Takeda's POV:
Honestly, I'm at my limit here. I know that I should be happy; Earthrealm is safe and Shinnok defeated. However, my own personal problems continue to grow. I can't ignore my small crush on Kung Jin, but I can't do anything about it either. I can't even think about what to do since dad will probably hear it. There's one time that my family's powers don't benefit me at all. I know he means well, but it's like he reads my mind every time he thinks something's wrong. I can't block him because he'll automatically know something's up and interrogate me verbally. I don't need that since there's a chance someone could overhear the conversation.
Besides, I'm supposed to be liking Jacqui. I know that, and I really did like her at first. Kung Jin was just the annoying one with a loud mouth and a knack for irritating anyone within a hearing distance. Jacqui was fiesty and noble. Her dad made sure of that. She was beautiful, and she still is. Kung Jin was infuriating, and he still is. So what changed? He hardly ever followed orders quietly. No one was more annoyed than me, even if I didn't show it much. Jacqui was the most annoyed on the outside. Either way, I really didn't like him.
Then we went to Outworld.
He knew a lot about the place, and I was impressed with how he talked Erron Black into allowing us to see Kotal Khan. I still din't like him, but I could acknowledge that he had a certain charm to him. Of course, my respect for him went back down again after he risked war between Earthrealm and Outworld for a petty thief. However, I changed my mind when he explained why he did it. It wasn't what he said really, something about not all thieves being irredeemable, but it was the look on his face as he said it. He looked almost... Sad. Like he knew what he was talking about and had been through it. It was then that I knew that there was more to him than everyone saw. It was then that I wanted to know more about him.
I'll have to tell someone eventually. I really want to tell my dad, but I don't know if he'll accept it. Being gay isn't exactly encouraged. I don't have a clue how he'll take it. I have to tell Jacqui; there's no getting around that. I just hope she understands. I'm sure that she really did love me. I just don't want to lead her on. If I manage to get past her, then I have to worry about her dad... Oh boy. Jax is going to murder me.
I don't even want to think about telling Kung Jin yet. For all I know, he has a boyfriend back home somewhere. True, he's never mentioned one, but none of us have mentioned anyone but our parents. How am I supposed to know if he has a boyfriend waiting for him. I have to make sure, but I also need to make it sound like I'm just asking and not wondering for myself. This is not going to be easy, but I have to do this for the sake of my own sanity.