Leo's P.O.V.
I've been thinking lately that Cyrus has been getting pretty distant. We'd be together but he'd never be all the way present. Has that ever happened to you before? Well, it kinda sucks cuz I'm all in. It just feels like he's not 100 percent anymore.
I decided to ask him directly because that's just the way I am. "Sweetie?," I asked gently as I lay on his bed. "Yes Lionheart?," Cyrus asked softly. I love that nickname he gave me. I cleared my throat as my heart started racing.
C'mon Leo! Don't get cold feet now! "I wanna ask you something but I don't know how you're gonna take it," I went on as Cyrus sat on the edge of his bed. I stared at the ceiling as I waited for him to respond. I slowly sat up to meet his concerned gaze.
I just wanna hold him right now. "Leo what's wrong?," Cyrus asked full of worry. I moved closer to him as he gulped. "Do you like me or not?," I asked slowly. Cyrus told that he likes me a lot, which made me smile a little. "Where's this coming from all of a sudden?," he asked as he tilted his head to the side.
"Lately it seems you're not 100 percent here," I began. "100 percent here as in...with me," I explained quietly. Cyrus didn't take his eyes off mine as he slowly caressed my left arm. "It's true," he said as his eyes started welling up. Oh no! What did I do?!
"I've been going through a lot in terms of romance," Cyrus went on as we sat shoulder to shoulder. "And also the mundane things of life," he continued. My heart kept racing as I started to sweat. Keep it together Leo. He's not done talking yet.
"I really like you," Cyrus declared. I shook my head slowly as I smiled at him. "I feel like there's a 'but' coming on," I replied softly. Cyrus nodded his head as he wrapped his arm around my waist. We stared at each other before he finally spoke up.
"I'm at an emotional crossroads. I don't wanna hurt anyone 'cause that's not me. I need space to find out what I really want," Cyrus concluded softly as tears trickled down his face. I put my arm around his shoulders, drawing him into an embrace. How could I not know he was going through so much?
I didn't actually help his situation. I kept thinking about me losing him to TJ. I kept pressuring him, in little ways, to kiss me. He must think I'm a jerk and now I feel really bad. "I'm sorry Cyrus," I apologized as I held him closer. "I couldn't see that you were unhappy all this time," I lamented.
Cyrus gave me a squeeze as he looked up at me. "No!," he said raising his voice. "It's not your fault and I was always happy with you," Cyrus reassured making me smile. Suddenly, he gently cupped my cheeks. He drew me closer to his face as I became even more nervous.
He gently pecked my lips which made me feel giddy inside. He really kissed me! Wow! I wasn't expecting a break up kiss but it was great to me. "I know you've been waiting for that," Cyrus teased playfully as we laughed. I gently wiped the tears from Cyrus' eyes as he looked at me endearingly.
"Still friends?," I asked softly. Cyrus leaned against my arm as he smiled at me. "Always," he replied effortlessly.
TJ's P.O.V.
"Guys stop pullin' on each other," I called out to two children climbing the rope ladders. They giggled at me like I was playing. "お兄ちゃん," I heard Kiyo say as she tugged on my shirt. "どうした?," I asked her quietly as I knelt down to her level. Kiyoko likes to talk to me in Japanese ever since she heard me greet her mom that one time.
"私のえんぴつが...," Kiyo whined softly to me. Oh snap. She done lost her pencil again but that's okay. I'm sure we can find it! I gently took her hand, leading her to the crafting area. This reminded me of Tinker Bell (Andi). I wonder what she's doing right now?
After a while, we managed to find Kiyoko's favorite pencil. She gave me a hug before running off to play with her friends. "ありがとう," Kiyo said joyfully. "どういたしまして," I replied with a smile on my face. It feels good to help! Next thing I knew, someone covered my eyes from behind me.
"Hey I'm workin'," I reminded gently. I heard a giggle and knew who it was. "Kik." Kira burst out laughing as the children continued to play around us. Then it hit me.
How did she know I worked here? "Kik how'd ya know I was here?," I asked curiously. She took my hand, leading me to the rest area. We sat on the bean bag chairs as I kept my eyes on my babies. "I did some research," she said coquettishly.
"Jay Jay," I called out sternly. "Move away from Logan cuz I know you two are about to fight," I warned as they obeyed. Kira surveyed the room as the children kept playing. "What made you wanna work here?," she asked softly.
