My Love Journey's
On The Way Home

After I finished packing the things I needed to stay overnight at Paul's parents' house, with an over-enthusiastic feeling about meeting his mother, I hurriedly reached for Frosty's tiny body and immediately jumped into Paul's car.

He seemed so comforted to see my hasty behavior. Yeah, I've been looking forward to this moment since Paul said it a while back.

"Want to turn Coldplay?" paul asked while putting up the seat belt and then reached out to me.

I shook my head, sat folding both legs over the passenger seat while Frosty curled up in my lap, ignoring Paul as if he was the most powerful being in the car.

I remember Frosty sticking at Paul's feet the day he came to my house after coming back from Russia, the day our relationship ended because he thought it was for my own good.

"Just play the song you like." I said excitedly. "I want to hear your favorite song."

He put his shoulder down and started fiddling with his phone. "There's nothing special but R&B, so don't get your hopes up."

I chuckled as I rubbed Frosty's white and fine feathers. "I didn't promise anything." I joked. "You and your closeness to R&B music, I don't think I can handle that dangerous collaboration" I teased her with a flirtatious grin.

The slow, smooth vibrations in the car left me slumped to sleep as we entered the highway. Frosty is still lying on my lap, he's asleep too. Then I woke up when I felt the speed of the car change slowly and then stopped.

With my eyes still closed, I felt Frosty no longer in my lap, I was afraid that he might be lost without me knowing. I flinched and my eyes opened.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I looked down for Frosty at the bottom of the passenger seat, but I couldn't find him. Then I turned my head to look at Paul who had just made a sound, his brows furrowed.

I opened wider when I found Frosty sleeping on Paul's lap, snoring while Paul rubbed his head. God, I never thought being a cat was so much fun. How could he have taken Paul's attention away from me?

Well, that shouldn't surprise me, I mean Paul really knows how to treat a girl.

"Why stop? What's up?" ask me with a nervous voice.

"I need coffee before I crash the car" said Paul, smiling as he spread his shoulders.

"Paul, that's not funny at all... You must know that happens a lot." I shakes not believing him. "Based on traffic data..."

"Okay. Hey, calm down.." he cut my sentence. He laughed, reaching out to sweep a pinch of hair behind my ear. With the state of life not yet fully accumulated, I leaned my cheek on his palm.

"I can take your place if you're sleepy." I proposed yawning, successfully covering my mouth with the back of my hand. "Is it far away?"

I know her mother's house isn't too far from Berlin. Given our long journey, it was probably only about 45 minutes until we got there.

"You know, it's Bugatti Chiron, Rapunzel" she said braggingly. "I won't let you take him."

Alisku. I'm not a typical woman who likes cars, especially a kind of sports car. I just used my car to get home and go to the hospital, which I know is the real function of the car.

Advances in technology have somewhat frightened me, and in particular the advanced features found in some of Paul's expensive car collections. I think we just have to wait until the technology in a car can do whatever we need. Horrible, right?

"Why? You're sleepy, aren't you?"

Paul shook his head firmly, obviously unwilling to be denied while his hand was still playing in Frosty's head. "Do you know how much this car costs? I don't want to risk you destroying it."

"You underestimated me too much" I said, squinting. "I'm a racer, Paul..."

"What about the day I said about Ronaldo..."

I interrupted. "okay, fine. Quickly buy your coffee, I'll wait here."

I exhaled and fixed my sitting position and threw a glance at the gas station in front of our parking lot.

"Please, don't be mad, love." persuaded Paul. From his voice, I can tell he is holding back a laugh right now. Then he caressed my cheek, and suddenly turned my head to face him.

"I'm not angry." I protested. Both of my hands were folded in front of my chest without me noticing. I quickly lowered it into my lap while Paul continued to look at me as if he was enjoying a short entertainment.

"Then kiss me."

"What?" I cringe. "I just woke up, my God..."

"One kiss, Bianka." Paul grinned cheerfully without feeling sinful. "I'll buy you something if you kiss me."

