The tension in the hospital room was palpable, almost suffocating. Kei, Azul, Dr. Lawson, and Mr. Emerson were all crammed into the small space, the air thick with unspoken fears and the sterile scent of antiseptic. They were there to deliver the news about her father.
"He's dead," Azul said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion. Kei flinched at the words, the weight of his actions pressing down on him like a physical burden. The memory of the gunshot echoed in his mind, a haunting reminder of what he had done.
"So, am I safe?" Rena asked timidly, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for reassurance.
"Yes. The threat of Liam Whitlock is finally over." Emerson sighed, "I've been trying for decades to bring him down, but to think it would be young Keiko to end it all. Your parents would be proud, kid," his voice tinged with a mix of relief and admiration. His eyes softened as he looked at Kei, but Kei's heart was heavy with guilt.
Keiko shot him a glare. "Proud? You think they would be proud I killed someone!?" He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "Even if their killer is dead, and I'm the one who pulled the trigger, I don't think my parents would be proud. Not with the way I pulled that trigger. He should have been brought in, not killed."
"Isn't that why you joined the force? To bring him down?" Emerson asked, his tone probing, trying to understand Kei's turmoil.
"I joined the force to help others. To bring justice, not to kill in cold blood. It's one thing if I shoot my gun to protect or defend, but when I pulled that trigger, it was too emotional, it wasn't calculated with precision. That's not the kind of thing a hero would do. It felt so wrong, but so right. I hate it." Kei's voice cracked, tears welling up in his eyes. The room seemed to close in on him, the walls pressing in with the weight of his confession.
Emerson was about to respond when the beeping of Rena's heart monitor started to speed up. Dr. Lawson quickly stepped over to check her. "I think this is too much stress for Ms. Reyes. I need you all to leave." there was a pause as no one moved "Now!"
They all quickly shuffled out, but Rena stopped Kei just as he was about to walk out. "Wait, Kei... can you stay? I.. need to talk to you."
Kei paused in the doorway, looking back at Lawson for approval. The doctor rolled his eyes but nodded as he turned to leave the room. "Please keep in mind she needs to get rest, not stress."
Kei stepped aside as the doctor walked out, the door closing with a soft click that seemed to echo in the silence. He stood there for a few moments, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. He hadn’t been alone with Rena since everything had happened. The weight of his actions, the guilt of being the one to kill her father, pressed down on him like a suffocating blanket. And then there was the truth about Clark, a truth he wasn’t sure he could bear to reveal. What if he never woke up and she wasted her life waiting?
“Kei…” Rena’s soft voice broke through his turmoil, pulling him back to the present. “Come over here?” she smiled softly at him, her eyes a mixture of pain and understanding that made his heart ache.
Usually, he would smile back, but now he found it hard to meet her gaze. Her eyes, usually so full of life, seemed to pierce through his defenses. He slowly walked over to the side of the bed, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as if trying to hide from the world. Once he was there, he still couldn’t bring himself to look at her. Rena reached for his wrist, gently pulling his hand from his pocket. He flinched at her touch but still didn’t look at her. She could see the tension etched into his face, and it worried her.
“Kei, sit down, please?” she asked softly, her voice a soothing balm to his frayed nerves.
He hesitated, his mind racing with doubts and fears, before finally sitting on the edge of the bed. As soon as he did, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into her chest. He was stunned for a moment, the warmth of her embrace contrasting sharply with the coldness he felt inside. The sound of her heartbeat, steady and reassuring, began to drown out the beeping of the monitor. Then he felt her chest vibrate as she whispered, “It’s okay.”
He tried to hold back the flood of emotions, but hearing those words broke the barrier he had been trying so hard to maintain. His hand reached for her arm, clinging to her as if she were his lifeline, and the dam broke. He let out all his pent-up emotions, the tears streaming down his face. The only thing keeping him from breaking completely were her arms holding him close, her hands rubbing his back, the steady vibrations of her voice telling him it was okay. He couldn’t hear the words, but he knew she was telling him it was okay.
After a half hour, he finally stopped, he sat back, his eyes red and puffy, but finally finding the courage to look into her eyes. They were soft and gentle, like the sky after a storm. He could fly free staring into her eyes. She set him free.
“Thanks, dove,” he whispered, his voice hoarse as he sniffled the last few tears away.
She reached up and wiped the semi-dried tears from his cheeks. “Of course, Kei. I’m here for you just as you are always here for me.” She smiled gently, her touch warm and reassuring.
He chuckled, a weak sound that barely masked his lingering sorrow. “Yeah, but it’s not heroic to cry.”
“I disagree, Kei. Crying doesn’t make you weak; it makes you human. It shows that you still feel, that you still care, that you have a heart. And that’s one of the things I love most about you. You try so hard to put on a brave face, to hide your vulnerabilities, but lately, you’ve been letting me see the real you. The raw, unfiltered you. And it’s incredible, Kei. You’re incredible,” she said, her eyes shimmering with sincerity and warmth.
Kei felt his cheeks flush, the warmth spreading across his face as he looked away, trying to gather his thoughts. Why did she have to say something so heartfelt? It was making everything so much more complicated. Suddenly, the memory of their kiss loomed large in his mind, like an elephant in the room. So much for keeping his composure.
He turned back to Rena, his voice hesitant. “So, um, about that thing we talked about before…”
“What do you mean?” she asked, her curiosity evident in her eyes.
