31. THOUSAND YEARS

The next day they met, as always, for lunch during work.

Laura wanted to somehow talk about what she had seen the day before, but she had no idea how to even begin.

Bas: You’re awfully quiet today.

Laura: I was just thinking… I’m wondering if you’ve thought about starting to see someone again.

Bas: See someone?

Laura: Yes. I mean, after breaking up with Sofia. It’s been a while. Don’t you miss that closeness with another person? Having someone to share every moment with?

Bas: I… I don’t know what to—

Laura: Because I miss it. I miss… the warmth, the kisses. That feeling that someone truly cares about me. You know?

Bas: Yes. I miss that too.

Laura: So… have you thought about it?

Bas: About what?

Laura: About seeing someone?

Bas: Yeah… sometimes I think about it.

Laura: Oh. And is there someone specific?

Bas: There is one person. What about you? Have you thought about it?

Laura: I guess I probably should. Ha! We’re not getting any younger, after all! I think I’ll order something else, I’m starving. You want me to get you anything?

Later at home, Laura replayed the conversation over and over.

It went terribly. Completely differently than how she wanted. It was obvious he was talking about this brunette. She had to change the subject quickly because she could already feel tears welling up.

And what if he invited her to Paul and Karmine’s wedding? How would she survive that, seeing him with other woman?

Bas returned home with mixed feelings.

What did Laura mean? Was she really asking about them? Were those hints, or was he imagining things?

Why couldn’t women be simpler? Like a flight stabilization system… a few buttons, three operating modes, predictable parameters…

In the following days, Laura tried to focus on work.

She got a really nice assignment. The house was large and beautiful, and the client was very kind, constantly praising her work.

It also turned out that the client was single, and completely smitten with Laura.

So he asked her out on a date.

Laura decided she needed time to think. She didn’t reject the offer, but she wasn’t sure she was ready for that step. On the other hand… maybe this was exactly the moment to finally move forward?

The wedding day arrived. In her satin Plazasims dress, chosen especially for the occasion, she should have felt like a million simoleons.

But she didn’t feel that way at all. She would have gladly skipped the wedding entirely, but she couldn’t let Karmine down. After all, she was the maid of honor.

The doorbell startled her.

But when she saw Bastian standing outside, she didn’t know what to think at all.

Laura: What are you doing here?

Bas: Well, I thought we could go together. We’re both going to the same event, after all.

Laura: That’s… nice of you. But aren’t you going with someone else? I don’t want to be a problem.

Bas: Someone else? A problem? Laura, what’s going on? What are you talking about? Did I do something?

Laura: No. You didn’t do anything.

Bas: Then I don’t understand why—

Laura: That’s exactly the problem. You didn’t do anything. And I kept waiting for you to do something, Bas… I thought that maybe we could, well, you know, start over. That maybe there was still something between us.

Laura: But I saw you with someone recently, and now I know I was waiting for nothing. So please, just go. Just leave me alone.

Bas: But I don’t want to go anywhere. And I definitely don’t want to leave you.

Laura: I thought I could just be friends with you, but I don’t think I can. I can’t stop thinking about you. And when I see you with another woman, it just… it...

Bas: Laura, please turn around. Look at me.

Bas: Let’s talk.

Laura: What far? What do you want from me, Bas? I told you, just leave me alone.

Bas: What do I want?!

Bas: I want you! Just you!

...

Laura: What? But what about… the brunette? Outside your house?

Bas: What brunette? Oh, wait, I know. You mean our new neighbor. I’m not dating her. She has a daughter Ollie’s age and wanted the girls to become friends. That’s all.

Laura: That’s all?

Bas: Yes.

Laura: So you’re not seeing anyone?

Bas: That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to explain. There is no one else, Laura. There’s only you. For a very long time already. You’re the only one I want in my life. The question is, do you want that too?

Laura: Do you really still have doubts?

Bas: No. Not anymore.

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years

Heart beats fast

Colors and promises

How to be brave?

How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

But watching you stand alone

All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

Bas: We'll be late for the wedding.

Laura: That's ok. We can be a little bit late.

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let anything take away

What's standing in front of me

Every breath, every hour has come to this

One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me

I have loved you for a thousand years

I'll love you for a thousand more

Epilogue

Paul: I think we’ll have to start without them.

Karmine: But Bas has the rings!! We can’t start without him! I can’t believe they’re still not here!

Bas: Sorry, sorry! Our transport got a bit delayed. You know how it is, those loading screens can last forever sometimes.

Karmine: Alright, alright, no time for this. Let’s get started.

A small explanation of why I paired Paul Robles with Karmine Luna. Paul dated Karmine back in high school. After that, I didn’t interfere with their lives at all, no change of traits, nor attraction preferences, nothing.

Karmine randomly received the Slob and Macabre traits.

After Marci said, she didn't see anyone playing with Karmine in their saves, I checked on them both. And it turned out Karmine's traits were exactly the traits Paul finds very attractive ^^

The strong attraction was mutual. I decided it couldn’t have been a coincidence, only true fate.