"Uh, how's your parents, Karen?" Chastity decided to change the topic.

Karen looked at me and smiled. "They're waiting for us at home, Chas. They're excited to see you again.
"And Lucky?"

Her best friend snorted. "Oh, he's always busy these days with his girlfriend."

Chastity wanted to ask about school but stopped herself. She realized she couldn't handle opening a topic that reminded her of Indigo.

"How about you, Chas? Did you meet any friends in the States?"

Chastity managed to smile. "Yeah. I met some friends in the hospital. There are lots of patients there who have the same condition as me."

"How about boys?" Mark asked with a playful smile. "Did you meet some?"

Chastity shook her head. "I didn't have the chance for that." And even if I did, I knew I'd never be interested in any other boys. My entire being was already occupied by Indigo.

"So, it was still Indigo even after you ended things with him?"

Chastity just hit her lower lip and gave him a small smile.

She then remained silent until they arrived at Karen's house.
“Welcome home, Chas!”

Chastity's lips parted when she saw familiar faces inside the house. Indigo's bandmates were there. Red, Blue, and Grey. Even Grey's girlfriend Cashmere was here with them.

They were holding a welcome banner and a cake for her. There was also food on the long table. Most of them were her favorites.

“Surprise, Chas,” Karen said behind her. "I didn't really tell you that they are waiting here because we wanted to surprise you."

Chastity's eyes were red in unshed tears as she looked at each of them. "Thank you, guys. Never in my wildest dreams that you would be here to welcome me."

"Welcome back, Chastity. We're all happy to see you," Grey and Blue both said to her.

“I’m happy your back, Chas,” Red said as he went to her and pulled her into a hug. "We missed you."

Her eyes glistened in tears as she moved away from him. “Thank you, Red. You’re not mad at me?”

Red smiled as he playfully pinched her cheek. “Nope. Even if you ghosted Indigo. Even if you two are no longer together, we still remained as friends, Chas. And I'm happy you're back."

Chastity looked around, hoping to see Indigo behind his teammates. But of course, he wasn't there.

She swallowed the lump in her throat as her gaze went back to Red. "How was he? Is he… happy?"

"I guess, you better find out for yourself, Chas," Red answered with a mysterious smile.

Charity's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

“Speaking of surprise, we have another surprise for you, Chas," Karen said, interrupting them. "It's waiting for you at the rooftop. You better get it now, Chas."

"Yup, leave us here for now," Mark said, smiling at her.

Chastity went to the rooftop. But then her lips parted when she saw what was waiting for her there.

It was Indigo! Chastity felt like her breathing temporarily stopped when he turned to her and their eyes met.

His diamond earring was still there. He became more handsome than ever. He was wearing a white V-neck shirt and black pants. His hair was a bit longer than before. God. She missed him.

She missed him so much. She wanted to run to him and pulled him into her arms. She wanted to feel him.

But then she just clenched her fist and continued to stare at him. She knew she had no right to do that. Not after she left him and pushed him away. Not after she hurt him.

"What are you doing here, Indigo?" her voice came only as a whisper.

Her heart was beating loudly inside her chest and she felt she was having trouble breathing. She didn't expect she would be here. She didn't expect she would see him today.

She was expecting that he was mad at him, so her lips parted in shock when Indigo smiled at her.
“Welcome home, Chas.”

Why was he smiling at me like he was happy to see her?

Oh, Karen told me he already has a girlfriend. Maybe… he was already moved on from her so he wasn't mad at her for what she did before.

Chastity bit her lower lip to stop her tears from falling. She wanted to tell him how much she missed him… how much she longed for him… but then instead of doing all those things, she forced herself to smile at him.

“Thank you, Indigo," she muttered, almost a whisper.

Too late, Chas. You're already too late.

They stood there looking at each other for almost a minute. Slowly, Indigo walked towards her.

Chastity's heartbeat was getting louder and louder as Indigo slowly closed the distance between the two of them.

Indigo stared at her face. He wasn't blinking, it was as if he was memorizing every corner and every detail of her face.
"Indigo…" she uttered. She continued to stare back at him while she was fighting her own tears.

“Chas… I missed you.”

Chastity opened her lips to say something. But even before words left her mouth, Indigo's arms already covered her entire body. Indigo hugged her tight and burrowed his head into the crook of her neck. “I missed you... I missed you so much. I missed you, baby."

Chastity's tears automatically fell like waterfalls. “I missed you, too,” she said, her voice breaking. "I missed you, Indigo. So much, baby."

She didn't know how long they were in each other's arms until she realized something. She pulled away from him and wiped her tears.

"I… I'm sorry, Indigo," she said, looking away from him. "I shouldn't have said that."

"Chastity…"

Chastity looked away from him. "Karen said you already have a girlfriend, Indigo."

"What?"

Chastity looked back at Indigo. She saw how his eyebrows knitted.

"What girlfriend are you talking about, Chas?" You are my only girlfriend, baby.”

Chastity gasped. "But… Karen said."

Indigo held her face. "I don't have anyone, Chas. Whatever Karen has told you, that is not true."

Chastity bit her lower lips. “You're… still in love with me?”

Indigo smiled at her as he gently caressed her cheeks. “I don't break promises, Chin. Two years ago, I made a promise to you that I will wait for you, no matter how long it would take. And I kept that promise, baby."

Chastity shook her head. “I don't deserve you, Indigo. All I did was hurt you. You deserve someone better. Someone who's more deserving of you."

“You chose someone not because that someone deserves you, but because you love her,” Indigo said, his eyes looking straight at her eyes. Indigo held her hand and placed it on his right chest. "My heart chose to love you, Chastity, and no matter what you do or what you say, you can't change that fact."

"I don't know how I could make it up with all the pain that I've caused through the years."

Indigo gently smiled at her.

“I only need one thing, baby. Promise me you won't leave me again.” He stared at her lovingly.

“I won't ask for you not to hurt me again. I realize that no matter how much you love each other, there would come a time when you would still hurt each other unintentionally. Even if that time comes, I want you to promise me that you will never leave me again. Promise me that you will stay by my side."

Chastity's tears fell as she smiled at Indigo. “I won't leave you again, Indigo. I promise you that. I will never leave you again. I will stay by your side. Forever."

“Good.” Indigo smiled before his face slowly lowered into hers. He kissed away the tears on her cheeks. "I love you so much, Chastity. You're the only girl I will ever love in this lifetime."

Chastity raised her hand and reached for his face. "I love you, too, Indigo. So much, my strawberry boy. Thank you for not giving up on me."

Indigo gave her a satisfied smile. “Can I kiss you now, my vanilla girl?”

Instead of answering, Chastity tiptoed and hooked her hand on his nape. Then she reached for his lips and gave him the longest kiss of their lives.