68; riley marsh✎ᝰ
[time skip]

The smell of fresh air fills my lungs as soon as I push through the double doors. I feel my head spin as I walk in unsteadily through the path towards the golf course. I hold my palm to my forehead as I close my eyes. "Far out." Stars and flashing lights take over the dark in my eyes.

I do my best to walk further away from the party. All the noise and the big crowds; discomfort starts to flow through my veins. "Riley." I hear her voice through the heavy ringing in my ears.

"Riley." She calls out again. "Where are you going?" I hear her footsteps grow louder. "It's dark out here. You shouldn't be here alone." I feel warmth around my wrist; Mason has her hand wrapped around me. "Let me go with you."

I clench my jaw tightly. "Maisie, go back inside. You were having fun in there." Mason furrows her brows. "I don't wanna keep you away from that."

Mason shakes her head firmly. "I'd have more fun if I were with you." A smile forms on her lips. I can feel my heart flutter. Damn you, Mason Kang. Always making me feel like this. "And like I said before, I don't like the idea of you being out here all alone. It's awfully dark and it's late..."

A small chuckle escapes my lips. "Maisie, are you watching out for me? You're definitely taking care of me. Is that what it is?" I questioned.

Mason tilts her head. "Has there been a time where I haven't?" I shake my head firmly in response to her question. "Exactly. I'll always watch out for you. Taking care of you is no exception. It's you after all." Her hand is still wrapped around my wrist as she says it. "You're important to me, Riley. That hasn't changed."

I feel butterflies seep through the pit of my stomach. "Are you sure you don't wanna go back?" I'd hate for her to miss the party. "I haven't seen you have this much fun in a while." I add. "It's not everyday that we manage to get you out of the house for a party." I watch her laugh.

"It's a special occasion. I can make it work for one night." She uses her free hand to run her fingers through her wavy hair. "And no I don't wanna go back. I already know what you're gonna say, Marsh." A wide grin forms on her face. "I'm absolutely sure. So don't worry about me too much. In fact, I should be the one worrying."

The last few minutes have been hazy. I completely forgot about the terrible headache; stars and flashing lights included. "You're worried?"

Mason nods. "Is that even a question?" She finally lets go of my wrist. "Of course I'm worried." Mason presses the back of her hand against my forehead. "Are you feeling okay? Be honest."

Her warmth sends me into a spiral. I'm still not used to it. Mason's touch never fails to send me into shivers when her skin comes in contact with my own. "I think it's just a headache." I answer.

Mason nods gently as she ushers me to the side of the hill; flashbacks of that night fill my head. I remember it so vividly; me walking out of a party and Mason following a mere moment later. That day still reigns as one of my favourite memories between her and I. The day we became each other's. The day I gave her my heart and soul.

She doesn't look totally convinced when I topple to the ground in my attempt at sitting down. "Can you wait here?" I look up at her as she stares at me intently. "Are you sure you're ok?" She asks.

I nod. "Where are you going?" Mason ruffles my hair gently and grins. "Maisie..."

A soft chuckle escapes her lips. "Wait here. Don't move, Marsh. I'll be back in a jiffy!"

A laugh escapes my lips. "Gosh. You're picking up my accent and my vocabulary." I can't help but smile as she looks at me with those soft eyes.

Mason shrugs proudly. "Learnt from the best. But seriously...stay put. I'll be uh...fifteen seconds."

I gesture to the non-existent watch on my wrist. "Alright. Your time starts...now!" My gaze doesn't falter from her petite figure. Mason runs back to the party and disappears through the double doors. I take a deep breath as the wind kisses my skin. Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve and...

Mason hurries back out with a bottle of water in her left hand and a piece of cloth that I can't seem to make out; only that it looks weird.

"What did I tell you." She sets down on her knees and joins me on the grass. "Not even fifteen seconds." The proud smile she wears on her face makes me feel like the first time I ever realised I loved her. "Here. Drink this." She unscrews the lid from the bottle and hands it to me. "I figured that you're probably dehydrated...and hungry."

