MAL entered the car, following her boyfriend. She closed the door behind her, which made a loud thud and turned to Teo, a concerned expression over her face.

"Teo, you are not being clingy! If anything, I'm the one being clingy!"

"No, you're not, Mal! That's the point. If I'm not being clingy, then what am I? I could have sworn I heard something, and then, when nobody believed me, I expected you to believe me! But... Now I know how that sounds. Maybe my brain is making up things because of stress, or something."

He turned to look at her, his eyes wet with tears.

"I'm really sorry I embarrassed you in front of our friends, Mal. I promise-"

That broke her heart. She knew it when he was about to break down.

That was the moment when she really knew that he was confused as hell.

He heard something coming from the basement because he was a light sleeper, and when he told his friends about it, they called him paranoid. He expected her to believe him, but when he sat down and thought about it, he found that it made no sense.

Their house was in the middle of nowhere. Why would there be something in their basement?

"Teo, stop!"

She stretched her arms out to give him the most welcoming hug ever, then ran her hands through his soft hair. Trying her best to comfort him, she began telling him what she thought.

"Baby, of course, I believe you! And you didn't embarrass me. Why would you ever think that? You're not making things up, and you're definitely not going crazy!" Mal spoke in a small tone, still hugging him.

"Teo, if there's something in that basement, then we'll know the truth, together! And I'll be right beside you the whole time, and I'll be the first one to say 'We told you so!'"

That made Teo smile.

"Thanks, Mal."

She let him go gently, then stared into his handsome features, feeling only grateful for him.

"Can I kiss you, babe?" she whispered.

His eyes glittered for a second. "Yes, please."

She smiled at his cute reaction, then locked their lips together. For a second, it all seemed so easy.

As soon as they broke away the kiss, they glanced at each other. Mal then gave him one last smile before she started the engine.

☭

Teo opened the door with the spare key he had in his pocket, then led her inside the house, a wide grin over his face.

They had talked in the car ride about a lot of things, and it made him feel a lot better. However, a part of both of them was a little upset that Mal was eventually going to leave.

Mal held his hand tightly as they entered the kitchen.

"Hey, can I please make you something?"

Mal laughed at his offer. "Thanks, babe, but you don't have to."

"But I want to. Do French fries sound good?"

She knew that there was no point in saying no, so she nodded. She loved fries anyway.

"Two plates of fries coming right up!"

As he made the food, they chatted and laughed about different situations.

"Oh my God, you're too cute for this world!" Mal complimented. He was blushing because she jokingly kissed his cheek, so it made Mal laugh as she gave him a hug.

"No, you are! I wouldn't know what to do without you."

Mal stared into his eyes, then stared at his lips, then back at his eyes.

How could he still manage to make her feel like that?

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