The next day, Niko wakes up nervous. Not only did she not visit her family since before the injury, but now she brings someone to meet them, a boy she likes. She isn't sure if it's too soon; no one has been there except Dhati and Ori. Dhati and Ori are now with Niko in her house, where she paced nervously; it's unusual to see her act like this.
“I'm so nervous about today. What if I mess everything up?” Niko says as she paces back and forth, while Dhati and Ori sit down, following her with their eyes.
“That's understandable. It's a big step for you.” Ori adds, assuring.
“And if you're feeling nervous during the date, just take –” Dhati was talking nonchalantly when Niko suddenly interrupts.
“DATE?! This is considered a date?” Niko stops pacing as she turns to Dhati, surprised.
“Yeah, you’re technically taking him to meet your family,” Ori points out.
“Oh my God, does he think it’s a date? Is it a date?” Niko paces again.
“Well, you've got nothing to worry about. You're a strong and capable woman, and any guy would be lucky to go out with you.” Dhati adds, as Niko stops pacing and sits down holding her head.
“And if he's not the right guy, that's okay too. It's all part of the journey.” Dhati continues as Niko observes both of them enjoying the conversation way too much.
“And just remember, you've been through much tougher situations than a first date.” Ori sneers as she raises her eyebrow.
“Stop saying that it’s a date.” Niko snaps, crossing her arms.
At that point, a knock on the door is heard. Niko catches her breath quickly as Dhati nudges her to open the door. It's Teyluk, who stands there nervously with his hands behind his back. He smiles when he sees her, and they stand there looking at each other, smiling gently, until his gaze falls to her bandaged shoulder. Ori then clears his throat while inside the house. Niko turns to glare at Ori, and Teyluk smiles awkwardly.
“Ready?” Teyluk asks, and Niko nods as they walk out the door, leaving Dhati and Ori inside.
They proceed to head toward the beach where Ash is laying down, she looks back at Teyluk and asks.
“The place we’re going to is not on this island. So, can you call for your horse?” Niko asks awkwardly.
“My parents need them, if you want to wait until they’re done, it’s fine.” Teyluk asks, reassuring her as Niko stands there contemplating both of them riding Ash.
Not because he wouldn’t be able to carry them both, but because that means they’ll have to hold onto each other and If this trip turns out badly, It will be an awkward ride back home.
“No, it’s fine.” she says, taking a deep breath as she continues, “We’ll take Ash, both of us.”
She clicks her tongue to get Ash’s attention as he walks toward her, rubbing his head on her lovingly. She smiles and leads him to sit down so she’d put the harness on him. As she puts the harness on with one hand, it almost falls. Teyluk is about to go to help when she catches it and proceeds to attach it herself. He then stands back and rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. When she finishes, she gestures for him to come. She gets on Ash and holds the rein with one hand and when Teyluk gets up behind her, he starts to look for somewhere to hold on to. Not wanting to hold on to her, since she is already holding on with one hand. So he holds on to the harness underneath him, Niko notices.
“It's okay if you want to hold onto me.” she says, patting her good shoulder.
“You’re already holding on with one hand, I'm not going to add more pressure. I’m fine this way.” he says as he adjusts himself to hold the harness tighter.
She nods quietly as she cues Ash to start flying. While they fly, he notices that they came this way before, but he doesn't ask questions. He waits till they land when he notices that this island where he followed Niko and saw her crying last time, and even argued. She gets off as Teyluk follows behind her, she picks up some flowers from the ground and proceeds to walk through the forest silently. He is confused but follows her anyway. She occasionally looks back to check if he is behind her and they reach a somewhat end to the forest, where there are ruins of an old village. Niko continues walking through them like she was on a mission, he follows closely behind her. She comes to a halt when she comes across what appears to be house ruins as he stands a few feet back, confused, still able to hear her. She knelt down still holding the flowers, beginning to speak.
“Hi, guys. It's me.” Niko places the flowers on the ground and takes a deep breath. “I hope you're doing well up there.”
“I know it's been a while since I last visited. But, you know how things are. Life gets busy, and a lot has happened in the past week alone.” Niko chuckles and turns to look at Teyluk and sees him standing further back.
“Why are you standing over there?” she asks because he is standing stiff and awkward.
“I didn't want to interrupt. I thought I'd listen quietly.” He says approaching her then kneeling down to sit beside her, as she plays with the grass.
“It's been eight years, and it still hurts.” she takes another deep breath, trying to contain her tears. “Losing them was like losing a part of myself. I still miss them every day.”