She unfolds the red mystery cloth; snacks and pastries and even some chocolate. I remember seeing these on my way in tonight. "I know that you like everything so I just grabbed well...everything. Eat up. You'll feel better."

"Maisie." We stare into each other's eyes. I can feel an underlying tension fill the air around us.

"Yeah?" Mason takes a cookie and bites on it gently. I can't help but giggle at how cute she looks right now. "You were gonna ask something right?" Her cheeks look like two marshmallows.

I poke her left cheek as she continues to nom on her little cookie. "It's New Year's Eve."

Her brows scrunch together. "Eh? That's not even a question." She takes another cookie and starts to nom away once more. "Unless..."

"It's New Year's Eve and you're spending it with me on some fake grass with food on a cloth."

Mason tilts her head and shrugs. "That I am. But it's like I said to you earlier. I'd have a lot more fun spending my time with you; be it on some fake grass with snacks on a cloth. I'm having a good time, Riley. I wouldn't have my NYE any other way. Being here with you is enough for me."

I feel her warmth against me once more. I find that her hand is resting on top of my own. "So you'll ditch a party just for me then?" I ask.

"I'd ditch anything just to be with you."

It's been a month since I flew back to South Korea. I remember tearing up the moment the plane landed on the tarmac. It had been almost a year since I'd been back. It's crazy enough as it is when I think about everything that's happened since then. After settling down and getting through all two semesters at the University, I can confidently say that I survived my first year.

All I wanted to do was come back; be here; be with Mason. The last few weeks have gone by in a blur. She finally got that part time job she wanted at our local bookstore. On her days off she tries her best to visit Mavis and bring her fresh flowers; as long as Mara hadn't beaten her to it. They go together most of the time; when their schedules allow. Mason and Mara spend hours at a time just catching Mavis up on all the latest gossip. Ellie hasn't visited her much; Mara thinks that Ellie hasn't had the courage to. The youngest didn't need to say it but she misses Mavis a lot more than she'd care to admit.

Mason brought me along last week. I hadn't seen Mavis since the funeral; being able to surround myself with her was something words can't ever fully encapsulate; though I felt her presence. Mason would talk to her for hours; I would just listen. I knew that being there made Mason feel better about Mavis being gone. It's like she never truly left; Mavis is still here; surrounding herself amongst her loved ones. It's been dreamlike really; seeing a smile on Mason's face.

We spent a couple days in Singapore before we flew back over with Mavis. I left not long after the funeral. I had a ton of deliverables to catch up on and so little time. Mason and I would call from time to time; catch up and unwind when things got hectic. Our call were always off. She'd have her head down and she'd barely say a word.

The last few months have certainly been a lot for all of us; Mason most especially. Mara and I keep in touch too—I even have plans with her tomorrow. I feel happier knowing that they've both found their smiles again. There's no doubt in my mind that Mason and Mara feel happy; sure they feel sad from time to time but that's a given. Life won't always be perfect; life won't always keep you happy either. When life had thrown them into the deep end; they found their way up.

And when I look back into her eyes; soft and sweet; my heart beats two times faster. I hear the chants through the walls. Ten. Nine. Eight.

I can hear my heart pounding in my chest. Seven. Six. Five. She's looking right back at me. Four.
I feel her hand at the side of my waist. Three. My breath hitches. Two. She's leaning forward. One.

I feel like I'm on fire. [Happy New Year!] This is the only thing that matters. This moment. I feel her lips against mine; tinted with strawberry and watermelon. I kiss her back like I'm starved; my heart stutters as the kiss deepens. I think I stop breathing; right now I hardly care. Right now I feel a fire ignite throughout me as we kiss. It's soft lipped and I'm nervous; just like the first time, but then she cups my face and I melt at her warm touch. "Happy New Year, Riley."