This is the final chapter for In the End. If you are still following this story, I sincerely thank you from the bottom of my heart for your patience. This has been a long journey and I hope you really enjoyed this story as much as I did writing it. There are no O.C's in this story
The following morning
Maylu is startled awake by the vibration of a phone on the desk. She feels Lan removes his arm from around her to go check his phone to see that he has a message.
"Sorry about that, it's one of my co-workers updating me on a project. You can go back to sleep"
"No, it's fine. I need to start heading back to the house to let Dex in so he can get the rest of his stuff. Do you have something that I could borrow temporarily?"
"Temporarily like back when we were kids or are you going to give it back this time? Lan says as Maylu throws a pillow at home. "Look in the black bag in the closet, those are clothes that I have that are too small that I haven't gotten a chance to get rid of"
"Cool!" Maylu says as she heads into his closet, picks out some sweat pants and a sweatshirt, and heads toward Lan's bathroom. Lan sighs as he opens the drawer and took another look at the black box. Thoughts of what-ifs and what could have been raced through his mind as he thought of his relationship with Maylu moving forward. Is it too late to try things with Maylu or is it too soon to try?
Maylu comes out of the bathroom gathering up her spare clothes as she looks back at Lan,
"You'll get the sweatpants back definitely. I don't know about this sweatshirt though"
"I do know where you live"
"I'm aware. I'm going to eat breakfast at my place though, so I guess I'll see you later?"
"Yeah, let me walk you out"
They both head downstairs to the front door as Lan opens it for her.
"You know I'm just a phone call away whenever you need me"
"I know Lan, you're always there for me when I need you. That's what I love most about you" Maylu says as she kisses Lan on the cheek and leaves. Lan shuts the door and sighs as he goes upstairs to get ready for the day.
Later on at Maylu's house
Maylu is playing the piano as she gets a call from Yai.
"Yes Yai, he moved out all his stuff and didn't forget one thing that would have him come back here to pick up"
"Good! I did send someone out there and they reported to me that Dex was in the middle of moving his stuff. How are you feeling?"
"I feel okay. I'm just ready to move on with the rest of my life. Ready for the next chapter of my life"
"Me too. You deserve someone much better than Dex. I know a guy who would be perfect for you"
"Does this guy so happen to be Lan Hikari?"
"Oh, so you know him already?"
They both share a laugh as Maylu shakes her head.
"You don't think it's too soon for me to hop back into the dating world?
"Maylu, everyone knows about the relationship between you and Lan. No one won't be surprised if you two started dating. Hell, some people thought you were sneakily seeing Lan while you were married"
"I will never understand some of you guys thought processes, but I see what you mean. I just don't know how to bring up the subject without it being awkward"
"You have to face the awkwardness. That's what makes y'all relationship work; unlike Chaud and me"
"How about the four of us have a movie night?"
"I'll text the guys and send a limo over to your place. We can plan a strategy for you finally getting with Lan"
Maylu rolls her eyes as she nods along with Yai.
Later at Yai's place
Lan, Maylu, Yai, and Chaud are sitting on the couch watching Bridgerton, well, the girls are while the guys are sitting there wondering why they are watching it.
"I thought we were watching a movie?" Chaud asks.
"We will after the episode is over" Yai answers as Maylu hums.
"You said that two episodes ago Yai," Lan says as Chaud nods along.
"Well, after this episode I'll put on a movie, deal," Yai says as everyone's attention return back to the screen. While watching Simon and Daphne confess to each other, Lan looks over at Maylu and smiles at how attentive she looking at the screen. Maylu feels someone looking at her, so she looks up to make eye contact with Lan. She returns the smile as she leans her head on Lan's shoulder.
"So what movie are we watching before Yai thinks she can play another episode?" Chaud asks as he takes the remote from Yai.
"We could continue Avengers: Civil War since Yai dozed off last time" Maylu suggests as Chaud has the movie already playing in the background. When the credits start to roll on the screen, Yai stretches her arms and legs out.
"Bedtime?" Lan jokes as Chaud softly laugh into his palm.
