BASHing Trinity novel Chapter 21

BASH

The door swings open. My eyes land to the redhead old version of Trinity. She looks stressed, but she sees me. Her eyes widen, and her contorted face lights up like a girl staring at the Christmas tree.

Aunt Zoey launches herself to me and hugs me tightly. I always call her aunt even we aren't blood-related since Trinity and I grew up together.

"Thank God you're safe! No one answered my calls when I tried to ask if the news was true," she says after pulling herself away. She wipes her tears on her face then gives me a peck on my cheek. "Please come in, Bash." She opens the door wider.

I hear Edmund greet Aunt Zoey from my back.

"Where is Trinity?" I immediately ask when I let my eyes scan the entire living room. Panic swims in the pit of my stomach when I can't find her.

"Trinity!" I start shouting while I quicken my pace to search for her. I don't wait for her mother to answer my question.

I feel my world is swinging when I can't still find her. I walk to the kitchen where she always there drinking water when she was upset. Nothing really changed to this very same kitchen where we used to spend while waiting for the chocolate chip cookies to bake.

I always came here with Trinity during winter break after visiting my grandparents. This house served as a vacation home for her since her parents were still staying in New York until Trinity started her high school.

Her parents moved back here when Dad finally agreed to let them work at the Boston branch. I press my hands to the beige colored countertop. We have so many memories here, mostly happy ones.

"Bash!" My body freezes when I hear a familiar voice—a voice that makes me feel love, that makes my heartbeat goes frantic, and the voice that screams and moans my name.

I swallow hard and slowly turns myself to face her, but before I can finally face Trinity, I'm smashed and stumble back due to the strong impact of her body against me.

I feel alive again. Honestly, it feels like all the exhaustions, frustrations, tensions, and aches vanish like a strong blow of wind. I finally breathe freely without a squeezing pain in every breath I take.

Her cry pulls me back out of thoughts. I don't even notice her body clings on me like a cling wrap, her legs wrap around my waist, her face pressed against my shoulder, and her arms wrapped tightly around my neck.

My arms already wrapped around her tiny body. She sounds like crying for a long time--she's not only sobbing with a hiccup, but she's also mumbling something foreign to me.

"Hush, Trinity. Stop crying already," I say to make her calm, but she cries even more. I rub her back then run my fingers on her messy red hair.

"Baby, stop crying. I'm here now, please?"

She shakes her head on my shoulder. I look around, but I can't see anyone. "Tri, are you crying because you thought I'm dead? Or are you crying because you feel guilty for leaving me alone there in South Korea?" I ask with a teasing tone.

She tightens her wrap on my neck.

I move near the countertop. "Tri, please say something?" I place her little ass on the countertop, then she loosens herself around me. I look at her, and she looks so messy with uncombed hair, tears running down her face, puffy eyes, and red nose, but what catches my attention is her red lips.

I swipe away the hair that falls on her face. She doesn't say anything yet, just gripping my shirt with her both hands like holding her life into it, but she's still crying.

I wipe her tears with my thumbs, and I can't wait any longer. I plant a kiss on her forehead after cupping her face. I move closer, leaning my forehead against hers, inhaling the smell of Trinity that I missed for almost a day.

This day is worse than hell, but I finally release the breath that I hold for so long. I press my lips on hers, kissing her harder, and it feels like years of being apart from her. I rake my fingers through her hair as I hold her head to deepen my kiss.

She kisses me back—kisses me harder, as if she lets me feel everything; the longingness, the fear of losing me, the love she has for me, the regrets, and her apology. She doesn't have to say a word. I love her so much to keep my anger for her. It's all gone.

"Don't leave me again, Tri. What if I did die in that tragic crash? What would you do?" I ask, panting and tracing sweet kisses on her lips, eyes nose, forehead, cheeks, and back to her lips again.

"I'm so sorry," she answers with a shaky voice.

"I know," I reply almost immediately.

"You do?" she asks, and finally looks at me in the eye. There's still a hint of despair but mostly flood with happiness.

I nod slowly and smile. "The launch says it all, and that kisses too."

She smiles timidly, cups my face with her cold and trembling hands. She caresses my cheeks with her thumbs. "Can I ask something?"

Nodding, I smile. "Of course, Tri." I feel suddenly nervous about her question. What if I won't like it?

"The offer, does it still stand?" She looks at me in the eye.

My brows furrow. "The offer?" I pretend I don't know what she's talking about.

"Yeah," she replies quietly.

"Which offer?" I ask again, raising my brows quizzically.

"Tri, I really have no idea what you're asking. Maybe because I've been in hell these past hours, and my brain still foggy."

She feels nervous, biting her lip. "Um, because we agreed on a, um." She blows a breath that makes the strand of her hair flies away from her face.

A smirk spreads from my lips. "Oh, a week in Korea? Is that what you're asking?" I ask, and she looks seemingly surprised.

"Well, we're not in Korea anymore, so," I look at her reaction, and she looks disappointed. "That, it ended there too," I continue slowly, and that's when I notice a hint of light pink blossoms on her cheeks.