heartbreak on your face

XIII; Measuring Cups – Andrew Bird

–

To be Momo.

They confuse her, those three words.

She is Momo, no matter how she tried to act. That's what she believes – because inventing herself is only pulling out the aspects she likes or dislikes and emphasizes or ditches them.

It's an experiment, revealing her multilayered personality. Like finding the depth of sky, she knows she'll find it someday.

Words. Smiles. Gestures.

She's an act, and doesn't know how to entertain.

No—that's not… that's not… she's confusing herself.

"Momo?"

"I…"

He's looking at her, and her mind is coming to a blank.

She doesn't know how to respond.

Doesn't realize that sometimes that's okay.

–

They sit under the willow tree, reflecting different things.

But it's nice.

Comfortable.

And Momo thinks that she could, once again, sit here forever, by his side.

–

"Remember my first dream?" She starts, brushing back a lock of hair behind her ear. "The very first, among my list of many."

"Um…" His grey-blue eyes look up, and he tries to remember what it was, sorting through the files of his memory. "The library one?"

"Close. The book shop one." Momo corrects, with a smile, glad that he recalls. He's always been dependable like that, and she's always found herself so prone on leaning on him… until she realized that she was taking advantage. "I want to make it a reality."

"Think you can do it?" A slight smile lets his mouth curve, the faintest trace of teasing. "You don't want be to a pirate any more?"

"I know I can do it." Confident, she meets his challenge with a giggle. "Being a pirate is fun, but I think, in the end, it's not the job for me. Sure, it's great while it lasts, but… if I stick to that path, who knows when I'll find 'that' home. Even if that's not my tale to live, and I try to make it fit." She blinks, and though she stutters with hesitance, Hinamori Momo perseveres. "I want to set up a bookshop, and… I want you to be there, by my side."

"How?" Softly, he asks, and there's something written on his face, and she wonders if she mirrors his expression.

Friend. Lover. She could say either, and maybe he'd comply. Maybe he wouldn't.

It's not certain.

And, she sorts of likes it – dangling under the threads that hold everything in balance; but then… she doesn't, because she loves him. She always has, but maybe it's only until now that she knows how. She's always loved him, and that love has grown, developed, and she wants to show him when she's sober.

She doesn't know which he wants to be, after the events of last night, and she doesn't want to take him for granted.

But she wants him to be there.

"You decide." With a meek grin, she tells him, waiting with baited breath.

Without saying a word, he kisses her gently. Reciprocating, she doesn't want it to end, but…

"Is this okay?" Izuru asks her, breathing shallow, his hands still on his cheek.

"Yes." She nods, cheeks growing rosy. "Yes."

–

It's not the beginning, nor is it the end.

No, more like, they're in the middle of what they've started.

They've drifted apart, now they're drifting towards each other.

–

This could be it.

Their moment.

–

She holds his hand, and he holds her heart.

And she thinks that maybe, they're going to be okay after all.

–

a/n. Thanks for reading and reviewing! I had a great time writing this.