"No, it's snack time and I want Chaud to help carry the last of it in," Yai says as she stands up and holds her hand out.
"Can't someone else bring them in?"
"No, come 'assist' me" Yai repeats as she grabs Chaud's hand and drags him into the kitchen. Maylu lifts her head from Lan's shoulder to turn around and watch Yai dragging Chaud.
"Poor Chaud," Maylu says as Lan hums in agreement.
"So, everything was good today?" Lan asks.
"You mean, with Dex moving his stuff out?"
"Yeah, and your well-being?"
"Well, the moving of his stuff was fine. He really didn't say anything until he had the last of his stuff in a box. He apologized and wished that things were different"
"How so? Or you didn't ask?"
"Oh no, I did ask. He said that he wished he asked me out the 'right' way, but he felt like he already knew what I was going to say. I told him that it didn't matter what I was going to say but the point was he asked me on ill terms and not honest terms. He agreed with what I said and hope that we could see each other in the near future. He left and I just took a nap, drank some tea, talked to Yai, and then came over"
"And your well-being?"
"For now, I'm fine. I'm still a little hurt by everything, but I just think of the positives"
"Positives like?"
"Well, focus more on my career. Hanging out with Yai more without her having to kidnap me first. And, seeing you"
"You already see me"
"I know, but like, more of you without having to here "You're always out with him. You should be with him instead of me" almost every day"
"We got that as kids, it's bound to happen as adults too"
"I know, but some I'm used by our friends. Just been a while"
"I understand"
"But, I'm prepared for it and do what we use to do back when we were kids"
"Really?" Lan asks as they both turn to face each other.
"Yeah, I mean things have changed since we are older now, but my feelings haven't changed"
"What do you mean?"
"Lan, I still have feelings for you. Like I still love you and I know what you're going to say and tell me that it's just reflux but it's not and I didn't stop even after Dex it just diminished a bit and I enjoyed the time that we spent together after you forgave me and I'm not thinking of this as a rebound but I actu-"
Maylu is cut off in mid-sentence when Lan decides to lean down and kiss her. Maylu returns the kiss as she places a hand on Lan's cheek. After a minute, they separate as Maylu rests her forehead against Lan's.
"Finally you made a move Lan!" Yai says as Lan sighs as he leans back from Maylu, but wraps an arm around her.
"It's a process Yai. Can't rush it"
"Can't rush something that's obviously there" Chaud mumbles as Lan sighs.
"Isn't it past your bedtime Yai?" Lan asks as Chaud and Maylu laugh this time.
"Ugh, now I'm going to bed. Maylu, you already know where the guest room is so bring Lan with you"
"What if I wanted to room with Lan?" Chaud asks while he lets Yai drag him to her room. Maylu and Lan smile at each other as they walk to the guest room and go to sleep.
The following day, everyone is eating breakfast when Yai slams her hands on the desk.
"WE should go shopping today!" Yai exclaims as the guys look at each other.
"I think I got to work," Lan says as Chaud says "I have meetings today"
"Both of y'all are liars for I had schedules checked in advance so we are going and you're going to like it"
"Yai, we shouldn't force them"
"I guess, we could find guys there to carry our stuff"
Both guys groan as the girls laugh.
At the mall, the girls move from store to store stocking up on clothes. As they took a rest by the food court, the girls walk to get ice cream as the guys wait by a pole with the shopping bags.
"How we got stuck doing this?" Chaud asks Lan.
"By default I presume. Look, you're favorite journalist is skipping towards you"
Chaud sighs as they both look towards a woman around their age skipping towards the guys with a pad in hand. Lan turns away as Chaud gives him a hard glare as he gives the fakest smile to the journalist.
"You know why I'm here Chaud, the biggest scoop of my career"
"Not interested in sharing my life"
"Just one little detail can make my career. Any new projects? New devices? Traveling? Relationship?"
Lan coughs into his hand as Chaud gives him a look. The girls shortly return to give the guys their ice cream as the journalist smiles at Chaud.
