Chapter 19

"Dress for the rain," Hana reminded. "Also the cold. And bring your running shoes. Socks. Lots of socks. My feet keep getting soaked, it's awful. I'm buying rain boots today."

Mori smiled, listening to Hana listing of things that he would need for London. He'd packed already, according to her texts over the past week. She called the night before his flight as she got ready for her day. She was an early riser, just like him.

"Um, what else… what else…" Hana paced around the flat, gathering her things for the day as she waited for her kettle to boil. She had her travel mug ready for her daily tea. Hana planned to head over to the library for the last push in finishing her paper and after that, she would be free. And somewhere along the way she'd buy a pair of rain boots, of course.

"Do you want anything from Japan?" Mori interrupted.

Hana paused for a few seconds.

"Just you."

He smiled. "Okay." An involuntary flush to his cheeks gave him a burst of warmth. Damn was he glad that she couldn't see him.
"Travel safe, yeah?"
"Okay."

Silence blanketed over them as they listened to their surroundings. The kettle whistled. Neither wanted to say goodbye.

"I'll see you soon."
"Mm," he answered. She hung up and left him laying on his bed, with just one more sleep until his flight. Mori felt silly as he tossed and turned, having trouble falling asleep. It wasn't like him to be so excited for something.

And there he was, 3 AM in the morning, bringing up photos on his phone that she sent him. Never quite of her own face, just her hand, or other defining features of herself caught in the reflection of the mirror. Coffees, books, the sun, the trees, the rainy days. All of the small moments captured whenever she missed him.

Now, instead of seeing things through a camera lens, he'd be able to see her world with his own eyes. Just one flight away.

When she found herself at the airport, anxiously waiting and running her hand through her long dark hair – Hana wasn't sure what to make of it. Always, she had been on the other side watching as lovers, parents, or friends anxiously waiting for their person to walk through the sliding doors of the airport.

When she was young, maybe as a teenager, she thought of these dramatic meetings to be over the top. Annoying, almost. Public displays of affection, of any form – it was unchartered territory for her. When a child embraced their parent after long periods of time of not seeing them, after two lovers embraced, after friends who reconnected after so long – she never understood.

But nonetheless, she spent her formative years watching these small moments from her peripheral vision. And now she was experiencing it.

The sort of heartache of watching your other half leave, or the excitement with butterflies in your stomach – she wanted none of that as a teenager. It wasn't a movie, after all. And yet, she felt all the same, years later as an adult. The butterflies in her stomach, the anxiety that ran through her body. Was her hair okay? Did her makeup smudge from the rain? Were her rain boots too squeaky? Was she overdressed? What would he say? What was she meant to say?

Things were awkward. In the best way possible. The beginnings of a relationship – more unchartered territory for the two of them. It was a new experience that Hana was trying to make the best of. There were no expectations of being swept off her feet. No expectations at all. She wasn't sure what to expect either. It didn't matter.

Things were bound to work out. They always had. Life had its ways, no matter how rocky the road seemed. They had no direction. Life gave them none. So they created direction and for now, there was no rush in creating a map.

Hana looked up at the Arrival screen for the nth time in the past 30 minutes. His flight had arrived in the past hour. Customs may have taken a while to get through, and baggage claim always took longer than intended. The young woman took a deep breath and waited. The sun was slowly rising, its rays peeking through the glass ceiling.

The red-eyed flight meant to tire him out but there he was, running on adrenaline in the early morning after a 14 hour flight. He had never travelled alone before. There was something very eye-opening about travelling on your own, with the worry of getting lost at the back of your mind at all times. Reading in another language was certainly a change – Mori managed to recall his English classes in Ouran. He certainly knew enough to get by, by reading - though speaking was a completely different train of thought.

Following the signs and walking through numerous pathways, Mori found himself at the end of his search. He recognized her immediately. Arms crossed, her mind somewhere else. Her hair was as long as ever, down to her mid-back, blending into her black coat. Her grey rain boots reached up to her knees.

