A PERFECT LOVE
A/N: Hello there! This is a one-shot I originally posted on my old K18 story, "True Love Waits." This was the only one-shot I felt completely happy with, which is why I'm reposting it on my new story for all you amazing people! As always, reviews are greatly appreciated.
Scrapbook
They attentively watched the countless raindrops fall from above. A vast army of dark, grey clouds had completely invaded the endless skies overhead. The swift showers had descended very unexpectedly. Thankfully for Krillin and Eighteen, they found shelter in the form of a towering oak tree. It's stoic branches protected them from the downpour.
Despite the rain, it still made for a picturesque view. The bright and vibrant colours of the flowers which were scattered around the park were nothing short of captivating. The raindrops caused a multitude of ripples to form by the stream which travelled underneath a nearby footbridge. The harmonious melody sung by the choir of birds on the branches was soothing to the soul. Nevertheless, the beautiful scenery meant nothing to either Eighteen or Krillin if they didn't have each other to share the moment.
Neither of them knew how their hands suddenly became intertwined. It had become the natural response for them to take comfort in even the smallest touch. In the corner of Eighteen's sharp, blue eyes, she could see a content smile crawl across Krillin's face. His smile was contagious; she wouldn't confess it but Eighteen found even his smallest grin adorable. Soon enough, the gap between Krillin and Eighteen became non-existent. With a beaming smile on his face, Krillin closed his eyes and gently rested his head on Eighteen's shoulder. She warmly welcomed the gesture with a soft squeeze of the hand. Right now, everything was perfect.
They had only been a couple for around two months and yet, they were so grateful to simply be in each other's presence. They were so thankful that they could count on one another through their joys and their pains. They knew in their hearts that what they had was truly special and they dared never to take it or each other for granted.
The pounding raindrops successfully breached past the wall of leaves overhead. Krillin instinctually lifted his sleepy head off Eighteen's shoulder and wiped away the wet patches that landed on him. He knew he would have fallen asleep if it wasn't for the ice cold splashes that attacked his face. He turned to find Eighteen rummaging through her shopping bag.
"Is everything okay, Eighteen?" Krillin asked curiously before an uncontrollable yawn followed. He doubted anything in her shopping bag would be useful to protect them in this weather.
"I'm just making sure none of my new clothes get soaked." Eighteen replied. She was fairly protective over her possessions, especially the things that were precious to her. In this case, she didn't want the purchases Krillin had generously bought for her to be ruined before she even got the chance to wear them. She had offered to pay for them, but Krillin was insistent that he was going to treat her. And it wasn't as if the clothes were cheap.
Eighteen remembered asking him earlier on at the mall, "How do you have the money to pay for this stuff?" It wasn't as if Krillin had a job or anything. He simply replied, "I'm just a really good saver." Eighteen accepted his answer; he was very careful with finances, which was something she greatly appreciated. In fact, when she thought about it, Krillin didn't allow her to pay for anything, even his own acquisitions.
Thankfully, none of the rain had got into her clothing, as the deep sigh of relief signified. Krillin decided to check if his items were dry. Unfortunately, he wasn't so lucky.
"Oh no!" Krillin exclaimed in disappointment. Eighteen immediately rushed over to look at the damage. Krillin's new scrapbook was soaking wet. He found the book slightly open in the middle; Krillin mentally smacked himself for his negligence. He carefully took the book out of the bag to flick through the empty pages. The paper was quite creased and fragile. He wasn't sure if the book was even usable now.
"The rest of your stuff is dry." Eighteen reported in an effort to cheer him up. The big scrapbook had shielded the rest of his items from the rain. It was a sacrifice Krillin knew was unnecessary. He placed the book nonchalantly on his lap; it wouldn't have mattered to him so much if he had chosen the book.
He recalled to mind how it caught Eighteen's eye in a stall at the mall. Krillin had been on an unsuccessful hunt for a scrapbook. No matter where he searched, he couldn't find one that he would deem as 'special'. He was pleasantly surprised when Eighteen found the scarlet red cover so enticing.
