249. Rare
There have been men who have tried to get her.
Of course, they never got her.
She has turned down every man who wanted her, and every man her father had set up with her. All these men wanted her, but they didn't even know her. Every man who "loved" her was like that. And that's why she never wanted to fall in love. She was afraid that whoever she fell for was going to be just like everyone else: a selfish jerk.
For Viper, the rare chance of her finding love is 1 out of 1000.
At least…that's what she used to think.
When she fought with the Five for the first time, she was cautious of the males at first. But she noticed that they were different. Even after they found out the Great Master Viper was her father, and they didn't try to get her. They tried to get to know her. They tried to befriend her. Her team is what helped her believe that there were still those rare animals out there who would want to know her before they try to court her.
Viper didn't want to fall in love. Then, she decided to give love another chance. And now, she was trying to figure out how love worked.
"I want you to know that someone cares for you—whether you accept them as a lover, or just as a friend."
She began to feel feelings she had never felt before. She's felt them ever since the Lotus Festival. Ever since Crane helped her and stayed with her throughout the night. Was this feeling love? No. It couldn't be. They had only known each other for a month.
So, Viper pushed those feelings aside. Perhaps she felt overly happy because someone cared for her.
A year passed, and Viper's relationship with her team began to expand to more than just Crane. She became more outgoing and formed close friendships with every one of the Five.
And then, she felt the feelings again.
"Because as long as I still have you in my life, I'll be happy."
This time, it was when Crane asked if she wanted to eat lunch in the village with him. And only him. This gesture made her stomach do flips, and her heart was a flutter. She felt like this before they even got to the restaurant! Was that feeling love? No. He just invited her to be nice.
So, Viper pushed those feelings aside. She was probably surprised at his sudden invitation.
Viper kept pushing them aside. And pushing and pushing. These types of feelings kept reappearing for a long time. She and Crane grew to be closer to each other more than they realized. But this wasn't love. No. It couldn't be.
All those times she blushed whenever he was near her. All those giddy feelings she got when he smiled at her. The worry she had whenever he got hurt. The laughter shared between them. All these feelings are not love. They couldn't be.
"You are the best thing to have ever happened to me and…"
This turmoil continued until year four of their training. Viper was getting ready for the Lotus Festival. But when she went into her room, she found a mysterious scroll laying on her bed.
OOO
"V-Vi?" Crane knocked while slowly peeking his head into the room, "Shifu asked me to get everyone. Are you ready?"
Viper's eyes were stuck on the scroll—specifically the ending. Suddenly, all the feelings she has been pushing aside for years came down onto her like an overflowing dam. She didn't want to fall in love so much, that in this process, she never found out what love actually was. And, little did she know, she had been in it for the longest time.
"Vi?" She felt something soft on her back. She looked to her side to see Crane standing there with a look of concern, "Are you okay? You wanna call in sick?"
Viper looked back down at the scroll then back up at the avian, "Um…n-no. S-sorry…" She rolled up the letter and placed it back on her bed. She took a deep breath and turned around, making a full 360 in front of Crane, "How do I look~? Presentable?"
Crane just stared at her with the biggest grin on his face, "No…You look beautiful~" He slid her door open for her and bowed playfully, "Shall we go~?"
Viper blushed at his compliment, "Uh-um, y-yeah." She slithered out and they went to the festival together as they did five years ago.
OOO
There was no name signed at the bottom of the love letter, but there didn't have to be.
For Viper, the rare chance of her finding love is 1 out of 1000.
As fate had it, turns out Crane is that rare 1.
It took five years for her to realize she was in love with her teammate. Her friend.
But now that she knows, what was Viper to do with it?
OOO
Short chapter after two long ones.
So, Viper realized she liked Crane, like, 5 years later.
Thanks for reading!
Camp Camp is a good series.
-V