The trio was making their way back to Florida, the sun setting behind them as if closing a chapter of Rena’s life. She felt a bittersweet sense of closure. Her relationship with her grandmother had always been tumultuous, filled with unspoken words and unresolved tensions. Yet, she never harbored hatred, only a deep-seated longing for understanding. Her grandmother’s passing felt like the final severing of ties to a past that had weighed heavily on her heart. For the first time in a long while, Rena felt the possibility of moving forward.
As she pondered over Clark, her heart ached with the familiar sting of loss. But with Kei by her side, she felt a new strength blossoming within her. Kei had become her rock, his unwavering support a beacon of light during her darkest days. He was always there, a constant presence that brought her comfort and solace, especially in the tumultuous weeks following her grandmother’s death.
Rena had always known about Kei’s feelings for her. His affection was as clear as day, despite her initial insistence that she wasn’t ready for a relationship. Perhaps discovering the truth about Clark was the universe’s way of nudging her forward, urging her to embrace the love and support Kei offered so freely. It was undeniable that his casual flirting had begun to stir something within her, a flicker of feelings she hadn’t allowed herself to acknowledge before.
As they sat on the plane, Rena glanced over at Kei, who was peacefully asleep beside her. His head rested on a neck pillow, leaning slightly towards her. She couldn’t help but admire his features—his soft, smooth skin, and the way his fluffy honey-blonde hair always seemed perfectly tousled, as if he had just flown through the air. His honey-brown eyes, when open, always sparkled with warmth and kindness, a stark contrast to the rumors of him being a playboy.
Her gaze drifted to his hands, resting casually on his thigh. A smile tugged at her lips as she thought about how differently he treated her compared to everyone else. Gently, she leaned over, resting her head on his shoulder and slipping her hand over his. Kei stirred slightly but didn’t wake, his hand instinctively turning to intertwine their fingers. Rena’s heart swelled with a mix of emotions—gratitude, affection, and a budding sense of hope. As she closed her eyes, she felt a sense of peace wash over her, and she drifted off to sleep with a smile on her lips, feeling more connected to Kei than ever before.
A few hours later, they arrived back at Rena’s apartment. Setting their bags down by the door, they made their way to the couch and flopped down, exhaustion evident in their movements. The living room was cozy, with soft lighting casting a warm glow over the space. A few framed photos of friends and family adorned the walls, and a plush rug covered the wooden floor. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, a reminder of the diffuser Rena always kept running.
Letting out a deep sigh, they turned to face each other. “Thank you for coming with me, Kei. I really don’t think I would have been able to do that without you,” she said, her voice soft and filled with gratitude as she smiled gently.
“Of course, Dove. I’ll always be there for you,” he replied, his smile warm and reassuring. “Want to watch a movie?” he suggested, picking up the remote to browse the options on Flix.
Rena continued to look at him, her eyes tracing the lines of his side profile. Her heart swelled with a mix of emotions—gratitude, affection, and a burgeoning realization of deeper feelings. She admired the way his hair fell slightly over his forehead, the way his eyes sparkled even in the dim light. How did I not see this before? She wondered. Before she knew it, she leaned to the side and placed a soft kiss on the corner of his lips.
Startled, Kei turned to look at her, his eyes wide with surprise. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could find the words, Rena leaned forward, her hand resting on his shoulder, and kissed him on the lips. Kei dropped the remote, his mind struggling to process the sudden turn of events. His body reacted before his mind as he leaned into the kiss, a hand moving its way behind her head, the other finding its way to her waist.
They lost themselves in each other for a moment, the world around them fading away. This feels so right, but… Kei’s mind finally caught up to his actions, and he opened his eyes wide, gently placing his hands on Rena’s shoulders and pushing her back, snapping her back into reality.
“Wait,” he gasped softly, trying to catch his breath. I need to think clearly. This is happening too fast.
She gasped too as she realized what she just did, “Oh… Kei… I’m… I didn’t… I’m sorry…” she stuttered, her voice breaking as she covered her mouth with her hands. What have I done? Panic surged through her, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Just… wait…” he said, looking down at their laps, trying to gather his thoughts. What do I say? How do I not hurt her?
Rena’s mind raced, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion and fear. Did I just ruin everything?