"Why did you want the scrapbook anyway?" Eighteen asked, with her arm hugging Krillin's back. Eighteen's comforting touch brought a flicking smile on Krillin's face, only for it to quickly fade. She didn't understand why Krillin was this upset over a scrapbook.
"You're gonna think it's silly." Krillin answered with a tone of shyness.
"Okay." Eighteen responded with a playful smirk, pulling her arm away. Her reaction had Krillin slightly startled.
"However," she continued, maintaining her cool demeanour, "how would I know if your reasoning is stupid if you don't say why?" Krillin couldn't deny Eighteen's infallible logic.
"How does she always manage to get the answers she wants in these situations?" Krillin hopelessly thought to himself. He could only dream that he had that ability. Krillin then turned to face her and cautiously revealed his answer.
"Ok, I'll tell you. The reason I got the scrapbook was so that we could look back on our time together from dates. We could have had photos of us together and little souvenirs to keep from wherever we went. I know it's a cliché, but the time I spend with you is the most precious and if I ever had a bad day, I would have had that book to remind me of the many great memories that we have shared and will share."
Krillin was attempting to hide his blushed cheeks. But he was doing as miserably a job as Eighteen. Krillin's answer left her stunned. The fact that Krillin valued their time together so much brought such joy to her heart. It was something Eighteen already knew, yet the gesture only deepened her understanding.
"That's the sweetest thing, Krillin." Eighteen gently whispered, taking the scrapbook from his lap and gently placing it onto hers. She patiently flicked through the empty pages, picturing the countless memories that she knew would completely cover everything inch of paper inside. The soft stroke of her hair highlighted to Krillin that she liked his idea, a lot. It was often a subtle sign that showed she was touched by a gesture; a sign he only saw her show to him.
"Maybe we could get a new scrapbook the next time we-"
"Don't!" Eighteen urgently interjected, "This one is just perfect." Placing the scrapbook on the ground, she gazed at the little man beside her. Eighteen deeply admired Krillin's thoughtfulness. He always expressed his feelings for her in the most heartfelt, selfless, and imaginative ways. Eighteen wished to offer something in return. And she knew exactly what it was.
Eighteen had wanted to say it for a little while. The opportunities were there to say it in the past, but a mixture of pride and fear prevented the words from being spoken. This time, however, that wasn't the case. Eighteen wasn't afraid.
She stared intensely into Krillin's eyes. It was a stare that he embraced with a radiant smile. Eighteen could feel the words trying their best to escape her lips. She gave herself a moment to breathe; this was the perfect time to release her intimate confession.
Krillin's eyes expanded massively. Did he mishear? Was he caught in another one of his dreams? Or could it be that Eighteen, the most important and amazing person in his life, just uttered those three words?
"Y-you love me?" Krillin giddily repeating Eighteen's admission. He placed a hand on his chest; he was sure his heart was going to leap out due to its rapid pounding.
"Yes, Krillin." Eighteen confirmed with a joyful expression, "I love you." Krillin became overwhelmed with happiness as he allowed the tears to descend down his face. He didn't care if he looked like a fool; the woman of his dreams had confessed her love for him and that was all that mattered to him right now.
"I don't understand." Eighteen softly remarked.
"Uhh?" Krillin replied, wiping away his tears of joy.
"Why does telling you that I love you cause you to cry?" Eighteen enquired curiously. If she was truly honest with herself, this wasn't the reaction she had expected to see. She knew that these weren't tears of sadness, but she was a little bewildered.
Krillin took a deep breath, trying to recompose himself. He understood why Eighteen asked the question. He knew his answer would be a vulnerable one. However, considering how Eighteen had spoken of her feelings for him, it more than warranted an explanation.
"Well, er- Eighteen. Believe it or not, you're actually the first person to say those words to me." Eighteen quietly gasped in disbelief. Surely that wasn't true. Surely someone else in Krillin's life had said such a thing before her. Not that she minded being the first person to say that to Krillin. She just couldn't believe that she was the first person to say "I love you" to him.
