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"Sonny…I….Sonny…" that's all I am able to mouth in a quivering voice, tasting my own uncontrollably-flowing tears.

The man facing me seems to be deeply concerned by my condition.

"Will, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…" Sonny gently pulls me and wraps his arms around the middle of my back.

I bury my face in his shoulder. Overwhelmed by the warmth radiating from his cloth-covered skin, my crying becomes louder.

"Will, it's ok. Calm down, please" Sonny's palms rub my back.

After a minute, I release myself from the embrace. Sonny pulls out a few tissue papers from the fixture in his car and hands them, along with a water bottle, over to me.

"Will, let's not talk about this. Anyway, past is past. So…" I interrupt him "No, Sonny. You should know. You deserve to know. All these 8 years…you not knowing…it's been killing me, Sonny" fresh pool of tears is blurring my eyes. But I wipe it away immediately and take a deep breath.

Sonny leans against his seat and looks at me pensively.

~~~Flashback~~~

Year 2005

Salem

"This is really frustrating!" I throw the pen away and slam the notebook on my study desk. I'm not able to concentrate on the homework. How can I?

It's been three weeks since Sonny and I confessed our love for each other. On the one hand, our feelings are getting stronger day by day; on the other, I'm feeling more guilty of still hiding in the closet and faking my identity to Sonny.

Sonny looked so eager and hopeful when he asked me to join him on a week-long camping trip with his friends. But, when I forced a "no" out of my mouth…the dejected, sad look on his face… why am i so pathetic?

I can't let this go on further. I'm sorry grandma Marlena. Even though my parents' relationship is almost broken, tonight I'm going to come out to my mom. Let dad know through her, or I will talk to him over phone, or whatever. I can't wait another week for his return from Europe.

It's 9.30 pm. I checked mom's room for the third time. She's not home yet.

I close the door shut, fall on my bed, and begin to think… not about how will my parents react…not about how the world will look at me from tomorrow…. All I think is that how will Sonny react when I tell him who I truly am once he's back from the trip.

Knock Knock Knock "WILL! WILL!"

Sounds like my other grandma, Kate.

The second I open the door, Kate hops in and hugs me "oh honey!" and lets out a huge sigh. My 7-year-old sister, Allie, is standing beside her, looking frightened.

Kate gives me her phone "Will, sweetie, your dad is on the line. Listen to him and do as he says."

"Hi dad!"

Lucas Horton (over the phone): "Will, listen to me carefully. You and Allie are leaving for the UK with grandma Kate RIGHT NOW."

"But, dad?"

And, the call gets cut immediately.

"Grandma. What happened?" I'm really worried now.

"Kate! You can't take such an abrupt decision!" grandma Marlena storms in.

"Oh Marlena! I just can't believe you are saying this, even after my son made it very clear!" Kate is in full fight mode.

"So what? They are MY grandchildren too. I can take care of them!" Marlena is furious.

"WHAT? Have you got short-term memory, Marlena? Just 2 hours ago, your precious daughter, Sami, got into a drunken brawl at the bar and shot a guy in the head! And, should I remind you, he's none other than the son of Salem's most dangerous man, Stefano DiMera!" Kate snarled.

I shudder hearing that.

Marlena is boiling but she is tongue-tied.

Kate goes on "Do you want that monster to ruin my family? Harm my grandchildren? Is that what you want, Marlena?"

"SHUT UP, KATE!" Marlena rubs her forehead.

Allie lets out a loud whimper and hugs my waist. I wrap my arms around her tightly.

My eyes are wide open, and my body is chill. I feel like I'm possessed by an evil spirit.

I look at Marlena's hopeless eyes.

In a flash, four security guards take me, Allie, and Kate to a ready-to-take-off private jet.

My only thought as I step on the rudder? Sonny.

Present - 2013

"Mom was imprisoned but only for a short time…the guy who took the bullet from her, EJ DiMera, recovered, and he pardoned her. But my dad made sure that Allie and I were safe… he didn't allow any of my maternal relatives to visit us until the case was closed 6 months later. In fact, I revisited my hometown after 2 long years...to attend my mom's re-wedding with the same EJ DiMera"