“About us, our emotions, our closure.”
“Oh… Right.” Rena’s cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink as she blushed, her gaze shifting away slightly, the weight of their feelings hanging in the air.
“Listen, Rena… I need to be honest with you.” Rena suddenly felt her heart drop, the monitor betraying her rising anxiety. “You know I’m good at hiding myself from others. It’s because I’m actually extremely self-conscious. I worry about what people will think if they see the real me. I worry that once they see the true me, they’ll leave. You’ve proven me wrong, but even so, the doubts remain. I told you we needed to wait until our emotions were under control, but there’s something else that’s been gnawing at me. I was afraid that because of my connection to Clark, you’d channel your feelings for him through me. I got it all twisted in my head, and if it seemed like I was pushing you away, I wasn’t. I just…”
“Kei, it’s okay. I understand. It’s… complicated, yes. I have no reason to hate Clark, so there will always be a part of my heart that loves him. But you, Kei, you have your own special place in there too. It’s incredible that you knew him as a kid, that we share that connection, but you are different. There are little things that remind me of him, sure, but when I look at you, I see someone entirely new. The feelings I have for you are yours alone, Kei.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately. I want to visit home one more time. I need to see my mom, tell her about father, let her know not to worry about me. And while I’m there, I think I’ll visit the lake, one last time. It might always be a mystery what happened to him, but if I’m searching for closure, I need to find it there. Would… would you come with me? So we can both say goodbye to him?”
This time Kei’s heart dropped. Should I tell her now? That he’s not gone? No, not yet. I need to see for myself first. “Of course, my dove. I would love to,” he said through a sad smile.
A week later, Rena was finally released from the hospital. The sun was shining brightly as she stepped outside, feeling the warmth on her skin for the first time in days. The fresh air filled her lungs, a stark contrast to the sterile hospital environment. Kei was by her side, his presence a comforting constant, his hand gently supporting her elbow as they walked.
“Ready to go home?” Kei asked, his voice gentle and filled with concern, his eyes searching hers for any sign of discomfort.
Rena nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “More than ready.”
The following weeks were a whirlwind of recovery and quiet moments. Kei stayed close, always ready to help with anything Rena needed. He cooked meals, made sure she took her medications on time, and even brought her favorite books to read. Despite his constant presence, he still seemed to keep a slight distance, treating her as if she were a fragile piece of artwork, but not so much that he was staying away completely. She appreciated his presence and the way he had opened up to her emotionally. His words made her question if she was just channeling her feelings, but she shook off the thought. Kei meant the world to her, and she didn’t want to lose him. She knew that once she said her final goodbyes, it would mark the beginning of something new for both of them.
Kei, on the other hand, continued to struggle with the weight of the secret about Clark. The uncertainty gnawed at him, and he knew he needed to see for himself before deciding what to tell Rena. The lake, with its serene and reflective atmosphere, seemed like the perfect spot for such a revelation. His plan was to go up before her, to confront the truth, and then, whatever he decided, he would share with her by the lake.
One evening, they were sitting in Rena’s apartment, snuggled on the couch watching a movie. The soft glow of the TV cast gentle shadows across the room, creating a cozy atmosphere. The scent of freshly popped popcorn filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of the lavender candle burning on the coffee table. Kei’s phone rang, breaking the tranquility. It was Azul.
Kei answered the phone in his usual ‘annoyed’ tone. “What do you want?” Rena looked at him and chuckled when he mouthed ‘Azul’, then turned her attention back to the movie.
“Two days, pack your bags,” Azul answered flatly, his voice devoid of any pleasantries.
“What’s in two days?” Kei asked, confused, his brow furrowing.
“You dumbass, did you forget? Dr. Vasquez, the safe house, Cla—” Azul mocked, but Kei interrupted him as he jolted up, accidentally spilling the popcorn in his lap.
“Oh! Right. Okay, did you make the arrangements?” He hurried, hoping Rena didn’t hear that part of the conversation. His heart raced, knowing the secret he was keeping from her.
“Yes, you dumb bird. Everything is ready. I’ll send you your flight information. Don’t be late,” Azul said as he hung up abruptly.
“Gosh, what was that all about?” Rena asked, her eyes wide with curiosity as she picked up the spilled popcorn.
Kei looked down at the mess and kneeled to help her clean it up. “Oh, um. They need us to go up to Missouri to give statements about Whitlock. We leave in two days. Sorry it’s such short notice,” he lied, his voice trying to sound casual.
“Oh, that’s okay! Um, since you’ll be up there, do you… think I can come up too, so we can visit the lake?” she asked timidly, her eyes searching his for reassurance as they finished cleaning up the mess and situated themselves back on the couch.
“Ah, well… it will be a little boring while we take care of business,” he paused, trying to buy himself time, “how about you fly up a few days later? That way we won’t have any distractions,” he proposed, hoping she wouldn’t press further.
“Really?!” she chirped, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“Of course,” he smiled, trying to mask his own anxiety. “I can pick you up from the airport.”
“Oh, thank you, Kei!” she said, jumping into his arms for a hug, her warmth and enthusiasm momentarily easing his worries.
“Of course, dove,” he replied, his voice muffled into her hair, inhaling the comforting scent of her shampoo. He held her tightly, knowing that soon he would have to face the truth and it would determine the fate of their future.
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