Savannah blinked a couple of times before walking through the door, biting the inside of her cheek to keep back any words that she may accidentally say and embarrass herself. She focused her gaze ahead of her, trying not to think about him.
"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to bump into you." She paused, glancing back at him after a moment, realizing how that sounded. "For the tea I mean"
Her voice was soft, and she tried to pass the comment off as normal, yet she couldn't help but notice how her apology could be taken in other contexts. Maybe he could accept it, or at least hear her out on it by… well curving around the actual apology.
He paused before moving to go on his run again, maybe he would hear her out once. Just once, then he never had to speak to her again.
Did he really want that to be how this would end?
….he didn't want to think about the answer.
"…fine. you want to talk, then let's talk." He spoke, turning around to face her with his arms crossed. Now or never right? Well he decided on the now option for whatever reason.
"Is there anything you want to say to try and fix what happened that day?" He spoke, raising a brow.
"What?" Savannah barely got out, coming to a stop. Disbelief was painted over her face, as she tried to figure out what was happening. "You- you're really…"
Her voice wasn't working as she stood there, similar to a deer in headlights. She gaped, forming multiple words, only slight scoffs coming out as she choked on her words.
'Words… say something, ANYTHING!'
"Wait- I've already tried to apologize." She finally stated, looking up at him as her brain began to work again. "The amount of notes, the amount of times I tried- none of it has been good enough." She found herself laughing a bitter, and exasperated laugh.
"So why not you enlighten me on what my other options are- because I'm running out of ideas here." Crossing her arms, she stood taller. "The only thing that I can think of is to get on my knees and beg- and I'm sure you understand I have enough dignity and self-respect not to do that."
He couldn't help but feel slightly frustrated at her response, I mean, seriously. How could she think that putting a couple of notes in his locker was considered enough of an apology?
"Oh please, nobody asked you to get on your knees and beg. I'm just asking you to put effort into a spoken apology." He continued to have his arms crossed, staring down at her. His eyes kind of darted around, looking at her eyes and then at her body language.
"Well?'
(Hey- I've gotten sick like four times, and had no motivation for anything, so I'm so sorry about that.)
"I have tried." She argued, looking up into his eyes, struggling to hold eye contact. "I just haven't had much success."
The two weren't at eye level, but they were pretty close. She had to look up at him, but she wasn't craning her neck.
Frustration simmered throughout her thoughts, trying to get over herself and say the simplest words. The words that would fix everything.
'Two words… that's all you have to say. It won't be perfect, but it's what he's asked for.'
But to her horror, three words tumbled out. And none of them was an apology.
"I like you."
Three words left her throwing a hand up to her mouth, and eyes going wide. Three words changed everything- whether either of them would accept it or not.
(OH my gosh that sounds like a lot! Well I'm glad your better now.)
His eyes widened, he was expecting her to maybe apologize finally. He wasn't expecting…that.
Did she really just say that? Was she being honest..?
He looked down at her, and ..his gaze softened at her. He saw how she reacted to herself saying anything, and a bit of flicker of distrust in his eyes was shown.
"You…you aren't lying are you?"
(Aha as am I!)
Every single one of the alarms in her head was blaring. Each gut instinct was to back out now and bolt.
But her heart? In the middle of all the panic, her heart felt fine.
So despite her more logical judgment, she shook her head slowly.
"No… and I think it's part of why I've had such a hard time apologizing." She decided, looking up at him with a gentler expression. "I've treated you horribly because I don't know what to do with you. Not because of anything you did, but… well let's say it's been a long time coming. I mean I know I can't run around never apologizing for mistakes I've made, but I really wish I could."
With a heavy sigh filled with relief, she ran a hand down her face as her shoulders relaxed.
"I mean I confessed that instead of apologizing. Seriously look at me and tell me I don't have a problem." Looking back up at him, a sheepish smile settled into place. "Now go ahead, feel free to make fun of me. It's only fair."
She wasn't lying, which mean she genuinely liked him back. It wasn't another game, it was real. He didn't really think about making fun of her, he definitely could but that wasn't what was on his mind.
He found himself glancing down at her lips as she spoke, before immediately looking away and blushing a bit.
He cleared his throat, "well, you certainly picked the best time to confess, distract me from you not apologizing because I'd be happy you like me back."
He half jokes, before shaking his head.
"You are such a dork, you know that? Your lucky I still like you." He moved to mess up her hair.
"Yeah, yeah I know…" She let out a weak laugh, before looking down at the ground awkwardly.
Having braced herself for the endless teasing, and mocking, she quite honestly didn't expect his next word.
"You… you what?" Eyes wide with confusion, both from the little act of affection, and the subtle but clearly said statement. There was no denying he said what he did.
Unless… he didn't mean it the way she thought he did.
But she would even take that if she was being honest. She would have assumed he would have despised her by now.
(Yo, I just remembered she still thinks his name is Kaido T-T so… yeah haha)
(oops lol she'll find out it's not soon)
He looked down at her as he waited for her response to what he had said. Was he actually letting someone in for once? Well, we will see. He was going to give her at the very least a chance.
If she screwed it up, He wouldn't forgive her again. Though he didn't exactly care to think about that right now.
"I, like, you. Yeah, i said it. I like you." He shook his head bit it was playfully."do I hav to repeat a million times?" He joked a bit. Hm, he was in a joke mood for once. She probably hadn't seen it at all.
Yes, he could make jokes.
Jaw having gone slack, Savanna stared at him in disbelief. Finally processing his words, she shook her head in defiance.
"You're kidding- there's absolutely no way you're not pulling my leg right now."
Turning on her heel she rubbed at her face, assuming it would wake her up from whatever dream she was in… not because it was a dream or anything. It was just so unrealistic there was no way it was reality.
