"Hoodie 2" I Love You ✔ [On Hold]

Like A CCTV

Carly's POV
Leo and I danced to the slow dance music, the ballroom lights dimmed and all the light-up hanging stars now lit up the ceiling. The children were cheering loudly and the adults gazed at it

I was distracted by the hanging stars that I didn't notice that Leo was only gazing at me when I return my attention to him "Aren't you going to look at the stars?"

"I'm already looking at one" he smoothly said to me that I had to hit his shoulder "You smooth motherf*cker"

He smiled at me proudly "Always had and always will, to you" he winked at me

I was supposed to enjoy this dance with him when I feel like I am being watched, like being watched by three people who are starting me from afar while eating the food that they got from the buffet table. The three guys who just can't seem to catch a break from being too overprotective, I twisted my head to face them and mouthed "The hell?!"

The girls were still pestering them but they dead ass ignored them and only kept watch on me 24/7, Mom and Dad were talking with the employees while Libby was still dancing with the guy who looks like he might faint from happiness. I could feel Leo's grip from my waist tighten and he pulled me close to him just so he could whisper in my ear "Let's go somewhere else" in a husky voice

I nodded quickly, I would want to be anywhere just so I could avoid my brothers' intense watch like a CCTV, he intertwined his hands with mine and we walked together to the doors. The ladies that I assumed had a crush on Leo were giving me glares

Leo and I stepped out of the ballroom and I allowed him to drag me to the place that he wanted us to go, while he was dragging me, my eyes kept wandering around the luxurious hotel. The red carpet floors, the extremely high ceilings that I can assume would reach the third floor, the paintings and statues that looked like they belong to the museum, and even the expensive furniture needed to design the place

The chandelier that is grand but not as grand as the one in the ballroom, would greet the guest and they would admire its grandeur. As expected, the lobby would be very crowded with many people either entering or exiting the hotel

But we passed by the lobby and we entered another hallway that leads out to the garden, there were not many people walking around the garden but most of them would be old couples. We both took long and slow steps that the pathway leads us, the flowers were not blooming anymore because of the cold season but the Christmas lights and descriptions made up for it

There was a huge fountain that is a few feet away from the gazebo and we stopped by to sit at the side, I looked at the bottom of the fountain and just like any other fountain. This one also has a lot of coins at the bottom

Leo removed his blazer jacket and cover me with it, he must have noticed that I was rubbing both of my arms. It was not obvious at first but I realized that Leo looked a bit nervous like he is having a problem "Are you okay?"

He snapped out of his thoughts "No, I'm fine" he grinned widely

I caressed his face "Then why do you look so nervous? Did something happen?" Worrying is just now part of my habit when I see people being nervous, Leo's cheek was cold but I didn't mind because it was soft anyway. Without giving it a thought I squeezed one of his cheeks

He would not accept being pinched by the cheek alone so he used two hands to squeeze my cheeks, we laughed a bit at how ridiculous was must have looked to the old couples roaming around the garden. He finally let go and I followed suit

"This reminds me before our relationship I did the same to you"

I now had a flashback that right after the attempted kidnapping incident, he brought me to the front of the convenience store and treated my wounds. He took care of me even after he was almost injured by the guy

We both enjoyed the peaceful silence of the garden, some old couple looked at us and flashed us a smile that revealed their smile lines from all the years they've smiled when they were younger. This year a lot has happened and I'm pretty sure that many more things will too

"Love?"

"Hm?" I looked at him then looked down at his hand, I was confused that I raised a brow at him then put my hand over his. He reached and grabbed something in his pocket

It was a ring

"Wait are you proposing to me?" I chuckled at him and his nervous face along with his shaky hands that he tried so hard to hide

"No, this is a promise ring" he puts the ring in my ring finger at my right hand "Once I actually get to propose to you in the future, you can wear the ring I will get for you but this time for your left hand"

My hands are cold but my cheeks and something inside me feels so warm, I was still not processing what just happened properly. The ring he got for me was a heart-shaped silver ring, it was simple yet elegant

If there is something I would do if I ever get a chance to repeat things over, I would still choose the same route back to Leo. I hope that we can be together like this

"Thank you" I said softly

We held hands while out in the cold and he pulled me closer to him to keep me warm, I rested my head on his shoulder and watched from the window where the ballroom is as everyone enjoyed their time with family and friends

Leo looked both ways before leaning down to kiss me "I love you"

I kissed him back "Love you too"