over at me and smiled knowingly. “Yeah. Me too. But don't worry, we can come back here anytime," Chase said with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting the same fondness I felt for the place we just left.

I nodded, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips. "I can't wait." I chuckled softly, leaning back in my seat as the tricycle rumbled along the road.

The ride was quiet after that. Peaceful. The kind of silence that didn’t need to be filled. I watched the trees pass by, the little houses, the open skies. I memorized it all, trying to keep a piece of it with me.

After a few minutes, we arrived at the bus terminal. The usual noise and bustle greeted us—drivers calling out destinations, engines humming, people dragging bags and waving goodbye. The contrast from the calm we just left was jarring.

I took a breath and stepped out of the tricycle, stretching my legs. Chase moved beside me, adjusting the strap of his bag. Without saying a word, he reached out and took my hand.

That simple gesture made my heart feel lighter.

We walked together toward the bus, fingers laced, like it was the most natural thing in the world. And somehow, it was. It felt right—effortless. Like this was where my hand belonged.

But as we passed a group of people near the terminal entrance, I noticed a few of them glancing at us. Some with curiosity, others with that kind of look I knew too well. The kind that made my chest tighten.

I tried to ignore it at first. Tried to focus on Chase, on the warmth of his hand in mine. But the longer those stares lingered, the heavier they felt. I could feel the back of my neck starting to burn.

So I pulled my hand away.

Chase looked at me, confused for a second. I just offered him a quick smile and shoved both hands in my pockets, pretending like it didn’t matter.

“It’s nothing,” I said under my breath, not sure if it was more for him or myself.

But the truth was… it did matter.

I hated that it did.

"Are you okay?" Chase asked me as we settled ourselves in our seat, his voice soft but laced with concern.

I forced a smile, trying to push away the heaviness in my chest. "Yeah."

He looked down for a second, then back at me. “Sorry I… forgot.”

My brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I shouldn’t have held your hand in the crowd.”

And just like that, I was at a loss for words.

I stared at him, heart sinking. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t upset. If anything, he looked… guilty. Like he thought he’d done something wrong.

But he didn’t.

It wasn’t his fault. It was mine. All mine.

I wanted to say something—anything—to take that look off his face. But my throat felt tight. The fear, the shame, all of it kept my voice locked away.

Because he deserved to hold my hand without thinking twice.

And I hated myself a little for making him feel like he couldn’t.

“Chase…” I finally uttered his name, my voice barely above a whisper. I wasn’t even sure what I was going to say—maybe an apology, maybe something to explain the knot of emotion tightening in my chest.

But he didn’t give me the chance to continue.

“I understand,” he said gently, his voice calm, steady—like it always is when I feel like I’m falling apart. He gave me a small, comforting smile, one that somehow made me feel worse and better at the same time. “I’ll be more careful. I’ll wait for you, Austin.”

Those words hit me harder than I expected. Not because he said he’d wait, but because he meant it. Because even after I pulled away… he still stayed.

I looked at him, really looked at him—and all I wanted to do was reach for his hand again. Not out of guilt. Not out of obligation. But because it was him. Because it was Chase.

But instead, I just nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He chuckled, that soft kind of laugh he only did when he was being playful. Then he leaned in, glancing around the bus before placing his mouth right in front of my ear. His breath tickled my skin.

"There seem to be few passengers today," he murmured, his voice low and teasing. “Can I lay on your shoulder?” He pulled back just enough to look up at me with those ridiculously convincing puppy eyes.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Tss. Feeling sleepy?” I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

He didn’t even bother to deny it—just yawned dramatically and grinned, already leaning in. And before I could say anything more, his head was gently resting against my shoulder, like it belonged there.

And honestly, it kind of did.

\-

After a long, quiet ride and the hum of the bus slowly lulling me into a daze, we finally arrived back in the city. The moment we stepped off, I could feel the shift—no more calm winds or the earthy scent of rain-soaked soil. Just the usual noise, the buzzing streets, and the heavy energy of urban life.

We took a cab to his apartment. I didn’t say much on the way. I guess part of me was still thinking about his grandma, about that peaceful house and how different it felt from here.

Once we got inside, Chase went straight to the kitchen, already moving like he was back in his usual rhythm. “You must be hungry,” he said, not even waiting for me to answer before pulling ingredients out from the fridge.

“Can I cook?” I asked, standing near the kitchen entrance, hands in my pockets.

“Nah,” Chase said instantly, shaking his head with a little smirk as he sliced up some vegetables. “Let me take care of you.”

I leaned against the wall, watching him. “You always do,” I said softly.

He didn’t reply right away, but I saw the way his hands paused for just a second. His back was still to me, but I could tell he was smiling. It made something stir quietly in my chest.

“I just want to take care of you for the rest of my life.”

"Yeah?" I took a step forward and leaned against the counter beside him. “That’s… a big promise,” I smirked.

He looked at me then, really looked at me. “It’s not a promise,” he said. “It’s how I feel.”

I took a breath, steadying the flutter in my chest. “Well, then. You better not change how you feel about me.” I warned him.

Chase let out a small laugh, warm and soft. “Never, Austin.”

The way he said my name—it made something tighten in my chest. Not in a bad way. Just in that overwhelming kind of way, when something feels too good to be true.

I didn’t reply. I just chuckled and leaned my elbow on the counter, quietly watching him move around the kitchen.

\-