"That's why I need to ask, do you mean it?" Krillin nervously questioned. Eighteen's shock quickly turned into confusion.
"Are you really doubting that I love you?" Eighteen answered with a slightly stern tone.
"No, not at all!" Krillin quickly returned, dismissing such a thought, "It's just, I don't want you to say something that you don't really-" Krillin's voice fell completely silent at Eighteen raised hand.
"Krillin. I would only say something like this if I knew in my heart that I truly, truly meant it. I'm not someone who will say something for the sake of it. You know this." Eighteen placed her hand on Krillin's burning cheek. She could feel a wet, yet refreshing tear crawl on her fingertip. Krillin let loose a sigh of relief. How could he have briefly allowed doubt to even enter his mind?
"So, Krillin," Eighteen tenderly continued, "when I say I love you, please know that I mean it. And I do mean it. I really, really love you."
Krillin pulled Eighteen closer to him. The tears stopped falling but his joy only grew. His body tingled uncontrollably at the lack of distance between himself and Eighteen. They both allowed the inevitable to happen.
Their lips pressed against each other as their arms were tightly wrapped around each other. Exhilaration firmly took hold of them; their kisses were laced with love and were swiftly becoming more passionate. Eighteen and Krillin barely notice that the setting sun had conquered the grey storm clouds. A sharp ray of light pierced through the wet leaves, acting as a spotlight on the couple. Its heat was warm and comforting, reflected in the intense kisses they shared.
Krillin and Eighteen separated to give each other a chance to breathe again. They both giggled quietly to themselves; neither of them could deny that they enjoyed their moments of passion. Eighteen moved slightly closer to Krillin; she couldn't be far from him for very long. Suddenly, in the distance, he spotted it. Without warning, Krillin rapidly rose to his feet and ran as fast as he could towards it. Eighteen didn't even get a chance to ask where he was going.
"What is he doing?" Eighteen thought to herself. Her eyes were glued to his every movement. She knew Krillin could be very spontaneous, particularly when it came to romance. It was one of the many reasons she loved him.
"Here it is!" Krillin exclaimed, not realising the family beside him, looking at him with bemused expressions. The flower was even more beautiful up close. Its petals were fragile, but, its enticing blue colours and its sweet fragrance were a treat to the senses. The colour of the flower reminded Krillin of Eighteen's sharp, yet, breathtaking eyes. He delicately pulled the flower from the soil and raced back to Eighteen.
"What was that all about?" She asked with a hint of confusion. Krillin carefully met Eighteen at her level on the ground before saying, in a slightly regretful tone,
"I only wished I had told you this sooner." He then unveiled the beautiful flower to Eighteen. She gasped in delight at the sight of the flower. As Eighteen gently caressed its soft, blue petals, Krillin cleared his throat and confidently declared,
"Eighteen, I love you."
It might have been the way he said it. It may have been the gesture beforehand. But Eighteen found herself with an unexplainable bliss in her heart which reflected in the tears she released. She had cried tears of sadness, but never for joy.
This was a new experience for Eighteen; this was also the first time that somebody told her that they loved her. She never thought that she would need or want to hear those words. Besides, Eighteen knew that Krillin loved her because his actions repeatedly displayed it. However, hearing those words come out of Krillin's mouth was exactly what she needed right now. She squeezed Krillin tightly, hoping the moment would last forever. There was indescribable warmth they felt from the embrace. An inner glow they hoped would never leave them.
Eighteen looked at the flower in her hand, hoping that she didn't squash it in the embrace. Her eyes then shifted to something on the ground; the reason for these chain of events. As the two broke apart, Eighteen reached for the scarlet scrapbook and planted the flower inside the opening page.
"You didn't need to do that." Krillin gleefully said, taking hold of Eighteen's hand.
"Yes, I did." Eighteen responded with a tender smile, "I never, ever, want to forget this day. I know that this is going to be a great memory for me and you to look back on someday."
Krillin softly pecked Eighteen's cheek in agreement; today was simply too important not to forget.
THE END