I couldn't help the smile that formed on my lips as the last box was moved into the apartment by the movers. I watched as the workers walked to the truck and drove off after their job was finally finished. I guess this is it, our first home together after being together for almost four years.

"Finally." He sighed, wrapping his muscular arms around my waist and burying his head onto the crook of my neck as I continued to look out of the window.

"Tired?" I asked, reaching up to run my fingers through the soft, black, wavy strands of his hair.

"Yes but definitely worth it."

"I would've helped but you wouldn't let me carry anything, even my own bags."

"That's because I want you to be treated like a queen and queens do not carry heavy luggage or boxes."

"But a queen can also be independent, you know." I turned around to face him, letting my arms fall onto his shoulders.

"Just let me spoil you." He said, chuckling as he leaned down to press his lips against mine.

Moments like these always make me think: what did I do to have such an amazing guy in my life? I mean, I cannot imagine how his ex could ever break his heart into pieces if he is the type to take a bullet for you. He will treat you like you're the most precious thing in the entire universe which he would do anything to protect. The mere fact that some people do not realize that actually makes my chest hurt.

About six years ago, I was just his best friend, watching him be happy with the girl he absolutely adores. And then one day, I witnessed his happiness being taken away from him as the girl he claimed to be his world turned out to think of someone else as such. I watched the pain and betrayal appear in his eyes as she wrapped her arms around another man, her lips locked with his.

Being his best friend, I was there to hold his as he fell apart, to be his support system when he needed it. I was the one who put him back together. Two years later, the most cliche thing happened. He fell. Fell for his best friend who already fell for him. It was as if the writer of my story had wanted me to be happy with the guy whom I knew had my heart.

"I still can't believe this is actually happening." I said, smiling against his lips.

"What?" He asked, running his fingers down my hair as he rested his forehead against mine.

"That I'm actually with you."

"Oh love, there's no place I'd rather be."

"We should start unpacking."

"Maybe but I just want to stay in this moment with you."

"Cheesy ass. We'll have a lot more of these in the future, Shawn." I giggled.

"Fine." He said, placing a small kiss on my nose before pulling away.

We started with the boxes nearing the door. We spent the next couple of hours unpacking and placing our things in the most convenient and organized places. As I was setting aside the empty cardboard boxes, I couldn't help but feel curious once I saw one labeled as "C's". I walked over to it and cut the tape that sealed it shut. Once I lifted the flaps, I felt my heart drop completely.

Inside the box were pictures upon pictures of him and his ex. There were even a couple of her scarves, clothes, and plushies inside. Not to mention the fact that they all still smelled of her disgusting, overly strong perfume. Why would he still have her things? And after six years?

"Shawn?" I called out from what was supposed to be the living room.

"Yeah?" He asked, walking out of the bedroom, wiping his sweat onto the hem of his shirt.

"What's this?"

His face fell a little before walking over to me and shutting the box close. I didn't know how to react. Everything hurt to the point that I felt numb. Does he still think of her? Does he still love her?

"It's nothing to worry about." He said, trying to reassure me with a sweet smile that I couldn't force myself to return.

"Why do you still have Camila's things? I thought you were over her?" I managed to choke out.

"I am, y/n. It's just a bunch of things I didn't get the chance to return."

"But why bring it instead of tossing it away?"

"Now that would be a waste of perfectly good clothes. And if I throw the pictures away and someone else gets them then our past relationship will be all over the news."

Those words still wouldn't calm the raging thoughts running around in my brain. He sighed before putting it down on the floor and wiping his hands onto his jeans. He cupped my face in his hands and tilted my head up so that I was looking into his eyes.

"You're the one that I love, okay? You're the one I want to be with, not her. She's was my past but I promise, you will be my future. It's nothing to worry about. I love you, y/n. Only you." He said, pecking my lips lightly before pulling me into a tight hug. "Let's finish unpacking so that we could rest, okay?"

