"You did good baby," Xavier whispered, kissing the top of Maya's head.
She looked at him, still shocked to see him. The shock she haven't recovered from ever since he burst into the room breathless and noticing she was staring at him, he had given her a heart halting grin and a thumbs up.
The rest of the interview had happened with Mr. Sampson, shaking like he was the one being interviewed even though he held the questions.
"I'm so glad to see you." She whispered.
"Hello, we are here too." Jasmine butted in, smirking.
Maya turned to face them all, Mrs. Laura, Melissa, Jessica, and Jasmine. "Thank you all for showing up."
"We couldn't possibly let you have all the fun of kicking that anchor's ass on TV," Jasmine smirked while the rest Chuckled.
"Quite a nice surprise to see Mr. Sampson being at the receiving end of the glowering, smirking, and evil chuckles he dishes out.
Xavier hugged her from behind, entrapping her in his arms, "I am proud of you." He whispered into her ear.
She shook her head, "I just had to do what was necessary and right."
"No you didn't just do what was right, you salvaged my ass while at it."
"I love you," she whispered.
Xavier tensed under her touch, an expression that didn't go unnoticed by her, "They are staring," she explained.
He glanced towards the trio briefly who stared at them both with dreamy eyes.
"Let's make it worth it then," Xavier mumbled with a smirk.
"What do you__" her eyes widen as he twirled her to face him then his lips connected with hers.
"You both should get a room already."
Her eyes were still wide, completely caught off guard by his gesture even as Xavier made sure everyone thought she was blushing and tugging her in front of him, they left the studio.
***
"I'm sorry." His gaze was hard and fixated on his plates of omelet.
"Sorry about what?"
"Kissing you and catching you completely off guard ___"
"I understand. You did what you had to do for the spectators." Her hold on her fork hardened as she stabbed her crab with more force than she intended, wondering why she was angry that Xavier was apologizing for kissing her.
"That's the problem. I didn't kiss you just for the show, I got carried away at the moment, in the facade. Your eyes gleamed with so much glow and when you had laughed while stepping out of the studio with everyone behind cheering. I just kind of forgot that this wasn't real and then you admitted that you love me ___"
"I didn't__"
"I know. This has nothing to do with you. Solely on me. I just got caught up in the feeling, the momentary bliss."
She smiled, "When this is over, does that means you might consider having a real girlfriend, staking a chance at getting the real deal?"
He studied her momentarily, "No. Happy ever afters are just illusions. The moment had just been perfect," He shrugged, "Reality will ruin it all. It always does."
"You never know unless you try." Her voice was sing song and playful but her eyes held a serious flame on it that aimed at convincing him, convicting him to at least pay attention to her words.
"That's the problem, trying." He shook his head, "The idea of finding that perfect one, is what everyone seeks. So in reality, they all are chasing shadows. I don't want to join the others, you. Happily, ever after is make-believe."
"Isn't it easier to believe shadows, to fight for something, anything?" She grinned. "Isn't it better to fall in love, out of love, be betrayed, cry out even your guts then be at it the next day with another person who makes your tummy flutter than just living a life of void and grey clouds?"
"Just holding on to specifics is better than wanting a fiction."
"Specifics like?" Her lips curled into a mocking smile, "Houses? Cars? Fancy slices of bacon?" She eyed her plate of food, "Most times specifics are not nearly enough. The thrill of these things wears off pretty soon especially when you have had these luxuries all your life."
"Love too wears off when the bills come in and two people who have once professed love under heavy rainfall becomes arch enemies fighting for the custody of the children they've made during the heat of those passion."
Maya shook her head in disagreement, "Let's not forget that there are still couples, a handful though but they have been together since forever and are still so in love."
"I know about forever but we can never really tell for sure if there is love. Most people just stay together because of society, their children, or their family. There are ties stronger than love Maya."
"How do you even live with such sad thoughts?"
He smirked, "It is called accepting reality, you should try it some time."
"I believe that love exists. Yes, the romance novels sell it way too beautiful, it becomes far-fetched and the movies heap cliche lines that are supposed to make you cry, it feels exaggerated. But I do believe that somewhere, two lovers' eyes meet and they can plainly see the love in them," She shrugged, "It isn't perfect, convenient but it doesn't have to be. They might have bills and work four jobs but in that briefest second when they hold each other, their body flushed against the other they remember why they were worth it, why they will pick the life they had a million times."
He chuckled, "You are being stubborn as always, but that mentality will only bring you heartbreak."
"At least my heartbreak might come later, Accepting yours will give me an instant depression."
"You'll get used to the idea, trust me. But if you cling to the idea about some sort of soulmate you might never recover from its heartbreak."
She spared him a glance, "You sound like you have been in that lane before," her lips tilted into a knowing amused smile, "Who would have thought Xavier was once a big softie?"
"Nobody. Because that was never Xavier, that was just a weak, sad and lonely boy who desperately wanted someone to be his family." He held her gaze, "This man doesn't need anybody anymore."
"Everybody needs somebody, Xavier. Islands and the fanciest holidays will only make you grieve more someday when you notice that you are the only one without someone beside them to chuckle with or share random jokes."
"I'll always have work."
"And consequently more money which trust me won't buy you any more joy than you have now." She stood up and with her plates in her hand, she shook her head, "And if we are being totally honest, you are pathetic."
Then she was leaving him at his enormous dining room with empty seats that taunted him and Maya's voice was all he could hear like a broken record which he couldn't put a pause to torturing him.