Sonny has been staring at his clasped palms while listening to me.

"The day I returned from camping, I went to the library at the usual time of our meeting…you didn't show up. I remembered I didn't have either your mobile number or email id...I don't know why we never exchanged those things. I didn't know any other source of contact…you never told me anything about your family or friends. A few days later, the librarian, who had noticed us reading together, called me and said 'Your friend, Will Horton, hasn't returned a book. It was due yesterday.' I was taken aback, and corrected her 'it's Henry'. She frowned and showed the database. There were only two Will's: 55-year-old William Truman and 16-year-old William Robert Horton…And, of course, the whole town was talking about the Samantha Horton case at that time….." Sonny let out an audible breath and drank some water.

"Sonny, for what I did to you…sorry doesn't even mean anything…" I cry so much that the front my shirt is completely soaked.

"Will, it's true that the instant I found that you had lied to me and left me, I felt like hitting you with a sledgehammer….but, later on I understood your situation….I know it was tough for you…. As they as say 'time changes everything', I grew up...facing many real-world situations… and, now when I look back at the past…it doesn't seem like a big deal…And, you were just 16, for god sake!" Sonny chuckles suddenly.

"So-Sonny…h-how could you?…I mean" I stuttered touching his hand. Sonny placed his palm on mine and looked at me reassuringly "Yes, Will. I forgive you. Let's just bury the past…or even better, pretend as though nothing happened at all. And, please, PLEASE control your tear glands." Sonny grins widely.

"What? Still not getting it? Ok, fall at my feet. NOW" Sonny raises his legs ridiculously.

How so incredible can this man be?

Though I'm still teary-eyed, I put up a weak smile and whisper "Thank you."

All I'm thinking is to grab him and smother him with kisses. But, I dare not. It'll be too much for him if I say now that I still love him…more than ever… and I'm crazy about him. I don't want to choke him once for all. Also, I don't know anything about his personal life at this stage…if he is single or in a relationship…though there is no ring visible on his finger. What if he's indeed buried the past, including his love for me? It's so painful to even think…

"Hello?" Sonny waves his hand in front of me, waking me from the deep thought.

"I'm sorry, Sonny" I flutter my eyelashes and smile.

"Sonny, I recognized you the moment I saw you at the office. I didn't have the guts, so I spilled my coffee when you, now that I realize, joked about remembering seeing me in Salem."

"Yeah, that was hilarious. I mean, you went pale and your body was shaking when I introduced myself…very much as you were the first time I met you in the library…In fact, when I heard from the HR department that you have been recruited, I was very eager to see how you are now, all grown up…so many changes, indeed" Sonny throws a crooked smile.

I lower my head out of shyness.

"So, are we good? Because, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable since we work together" Sonny pats my shoulder. "Yes" I nod with my gaze down.

Sonny's cell rings. He smiles at the screen and attends the call. "Hi there!(...) Hey no, I didn't forget. I'm on my way now. Will be there in 10 minutes.(…) Yeah, I bought them, your favorite turkey stuffing. (…) ok, see ya" Sonny keeps his phone down "I guess, we have been sitting at this spot for about an hour."

"Oh yeah" I look around. But, I'm really worried…after seeing Sonny's reaction to the call...that person must be very close to him…

Ok. Too many things running in my mind. Sonny has forgiven me. I can't ask for any other thing right now. That in itself is a great relief to me.

Sonny drops me at the front of the hotel. "I know, shifting and arranging things at your new place will tire you to hell. But, still, have a great weekend!" Sonny smiles widely before leaving.

I insert my hands in my pant packets, looking at his car driving past the long lane. "How do I get you back, Sonny Kiriakis?"

(to be continued...)