.

I called Celina, my neighbor, I had her number saved for emergency purposes and now obviously not being one, I had her through and she happily agreed. She said she could make it on her own, so I dropped her Toni's location and soon she might arrive.

But the other guests of Khalil were so many that they already made it look like a farewell party in here. Later we came to know, his friends had also called their other friends, hence the chaos. Toni called his few friends, David, Barry, Sloan and a few others I vaguely remember their names. Amara turned out to have a boyfriend, Noah, from Germany, and seems like only I was the one unaware. Noah brought along a few friends, and so did Liz.

"Hey, look who's here to meet you." said Toni walking closer to the food counter, where I was for my drink.

"Hi, Faye. Barry here, the photographer?" he introduced himself.

"Oh, hey Barry. Nice to finally know you." I said and he chuckled.

"Yeah, sincere apologies for the last time."

"Apologies accepted unless you do that again." I said, and we three chuckled. "I've heard enough apologies for today. But thanks for coming by."

"Not a problem, I shall see you guys later." he said, patting Toni's shoulder and waving me.

"Liza's got many friends, I suppose." said Toni, after a moment of silence.

He leaned against the table as me. "Yeah its her buddies from school."

"You don't like them?"

"No I do, I'm just not a social butterfly when I'm amongst so many people." I said, tapping my fingers on the table.

"And where's Celina?"

"On her way." I nodded. "What are you doing here, where are your friends?" I asked, as my drink arrived.

"They are here, meeting new people. And I missed your presence, so here I am." He chuckled, making me smile.

"Well, I gotta go now." I said, as his smile dropped and he eventually nodded reluctantly.

I sipped my drink and searched for Khalil, and saw him chugging down jellies. "Khalil." I yelled, amidst the loud music.

"Hey, what's up?" he smiled as I reached closer.

"Could I talk to you for a minute?" I asked him loudly, as the music boomed.

"Sure, follow me."

There was a crippling curiosity within me to know Toni better, and as he might resist to tell me a few things, I knew Khalil wouldn't. It was definitely rude to ditch Toni in the middle of a party when he came up to me, but I couldn't face him.

"Is it about Toni again?" he asked walking me to the pool backside. Before I could answer he took the silence as an answer and continued, "Before you ask, no I'm not his brother, I'm his cousin and my name is not Khalil King Rezonick, no- its Khalil Abraham." He said proudly, gesturing his fingers as he

"I know that lil Abraham." Toni used to mention his name as so. "Toni told me that already."

"Then what is it?" he asked sitting by the pool, looking concerningly.

"He knows me so well, and whenever he's around I feel guilt of not knowing him like he knows me." I tell, sitting beside him.

"He knows only things around you, like your family, friends, school, hobbies, etc. But he doesn't know what's inside of you." He tells, "But, if you wanna know the same things about him. I'll tell ya."

I nod lightly, and he continues, "First, you know about his family, dad left, mom died, now they are orphans- I mean practically." he shrugs. "And he doesn't have much friends other than me obviously." he said, happily.

"Tell me about his work."

"Now that's a big one." He says taking a breath. "His dad left when he was 17 and Amara was 15, and then immediately Toni, as the heir of his dad, had to take over and since then he's been the young owner of the company, but my dad was mentoring him throughout."

-"But you can imagine what a 17 year old would do when he's been dumped the responsibility of millions, he got carried away. Spending money recklessly, resisting from investing any funds, which eventually led to downfall of his company. And so his subordinates decided to take him down for good. So he remained a member of the board, but was restricted from taking any actions, and withdrawing only a small amount for survival purposes." He said, as fast as he could tell.

-"He was in that fucking loop, for 3 consecutive years, until action was taken against him. Later only to realise what all he had lost, when he turned 20. But he didn't lose hope, gave up all his distractions, worked hard on for another 2 fucking years to secure his family- to only see his mother die in front of his eyes." He sighed, closing his eyes in sorrow.

I sat there with my mouth slightly open in shock, yet no words to utter.

"It was until you, I hadn't seen him look away from his work and invest time in people. You make him a better person Faye, and I saw that. So I sent you his journals, because if I were to say you, you'd hate me for it."

I know what he meant, I can't deny I would've lashed at him, for setting me up with a random person. I hated it this way too, but it made me instantly closer to Toni and knowing him better was the only drive within me now.

"I'm so sorry, I made you-"

"No, no. I promised you I'd tell." He nudged his shoulder, "Anything else you wanna know?"

"How is he doing now?" I ask promptly.

"Well, job wise he's doing better. Through these years he has seen the market fall and grow, and my dad believes in a few months he can take over the business again. But he has other plans, he wants to change the company inside out, removing everything from his dad's name to his."

"Is that possible?"

"Only if he has enough funds, but that guy is a genius, there's no scarcity of it with him. He's been vigorously working towards it for years. Plus, I agreed to help him with whatever he may require." He smiled, seeming happy about his brother.

"I'm glad he's doing better now." I sigh.

"Do you like him?" he asks confidently, and I was reminded of the day we sat under the tree having the same conversation but the other way round.

I look at him in confusion, and think to myself for a reply. "I don't know." I shrugged, biting my inner cheek.

"You will, big guy has the charm." he said, getting up from his spot. "And in case you wanna know, you are his first item of love." He said foolishly. "Exactly, no ex's baby- enjoy." He says hopping back inside, as I death stare him.

