Chapter 16 Kiss of Promise

"Say, Elsword."
"What?"
Rena kept on bugging him since they left the house.
They're in Elsword's class now.

"Did my mother say anything!? She did, right!?"
"Like I said, it's nothing, really."
Elsword kept on reading his book as Rena pulled his sleeves.

"Muu... Fine then..."
Finally she gave up.

Elsword sighed.
It's still morning but he's already facing such a trouble in the morning.
Rena's cute, he admit it, but sometimes she can be such a pain in the ass.

"Hey, do you have a new book for me to read?"
"The next book will be out next month, during our final exam."
"Eh!?"
Rena's disheartened.
'Can't be helped...'
Elsword thought.

"If you want, I got some one shot books. Read it if you like it."
"Really!? I don't have to wait for continuation, right?!"
"Yes, but what's disappointing in one shots is they're too into the topic and ended the story too fast, I wonder if you would like these type of books."
"It's okay!"
Smiling wryly, Elsword took out his books from his bag and gave it to her.
Rena's amazed by the amount of Elsword's book.

"How much books do you have, Elsword?"
"... Probably around 400 I think?"
"400!?"
Rena's jaw dropped.
She would never able to collect so many books like that since her mother will most likely scold her for spending too much money.
She envy Elsword's family who didn't mind him buying many books.

"Can I visit your home, Elsword?!"
"Hm? I don't mind, but for what?"
"Because I never visit your home before!"

That's true, even during their childhood, Elesis(Elsword) always tried to avoid letting Aisha or Rena entering his house because his secret will be exposed that he's crossdressing.

"Fine, then... When will you visit?"
"Tonight!"
"That was fast!"
But he already expected that answer, though.
He just nodded and Rena's smiling happily.

-After School-

"Rena, are you going home?"
Aisha asked her.

"No, I have something to do."
Rena said as she smiles.

"I see, take care."
Aisha smiles as she got out of the class.

"I think Elsword's still in his class, better off to see him."
Rena took her bag and she head toward Elsword's class.

"Elsword?"
She popped her head in from the door to see if there's Elsword inside.

"Rena."
Elsword waved at him from his rear seat.
Rena noticed him and she entered the class.

"Hey, Elsword, let's go?"
"Yes, wait a minute."
He arranged his books into his bag and he stood up.

"Let's go."
"Um!"
Rena held his hand.

"H-Hey!"
Without letting Elsword to say any more words, Rena pulled him out of the class happily.

"Hey, Rena! Calm down!"
"Shut up~ Let's go!"
"Hey!"

And so Rena pulled him all the way to where he park his bike.
"You're really too energetic, chill down a bit!"
"Ouch..."
Elsword poke her forehead.

He moved his bike out of the parking park and he gave one of his helmet to Rena.
"Here."
"Um!"
Rena smiled as she took the helmet.
She untie her hair and wear on the helmet.
Elsword's blushing when he watched Rena untie her hair.
But he still able to keep his cool.

"Let's go!"
Rena get on the bike and yell happily.
Elsword grinned and drive his bike back to his home.

"By the way, Elsword?"
"What is it?"
"Who do you live with?"

Elsword think for a while.
"My father's out of the country... My mom's currently in the hospital because doctor said she can't move around for awhile, so currently... I'm alone."

Rena's blushing.
She imagined being alone with Elsword in his home.
"Ah... Ahahaha... I see..."
Rena tried to cover her embarrassment but end up talking with a suspicious tone.

Elsword who doesn't understand what she meant just tilted his head as he kept on driving.
After a short while, they reached his home.
Rena's watching her surroundings.

"So this is where you live... I used to come here too, but I never get in your house."
"Well, since I can't possibly let..."
"Let?"
"N-No..."
Rena pondered for awhile and she clapped her hands.

"Ah- It's because you cro- Mmmphh!?"
Elsword covered her mouth with a Godlike speed.

"Don't say that out loud! No one around here except my family knows this!"
Rena nodded.
And then he sighed and let go of her.

"Let's get in, there's no use standing outside."
Elsword opened the door and welcomed her inside.

"P-Pardon my intrusion..."
She timidly entered the house.
She's very surprised that his house is not so different from her house.
She can make herself at home easily due to the similarity of aura.

"My room's upstairs, let's go."
"Y-Your room!?"
Elsword tilted his head in confusion.

