We didn't talk about us, about the future.

The whole night, Philip and I spent in each other's embrace as though this was the last of the moments we had. It killed me to accept his parting.

"You're still thinking something very deep," Philip said, as he ran his calloused fingers over my cheek, pulling me back to his hold on the bed.

After last night, I placed a nail on the coffin of our relationship. Inch by inch, it would be hammered in place for the remaining two weeks before the final bang on it would set it in, declaring the end of us.

Philip's reporting was at Quantico, all the way across from where we were. Even the thought of driving upto him over the weekend was now a distant dream.

"Philip," I turned under his hold, facing his taut chest. "How long will you be gone?"

The sigh from his end was the only answer he could provide. He didn't know. Trailing his lower lip over my forehead and lowering over my cheek, he whispered. "Why are you thinking about it now? Can't we just enjoy what we have?"

Yes. I had the option of staying in a state of absolute bliss for the next two weeks, acting as if my life was perfect. But I wasn't an actor who could don on a mask and pretend to be happy. My insides shrunk everytime the thought of being at the restaurant without him crossed my mind.

"Because," I held onto my words, carefully threading them. Any time in the near future, I would have an eruption of emotions and tears, pent up inside. But today wasn't that day. "Because we still have a date to get to... remember?"

Holding his sides up, Philip gazed to the side where I laid, letting out soft puffs of air. I was sure he was replaying the last time we tried our hand at date night. With his head lowering into his chest, I pulled him closer, nuzzling my way into his neck.

"How about breakfast date?" I proposed. After a careful deliberation, he nodded in affirmation.

~

We went out to Philip's usual coffee place, the one where we met and had our first unofficial date. We sat in the same place as last. Philip and I ordered the same things as before and conducted the same routine; talk and eat. Laugh and taunt each other.

What remained amiss was the feeling of elation every time I talked to him. With the knowledge I possessed, my heart seemed to have shunned itself from making me feel anything, knowing well where we were headed to.

"I can ask for a transfer soon," he said between sipping his coffee.

My ears stood up at his words. I felt a surge of electricity taunt me with my body bending forward to hear more of his proposition.

"You can ask for that? I thought-"

"Well, not immediately," he said, sliding the dark leather chair towards me. With our fingers intertwining and the gaze he delivered near to me, I bit into my lips. "I can try a couple of months later though. But whatever it is, we'll try for us to work, darling."

There, in the middle of a crowded coffee shop, Philip gave me the answer I wanted to hear all along. He didn't even suggest anything remotely close to breakup while the idiot that I was, conjured up everything in my being to think of the worst.

I fell back into the plush chair which seemed to be the only thing holding onto me while I sank more in love with Philip.

"I'm assuming this was the reason you were grumpy this entire time? I hope I remedied it?" His head tilt indicated an awareness of his surrounding and mine. Even without seeing what I underwent, Philip knew it.

I rose from my chair, sliding towards his while running both my hands into the back of his neck, plunging my lips on his. The taste of coffee and warmth disappeared soon as I deepened my hold with my tongue running inside. The cup rattled as he placed it haphazardly on the table before placing me on his lap, holding my jaw and aligning me to his mouth.

I was submerged into a state of nirvana where all the care in the world faded at his hold, melted under his touch. I was lucky to have him in my life and every day till he leaves would be an effort from my side to prove it to him.

"What was that for?" Philip breathed over my face as we parted, still reeling from the aftermath.

"A gesture to show you how much you meant to me."

"And how much is it, darling?" He straddled me from a side, holding me in place and staring into my eyes as if he was searching for an answer. "Say it with words. Let me hear it."

"More than you can imagine. Deeper than the ocean, higher than the sky. And since the time I met you, not just here but back from Roseville, I had been nothing but madly in love with you. My center of gravity shifted to you since you came in my life and it never realigned. It was not supposed to. After all, I found my sun in you."

It wasn't till a long time later when Philip ceased his stare over my face and caresses my jawline with the back of his knuckles. He didn't say anything as we paid and moved out but I wasn't afraid anymore.

"Daisy," holding onto my elbow, he tugged me back as we escaped outside. "What you said-"

"Shush..." I ran a finger over his lips, halting his words. Philip already gave me what I wanted to. Commitment. "Let's just stay in the moment."

He stared at the place where I stood, the corners of his eyes glistened. With a soft bob, I coiled my arm around his as we walked back to the restaurant in silence.

The remainder of the time, I worked as Steve's replacement with him leading the stands in Marcy's absence. Orders flowed out like music, carefully yet rhythmically. When the lunch rush subsided and we huddled for our break, Philip walk in.

With a hand carrying a newspaper, he waved it in the air. Philip softly pouted lips, which I have seen only when he was majestically joyous, made an appearance.

"All hail to your new queen," he said, bowing to my workstation.

Steve and I looked at each other with knitted eyebrows. The new article he had was spread across the stand for our benefit and my eyes popped off from their socket while I read the headline.

In bold and capitals on page three were the restaurant review. My review.

Replacement chef outshines on her D day

Steve tossed me a look before turning back to read the article. I moved back, striking longer steps and arching my toes. I was sure, something bad might be wrapped in the article. It couldn't be all good now, could it?

The staff who huddled together, hooted while reading the piece. It reminded me of the cheering squad we had at school during the team's basketball games.

"Where's my girl?" Steve's voice rose as he waddled through the crowd to sweep me in his hold and twirl me around. "I can't believe you did it, Dais."

My legs felt boneless, mushy when he landed me on the floor. Linda too hopped from behind, clutching my shoulders and dipping me towards the floor in an a strange waltz position that made me giggle.

Everyone present at the place sang my laurels before walking back to their stations. It was now when I grabbed the paper and walked to a corner to read the review. The reference of scallops, sent out just before Marcy's news broke and the tenderloins with pumpkin and potato mash was the highlight the critic sang on about.

"I'm so proud of you," Philip moved closer, curling his hands around my waist and cradling his chin on my shoulder.

"Phil," I whispered, eying the staff who didn't notice his public display of affection for now.

"Don't worry, everyone knows." He matched my tone and breathed into my ears. I felt goosebumps trailing my body at his words. "And whoever doesn't, will know now."

With that he kissed the side of my face and I stood stunned, basking in the warmth of his affection.

"Oh, get a room you two," Linda announced, pulling me off my hallucination over the man and his grandeur feat.

"I intent to, Linda." Philip answered which only made me turn and hide into his shoulder to escape the scans on us.

Today started as a hopeless, dysphoric day only to take a turn into something I could only conjure in dreams. Although Philip was still leaving, the determination to make our relationship work gave me the push.

Two weeks which once seemed like too little, now felt more than enough. We have been through a lot. A little of distance wouldn't make us break. It would only strengthen us more. 

~

Do you think all will be well between Philip and Daisy? Or is this just the start of their issues.

After all, not everyone can handle long distance now. Can they?