A small smile crept up to his face. He slowly walked towards her, dragging his small carry-on behind. She glanced up at the arrival screen and back down to her phone. She looked nervous.

Hana didn't notice him. She was so fixated at the screen instead of watching the gates open and close at each passenger that arrived. She felt a gentle tap on her shoulder.

He stood there with a soft gaze, a small smile that crept up to his cheeks when he watched her eyes widen with surprise. She stood there not knowing what to say, almost trying to grasp to the fact that he was real. That he of all people actually flew 14 hours to see her across the world. No one besides Hiro had done that for her.

"You're here," Hana whispered. Mostly to herself. Everything in her peripheral vision just seemed to disappear.

Mori nodded in response. It only felt natural to open up his arms, letting her in between. It was second-nature. A strange thing that Hana never thought she would crave. Affection was such a new experience. A part of her wondered if it would ever stop, and at the back of her mind: she hoped that it wouldn't.

Hana couldn't help but to grin when she pulled apart.

"Come on. Let's go."

With one hand on his luggage, his other hand was firmly gripped by her as she led him to the Underground.

Their trip was quiet. A comfortable silence that sat between the two. They started off stealing glances at each other noting the things that had changed.

His hair was shorter. He must have recently gotten it cut. She wanted to reach over to give it a good tousle. His eyes caught hers before she could even reach for him. Hana shyly looked away.

Her hair was longer. No waves, nothing fancy as he'd last remembered it. Plain and simple, with her hair straight until the middle of her back. The skin on her hands grew rougher than before. He grazed his thumb over the rippled skin.

Hana grew self-conscious at the gesture, pulling back her hand out of embarrassment.

"It's been cold," Hana tried explaining. The weather had dried out her skin and she was too busy with her paper and work to think of applying hand cream on a regular basis. Self-care wasn't exactly a priority, unfortunately.

Mori silently reached over to her hand again, this time making sure she wouldn't pull away. He interlocked his fingers with hers. Takashi wanted to know every little bit of her hand. He wanted to memorize the way her fingers curled over the grooves between his own fingers, every nook and cranny of her slender bones and knuckles.

She smiled at the way he held her hand. He was firm, but delicate. The way his thumb grazed over her own so faintly, she gently squeezed his hand in response. It was a small moment that they had before they had to step off the train.

Hana reached over to his luggage but Mori refused.

"You're already carrying a large backpack. Let me help," she insisted. "You must be tired."

It was quite the opposite, actually. There was a sudden burst of energy – likely from adrenaline, mixed in with endorphins from her presence. Mori shook his head again. He packed light, anyway. Hana frowned.

"Please Takashi," she mumbled. Hana gently tugged on his wrist and looked up at him, pleading with her large brown eyes. Takashi eventually conceded. He let her lead the way through the streets and up to her flat.

It was up a flight of stairs, to which Hana easily carried his luggage over. She opened the door to her flat that was reasonably sized for one person. An open-concept design with her bed by the corner and her office space at the window with a bookshelf lined across the wall. There was no couch, instead it was a nice open space. He noticed a yoga mat on the floor. It must have been where she kept fit.

It was a space that became a little small for two. But somehow, they fit comfortably. Mori admired the aesthetically pleasing mahogany floors that coupled with deep oak cabinets in the kitchen. It had a very antique feel to it – though the bright sheets of her bed and silver appliances gave a nice modern touch.

Hana settled in, placing his luggage by the bed.

"It's a little small," she sheepishly said when she noticed him observing the place from top to bottom.
"It's perfect," Mori corrected. It was perfect for the two of them. He didn't mind.

"Are you tired?" He must've been, she thought. After such a long flight, there must have been some form of jet lag to experience.

He shook his head. "You can always take a nap on the bed," she offered. "Don't try to stay up if you're feeling tired." Mori only shrugged.