My laugh skated quickly, "What can you get at the gas station, Paul? Maybe a keychain, that's all. Anyway, I'm not your sugar baby."

"You. Asking for a sexual reward for a gift." I said, which made Paul laugh.

"You must be kidding me. I'm intending to buy you some chocolate in return for one kiss from you." He shook his head while turning off the car. "I mean, we're lovers, right? I should've bought you chocolate whenever I wanted, and that doesn't mean we make a deal every time we kiss."

I took a breath while smiling and massaging the base of my nose. "God... That was the beginning, Paul. Pretty soon you're gonna start giving me expensive stuff every time we get laid." I put a serious look at him. "I'd rather we make love because we both enjoy it without wishing for any other reward for it."

"Yes, I agree, of course. I'm just exemplifying it, love." Paul chuckled and I patted his sturdy arm. "You know, I think I should get down now before you really go crazy with your mind."

I turned the eyeball, receiving Frosty as Paul moved it into my lap. "Now I'm serious, do you want anything?" ask her while opening the seat belt.

"Yes, chocolate might be a good idea. Oh, and mineral water. That's all." I said with a smile.

"Okay." she returned my smile and opened the car door.

But before he came out, I called him again. "Paul, wait..."

"Yes?"

Moving my index finger, I asked her to come closer and I kissed her lips, long and deep.

When Paul came out and started walking towards the store inside the gas station area, Frosty and I simultaneously noticed him. Needless to say, Frosty was completely infatuated with her.

Paul covered his head with a hoodie so people wouldn't recognize him. I laughed to myself like crazy when a bunch of truck drivers approached him and asked for a photo together.

***

In less than 10 minutes, we'll be at his parents' house. Then Paul announced, "My stepbrother is also there with his son. By the way, he's a boy, and his daughter's a girl."

"Oh, really? How old is his son?"

"Four." replied Paul, focusing on the road while one hand rubbed Frosty who again chose to sit on his lap since Paul returned to the car while at the gas station. "He's very sweet. A little shy, but I'm sure he'll like you."

"Okay," I nodded a few times. "Did your brother not have a wife?"

Paul nodded quickly. "No. His wife died two years ago, it was a real nightmare for all of us."

I was silent for a moment before continuing to speak. "Oh, so he takes care of his own son? What's your nephew's name?"

"Ellie's. And yes, she took care of Ellie alone." Paul shrugged his shoulders. "From what I've seen, she's pretty amazing. Ellie grew up to be a cool girl. I mean, he's smart and he's really fun."

"For some reason, I think it's good that he's still a child and hasn't fully realized what's been going on with his mother." I said as I pictured my own mother.

"Yes, you're right." Paul looked at me at a glance, as if to make sure I was really paying attention to him. "By the way, my stepfather was out of town on a job. So, it's just my mom, my sister, and Ellie there."

"That's enough for now," My lips curled, then twisted the body facing him and leaned against the car door. "Do you realize how normal our lives are now?"

"What's normal, love?"

"We. You and me." I said, then went forward to grab her hand that was rubbing Frosty's head and pulled him into my lap. "Our relationship was completely destroyed over the past month to yesterday, and here we are now, on the way to your parents' house." I murmured with pride.

Paul gave me a smile that made my heart feel peaceful. I saw a glint in his eyes as he looked at me, as if he wanted to say something but was soon taken off. "Yes" That's all that came out of his mouth.

For a moment I wondered what made her look a little agitated, until she spoke again. "A typical book of people who don't know pleasantries... If she starts asking if we're planning to have children, ignore it." He shook his head while my laughter slid down.

"Is he really going to ask that?" many doubt.

Paul nodded, looking very serious. "That's not even the worst question he'll ask you. I just remind you, love. Don't take it too seriously, you'll be scared that you're getting into the game."

"I don't think there's anything scary about this" I said reassuringly. "You are crazy about me."

"Hm, yeah... I don't mind going crazy about you at all. You deserve to be judged, Bianka."

I laughed, shuffling forward to kiss her cheek. "I love you, Paul."

"I love you too, Rapunzel."