Chapter Text
An announcement comes across the loudspeakers, reminding the remaining passengers that the train will arrive in 10 minutes.
Gabriela looks at you like she’s tracing your face, trying to memorize it.
“What’s your plan after you leave SU city?”
“First, I’m cutting up the black card my dad gave me and tossing it into my bedroom drawer,” she laughs and puts on a forceful, playful smile. It feels like its her way of trying to reassure me.
“I never thought about having a real job before you. I call myself a perfumer but its just another rich-girl hobby I copied from other people. I want to take it seriously now, with respect, giving everything to it- like you.” Her words confuse you slightly and that confusion stumbles its way out of your mouth.
“Like me?”
“Yeah. This morning seeing you at work…honestly, even the way you bicker with your coworkers makes me envy you.”
“Ha. Let’s hope you never meet another Kim.” The two of you share a laugh, a genuine one. When Gaby looks at you again, her face has a serious and almost adoring tone to it.
“Tell me- if I live with both feet on the ground, use all of my senses to feel the world, and bravely be myself…can I have a full, rich heart like yours?” Without skipping a beat you respond.
“Of course! I believe what you feel will flow into the perfumes you create, and your scent will tell your one-of a kind-story.” Your words are full of sincerity and reassurance. It makes her gaze turn more hopeful.
“Maybe someday…you’ll walk up to a perfume counter and find the hottest fragrance of the season, name Gabriela,” she continues, her voice turning shy, “And its top note is…rain-wet greenery.”
Another announcement interrupts us, telling the passengers that we will be arriving at the next stop very shortly. This stop is only a temporary one, not ours. Your tickets go all the way to the end of the line. Gabriela suddenly clenches the tickets in her hand in response, her gaze dropping as she does.
Her eyes avoiding yours, she tells you in a shaking voice, “I’m sorry. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone…But I promise that I will come back. Because of you, I want to become a better me. I hope that one day, when I stand beside you, I won’t look dim- I’ll shine like you. So that we can both become brighter because of each other.”
“I get it, Gabriela.” You try to give her a reassuring smile but the thought of losing her, even temporarily makes you feel…sad.
“I can’t ask you to wait for me forever. That would be selfish, wouldn’t it?” The guilt in her voice pains you to hear. You just want to hold her and make everything alright.
“Don’t worry about that. I’ll make my own choices, so please don’t feel guilty.” Gaby’s face eases slightly at your words; her body relaxes at the reassurance.
“Thank you, Y/N.” She slowly lifts her head, wearing a firm but sad smile. “We’re about to reach the station. If you decide to leave, you can get off here. If…if you want to give me a little hope, we can ride to the final stop together and say goodbye there.”
“Gabriela…”
Gabriela forces a smile. She cups your face in both hands, turns you towards her, and makes you look at her.
“I’m saying…next time we meet, I’ll wear a wedding dress for you…okay?” Those words catch you off guard.
“Huh?” you question.
“Nothing, I just want to hear you tell me if I look good.”
The train slows to a stop besides the platform. The doors open, and passengers line up to get off.
“So- are you getting off?” Gabriela’s eyes search your face, pleading and anxious. One by one passengers get off of the train but you remain firmly in your seat.
“Gabriela, you already know my answer.” You squeeze her hand in reassurance.
“But I-I…”
You cut her off before she can continue, “Where’d that bold, spoiled Gabriela go? Don’t lose that version of you…she’s cute too.”
“This Valentine’s Day I might not be able to be with you. If I stay right now, I think I’ll spend my whole life addicted to this gentle pull, and I’ll never be able to leave.” Her voice is soft and sad. You give her a soft smile.
“Don’t worry. It’s not like I need someone with me,” you reassure, “Besides, we have next year, the year after…ten years, even longer.” Gabriela looks surprised, and the sadness in her eyes slowly fades.
“So you mean…no matter when I come back, you’ll be waiting right where you are?”
“Not ‘right where I am’. I’ll grow freely with you. We’ll stand shoulder to shoulder and see the view from higher up.” You pause for a brief moment before continuing, “Gabriela, thank you.” You catch her even further off guard, a tinge of confusion glimmers in her eyes.
“Huh? Thank me for what?” she asks.
“Thank you for wanting to be better because of me, and for staying with me so I can become better too. We make each other better.” Gabriela pulls your hand closer to her as her eyes brighten, gone is the sadness from before.
“We shine off each other.”
“Next time we meet Gabriela, I’ll have a wedding dress designed just for you.”
“Aren’t you going to ask what style I like?” she giggles.
“I can ask now?!” Gabriela snorts a laugh, blinking playfully. She pulls her hand from yours, folding her arms. She leans back and slips right back into her usual rich-girl attitude. You can’t help but laugh too.
“Listen. I want a white dress, and as for the style I want…” she trails off momentarily. “I want the kind that makes you take one look at me and say ‘I do’ with zero regrets.”
“Alright. Thanks to you, I’ve made up my mind…” A teasing smirk spreads across your face. “When you’re back in SU City, I’ll crash any wedding I have to and steal you away. Hopefully it won’t come to that. Stealing the bride isn’t exactly easy.” Gabriela giggles.
“Of course, if the dress satisfies me. Would you take the Rosales last name? If you don’t like it, I can consider yours.” You put on a playful thinking face, pretending to think hard about her question.
“On one condition: you become an outstanding perfumer and live the life you want,” you say, “And by then, I hope I can be your pride too.” Your words cause her to smile.
“Then it’s a promise. We’ll live our true selves with pride and effort, for each other.” She reaches for your hand once more and you grab it, giving it a soft squeeze as you do.
“For each other.”
The train finally reaches the terminal. You’re the last two passengers to get off, avoiding a goodbye waiting at the platform. When neither of you can no longer stay, wordlessly and hand in hand you disembark. The urge to tell her to stay or to beg to go with her pulls at you. You want to say something, anything to her. From the look in her eyes, you can tell she wants to say something too. Neither of you say anything, though. Words and bittersweet goodbyes would only ruin the promises you made to each other on the train. They would only take away from that perfect moment.
Before you part, Gaby turns to you and takes both of your hands. She squeezes them tight as she looks you in the eyes. Without thinking, you pull her into an embrace. This is the only goodbye either of you can stand to give.
You stand there at the station, watching as Gabriela drives away. Over and over, you know that the image of her driving away, waving as she goes, will replay in your dreams until she returns to your side. You both believe that day isn’t far. You’ll both become brighter versions of yourselves, for each other. Making each other better, that’s the meaning of your chance meeting. You know that your dreams will be laced with a faint scent of rain-wet greenery for the rest of your life.