~*~ Confession ~*~

Hey guys!

Just a collection of oneshots for the Puzzleshipping Song Contest on the BPSC forum! Each chapter will be based on a different song and there will be a total of seven chapters.

This oneshot is based on the song "Soap" by Melanie Martinez.

Enjoy!

I couldn't help it. The word just slipped out, tumbling from my lips like a toy slinky going down the stairs. It's too late to take it back now.

I was too caught up in the moment, in those enchantingly beautiful ruby red eyes – the ones that are now widened in surprise and fixed on me. This is the first time I've seen him so shocked; rarely is he so tongue-tied. He's staring at me blankly, clearly fumbling for a response, as the waitress interrupts.

"Two hot chocolates with extra marshmallows," she chirps pleasantly, setting down two steaming mugs.

Yami grabs his mug and nods a thank-you to the waitress. I hesitate, fumbling with my fingers. My breaths quicken. I can feel a knot climbing up my throat. He nudges my mug towards me, as if to say 'This will help you relax.' I can't exactly read his thoughts but I feel that I know him well enough to be able to. He flashes a devilishly handsome smile at me, complete with a crimson wink. Even in this moment, he's gentle.

I grip my mug nervously with both hands and embrace the soothing heat. I stare at the white marshmallow blob slowly dissolving in its hot chocolate bath. Silence settles over our table as the rest of the coffee shop chatters on around us, as if we're left frozen and forgotten in a moment the rest of the world has moved on from.

I bite my lip and recall my slip-up. Of all things, why did I say that? I've probably just ruined everything between Yami and I; he couldn't possibly be ready to take the next step in our relationship. Hell, it's not even a concrete relationship yet – we only started seeing each other a few weeks ago. People who are casually dating aren't supposed to say words like that.

But when he's making me laugh until I cry or blowing my mind with his arguments on Robert Frost or surprising me by cooking dinner and washing all of the dirty dishes afterwards… I can't deny it.

It had to come out of my throat or else I would have choked.

Still, it's too early. Too soon to spill my guts, like a bucket of toxic waste. Maybe next time I should wash my mouth out with soap.

Now he's swirling his cocoa with a spoon before he takes a sip. He never breaks eye contact. Even when I look away, humming softly in denial, trying to avoid the situation by nonchalantly gazing all over the room. When I look back, he's still staring at me. My heart pounds like a sledgehammer.

God, I wish I never spoke.

"So…" he begins in a voice as deep as rolling thunder. It sounds like the first word in a long rejection speech.

"I mean," I sputter quickly, trying to rectify my embarrassment, "I'm just kidding, you know? I didn't really mean it. But I totally had you there for a second, didn't I? It's a funny joke, isn't it? Ha-ha."

My hands tighten on my mug as Yami raises an eyebrow at me. I don't think he's buying that explanation. It sounded ridiculous. Cringe worthy. Even to my own ears.

The ceramic that once warmed my hands feels cooler than before, stealing my heat away. The marshmallow is now completely melted and its white foamy ooze slinks across the surface of the lukewarm liquid.

He doesn't say anything. I've said enough for the both of us. The unreadable expression on his face scares me. Tears start to prick my eyes and my vision blurs.

I can't be here anymore, wishing I could rewind time. Or that I had better impulse control. I have to get out of here. Yami probably doesn't want me here anyway. Not anymore. Not after my hasty confession. So I'll just make it easier for him.

I stand up, which surprises Yami. "I'm sorry," I mumble. "I'll go."

I guess that's just another thing he wasn't expecting to hear today. His eyes widen and he reaches out in my direction. "Yugi, wait!"

I pull away and run – out of the coffee shop, out of Yami's life. I leave my hot chocolate on the table; now, it's probably ice-cold. I ignore his continuous calls for me to come back. The other patrons in the café look up from their banter and watch the scene, shaken back into our moment.

So sorry to interrupt, I think miserably.