"What? Didn't you say you want to see my books?"
"O-Oh, so it's that... O-okay..."
Elsword wondered what happened, but when he realized it, he blushed.

"W-What's up?"
Rena asked him.

"N-Nothing. Let's go."
He led the way.

Rena timidly followed him from behind.
Elsword opened the door and there Rena can see a big bookshelf full of books.
"Woah! So many books!"
Rena's eyes are glittering.

Elsword smiled wryly.
"Well, that's it, try to find any books you want to read, I've read them all after all."
"Really!?"
"Yes, go on. I already know everything that were kept here after all."
Rena got in without hesitation and tried to find any books she can find.

"So many books... Everything looked so interesting..."
Rena pouted as she put her finger on her lips.

"I would recommend these one, since the words are not too deep you should be able to enjoy it. Try to read a little."
He took out a book and he lend it to Rena.
Rena took it and she read the summary.

"This one is quite interesting, did you have the full volume of this one? I hate waiting..."
"Don't worry, it got 40 volumes and I have them all. Just read it first, since it's quite long I don't know if you will like it or not."
Rena's eyes glitters at the 40 volumes part.

"REALLY!? 40!? I want to read them! I love long story!"
"Y-Yeah... you can take 4 with you first, I don't think you can finish them so fast."
Rena nodded vigorously.
She's really absorbed into these novels.

Elsword smiled wryly.
Looks like she really meant it when she said that she want to understand me.

After about 1 hour of looking for the books, Rena sat on his bed.
"Your books are too many! I think I will need to come here quite often to switch books."
"It's okay, just tell me whenever you've read it until finished, I will take you here again."
"Hihihi, thank you, Els."
She grinned.
Elsword look away as he blushed.
And then Rena look at her own feet.

"Say, Elsword."
"What is it, Rena?"
"I think you really noticed me already."
"-Ah."
Now that he thought about it, he never ignored her again.
Looks like Rena's already becoming his important part of his life.

"I'm really happy of it, you used to keep on ignoring me, I was really frustrated."
"Well, since you're really is too noisy."
"I'm sorry, okay? I don't know that you hate crowd."
He chuckled but then he looked at Rena's eyes.
Rena blushed when she looked at his eyes.
This girl... Even when I rejected her, she never gave up her hope.
Am I right to kept things from her?

"Rena..."

She loves me.
I also love her.
However, I can't be her boyfriend yet.
But I can't let her wait without letting her know anything...
Hence...

"... I will tell you the truth, Rena."
"Y-Yes?"
Rena's too tense.

"-I also love you."
"*Gasp*!"
Rena covered her mouth.
Elsword can see her tears.

"R-Really...?"
He nodded.
But then he continued.

"However, I can't be your boyfriend yet. Not now."
"Why...?"
"... I have a promise that I must keep no matter what."
Rena understands his situation, but she wished to know what promise and with who.

"A promise... With who?"

Elsword pondered for awhile and shook his head.
"I can't tell you yet, you will know for sure, one day."
He smiles.
Even though she's not satisfied, she's still very happy.

"I see... So... You love me..."
Rena blushed as she looked at his face gently.
Elsword can't help but blushed madly at her face.

"Yes... I love you, too. But we can't go out just yet."
"Then... You mean in the future, we will?"
Elsword nodded.

"In the future, when I've fulfilled my promise, of course."
"-Elsword!"
Rena jumped from the bed and she hugged Elsword that he fell on the floor.

"He-Hey-!?"
Their lips met.
He can feel his lips are touching a very warm yet soft thing.
Rena's lips.

And then, Rena slowly parted their lips.
Rena's face is blushing like mad.
"... This is our promise... We will go out when you fulfilled your promise..."
"Re-Rena..."
His face is now the same color with his hair.

Rena smiled gently.
"Don't forget our promise, we will go out after your promise is fulfilled."
"... Yes, I promise you, Rena."
Elsword smiled as he caressed Rena's cheek.

"-I love you, I really love you, Els."
Saying that, Rena hugged him and cuddles to him.
Elsword can't help but blushed.
Rena's really in love with him.
He caressed Rena's head as he smile at his going to be girlfriend.

"I will wait for you, Els."
"Yes, wait for me, Rena."
And they hugged each other.
Feeling each other's warmth.

Chapter 16 Kiss of Promise End

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