I just merely nodded and turned away from him. I know that I should just let this go but... he loved her. I've seen how he was head over heals for her in the past. Those feelings cannot go away easily and maybe that's what I'm afraid of. That I'll never be the one to fill in the hole she left in his heart.

Once we finally finished, I stripped my clothes off and put on one of his shirts and a pair of shorts. I climbed up on the bed and curled up, facing away from his side. I felt his arms snake around my waist and pull me against him.

"Goodnight, my love." He whispered yet I did not reply and merely dozed off with a couple of tears escaping from my eyes.

The next few weeks went by yet I still couldn't shake the feeling that maybe he was thinking of her whenever he uttered the words "I love you" to me. That when he holds me, he's thinking of how her petite figure used to fit perfectly into his build.

I tried to pull myself away from my thoughts by digging my nails into the palms of my hands. I took a deep breath and held in the tears I've been hiding for weeks. I plastered on a fake smile as he took one of my hands in his as we walked down the streets of Toronto.

"Shawn?" I heard an oh so familiar voice call from behind us.

Lo and behold, the girl that broke him years ago. The girl whom I'm afraid he still loves. She smiled up at him and threw her arms around his torso as a form of greeting. I pulled my hand away from his, snapping him out of his frozen state.

"C-Camila." He stuttered, gently pushing her off of him.

"How are you? It's been so long!" She said, smiling up at him the way she used to do.

"I'm good."

"Of course you are. You've released chart topping hits! I'm so proud of you!"

Not as proud as I am. I thought bitterly.

"Uhm... thanks."

"We should definitely catch up some time. And maybe even collaborate for a new song, like old times." She said, completely oblivious to my glare.

"Uh y-yeah. S-sure."

"Shawn, I think I'm gonna go ahead. Suddenly not feeling so great." I interrupted, forcing a smile.

"Oh, I'll bring you home if you need to rest." He offered, his attention finally switching to his current girlfriend and not some backstabbing ex.

"No need. It seems that you have unfinished business here. Besides, it's only a couple blocks away. I can walk."

"Y/n-"

"I'll see you later, okay?"

I didn't wait for him to reply. I just pushed my way past the two of them, adding a little more pressure towards Camila to send her stumbling back. Once I was at the end of the street, that's when I decided to run home. I got into the elevator of the building and leaned against the walls, trying so hard not to break down. When I reached my floor and slammed the door shut, that's when I broke down.

I pulled the sleeves of my sweater over my hands and used them to wipe the tears that were streaming carelessly down my face. I forced myself to walk over to the bed and lay down before I pass out from the pain in my chest. I hugged one of my pillows as I took my phone out to message y/bff/n for help.

Y/bff/n, are you free? Just need someone to talk to.

What's up?

I think he's still not over her.

Who?

Shawn.

Why the hell would you say that? You've been together for almost four years. I think that itself is proof that he's over her.

It's just that...

He has a bunch of her things from when they were together in one of the boxes here and he still hasn't got rid of it. Not to mention that he's completely frozen and a stuttering mess when we bumped into her earlier.

I just...

I just feel like maybe he's still in love with her despite the years of not being together. And there's this annoying feeling deep inside of me that screams "You're not good enough for him". Like I will never be like her: pretty, talented, thin, curvy... She's basically other guys' definition of perfect and I'm trash compared to her. The fact that he acted that way just scares me. I'm scared that he'll come running back to her.

I know I sound stupid but you know how much I've been hurt when I was just his friend. It hurts... It's like the time when they released the music video for Señorita and I had to stop in the middle of it since the mere idea of them being that close was painful as fuck. Remember how badly that affected me then? I just don't want to experience the same thing all over again, even after I got him.

With the last message sent, I couldn't help but cry harder than I did before. It felt as if I was sobbing my heart out as the pain in my chest spread out into my entire being. I felt the phone vibrate but I couldn't look at the screen without my vision getting blurry from the tears that wouldn't stop coming. I didn't realize that I cried myself to sleep until I woke up to the sound of music playing somewhere in the apartment.

