"We're back."
"Hey~ Fuck off, Reinhard~"
"Huh!?"
"...."
While the girls entered the room, Rachel remained silent and approached Brandon, who was seated.
She was sober.
Her head was clear.
She knew what she was doing.
"Hey, uhm….."
"Hey."
Brandon raised his head, eting Rachel's gaze. The mont he did, the room fell silent.
"Ah."
Rachel flinched montarily, but composed herself. Things really were different. Even he looked different.
'Even his hair…..'
She had to accept it. Not as if she was fixated on him, but just the thought of how different things were, especially in regards to her overall family situation, took a toll on her ntal health.
She tried not to think about it this whole ti. But seeing Brandon brought mories of her father, and the entire calamity.
And….
The old days.
When things were still good.
She had to accept it.
Things were never going to be the sa again.
After what felt like an eternity, the words she had wanted to say flowed out of her mouth.
"I'm sorry, Brandon.
She lowered her head.
Truth be told, she felt quite embarrassed in letting the others see this. But…. she wanted them to see this.
To let them know of her resolve.
Her resolve to accept how different the current circumstances were.
"Friends?"
"Hm?"
Rachel raised her head.
"Friends...?"
"Yes, do you still want to remain as friends?"
"...."
This was just like Brandon. He might have been stoic from what she rembered, even coming across as aloof, but….
"Yes, of course!'
It seed like he didn't hate her.
The two shook hands at that, and Rachel took a seat shortly after.
Clap—! Clapping his hands, Raven went on to say,
"Now that we're all here. It's ti for the main act."
"...."
"...."
"...."
And the room fell silent once again. Of course, except for Reinhard.
"Wooooh~"
Rachel looked to the side. Seeing the face Brandon was making, it seed like he had caught on.
The mont Raven picked up the microphone, Rachel wanted to leave at that mont.
Raven's singing….
It was complicated.
Even Reinhard was way better than him. But she had to take points off Reinhard for his music taste.
However, Rachel leaned back and closed her eyes.
After everything that happened, the calamity, and the stress that her work put on her,, this was just what she needed.
No, this is what everyone needed.
To revel in the chaos that is Raven's singing.
Seeing everyone finally reunited, Rachel couldn't help but smile.
The group was complete.
Brandon was finally here.
At least, this remained the sa.
'These guys….'
For Rachel, this is her family.
They made her feel at ho.
It was then.
Raven opened his mouth.
Oh, no.
She suddenly regretted it.
"Never gonna give you up~"
.
.
At the end of it, everyone looked drained.
Everyone except Raven and Reinhard.
"Great as always, Raven!"
"Thanks, Rein."
The two high–fived at that.
Then, Raven offered the microphone to Brandon.
"Uh….?"
Brandon snapped out of a daze and accepted the microphone.
The night was still young.
They were teenagers, enjoying their youth.
"Eh, another foreign song?"
"You really like this 'Kim Hajin' guy, don't you?"
Brandon only shrugged in response.
"It was a coincidence."
***
Brandon returned ho.
He felt quite tipsy.
Despite things going south in the middle, he could admit it.
He had fun.
Brandon entered the apartnt.
It was quite dark. However, as he was about to enter his room, he noticed one of the room's doors was left open.
It was Alia's room.
Was she up….?
At the mont, it was 3:21 AM.
If she were asleep, and had left the door open, Brandon planned on closing it for her.
But just as he was about to do so, there, he could see Alia, sitting on the bed with the laptop on her lap.
"Alia?"
"Oh, you're ho?"
"Yep. But what are you doing….?"
"I'm working on the contract proposal for the blackmarket workers. The Imperial Army had co to a conclusion that the blackmarket was quite an asset for this country. It would be a waste to strip them off their jobs and send them back to prison."
Apparently, several officers were tasked with the job. After all, the higher–ups had too much in their hands at the mont.
She set her laptop aside, and looked at him.
"What are you standing there for? Co in."
At her words, Brandon stepped into the room and sat down on the bed next to her.
Alia pursed her lips.
"How was it? Did you have fun…?"
"Yep. You should et them, they're good people."
Then, Brandon leaned his head on her shoulders.
"I missed you."
"Hm? But we saw each other this morning though?"
"But not at the academy."
"Well, I wanted to give you so space to spend ti with your friends."
Brandon wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"I want to spend so ti with you too."
"I don't mind. What ti is good for you? Send your schedule so we can compa—Ah."
Cutting her off, Brandon pushed her down on the bed. On top of her, their gazes t.
Alia seed startled, wide eyed.
"Alia Constantine."
".....Y-Yes?"
Alia's face slightly reddened.
Brandon continued.
"I like you. You know that, right?"
"Ah? Uhm…. I had an idea…. But I wasn't sure…."
"Oh, really? Were my hints not obvious?"
"N-No…. I knew. Yes, I knew you liked ."
Alia stamred.
Brandon asked.
"Can I ask how you feel?"
"M-? Ah…."
Alia's eyes darted around.
Then, she swallowed and nodded her head slightly.
"Un…."
He could barely hear it. But….
It was cute.
Alia was cute.
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you."
"Y-Yes…. I like you too. But…. since when did you start liking ?"
Of course she had to ask that.
Alia was always this kind of girl.
When it was about her, she was always curious how others thought about her.
"10,263 lifetis ago."
"....You're so unserious."
"I'm only being honest."
"Sigh."
Then, Brandon asked in return.
"What about you?"
"Uhm…. I'm not sure actually. Before I knew it, I grew conscious of you. To the point where I beca conscious of what I wear."
So there was no definite answer.
He could accept that.
"You look good in anything."
"No, no. That's because I try to look my best everyti."
"You were waiting for , weren't you?"
The signs were there. After all, why would she leave the door open for no reason?
"N-no…. Yes, I was. I wanted to see you too."
Alia extended her hand forward and touched his cheek.
Brandon leaned close. Seeing Alia this up–close, she was truly beautiful.
"Can I kiss you?"
"...."
Alia closed her eyes and remained silent.
But shortly after, she let out a sound and nodded her head.
"Un."
Brandon leaned even closer. Much to the point where he could hear her subtle breathing.
Ba… Thump! Ba… Thump!
In fact, it felt as if he could hear the drumming of her heartbeat.
Ba… Thump!
And his heart too was racing at the mont.
This feeling….
It all made sense to him now why his heart raced for Alia a year ago.
The mont he laid eyes on her, he could admit he felt sowhat of an attraction towards her.
After all, Alia was undoubtedly attractive. That, and her work ethics, her personality, and her selflessness, and her motives.
While he was unsure of his feelings for Rachel a year ago, he was sure of his feelings for Alia now.
Shortly after, his lips planted on hers.
All sorts of thoughts washed away at that. All he could think about was how important she was to him.
Unknowingly, he felt his tongue start snaking around. Alia seed to have the sa thoughts as her mouth opened subtly, their tongues intertwining.
What started off as a soft kiss, had turned into a passionate one.
Alia's hand slid up to his cheek, her fingers cool against the warmth of his skin, and she pulled him closer, wrapping her arm around his neck.
Their tongues continued to dance, moving in perfect synchrony, a slow sensual waltz.
Ti seed to be at a stand–still, silence perating the room.
Shortly after, they pulled away from one another. He could feel the heat rising between them.
Tasting the lingering sweetness of her breath, Brandon looked at her with a smile on his face.
The words that flowed out of his mouth. The look on Alia's face after saying these words deeply imprinted in his mind.
A mory he could never forget.
"I love you."
Reviews
All reviews (0)