💌

The hum of the subway’s fluorescent light harmonizes with the silence. What is seen through the window is simply a blur of colors, as if the world outside have melded into a painter's color palette. You look around, and noticed the passengers in this car are sitting in sparse spaces, seemingly wanting to ride in blissful solitude.

Sitting beside you is your beloved, his jacket draped over you to keep you from the cold. It's now well past 1 AM, and the two of you had just returned from your nightly rendezvous in the city. It has become a common occurrence – late night ventures such as this. One message and you knew it is no other than him standing outside your door, proposing to do your now-regular nighttime adventures with him. Venturing through the bustling city, taking in the view of beautiful buildings dappled with lights, discovering and also stopping by places that piqued your interest.

A while ago, it's the quaint bookstore tucked in the middle of a busy commercial street you visit. Dizzying humdrum of life fades as you are greeted by the gentle warm light and rows upon rows of shelves for the two of you to get lost into. The treasure hunt ends when you found an aged yet well-loved poetry book, adorned with scribbles from its former owner. Time flew by as the two of you read through pages upon pages, scouring its woven words and saving memorable stanzas that resonated to your heart. Doing so quickly becomes a treat in that comforting little place.

On another day, you set foot in an art gallery. It's serene – even more so at night. The two of you would look at paintings and sculptures, pretending like you are some sort of connoisseurs in the field and nodding solemnly at meanings you have interpreted in your heads. As you stroll through, he took you by the hand and pulled you to a wall behind a display, just to steal a kiss. In a place so quiet, you're sure the sound of your heartbeat could very well reverberate with how hard it is pounding.

Neither of you have ever deliberately planned these journeys; they just happen. It always ends up being a pleasant night one way or another.

Now you’re sitting in the subway together, your hands interlocked with his. There’s really not much to do in a subway ride, so you lay your head against the subway’s window. You were just looking at some flickering fluorescent lights, until your ears picked up a song that is faintly playing from the stereo. It is unknown to you, but the song sounds sweet and warm. The rough rumble from the tunnel seems to dissipate as the song's tender, melodious guitar softened it. You then feel him gently tugging at your arm, and when you look at him, there’s this playful smile already blooming on his face.

He starts to stand, and he leads you up by your hand. You were about to ask him what is he doing as you feel his free hand finding its way to your waist. He slowly guides you, swaying left and then to the right, in cue with the music playing. As you realize what he’s making the two of you do, a breathless chuckle escapes you. You lean into his chest, a surge of pleasant emotions fills your being. Flustered, amused, and so, so full of affection that it feels like your heart might burst at the seams. You have always wondered about one thing: how does he do it? he draws you in more with how he makes your every waking moment worth cherishing.

The subway moved a little bit too hard for a second, and you tumbled into him, resulting in a laugh from both of you. He helps you stand once more, and he's gone sweeping you off your feet again. When the song swells, he spins you and in that moment, it feels like you were in a ballroom, waltzing along with many other dancers. Perhaps some day, that won't be a mere imagination. Perhaps there will be a night venture where you'll get to attend a ball, wearing a pretty, flowy dress that blossoms like a flower whenever you twirl. He will be there too, donning his tuxedo, dancing along and escorting you to the best night of your life.

Though, even if that remains as an imagination, one thing is certain: there is no need for grandiosity with him. Doing things together, even ones that might be seen as mundane, such as falling asleep on the couch while reading, cooking meals to folding clothes – they are already a delight in itself. Everything is always tinged with warmth you both harbor for one another.

After gentle sways and spins later, the song fades and so does your dance with him. His hands still linger on your waist, and you can see yourself in his eyes as you gaze into his. He lifted his hand to tuck a strand of your hair behind your ear, and leaned in closer, sealing this memory of the night with a kiss. He then touched his forehead with yours, and what comes next is the sound of your heartbeats pounding in unison. With your hand still interlaced with his, he guides you back to your seat. You sit down as you feel your cheeks heating up from all the tenderness he had given you. He sidles back next to you, while seemingly mirroring the same rosy blush on his face right now.

“Thank you,” you say to him after a while. His gaze then met yours, and he smiled warmly. It's the very same smile that sends your heart beating mile a minute. The two of you then leaned back against the subway's window once more, letting the sweet rush of feelings seep in as it mingles with the comfortable silence.

There’s still some time before you arrive at your stop. With him by your side, you tell yourself that it’s alright to nod off for a little while. He seems to notice that you are falling asleep, so he huddled closer to you, and your head meets his firm yet tender shoulders. “Sleep well,” he whispered. The next thing you feel was the warmth of his jacket over you again, and a soft peck on your forehead.

Slumber comes easy, and even though you were already in its embrace, your heart sings a song just before you drift off: love encases the both of you no matter where you set your foot to. No matter where your next stop for another night's venture will be, wherever the two of you reside, love follows to places that you go.

It will always be that way.

— inspired by: subway song by julianna zachariou way back home by j_ust

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happy birthday, dear dina! meeting you this year is one of the best things that happened to me. thank you for always sending warmth and kindness to many lives, and for writing stories along with us. i hope you'll get to have a hearty meal with your loved ones today. ♡