His fingers were balled up into fists behind her back when her body arched gracefully into his. He bit back a hiss, but just barely.
Her smile was coy as she reached for his shirt. He shook his head. She stared back at him, puzzled. " I thought..." He tried to look at anywhere but her. A few heartbeats passed. She glanced down. A ring. "Oh." Her grip went loose. " I see."
" I'm sorry." Because that was all he can offer to her.
She reached out and placed her hand on his scar. Her touch made him ached for more. Always more." Don't be."
He hated that she didn't even try to hold a grudge against him. It only served to flame the guilt that has been burning inside of him. " I wish..." He choked at his words a little. "...I'd never left you behind. What I did was...ugh..even I wouldn't forgive myself. I...love you, Mai. Even...even now."
For a moment, he thought her eyes went glassy. He told himself that it was just a trick of the light because Mai never cries. Especially not for a worthless dork like him. " Mai?"
" Did you mean it?" Her voice trembling. She paused to steady herself. "What you just said...I need to know...did you mean..." Her rambling was cut off by his lips against hers. The kiss was frantic, sloppy and downright desperate but it still got him hot and bothered just because it was with her. Only her.
They broke away when the need for air became too much. Her palm remained sprayed out on his chest. " Okay."
" Huh?" His head was still too muddled to comprehend a proper conversation.
Her face, however, was blank and composed once more." As long as I know you lov...you have feelings for me, I...I think...I can finally move on." Her eyes lingered on his,sincere and warm. " Thank you."
He didn't deserve this. Her forgiveness. None of it. "Mai, I..."
" You will be happy with her, won't you?"
He swallowed back his response. Jin. Lovely,lovely Jin. A girl who is the very definition of a perfect little wife. Kind, patient, and motherly. If he was asked to describe her, Jin would be like a lake, nice and soothing, a place that will remind you of home. Mai, on the other hand, was like the ocean, unpredictable and dangerous, all that simmering passion lurking quietly beneath that calm surface. So beautiful. So tempting. So out of reach.
" I don't know. It's...it's complicated."
She looked vaguely disappointed over his answer. " Well, you should try. For me."
" How about you? What about your happiness? It's not fair that..."
She cut him off with a familiar glare. " I will be fine. In fact, to show you how okay I am, I'm going to attend your wedding." He gawked at her like an idiot. She sighed. "Unless you don't want me to show up..."
" No!" She gave him a skeptical look. " No, what I mean is...yeah...sure you should come. There will be like food and everything."
"Even fruit tarts? " Her tone was teasing with an underlying sadness.
" With rose petals on top, of course."
" Of course." She laughed softly. " Count me in then."
" Good." He beamed back at her. He was glad that he could still make her laugh. He missed hearing that deep,raspy chuckle. " So...does this mean we're friends again?"
" Friends..." She mused.
" Or not." He finished.
She gently wrapped her arms over his shoulders. " Does that answer your question?"
Not really. He thought to himself. He pulled her closer to him. But it's enough.
For now.
A/N: This one shot is loosely based on my other poem,"the girl behind the cherry flower tree" though you don't have to read it first to understand the story above. Reviews are most welcome!
P.s: Here's a shout out to Private Fire! Thank you for all your kind and encouraging reviews and for the request of this story. This one shot is dedicated to you. :)