"Female friends huh Chaud? Any of them happen to be your girlfriend?" The journalist asks as Lan quietly laughs in his hand. Chaud sighs as he starts to eat his ice cream. "I will leave you alone if you can give me something to write about".
Chaud continues to eat his ice cream as now Lan and Maylu are softly laughing while Yai starts to be annoyed. She doesn't mind if Chaud admits to being in a relationship, but still saying he's single is starting to get to her.
"Well Chaud, if you're not going to share anything, we can head to the arcade for a rematch?"
"Nope. We're heading to one more store first before we watch the never-ending bathroom of Lan vs Chaud" Maylu says as Lan nods along as he wraps an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in close.
"Oooh, so the blond one is your girlfriend"
Chaud sighs as Lan finally laughs aloud. Chaud knows that Lan is enjoying this suffering a little too much, but as he looks at Yai and sees her staring off into space, he starts to feel bad. He wants to be a closed-off person who doesn't share much about his life, but now it's time to be open, just a bit. He grabs Yai by her arm and leads her in front of him so he can wrap both of his arms around her front.
"I'll make you deal, you can write your story about how I'm in a relationship ONLY if I get to see the final draft before you send it to print. Deal?"
"Deal! Thank you so much, Chaud!" The journalist squeals as she scurries off towards the exit.
"Why can't I see the story when it's done?" Yai asks looking up at Chaud.
"My journalist, my eyes only. When a journalist hounds you about a story, then you can do things your way" Chaud says as he pulls away and starts to walk towards another store.
"That's not fair!" Yai exclaims as she runs toward Chaud as they start to bicker back and forth, but if you look closely enough, they are holding hands.
"They're so cute!" Lan and Maylu say as they follow him
Epilogue - Maylue's POV
It has been three months since Princess Pride return home and Lan and I began dating again. Right now, I'm in his room while he's taking a conference call in the kitchen. I start to look at things across his desk when I remember the black box that was in one of his drawers. After finding the correct draw, I pulled it open and take out of the box. I know it's wrong to see what it is, but I'm curious about the evasive personality he puts on every time I asked about it. When I open the box, I was greeted by a 4 ct diamond engagement, not new but cleaned and taken care of.
"I had a feeling you were going to go back to the box"
Maylu turns around to see Lan smiling at her as he starts to walk toward her.
Normal POV
"I'm sorry, Lan. I was getting curious and you wouldn't tell me so I started guessing any possibility of you wearing jewelry. You don't wear earrings or cufflinks so I had to see. A ring though?"
"Yeah, I got it a couple of years ago," Lan says as he scratches the back of his head.
"Oh, for who if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well, for you"
"Me?" Maylu asks as Lan takes the ring from her.
"Yeah. I had it since college"
"Wow, I'm shocked you still have it"
"Yeah, but something told me to hold on to it"
"I understand"
They both look at each and smile.
"Well, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea though"
"Wait...really?"
"Yeah, I mean, we have known each other since we were kids"
"I know, but you don't think it's too soon?"
"I'm not saying right now, but I feel like we have known each other long enough and dated for a while, that I feel comfortable moving into the next phase of our relationship"
"I'm happy to hear you say that. I've been wanting to tell you about the ring for a while"
"How long?"
"That's a secret I'll tell you eventually, but now, I have a question to ask you?"
"So traditional"
"What's traditional about asking if you want Italian tonight?"
"Lan!" Maylu laughs as she smacks him on the shoulder. Lan smiles as he got on one knee and holds out the ring.
"Will you marry me in the distant but not so distant future?" Lan asks as Maylu laughs.
"Yes, I'll marry you in the distant but not so distant future" Maylu answers as Lan slides the ring onto her finger.
"How did you take care of this ring all this time?"
"So many secrets, so little time to tell you"
Maylu rolls her eyes as she leans over and gives Lan a peck.
"I love you"
"I love you too," Lan says as he leans over and kisses Maylu.
And that's the end of this story. Thank you all for having been following this story and is still following the story after being on hiatus for almost a year. It has been fun writing this story and I hope you enjoyed this story.
