Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Vida

Somewhere near Burn's Bar, New York City

"Where could he be?"

Vida sat down on the low half-wall that separates the sidewalk from the closed-off area behind a liquor store.

Tessa sat down beside her and wiped her forehead dry from her sweat. "Girl, we'd been going around in circles. Did he not tell you anything before he left?"

"No," Vida said as she looked straight ahead of her.

"It's the twenty-first century and yet Colter does not carry a phone. What kind of normal person does not own a phone in this day and age?" Tessa grumbled. "Looking for him would be much easier."

Vida just shrugged. They spent the rest of the afternoon looking for Colter. She was running out of ideas where he might be. They had gone to the most common places where Colter might head to, but to no avail, he was still nowhere to be found.

"You know what, we should take a rest." Tessa said. "What I had seen might not even be true and Colter might be just out doing some important matters. It's his day off at work too, you know."

Vida nodded. That could be a plausible explanation. However, it did not sit well with Vida.

Tessa nudged her best friend. "Besides, it's your birthday tomorrow. We are celebrating another year of your life. Colter promised he would be there, so he'll be there. He might even be getting you a present! Tessa clapped at her logic. "That's it! That's why he did not want us to know where he was at. You know that I'm kind of a blabbermouth. I can't keep a secret, especially when it comes to surprises."

Vida gave out a weak smile. "Kind of a blabbermouth?

Tessa rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine. A whole lot of a blabbermouth. Happy?"

They both laughed and then felt quiet as the afternoon breeze passed by. Even though Vida did not want to stop searching for Colter, she was also feeling exhausted. Her eyes wanted to shut down anytime now.

"You're right, maybe he's just went out to enjoy his day off." Vida stifled her yawn.

"Come on, girlfriend. Time to head home." Tessa stood up and reached for Vida's hand. "Tomorrow, we will celebrate your birthday, okay? You and me and Colter. It will be fine. Alright? For now we rest up."

Vida thanked her friend for everything. She'd probably be lost without her.

---

Vida

Vida's Apartment, New York City

It was now 8:56 PM and it was only a few hours left before the clock struck midnight.

And Colter has not come home yet.

Upon reaching her apartment earlier, she left a note for Benjie to give her a text message once Colter had come in. Up until now, she had not heard from him either. Maybe because Colter was not yet in the building or Benjie did not get her little note.

The anxiety it gave Vida made her want to pull on her hair. She wanted to call Detective Matthews for help but she doubted that he had time for petty missing cases.

She was also periodically peeking through the peephol on her front door, hoping to catch a glimpse of Colter walking back to his apartment unit. But all she had seen so far was the family of three from across the unit. Apart from that, nothing.

Vida pulled her blanket over herself and snuggled to its warmth. She closed her eyes and tried to catch a few z's on the couch in order to stay awake later on to check on Colter's front door.

"Where are you, Colter?" she muttered as sleepiness took over her, the lingering scent of Colter on her blanket and sofa, giving her assurance that he'll be back. "Please come home soon. I don't want to lose you."

---

"Happy Birthday, my sweet Vida."

Vida stirred in her sleep and her eyes fluttered open. She was greeted with darkness, only the light from the open blinds on the window illuminating the figure above her.

She could not be mistaken. She would recognize that voice anywhere. It was Colter.

"Colter? Is that you?" Vida sat up and she immediately looked at the digital clock on her nightstand. It was 12:03 AM.

Colter sat down on her bed, gently pushing her to lie back down. "I'm sorry, but I need to say goodbye."

"What?" Vida was still groggy from exhaustion. This must be another dream. "What do you mean, say goodbye?"

"There are things I could not explain. Trust me, I would love for you to know the truth, except the circumstances do not allow me to do so." He whispered while running a hand through her head. "For now, I must leave you. For your sake and for the sake of everyone I know here."

Those words served as her wake-up call. She sat up straight. "What are you talking about? Wait, hold on, how did you enter the apartment? I thought you gave me back my spare key?" She shook her head. "That doesn't matter right now. Where have you been? We've been looking all over for you."

Colter caressed her face, his eyes drinking her in, as if memorizing her. "Don't forget about me. I'll be back. I promise you."

"No, no, no." Vida scrambled to get off the bed. "You're not leaving me."

He stood up, towering over her. "I have to, Vida. There are things you do not understand. I have to leave in order for you to be safe. I should have stayed away when I had a chance." Colter cradled Vida's face one last time. "Nevertheless, I had no regrets that I met you. No regrets in taking this risk of coming here."

"Stop!" Vida said, removing his hold on her face and gripped his arms. "You're not going anywhere, you understand? Whatever it is that you're going through, I'll be here. I won't leave you. I may not understand right now but I know you'll make me sooner or later."

"No, Vida." Colter said, pulling away from her grip. "I need to go."

Tears sprung from her eyes. She didn't held herself back anymore. She grabbed Colter again and pulled him to her, hugging the living hell out of him. She had no intention of letting go.

"Please, Colter. Don't leave me. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Please, don't leave."

Vida pulled his head down for a kiss.

The moment their lips touched, her heart exploded into a thousand pieces. It was spectacular. There were no fireworks or whatever else was described in the books. It was just pure and raw emotion.

It was just as she had imagined it: his lips soft and sweet. For a moment, Vida feared that she had drawn the line and offended him. Colter was not moving an inch, he was frozen in place.

Vida pulled back to look at him, gauging his reaction.

"I love you." Vida whispered as she reached up for another kiss.

This time, Colter leaned in too and met her halfway.

Finally.