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Six months. That’s how long they’ve been dating. Which in the grand scheme of things, wasn’t a very long time. Especially when you’re a not-that-well-adjusted teen cursing high school. But hey, Luz would take whatever she could get when it came to Hunter. It might be a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.
It was a weird but fuzzy feeling, being in a relationship. Quite frankly and for obvious reasons, they were both brand new to it. Neither of them had even expected their first relationship would go so smoothly, but it kinda did.
Heck, at first they thought their relationship would last like a month, tops. (Not that they voiced those concerns out loud, but they knew they were in the back of their minds). Not because they didn’t want it to last, but due to their lack of experience and little emotional maturity.
Yet the months passed and they were still there for each other. Very new communication skills learned. Lots of effort put in. Their bond strengthened. Breakable, indeed, but always binding.
And it wasn't love like in the movies. Not at all. There was no crazy drama, love triangles, misunderstandings or obstacles getting in their way of being together. No grand romantic moments either, though.
No, the romance was way more subtle. More simple. Like I-made-you-dinner kind of simple. Or I-brought-you-flowers. Or slow-dancing-in-the-dark-when-everyone's-asleep. Or staying-up-late-together-doing-things-we-both-enjoy, even. There were little specks of romance in everything they did together, really. Just tiny things that made them both happy and it was easy doing it. No iconic “I’m flying, Jack” scene (that doesn't happen in real life), but other memorable and valuable scenes do happen everyday.
And regarding the problems every relationship has? Never related to exterior issues, but internal. Insecurities. Fears. Past trauma. All those things they shared together, in different ways, that they had to go and get through together as well. It wasn’t something that kept them apart, but kept them close. Hard, yes, but they’d put in the work. And it was worth it.
Now they knew how to talk to each other. How to express their needs and wants, their worries and fears. And most importantly, how to listen to each other. It had to come from both sides, naturally. And they did it. They made it work.
They communicated many feelings verbally, of course. But also without words. They spoke this secret language non-verbally. Through gazes, touch and actions. That was the newest thing of them all, because they didn’t even know it was a thing. No one told them about it, they just found out. And it felt like a secret only some couples were in on, because they’ve never heard about it.
It was nice, though. Knowing how the other felt by their body language. Communicating something just by locking eyes. Transmitting comfort through a hug or held hands. Saying “I love you” only by the way their lips met.
If Luz didn’t know better, she would call it magic. Since she does know better, she just calls it the language of love. One she doesn’t wish to speak in a non-spoken way with anyone else.
Neither of them has really said the L-word, not really. But they both know they feel it. It’s so clearly there, in the air surrounding them. Always hanging, yet never dropping.
So Luz summons the courage to jump first and finally say it with words. That godforsaken four letter word that means a new thing to anyone who says it and means a bunch load of different things, but in this case means a very specific thing they both know exactly what it is.
“I love you, you know that?” The words come out softly. It’s not even intentional, she’s just out of breath. They were kissing two seconds ago. She chose that moment so that she can say it twice in two different ways.
He flutters open his eyelids to make eye contact, so she knows he heard it right. For a single moment, he stays quiet, still processing. Then he smiles big, like a child given the best gift, and tightens his soft grip on her waist. Her hands, once around on his neck, now cradle his face, expectantly.
“I know. Thank you.” That’s his only response before uniting their mouths again.
And that is good enough for her. That says everything that needed to be said.