I forced my now puffy eyes open only to be met by darkness. I blindly looked for my phone on the bed and eventually found it. I unlocked it and read the message from y/bff/n I wasn't able to read.

Y/n, I don't really know what to tell you.

Maybe he was just shocked after seeing her for the first time in six years? I wouldn't know how to react either if I saw the ex that completely shattered my heart after a long time. Don't think too much of it.

And sweetie, I can tell that he loves you much more than he loved her. You haven't seen how he looks at you when you talk about something you're passionate about. You haven't seen that lovesick smile he has on his face whenever he looks at you.

The mere fact that you could even compare yourself to that witch is just heartbreaking. So what if you don't look like her? So what if your figure isn't like hers? Shawn doesn't love you because of just your looks. He loves you for you, y/n. And if he doesn't think that you're beautiful then how come he would look at you as if you were his entire universe?

Just talk things out, okay? Tell him how you feel then work things out from there. I'm rooting for both of you. ❤

I sighed and put the phone close to my chest. I shut my eyes for a moment then opened them once again. As I stared into the darkness, a flicker of orange light made its way to my peripheral vision. I set the device down and stared out the open door of the bedroom. It was then followed by another. That's when I realized that there were small, tea candles aligned out the door, making a pathway to God knows where.

I stood up from the bed and walked out, deciding to follow where they led. Looking down at the wooden floor safely lit with candles, I realized that there were even pink and red rose petals surrounding it as it brought me to the balcony. There stood Shawn, breathtakingly handsome in one of his suites, with a bouquet of roses in hand.

"Shawn? What's all this?" I asked, walking over to him, trying not to feel under-dressed as I only stood before him in a slightly over-sized lavender sweater and black leggings.

"I'm sorry." He said, stepping forward with a sad smile. "I'm sorry for making you feel as if you weren't good enough. I'm sorry for making you think that someone could be better than you. I'm sorry I haven't made you feel loved for the past few weeks. I'm sorry if I made you feel afraid that I might leave you for someone from my past."

"Shawn-"

"I got rid of the box and kindly declined her offer for a collab and catching up. I told her that I wanted nothing to do with her. You're the only one I want, y/n. And I absolutely hate myself for making you feel otherwise."

I couldn't speak. I opened my mouth to say something yet I was at an absolute loss for words. He reached over and placed one hand on my lower back, pulling me close to him. He leaned down and placed his lips on mine as I let out a few tears. He pulled away slightly to kiss the teardrops from my cheeks. He stepped back slightly, his eyes glossing over as well.

"She used to be my world, but y/n, you're my universe. You're my definition of perfection. You picked up my broken pieces and put me back together. I cannot thank you enough for that. You've been patient and understanding and I couldn't have chosen a better partner than you. We've been taking things slow but I guess now's the best time to do this."

He stepped back and knelt down on one knee. I couldn't help but cover my mouth in shock as he did so, reaching out behind him and pulling out a black velvet box. He opened it at the same time he asked the question: "Will you marry me?"

I merely nodded, seeing as I couldn't stand being mad at him. He was my weakness and that could either be a good thing or not but I still can't help myself. He slipped the ring onto my finger and stood up, leaning down just enough to pull me back into another kiss. I reached up and placed my hands on either side of his face, my fingers brushing against his jawline as he pulled me closer to him by my waist.

"I love you. Never forget that and never ever doubt that." He whispered against my lips.

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°
A/N: I'm sorry for being inactive! It's just that when I left for the conference, I couldn't exactly focus on writing then we extended for another day in Cebu and then shit happened between me and a guy friend of mine... Then school started only a few days after I got back and my majors are demanding as hell... I'm really sorry. I'm gonna try to make a part two of Freshman but I'm not entirely sure if I could. I also forgot who requested this and I'm sorry for using Camila again but... yeah.

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