“I can't imagine what it's like to lose your parents. But I'm here for you, Niko. All of us are here for you, you don't have to go through this alone.” he says softly as he smiles gently, putting his hand over hers. She smiles back and then turns towards the house again and takes another deep breath.
“I made some friends; I know it’s hard to believe.” She scoffs, mocking herself, “And they're amazing and funny and annoying most of all.” her eyes tear up, tears falling down her cheek as Teyluk looks at her lovingly.
She continues, squeezing his hand. “I’ve met someone, Mom, and Dad. His name is Teyluk.” she wipes her tears as she laughs.
“He's annoying and we fight all the time.” he chuckles as well. She looks at him, smiling gently.
“But he makes me happy and takes care of me.” she turns to look at the flower she put down.
“He's right here, listening to me talk to you guys.” She adds, smiling. Teyluk looks at Niko, and their eyes meet.
“I know you would have loved him, all of them actually. And, I wish you could have met them.” She continues as she looks down. Coming in sight, their hands holding each other.
“But I know you're watching over me, and that makes me feel safe.” Niko takes a deep breath, letting his hand go as she stands up to leave.
Teyluk follows but gets confused as she stops and turns back to the house. She kneels down, still having something to say. She takes a deep breath, after a moment of silence she says.
“Something else happened.” she adds softly, like a whisper as her eyes tear up again. “Kiro.”
“He’s alive, and I know I should be happy. But…” she sobs. Teyluk stays back, giving her space.
“He was with them, the people who killed you, that took you away.” her voice cracks as she covers her mouth, attempting to muffle her sob.
“I know you loved us all equally, but I can't help feeling that you would be disappointed in him. He did something so selfish and hurtful.” She says angrily wiping her tears.
“At least, I am.” She says, staring angrily at the flowers laying there.
“I know I have to find a way to move on, but it's hard. I don't know how to trust him. I thought I knew my brother, but apparently, I was wrong.” She adds standing up again, to leave.
“I hope you can hear me, and I hope you can give me some strength to get through this. I miss you all so much.” She turns to leave, forgetting that Teyluk was still standing there, listening quietly.
She wipes her tears and takes one last look at the house. She then proceeds to walk alongside him to go where Ash has been waiting for them. She arrives and starts to prepare the harness when Teyluk catches her arm to stop her. She turns to look at him, confused as to why he stopped her. He then pulls her into his arms, hugging her carefully so as not to hurt her injured shoulder this time. She is startled, but once she lays her head on his shoulder, she feels all these feelings that she was trying to keep inside, flood out.
Uncontrollably so that she starts weeping, while he tries to calm her down. She can’t stop these tears from coming, they have been pleading to be released all this time. After what feels like an hour of straight bawling her eyes out, she feels relieved. Not once has he let her out of his embrace, but still held her like she's fragile piece of glass, as if she would shatter if he hugged her too tight. She lets herself out of his embrace, looking dreadful, but he still looks at her as if she were the most beautiful person in the world. He wipes her tears as he looks lovingly in her eyes. He kisses her eyelids, one after the other. When he leans back she smiles gently, he leans in once more to kiss her on the lips this time. He holds her cheeks in his hands as they kiss softly. Until they are pushed by Ash’s tail, they burst out laughing, still holding each other.
“Do we annoy you that much, buddy?” Teyluk asks sarcastically as he lets go to pat Ash.
“C'mon, let’s go home,” Niko says as she puts the harness on Ash’s back, while Teyluk helps this time.
They get on Ash’s back and Niko cues Ash to fly back home. As they fly, she notices that Teyluk is holding on to the harness with one hand while the other holds her waist, not to stabilize him. Rather the other way around, to stabilize her as she is holding the rein with one hand. She smiles to herself as they proceed to fly back to their island, she keeps smiling as she thinks of all the details she wants to tell her siblings, she means Dhati and Ori, not her biological brother. It will take time to even consider him her brother again, she isn’t even sure if it will ever happen. But everyone deserves a second chance.
When they land, they get off Ash and Niko is taking the Ash’s harness off while Teyluk is standing behind. She holds the harness as Ash walks away. She turns to see Teyluk nervously smiling at her. They continue walking toward Niko’s house as they talk.
“I had a great time today. Thanks for joining me.” She says shyly as she smiles.
“Me too. I really enjoy hanging out with you, alone.” He replies smiling looking down at his hands shyly.
“Can we do this again?” He asks as they get closer to her house.
“Visit my parent’s grave?” Niko asks playfully.