The small bell on the glass door jingles as I dash outside, into a rush of chilled November air and busy city streets. Unsure of where I'm going, my feet begin to walk a path of their own. A gust of wind blows through me and I stick my chapped hands into the pockets of my jacket. I keep my head down, but the wind still stings my eyes.

Suddenly, I'm lost in the jungle of brick buildings and skyscrapers. I lean against the nearest wall and let myself slide down to the concrete. I sit cross-legged on the cold sidewalk and people-watch. It helps me to think.

A tall man with a mustache walks his majestic German Shepherd. I think about my cat, probably curled up at home in a mound of my laundry.

A family of four, clearly tourists, stop to take a photo; the brother gives his sister bunny ears. I think about how I'm an only child and will never know the so-called joys of siblinghood.

My hands are starting to grow numb from the chilly air. My hair is messy and wind-blown. My cheeks feel raw and chapped from being battered by the frosty wind. But I refuse to move from my spot. Instead, I watch an affectionate elderly couple sitting on a bench across the street, making each other laugh. They could lose each other tomorrow and yet here they are, happy, in their own little moment. Every wrinkle on their faces is another memory they've shared together – another fight, another story, another morning they've woken up together not regretting a single thing…

I think about my regrets.

I regret cheating on my second grade spelling test.

I regret not being able to hit a home run or score a slam dunk or make a touchdown.

I regret telling Yami that I love him.

But even more so, I regret trying to run from my feelings; I didn't tell Yami how I'm in love with him, how I'm invested in him. And his corny dad-jokes. And his downright seductive smirk. And the way he sloppily drinks orange juice straight from the carton.

A smile splits my sore and wind-chapped face. I stand up and begin to run in the direction of the coffee shop. Even though it's early afternoon, the winter sky is getting darker. I need to find Yami.

"Yami!" I yell, cupping my hands around my mouth. "Yami!"

The frozen air clenches my lungs and my breaths deepen. I've been outside too long. I collapse on a bench and pant heavily. The streetlights are starting to brighten. It'll be dark soon.

Two arms are suddenly thrown around my shoulders from behind. A cold nose nuzzles my cheek.

"Hey," a deep voice gently whispers in my ear. "I'm so glad I found you."

"Yami?" My brain registers his presence and I turn to hug him back. "I'm so glad you're here."

"You gave me quite the scare, Little One." Yami sits next to me on the bench and drapes his arm across my shoulders.

"Did I?" I'm playing dumb. "I'm sorry, I fucked everything up – "

"Well, yes." Yami plays coy. "You did. But only because you never truly gave me a chance to respond."

"Don't respond," I plead. "I need to get this out. Just listen."

Yami raises his eyebrows at me and shifts closer, prompting me to continue. I have to control myself. I have to do this right – no more running, no more regrets. I feel numb with my fear of rejection, but I push it aside, take a deep breath, and begin.

"I'm in love with you. There wasn't a time or a place I realized it. One day, it just hit me and I've been holding it in ever since, terrified of what you might say. But I won't run anymore. With you, I smile more and I laugh louder and for the first time in my life, I am genuinely happy. I know we've only been together for a little while but…" I trail off and my throat closes up, my confidence retracting back into its shell. My tear ducts begin to overflow.

He kisses me gently and I feel his warm fingertips brush my cheeks.

"But nothing," he whispers. "Shhh, it's okay. If you didn't say it first, I was going to. I love practically everything about you – the way your eyes light up when I make you laugh, your amazing omelets, how you sing in the shower... You are damn-near perfect, Yugi Muto."

He stands up from the bench and pulls me up with him, wrapping me into a deep kiss.

"Why didn't you say anything earlier? At the coffee shop?" I ask, slightly miffed at my own angst.

He chuckles deeply and snuggles into my neck. "You didn't look like you could handle it at that moment."

I smile and laugh softly. "Maybe you're right."

He takes my hand and leads me down the street. "Come on, let's go."

On the way home, we stop at another coffee shop. He buys me another hot chocolate, with extra marshmallows, to-go. And once again, I feel warm.