Chapter 58: My First Love, My Forever

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: My First Love, My Forever

I listened to advice, I pushed too fast, and I know I should have handled things differently and let us make that decision together."

He adjusted the bouquet in his arms, keeping his eyes on Henry. "I’m sorry I didn’t give us the chance to let things happen naturally. We should have had time to date, for me to ask you properly, and for us to enjoy this part of our relationship instead of rushing straight into marriage. I wish I’d had the chance to plan a moment like this for you, but everything happened so quickly. Still, I couldn’t just sit back and watch you get overwhelmed by everything happening around us. Please, pretty... accept these roses as a small way of showing you how much you mean to me and how many more years I want to spend by your side."

Henry’s lower lip trembled as he held the cream-colored card tightly in his hand.

Elisha took another step closer. "Henry... I honestly don’t even know where to begin. But there’s something I want you to know. I haven’t loved you for just the past year or two, or even since our university days."

A soft smile touched his lips. "I’ve loved you since high school. That’s why we used to have all those silly little fights. I was jealous, and I couldn’t stand seeing you get close to anyone else. Even back then, I wanted you all to myself."

Elisha slowly lowered himself to his knees in front of the bed, bringing himself to Henry’s eye level. He gently set the bouquet down beside them before reaching up to cup Henry’s face. His thumbs brushed away the tears rolling down Henry’s cheeks.

"I promise you," Elisha whispered. "I’ll be the man you deserve. I’ll never intentionally hurt you. I love you so much, Henry. I want to spend my life with you and build a future together, one where we’re patient with each other, understand each other, and always listen to one another."

He paused, his eyes shining with unshed tears as he looked at Henry with a soft smile.

"So, Henry... will you be my boyfriend?" he asked softly. "I promise I’ll get you an even bigger teddy bear, take you wherever you want to go, and spoil you with everything you love. I just want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Please... say yes."

Henry stared at him for a moment before a bright, joyful smile spread across his face. He threw his arms around Elisha’s neck and pulled him into a tight embrace, nearly knocking them both backward onto the bed.

"Yes!" Henry cried against his shoulder. "Yes, a thousand times yes. I’ll be your boyfriend."

Without waiting another second, Henry reached up with both hands, gripping the back of Elisha’s neck and pulling him down. He crashed his lips against Elisha’s in a deep, desperate kiss, taking Elisha’s lower lip between his teeth before sliding deeper as Elisha met him, capturing his upper lip in a passionate, breathless rhythm. They kissed until their lungs burned and they were both completely out of breath, a tangle of hands and sighs.

When they finally pulled back.

They rested their foreheads together, and Elisha smiled softly, his eyes shining. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Henry whispered, a bright smile spreading across his face.

Elisha looked at him for a moment, completely captivated.

Henry then turned his head, taking in the sea of red and cream petals, floating balloons, and glowing lights around the room. A soft laugh escaped him.

"I love everything, Eli. It’s incredible." His eyes landed on the huge bouquet beside them. "Can you bring the bouquet over to me?"

Elisha eagerly leaned over, picked up the large bouquet of roses, and carefully brought it over to Henry.

Henry gathered it into his arms, briefly burying his face in the soft petals to take in their sweet fragrance. He looked up at Elisha, his eyes bright with happiness.

"Thank you, Eli. It’s absolutely beautiful. I really, really love it." A playful smile suddenly appeared on his face. "Can you take some photos of me with it?"

"Always," Elisha chuckled, reaching into his pocket for his phone.

For the next few minutes, Elisha happily played photographer, taking several photos of Henry posing with the bouquet. Then he stepped closer, wrapped an arm around Henry’s waist, and took a few selfies of them together, changing angles as they laughed and pressed their cheeks together.

"Let me see the pictures, Elisha," Henry said, holding out his hand.

Elisha unlocked his phone and handed it to him. Henry swiped through the photos, a soft smile spreading across his face.

"They turned out so beautiful, Eli. Tell me... do I look good?"

"You look breathtaking," Elisha answered without hesitation. "You always do."

He took the phone back, then paused as he looked through the photos again. After choosing his favorite picture of Henry holding the huge bouquet close to his face and smelling the roses, Elisha opened his social media profile and posted it without hesitation.

The caption was simple:

My best friend, my first love, my forever.

He tagged Henry and hit publish.

Within seconds, notifications began pouring in with likes and comments. Elisha smiled proudly, locked his phone, and placed it on the mattress.

A moment later, a notification sounded from Henry’s phone on the nightstand.

Henry picked it up and blinked at the screen before letting out a surprised laugh.

"Elisha... you actually posted this?" Henry laughed in surprise. "Oh, wow. The pictures you chose are so beautiful."

Elisha inwardly cringed as Henry continued calling him by his name instead of a sweet pet name. But seeing how happy Henry was, he decided not to complain.

He would let him have this one.

Flush with his newfound confidence, Henry’s expression suddenly shifted into something mischievous. He turned to Elisha, his eyes sparkling.

"Give me your phone."

"My phone?" Elisha raised an eyebrow. "What for?"

"Call Jasmine," Henry said smoothly. "I have a few things I’d like to say to her."

Elisha stared at him for a moment, genuinely surprised. Then a slow grin spread across his face. He unlocked his phone, searched for Jasmine’s number, and dialed it before handing the phone to Henry on speaker.

The call rang twice before Jasmine answered on the third ring.

"Hello? Elisha?"

Before Elisha could say anything, Henry leaned toward the phone.

"Hi, Jasmine. This is Elisha’s fiancé speaking—Henry."

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"I just wanted to call and say thank you," Henry continued, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. "Elisha and I are getting married very soon."

Jasmine was silent for a moment before stammering, "Wh—What? That’s impossible—"

"I just wanted to let you know personally," Henry cut her off sweetly, "that you’re not invited to the ceremony. It’s strictly for the elite and the people who actually matter. But honestly? Thank you for everything you did. Because your bitter, pathetic little scheme is the exact thing that pushed us right here."

Jasmine gasped on the other end, finally finding her fury. "Listen to me, you—!"

Click.

Before she could even finish her sentence, Henry calmly reached out and ended the call, tossing the phone aside onto the bed.

Elisha sat frozen for a moment, completely stunned. He had never seen Henry act like that before. His jaw dropped in shock before he suddenly threw his head back and burst out laughing. He looked at Henry in disbelief, as if he were seeing a completely different side of him.

Henry just beamed, leaning forward to press a quick, affectionate kiss to Elisha’s cheek before turning right back to happily admire his giant bouquet of roses...