Love was a too broad of a term, I don't even know him well, and I believe neither does he. There's so much to a person that might even take forever to acknowledge.

"Unh, Bitch." I say, cupping my face and groan mildly.

*********

"Hey!"

"Mable, where have you been?" He said, inching away from his friends.

"I just met Celina, she was at the food counter." I said, taking his hand and pulling him through the crowd.

"Okay, where are you taking me?" he said, and I stopped at the centre of the crowd, holding his hand tighter. "Its so crowded and loud, let me take you out."

After I left the pool, a pit of guilt formed in my chest, and I knew I needed to make up for leaving him alone. So I went to Liz and requested her to change pop songs to something slow and particularly one song of his choice, luckily she agreed on the term that she'd play it.

"No, stay." I say, now holding both of his hands and he looks at me in confusion, with an amiable smile. "Can I have a dance with you?" I raised my heels, and whispered in his ear, as the crowd was getting more hyped and loud.

He smirked, looking around, "On this song?" he mouthed.

I shook my head, "In a minute." With the words out of my mouth the song stopped and Liz came on the mic.

"Ola, people. I hope everyone's enjoying themselves, but now its time to take it slow. Playing the next track on a special request. Come on, pair up!!" she loudly announced over the speakers.

And Toni turned his head back at me, whilst smiling excitedly.

(Author's Note: For better experience, I recommend you to play the video above and continue reading. But if you do not prefer to, its totally fine.)

The song starts with a guitar strumming with a tune which hits him with a realization of the song and he laughs, "How do you know about this song?"

It was his favourite song.

"I've been catching up." I said, as he slipped his hand to my waist and I raised one to his chest and the other in his hand- as we danced along with the music.

"This song reminds me of you, but of the time- when I didn't have you this near to me." he said, wrapping his complete hand around my waist, squishing me closer. "And now its even more special."

"I like your taste." I whispered, and he smiled.

"You are my best taste." he said, pecking my forehead as I chuckle and my body blooms with goosebumps.

It was one of those feelings, when you are so absorbed in the moment that nothing around is a chaos anymore, everything fades to nothing, and only thing I could see was his beautiful face. And the song playing as a celebration of hearts uniting, the rhythm of bodies moving together in swift movements and the warmth of their body.

His eyes shined bright, and he was extremely happy, spinning me in circles and laughing whenever I collided back to his chest. Seeing him smile was like seeing those stars from the balcony, the ones that shine the brightest beside the moon.

I closed my eyes, leaning my head on his chest as he hummed to the song along, whilst making random circles on my back with his fingertips and my hand makes its way to the nape of his neck.

This was all I needed.

The brief moment of serenity away from the doubts of the real world. The feeling of carefreeness in the arms of your person. Knowing you are in your safe place, and the bittersweet realisation that they can make you feel loved, no matter what.

********

It struck 4 in the morning and by then Toni and Khalil were able to disperse the crowd and send them home. We greeted goodbye's to everybody we had invited.

"It was so nice of you to make it here." I said Celina.

"I would have regretted missing this. Thanks to you." she says, pulling in for a hug. "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah, sure." I replied.

"You seem to be making friends now?" Toni whispers in my ear from behind as I wave off Celina, making me flinch.

"Omg Toni!" I squealed and he laughed, holding his chest. "Stop it, now." I say, slapping his arm, and walk inside.

"My toes HURT." cried Liz, half laid on the couch.

"You had quite the longest night Liza." Toni said.

"And the best birthday EVER, dude." she squealed happily.

"Wait so he has to call you Liza and Khalil can call you Liz?" I asked looking at her mischievously. "Did you get her permission to call her that?" I asked Khalil who was now watching us three.

"I never called her Liza. I decide what I call her, not she." He said fishily and she gasped.

"I didn't notice that. Toni, you can call me Liz." she said, giving me squinted eyes. "So, now what y'all?"

"Now we leave." I say sitting beside her to support her leaning sleepy head.

"No. You guys are staying tonight. Its too late to hit the road." Khalil said.

"Cool, where's my room?" says Liz, getting up and stumbling her way to Khalil.

"I got you." he said, taking her away.

"Once again Faye, love your dress babe!" she yelled before Khalil frustratedly dragged her in the quest room.

And I sigh, crouching on the sofa, as my head turns to Toni. "Where's Amara?"

"She's asleep in her new room." he said, tapping the sole of his shoes to the wooden floor.

"You okay with us, staying over?"

"Do I look like I have a problem?" he asked softly, leaning forward.

"I just don't wanna impose."

He hopped up from his place across me and scooted beside me. "I'm saying again, quit the formality."

"Then I'm taking your bed." I joked, and his brows raised in astonishment.

"I don't mind, I can sleep on the couch like yesterday." He whispered, making a funny childish voice.

I giggled, "No, I'm joking. I'll sleep next to Liz."

"Mhm, you sure?" he mumbled.

"Mhmm." I nodded.

After a moment of silence, he said, "Aren't you sleepy?"

"Tired, not sleepy at all." I tell him, "It was a very beautiful night." I whisper, leaning my head on his shoulder, as he pecks it.

"Indeed the most lovely night."

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I'm dedicating this story to y'all who've constantly been throughout, I love you 3000!