"I wanted extra money to save up for myself and help my dad," I replied. "Ya still didn't answer my question," I reminded Kira again. She brushed up against me as I looked at her. "What question?," she asked innocently. I laughed at her and she smiled.
"Stop playin'," I warned her. Kira moved away from me a little. "Okay okay," she relented. "I bugged your Lil Cat to tell me," Kira admitted. "Not cool Kira," I reprimanded as she pouted. "Ya coulda just asked me," I said feeling a lil agitated.
"I'm sorry," Kira apologized. "Won't happen again," she added as parents began to arrive. Kira helped me clean up the gym as each child said bye to us. I'm glad I was able to get some help today. We heard the door open after a while of cleaning to see Cyrus.
"Hey!," I greeted full of energy. Cyrus greeted me back with a big smile on his face. "What up?," he asked me smoothly. I smiled down at him as Kira walked up towards me. "Hey I'm here too Cat," Kira greeted Cyrus in her own way. Cyrus smirked at Kira as they went into their lil banter.
"I'm not cat-like in any way," Cyrus stated. Kira shook her head as she crossed her arms. "Yes you are," she teased. "You only come around when you want to," she added. "You're kinda fickle and only hang around people you like," Kira added with sass.
Cyrus thought about her statements for a moment. "Don't we all have animalistic tendencies?," I asked tryna sound smart. Cyrus looked up at me with a warm smile on his face. My heart has officially melted!
"I missed you," I gushed in a soft rasp. Cyrus looked down at the floor as he blushed. "Here we go with this again," Kira commented with her hands on her hips. "Can we get something to eat now?," she asked impatiently. Cyrus nodded as we followed Kira out the door.
I made sure to lock up the gym before we left. I'm glad the owner and manager gave me a copy of the keys to the gym. They really come in handy. After we crossed the street, we stopped in front of rental bikes. "Wanna rent a bike?," Kira asked.
"Cuz I don't feel like walkin' to Jam Juice," she added. "We goin' to Jam Juice?," I asked confused. Cyrus brushed up against me as I asked that question. "I thought we were going to The Spoon," he said as Kira shook her head.
Kira reached into her pocket and took out a quarter."Heads we go to Jam Juice," she stated raising her voice. "Tails is The Spoon!," she concluded as she flipped the quarter. She caught it and it landed on The Spoon. "Mmmh!," Kira whined looking at me.
"Why ya lookin' at me?," I laughed. Kira smiled at me as she shook her head. "Eff that!," she said. "We're going to Jam Juice," Kira declared. Cyrus shook his head no as we bumped shoulders.
"You flipped the coin and y'know what they say," Cyrus said in a low voice. Kira looked him up and down. "What?," she asked with sass. Cyrus looked up at me cuz I knew the saying too. "If ya go against what the coin chose," I began quietly. Kira began to lean in as I continued.
"There'll be a hex on ya for three days," I finished reciting the saying. "Bull!," Kira challenged. "Okay," Cyrus warned. "It's on you," he added. Kira smirked at him as we began to rent our bikes. We rode our bikes to Jam Juice and sat at our usual table. Cyrus sat on my left this time and Kira on my right.
"What do you guys want?," Kira asked as she browsed the menu. Cyrus leaned closer to me, making me smile. "I want a fruit salad," Cyrus said. "I'm gettin' a pizza," I said as I leaned against Cyrus. Kira smirked at us as she said we can share the pizza.
It's cool we all get to hang out. I just hope the hex won't be too bad on Kira. Our waitress gave us our drinks then I whispered in Cyrus' ear. "Don't think I forgot," I whispered as Kira slapped my arm. "Mh?," Cyrus asked as he smiled at me.
"Your bucket list," I whispered to him again as I swatted Kira's hand away. Cyrus looked down as he smiled again. "It may've took ten chapters but we checkin' off that list Cyrus," I added softly as Cyrus chuckled at me.
Yuuto25: Here's Kiyoko and TJ conversation - Kiyoko called TJ 「お兄ちゃん」= Big brother; TJ asked 「どうした？」= What's wrong or What happened; Kiyoko went on to explain 「私のえんぴつが」= My pencil; Kiyoko says 「ありがとう」= Thank you (informal/casual); TJ replies 「どういたしまして」= You're welcome