“No.” he answers bluntly, “Wait, I don't mean to be disrespectful.” he corrects himself nervously, “I mean hang out but not there.” he corrects again, “nothing is wrong with –”
She interrupts him, chuckling, “I'm just messing with you, I know what you meant.” She adds as she smiles, “I'd like that as well.”
As they reach her house, she turns around to say her goodbyes. “Thank you for today; I know I was kind of difficult to deal with.” she says, avoiding his eyes, nervously.
“No, you weren’t. I enjoyed today.” he reassures her as he smiles gently.
They look at each other for what feels like eternity, then Niko initiates her farewells. “Well, Goodnight Teyluk.” she says as she turns to enter her house.
“Wait.” Teyluk says as he leans in, and they share a sweet, gentle kiss.
They pull back and look into each other's eyes. Both start blushing so much that their cheeks are starting to match Niko’s eyes. While she is also in shock and doesn’t know what to do now.
“Goodnight.” he says as he turns around, rushing to get home.
Leaving her standing there. She smiles shyly as she opens the door and goes inside, lets down the harness on the ground, and is about to lie down on her bed when she hears a knock. She walks to the door thinking that maybe he forgot something, or that Dhati saw her get home and wanted the details of this date as soon as possible. But when she opens the door, her eyes meet the last person she ever thought would knock on that door.
“Kiro?” she asks, confused.
“Hey.” he says, looking hesitant.
“What are you doing here?” she asks, crossing her arms as she walks back into the house. Kiro follows.
“I came to talk to you.” he says, hoping she would let him.
“I don't think there's anything to say.” she turns to him angrily.
“Please, Niko. Just hear me out.” he pleads, as she thinks about it.
“Fine. Talk.” she demands, “you've got two minutes.”
“I know I messed up, and I know I betrayed our family and betrayed you. But I did it because I was scared; I did what I had to do to survive.” he confesses, looking sad.
“Oh, well, that makes it all okay then.” she mocks him.
“No, it doesn't. But I want you to understand why I did it. Some people approached me and assured me that they will look after me. They promised to help me get out of there. and I believed them.” he tries to reason with Niko.
“So you decide to betray our family because some strangers convince you they are going to protect you? Are you kidding me, Kiro?” She snaps at him, then takes a few steps back to calm herself down.
“I know it sounds stupid now, but at the time, I thought I did the right thing. For Gods’ sake, I was twelve; I didn’t know what they did until it was too late.” He snaps back, Niko is surprised he is that angry when he is the one in the wrong.
He calms down and says, “I know I can never make up for what I did, but I want you to try to forgive me, Niko. Please, I miss our family. I miss you. I still visit them.”
“Wait a second, does this mean that you know about the person I shot on that island?” she wonders out loud.
He turns to show her his now healed, shoulder as he speaks. “That was me; you shot me.”
She approaches him to look at the healed wound closely, then she smacks him on the head and says, “I should’ve aimed for the head.” He rubs his head in pain, as he smiles discreetly.
She paces around the room and turns to him to say, “Kiro, I don't know if I can forgive you. What you did is unforgivable.”
“I know it was. But I hope that someday, you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I'm really sorry, Niko.” He pleads sadly.
She turns her back to him, holding her head in her hand as the other one is bandaged up, her eyes start to tear up.
“I thought you're dead.” she whispers as a tear falls down her cheeks, “Why would you do that to me?” She asks the final question not to get an answer out of him, but rather to express her disbelief. She toughens up, stands, and looks at him.
“Look, I can’t forgive you, cause if you loved me and you did all of that. I can never trust you” She sniffs as she adds, “But I'll try. For Mom and Dad's sake. And for the sake of what we used to be.”
He smiles gratefully as she looks at him and speaks. “From now on, I’ll ask Dhati and Ori to teach you our ways, so you can survive here.” she continues adjusting herself to look sterner.
“That’s all I can do to help, for now.” He mumbles a thank you and turns around to leave, he opens the door and before he could get out. He looks one last time at Niko with a small smile on his face as he closes the door behind him.
She lets her body fall on the bed as she lets out a breath she doesn’t know she is holding in. she lays down on her back thinking that it's a long and eventful day. First the date she has with Teyluk, the kiss goodnight he gives her, she smiles thinking about it. Then her brother shows up, asking for forgiveness. She doesn't think she’s ready to forgive him, but she believes that with time, it will get easier. Now she doesn't know what to do other than wait and see what the future has to offer.
ns 18.68.41.179da2