He finally looked up, meeting her confused, panicked eyes. “Don’t misunderstand. I…” he paused, his eyebrows furrowing in frustration, not at Rena but at his own conflicted feelings. “You did absolutely nothing wrong. I just… We need to think about this…”
“I have thought about it, Kei. I… I have… feelings for you. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to realize them, but I know there is something there,” she confessed, her voice trembling with emotion. Please understand, Kei. I need you to understand.
She has feelings for me? Kei’s heart ached with a mix of joy and sorrow. I’ve wanted to hear those words for so long, but…“Rena, I won’t deny that I have feelings for you,” he said, looking away, his voice heavy with emotion. “I told myself I wouldn’t, that I would respect your wishes because you weren't ready to move on, but I…” he looked back into her eyes, his own filled with a mix of love and pain, as he cupped her cheek, rubbing her soft skin with his thumb. 57Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4nbHwFy5K
“I love you, Rena. But because I love you, I know that this isn’t right, not yet at least. We both just discovered the news about Clark and you just lost your grandmother. I know you two weren’t close, but still, our emotions are all over the place. As much as I’d love to explore the possibility of being more, I respect you too much to let you make a rash decision just because I’ve been the one here for you through all of this. As you once said before, I value our friendship more than I want to be in a romantic relationship with you. At least until we move past all of this, when we are in our right minds.”
Rena’s eyes filled with tears, and she reached out, taking his hand in hers. “Kei, I understand. I really do. It’s just… I’ve been so confused and lost, and you’ve been my anchor. I don’t want to lose that. I don't want to lose you.” Please don’t let me lose you, Kei. I need you.
“You won’t lose me, Rena. I promise,” Kei said, squeezing her hand gently. “We just need to give ourselves time to heal and process everything. When the time is right, we can talk about this again.”
Before they knew it, they were both in tears. Rena leaned forward, burying her face in Kei’s chest as she mumbled apology after apology. Kei hugged her back, his embrace strong and comforting, reassuring her that it was okay, that it didn’t change the way he felt.
After a few minutes of emotional apologies, Rena finally sat back, wiping her tears as she tried to lighten the mood. “Well, um… Did you decide on a movie?” she asked, her voice still shaky but with a hint of a smile.
Kei chuckled lightly, “Of course. Let’s watch a comedy. I think we could use that right about now.”
The two settled into a comfortable, yet awkward, movie session before Rena drifted off to sleep against Kei’s shoulder, the weight of the day’s emotions finally giving way to a peaceful slumber. I’ll always be here for you, Rena. No matter what.
The next morning, Rena woke up to the soft light filtering through the curtains. She realized she was still leaning against Kei’s shoulder, his arm wrapped protectively around her. She felt a sense of warmth and safety, but also a twinge of uncertainty about what the day would bring.
Kei stirred beside her, blinking his eyes open. He looked down at Rena and smiled softly. “Good morning,” he said, his voice still groggy from sleep.
“Good morning,” Rena replied, sitting up and stretching. She felt a mix of emotions—relief that Kei was still there, but also a lingering anxiety about their conversation the night before.
Kei seemed to sense her unease. “Hey, about last night… I meant what I said. We don’t have to rush into anything. Let’s just take things one step at a time, okay?”
Rena nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. “Okay. Thank you, Kei. For everything.”
They spent the morning in a comfortable silence, making breakfast together and talking about lighter topics. The tension from the previous night seemed to have eased, replaced by a sense of mutual understanding and support.
As they sat down to eat, Kei looked at Rena thoughtfully. “You know, I was thinking… Maybe we should do something fun today. Something to take our minds off everything.”
Rena smiled, appreciating his effort to lift her spirits. “That sounds like a great idea. What do you have in mind?”
“How about we go to that new art exhibit downtown? I heard it’s really interesting,” Kei suggested.
Rena’s eyes lit up. “I’d love that. It’s been a while since I’ve done something like that.”
They finished their breakfast and got ready to head out. As they walked through the city, Rena felt a sense of normalcy returning. The art exhibit was fascinating, and they spent hours exploring the different pieces, discussing their interpretations and sharing laughs.
By the time they left the exhibit, Rena felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She looked at Kei and smiled. “Thank you for today. I really needed this.”
Kei smiled back, his eyes filled with warmth. “Anytime, Dove. I’m just glad to see you smile.”
As they walked back to Rena’s apartment, the sun setting in the distance, Rena felt a renewed sense of hope. She knew there were still challenges ahead, but with Kei by her side, she felt ready to face them.
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