echo By Joey Yap
Looks like we made it
Look how far we’ve come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we’d get there someday
“I think that’s the last of it,” Aaron commented, placing the box on the dining table.
“Make sure to lock the door,” Holly said while she arranged the cutleries neatly in their respective drawers.
The former sighed, moving back towards the front door and closing it shut, turning the knob clockwise until a click could be heard, indicating it was locked. Aaron placed the keys on the dining table, moved away from the box and sauntered towards his fiancée.
Holly whipped her head to the side, watching him approaching where she stood, by the kitchen island.
“The kitchen is done. Only place left is the living area.”
“We can sort it out tomorrow. Let’s have dinner,” he said, fishing out his phone from his pocket. “Pizza?” he asked, glancing at her.
“With extra cheese, please,” Holly replied, moving to stand in front of him and wrapping her arms around his hips.
Aaron planted a chaste kiss on her temple as his fiancée was slightly shorter than him. In fact, they fit each other perfectly. The pair who had been together for nearly a decade finally bought their first home.
They met at a mutual friend’s party, got along relatively well and found they had similar interests like two peas in a pod. On their fifth date, Aaron asked Holly to be his girlfriend over coffee and muffins, to which she said yes.
The apartment definitely wasn’t much — two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a living area — but, to the pair of new owners, it was home.
They said, “I bet they’ll never make it”
But just look at us holding on
We’re still together still going strong
“Nice place you’ve got,” Vicky said, taking in her best friend’s new humble abode. “Aren’t those the curtains I gave you?” she then asked, pointing towards the sheer white fabric hanging from the railing of the living room window.
“Yes, indeed. Thanks for the gift, they came in handy,” Holly responded, setting two cups of water on the dining table, motioning for her friend to take a seat.
“This place must have cost a bomb,” Vicky muttered, taking a sip of water.
Holly shook her head, “We got it at a reasonable bargain. Aaron dealt with the negotiation,” she explained. “Also, it’s closer to both our workplaces.”
They wanted a place closer to their workplaces as Holly was working at a preschool while Aaron was settled at an office lot in the nearby town. Fortunately, their new apartment was also a ten-minute drive from his parents’ house which was a plus point for them.
“I can still remember how we thought the both of you weren’t gonna last,” Vicky mentioned, a grin forming on her face.
Their group of friends used to tease Holly about how she could scare off boys with just her cold facade. Hence, when she and Aaron announced their relationship, her friends made subtle remarks about how the both of them weren’t going to last long.
Contrary to belief, they managed to hit the five-year mark and proved all her friends wrong, leaving them astonished. The topic was never brought up again.
You’re still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You’re still the one I want for life
(You’re still the one)
You’re still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You’re still the one I kiss good night
“Is everything alright?” Holly asked as she approached her fiance.
To say she was worried was an understatement. Earlier that afternoon, she got a call from Aaron who asked to meet at the diner, mentioning important news to tell her. Her focus wasn’t so much on the news but on the tone he used over the phone. He sounded rushed but there was a hint of elation.
Despite the elation, she felt uneasy for the rest of the afternoon and by the time dinner came around, she was on edge. Her superior at the preschool, the principal, even inquired as to whether she’s feeling well, to which she nodded, putting on her most convincing smile.
Aaron looked up at his girlfriend, and then he beamed at her. His eyes curved into crescent moons and his trademark dimples began to show.
“We signed our first client today!”
The contentment in his voice was unmistakable. Holly was shocked, jaw dropping and her bag falling onto the chair. “You did?” she asked again, trying to confirm it.
“Yeah, it’s a modelling agency. They’re just a small one but, the guys and I figured it’s a good start,” he answered.
“Then why did you sound so frantic when you called?”
Aaron was sheepish when he explained how he accidentally spilled water onto the contract after the agency representative agreed to collaborate with them. He immediately apologized and went to print a new one which was when he took the opportunity to call her.
Upon hearing his story, she laughed at him. Holly knew how hard Aaron worked, the effort that he and his friends put in towards their new business. The process was strenuous. She even caught him burning the midnight oil countless times when she slept over at his parents’ house. She was glad things were starting to look up for him.
“Hey,” said Aaron. She looked at Aaron gazing at her with such tender love. “Thanks for being with me through everything. I love you, babe.”
“I love you, too.”
Ain’t nothin’ better
We beat the odds together
I’m glad we didn’t listen
Look at what we would be missin’
Aaron blinked away the remnants of sleep from his eyes. He opened them, only to close them again due to the bright rays of the morning sun which illuminated the room. He caught a whiff of coffee and knew that his day was going to start really soon.
The slight creak of the door caught his attention, to which he grinned to himself in bed, knowing exactly who would enter the room at this time of day. Just for the sake of teasing, he relaxed his face as if he were still asleep as the intruder crawled his way up the bed.
Small hands gently patted both his cheeks, followed by a smooch to his lips.
“Daddy,”
Those hands belonged to his four-year-old son. He opened his eyes to a sight, one which he would imprint in his mind forever. His son smiling at him, revealing a pair of dimples — clearly, inherited from him — while Holly stood leaning against the doorway, caressing her protruding bump.
As he gazed fondly at his pregnant wife and son, Aaron thought to himself: My life is beyond perfect.
I’m so glad we made it
Look how far we’ve come my baby
Inspired by “You’re Still the One” by Shania Twain.