This had to be his way of teasing her- a cruel way to do it, but that's what this had to be. She couldn't make herself believe it was anything else. It couldn't be anything else.
"In what universe would this actually be easy? This has got to be some sort of… cruel joke. Or- or a strange parallel universe! There's no way you actually just said you liked me."
He sighed softly, moving to bend down to her height and tip her head forward. He moved to plant a kiss on her lips before pulling away immediately afterwards. He was blushing.
"It's real Savanah."
He hoped this was enough. He didn't want her to seriously not believe him after all this time.
"What are you-" It was only a second, but it was enough for her eyes to go wider than he'd ever seen. She just stared at him, lips parted slightly. It was almost like her brain shut off and was trying to reboot. When the world came back to her, it started to blur.
Tears blotted the world in front of her as they began to whelm in her eyes. Her lip quivered a bit before she dropped her head into her hands as she tried to recollect herself. Was she seriously crying right now?
'You need to pull. yourself. together. Right now- you're embarrassing yourself.'
She couldn't help it- her shoulders were shaking, and she was trying to hide her face from him. This was so embarrassing… he probably thought he'd done something wrong. Quite the opposite, actually. She was so relieved he didn't hate her, that when he confirmed it, all her built-up emotions started to pour out at once. She didn't even know if she could be happy until she got all of this out.
(I'd be a hypocrite if I was trying to rush you, but just in case this never went through… bump)
(Helppp nah your totally reasonable I've had this tab open since you've replied)
(Aha alrighty- it's not a problem, just wanted to make sure :P it's totally relatable)
"What are you-" It was only a second, but it was enough for her eyes to go wider than he'd ever seen. She just stared at him, lips parted slightly. It was almost like her brain shut off and was trying to reboot. When the world came back to her, it started to blur.
Tears blotted the world in front of her as they began to whelm in her eyes. Her lip quivered a bit before she dropped her head into her hands as she tried to recollect herself. Was she seriously crying right now?
'You need to pull. yourself. together. Right now- you're embarrassing yourself.'
She couldn't help it- her shoulders were shaking, and she was trying to hide her face from him. This was so embarrassing… he probably thought he'd done something wrong. Quite the opposite, actually. She was so relieved he didn't hate her, that when he confirmed it, all her built-up emotions started to pour out at once. She didn't even know if she could be happy until she got all of this out.
Well you’re correct about him not knowing why she was crying, he just stared at her at a loss for words as her shoulders shook and she started crying. He moved to extend a hand towards her, but hesitated. Could he really make her happy? He had no clue…
He took a deep breath and moved to place a hand on her head and rubb it softly to kinda massage it.
This was his attempt to comfort her since he didn’t know why she was crying or what to say.
"Uhg! This is so embarrassing…" She muttered, dropping her hands to her side after rubbing at her eyes. "I'm being stupid… sorry."
She took a deep breath and looked up at him as he petted her head. She bit back the tears fighting her, trying to make her choke. Swallowing hard, she let out the deep breath.
"I guess I just thought you hated me. I'm not sure why that induced tears." It was weak, but a laugh followed. She felt ridiculous standing on the sidewalk, this man she hardly knew trying to comfort her…
'Wait- that's right. We hardly even know each other!' Her intrusive thoughts began to creep in further, a frown settling on her face. 'What if he finds me annoying, or too much? Is that it? I mean he would have every right to move on. We only met a little over a month ago.'
"Why on earth do you like me?" The bluntness she spoke with seemed to have come from nowhere. She was a complete and total emotional rollercoaster. "I'm practically a stranger to you- emphasis on the strange."
(ooh I'll listen to it later.)
(if you need me to change anything lmk, btw. I can change anything if you need it)
(No its good! I'm just really busy right now and haven't really found the sit down time to put effort into a response .)
He scoffed slightly, he didn't mean to let out one, but the idea of her emphazing on the strange bit made him react.
"You tell me, Your the one that decided to go after me and then decide to stop coming to school, stop pursuing me, look depressed, tell me you have no one really close to you, not have a good relationship with your family and then proceed to be extremely apologetic when you turned around hurt my feelings had me like you and now, we are here."
He spoke, staring her down as he said all of this. He was being very blunt with it as he didn't know what to say.
"I'm not repeating anything.'
(No problem! Just wanted to make sure :)
Her face twitched at the bluntness, causing her to step back a bit. She didn't want to take it personally- she knew that was just his personality- but it was hard when he had the wheel to her heart. Taking a deep breath, she dropped her head.
"I wasn't… never mind." Changing her mind, she ran her hand down her face again. "I should head home."
She didn't necessarily want to leave, but her brain was getting overwhelmed by all the information. She was seriously questioning her sobriety right now. It seriously felt like a 'he loves me, he loves me not…' situation. And it was starting to mess with her brain.
"I guess this is good night, Kaido."
"Hm…my real name is Akira…my last name is Kaido." He spoke, before dipping his head to her.
"Goodnight savannah." He moved to leave before she could, leaving her with that one piece of information.
She screeched to a stop, turning her head to look back at him.
"…What?" She asked softly, but he was already gone. She could barely speak above a whisper, as a lump formed in her throat.
Had he really just said what she thought he had? His name wasn't even Kaido? And she'd let him kiss her???
He'd lied to her about the most basic things, and she trusted him with much more than she wished she had. He wasn't even willing to trust her with his first name.
"That jerk!" She scoffed. Anger bubbled up, as her jaw and fist clenched. She let out an exasperated screech and stormed off toward the park as fat water droplets began to patter on the ground. She was too upset to go home, but didn't dare turn around to go back to the cafe. He could have gone back there.
