Chapter 8
We’d been in Utah for four days now. Our plan was to visit Bonneville. Salt Flats to stargaze, but we haven’t managed to go yet.
On the first day after we arrived, I caught a cold. My whole body felt weak, and my head was pounding.
I didn’t want to see a doctor, so I chose to stay in the hotel and rest.
Raphael tried a couple of times to convince me, then gave up–but he still wouldn’t leave.
He didn’t film anything either. Instead, he just sat on the floor by the bed, staring at me the whole time.
It was kind of funny, actually.
“Mr. Matisse, you really remind me of a dog, you know that?”
He asked, “Do you like dogs?
“I mean, I have a golden retriever at my friend’s place. Want to see a picture?”
Raphael’s eyes lit up. I couldn’t tell if he was waiting for an answer to the first or second question.
Even though my head still hurt, I nodded and said, “Sure.”
By the fifth day, I was finally feeling better, so we rushed to Bonneville Salt Flats.
Before we headed out, Raphael bundled me up in layers until I looked
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17
like a ball.
I sighed and asked, “What, are you planning to roll me there like this?”
His cheeks turned bright red, but he kept zipping up my jacket. “Carrying you works too. I’ve got plenty of strength left after carrying a camera
around.”
That wasn’t all. Every time I got in or out of the car, he made sure I was okay. The guy who once said he’d treat me like an ordinary person was clearly gone.
I don’t even remember when it started, but at some point, every time I looked back, I’d catch his worried eyes on me along with emotions he never said out loud.
I’m not dumb, but that doesn’t mean I can be selfish.
So when a meteor crossed the sky, I suddenly said, “Raphael, this will be the last place we go.”
Someone who’s usually steady, even when running, suddenly lost his balance and almost tripped.
He opened his mouth to speak but couldn’t find any words. His eyes filled. with panic and turned red, like the world was crashing down.
The wall I’d built around my feelings started to crack. “Don’t take it the wrong way. Stephen asked me to return for surgery.”
Raphael’s emotions were all over the place. He looked shocked, then smiled, “Really?
“In that case, I’m going back with you.”
I shook my head and refused. “Stephen already got the wrong idea about us. If you come with me, it’ll just make things worse.”
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Chapter B
Raphael pressed his lips together, his expression serious. The stars and moon made all his feelings easy to see.
I quickly looked away, feeling nervous.
Then he said with full confidence, “He’s not misunderstanding anything. I am trying to win you over.”
Another meteor flashed across the night sky, so breathtaking that my heart started racing.
“Don’t stress out. If you’re not ready to see me now, I can come by after your surgery.”
I almost told him I did want to see him, but something in my mind held me back. Instead, I nodded awkwardly.
Before he left, we took pictures like we always did, first a solo photo, then together.
For the first time ever, Raphael put his arm around me and pulled me
close.
And I let it happen without stopping him.
But what I didn’t see coming was that right before the countdown ended, a tall figure leaned in. Raphael leaned in and kissed. my mask.
I froze in place, my heart racing like crazy.
The camera caught everything from a distance.
Above us, the stars sparkled like little eyes, quietly watching everything unfold down below.
