KRISTOFF
I am watching Ashanti sleep tonight. Yes, I am in her room. I am doing this every night though. I always see to it she sleeps well and she isn’t haunted by nightmares.
I can do nothing but sigh as I look in this angel’s face.
From the first time I saw her, there has been this magnificent force that magnets me to her.
Yes, nothing is a coincidence. Everything was something to me.
No, Ashanti Michaels is everything to me.
I didn’t ask her to be my fake girlfriend for nothing. I didn’t ask her to be my fake girlfriend to get rid of those girls who swoon over me. I did it because I liked her in the first place.
Everything she does just makes me like her more and more and more. Every day, I am falling for her deeper and deeper and deeper. Yes, I love her. It’s just that I am not showing it to her.
Because I am scared that if I show her how much I love her, I might hurt her unknowingly. And I don’t want that. I don’t want that to happen. I would never want to hurt Ashanti.
Not until my friends finally showed me the light.
“Kristoff, why don’t you have a child yet?” Thad, one of my friends asked me.
I gave him a queer look.
We are drinking some liquor at Leo’s place tonight.
Leo nodded. “He’s right, Kristoff. I thought you love Ashanti. Why haven’t you done it with her yet?” he asked.
I gave him a narrowed look. “Why are you all asking about babies whenever we meet up?” I asked them.
Xander snickered. “Because you are the only one married among us. We expect you to have the first born.” He reasoned.
I gave them all a look of disbelief. “Why don’t we all marry then?” I asked them.
Yeoj smirked. “Would you divorce Shan then? Because I want to marry her,” he replied.
I glared at him. “You can’t lay a finger on her, Yeoj. She’s mine,” I replied protectively.
He just shrugged. This friend is really annoying sometimes. How could he have the guts to think of stealing my girl away from me?
Chester smiled. “If you act like that when you are with us, why aren’t you like that in front of her?” he asked. “I swear, you really have to show her how much you love her, dude,” he said.
We all looked at him, blinking. Wow! Chester isn’t trolling now, is he? He looked at us. “What? If you love her, why don’t you have the courage to tell her how much you love her?” he asked me.
I looked down. It seems like I am losing all my confidence when it comes to showing my feelings to Ashanti. It isn’t easy. It isn’t fun at all.
It is hard especially when I actually love her too much and I am so scared that I would hurt her unconsciously along the way.
Leo tapped my shoulder. “I think Chester is right,” he said. “Or else, other men would take her away from you.” He threatened. “Your loss, Kris.” He finished.
I looked at them, realizing all their points. I know they are all right.
And when I heard Leo say that. There is only one person in my mind.
Hunter Looney.
I saw how close he is to Ashanti. I am so dumb to not even realize their relationship. They always bicker. To me, I find it sweet.
I am jealous. I want us to be like that, too. I want us to bicker over little things so I can woo her when she is pissed off, so I can tell her those sweet little nothings I have been reserving for years now, so I can whisper how cute and hot she is when she is mad, so I can tell her that I love her even if we bicker most of the time.
I want that.
So, from now on, I will show her how much I love her.
Finally, Kristoff Marx, you’re doing what a real man should.
It’s three in the morning and I decided to go to sleep in my room. When the morning comes, I will tell her everything that I feel. This time, I won’t be the same coward Kristoff again. I will be Kristoff, the loving, legal husband of Ashanti Michaels.
***
I woke up with Ashanti’s voice.
“Kristoff?” She shook me. “Kristoff, I think you are late for work.” She continued shaking me.
I stirred and sat up.
She seemed startled. “Okay. I’ll wait for you downstairs,” she said as she turned her back on me.
Now’s the time, Kristoff.
I held her wrist and pulled her close to me.
She looked at me with her beautiful wide eyes. “K-Kristoff…” She’s so cute when she is surprised by my actions and when she blushes.
I smiled at her and kissed her cheek. “Good morning, baby,” I said as I hugged her tightly.
I looked at her expression. And yes, I can say that she is dying right now. Well, I am, too. I am dying to tell her how much I love her every day.
“Good morning.” She managed to say softly.
I smiled. “Don’t you have work today?” I asked her.
She shook her head. “I will only attend the dinner later,” she replied. “A congratulatory dinner.” She added.
I nodded. “Can I come?” I asked bravely.
I seriously don’t want to let her go right now. I want to be by her side at all times.
She gave me a queer look as I can feel her be more comfortable with the hug now. “S-sure,” she replied, stuttering once again.
I smiled and kissed her hair. Damn, why does she smell so good in the morning?
“Ashanti,” I started.
This is it. I am going to tell her.
“Hmm?”
I smiled and kissed her lips. Why can’t I control myself right now? I want to kiss her the whole day.
She looked at me really shocked at what I did. I can see. Because when she looks cute, it’s either she’s mad or she’s surprised.
Overall, she is beautiful.
“I love you.” I finally said, making her jaw drop.
She is looking intently at me like I said something impossible to say.
“What?” she asked in disbelief.
I blinked at her. Why is she acting this way? Isn’t she going to tell me she loves me, too?
“What did you say?” she asked again.
I gave her a serious look. “I love you.” I managed to say twice. “I love you, Ashanti. I love you, my wife.” I repeated.
She looked at me with tears forming in her eyes.
I immediately held her shoulders. “Wait. Did I say something wrong?” I asked panicking.
Shit. This is the sole reason why I don’t want to confess! I don’t want to see her cry.
She shook her head and wiped her eyes before smiling and looking at me. “I never thought you would tell me those words,” she said. “Don’t you know how long I have been waiting for you to tell me those words?” she asked.
I smiled and hugged her tight. “I said it, didn’t I?” I said as I hugged her tighter. “I love you, forever,” I said.
She chuckled. “I love you, too,” she replied as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
I smiled as I caressed her back. I feel so complete. It’s as if a thorn is pulled out from my throat. Now, I can do what I want to do without feeling awkward about what she will think. Now I can comfortably hold her hand, interlace my fingers with hers, hug her tight and kiss her soft lips.
Now, what are we?
We are real.