"Are you up for breakfast?" Hana looked at the time on her phone. It was half-past noon. "Or, I mean… brunch?"

He nodded. Honestly, he was up for anything, anywhere. So long as she was there. She eyed him suspiciously, wondering if he was lying about feeling tired.

"I'm fine," he reassured, as if knowing exactly what had gone on in her mind. She sighed and grabbed her keys off the counter. She made sure to grab a small umbrella before leaving and took him by the hand.

Mori was used to being dragged from place to place. Honey always took him by the hand when he wanted to go somewhere. With her, she always had a habit of looking up at him, as if to check if he was doing okay. He wondered why, but didn't seem to mind when she smiled up at him.

Sometimes it was hard to believe that he was there in front of her in person. Hana wasn't sure why he made her so happy. Was it the way he held her hand? The way he listened to her so intently, like she was the most incredible thing in the world? How he made her feel so secure, the thought that things were going to be alright – no matter how lost she felt – it was so, so, so strange. Strange in the best way possible. Strange in the sense that it was such a foreign feeling. One that she couldn't help but to like.

She took him to her favourite café. Hana always worked here on weekends with her laptop and stack of books. It was a cozy place that served the fluffiest croissants and had the greatest selection of teas she had ever seen.

Hana told him to pick a spot while she ordered for the two of them. He slowly made his way by the large windows that gave the perfect view to the small street.

Mori watched as she conversed with the cashier. Her polite chuckles that coupled with her eyes that smiled. Her laugher was sweet, and her voice rang through his ears. Was it because he hadn't seen her for so long that he felt this way? He was enchanted by the woman. It wasn't normal how someone could feel so elated by someone else's laughter.

Hana made her way over, her boots clacking against the hardwood floors. She carried over two trays of tea, one in each hand.

"English tea," she explained. "It's only right that you try what the English are famous for." Her thin fingers carefully placed the tray in front of him. He thanked her quietly, her hair coming close to his face as it cascaded down her shoulders. She smelled like jasmine.

"Go on," Hana ushered. Mori took a sip. It was different from their usual green tea. Not pure and clean like what he was used to. A creamier taste, with a hint of sweetness before a slight bitter aftertaste. It wasn't bad. It was certainly an acquired taste. Takashi nodded in approval.

"It's different," she took a sip of her own. "It took some getting used to. But it's quite nice, I think."
"Hm," he agreed.

She looked at him, as if waiting for him to speak. Mori wasn't sure what to say. He could only return the same look. Hana laughed.

"You haven't spoken much," she noted.
"Sorry," he apologized. Takashi had never been good with words and he certainly wasn't right then and now when he had the most beautiful girl sitting across from him.

"No, don't apologise," Hana shook her head. "Just let me know if you want to head back to rest. I know it's a lot to ask for someone to fly 14 hours just to see me. I should be sorry," she apologized, bowing her head out of habit.

"I don't mind," he responded. "You…" He wasn't sure where to begin. It was her that sent over the ticket in the first place.

She looked up from the table at him. Hana sat there patiently, waiting for him to piece the sentence together.

"You're lovely."

He wanted to say thanks. But then he wanted to tell her how kind she had been to have him stay at her place and for flying him over. Then he couldn't help but to get lost in her eyes, how they locked with his own so intently. He got distracted by her small smile as she encouraged him to continue. Then… all he could think about how lovely she was.

There was something about hearing her mother tongue again, after so many years abroad. How she craved hearing the language she had first learned to speak. But there was something special about having him tell her that she was lovely in her own mother tongue that gave her butterflies. The way he looked at her with the most sincere eyes, as if he couldn't believe she was there in front of him. He made her feel so many things at once. Her heart skipped a beat.

"You two look so adorable together," the waitress commented when she brought over two plates of their signature breakfast dishes. Toast, baked beans, sausages, and over easy eggs. Nothing too fancy but it was certainly a hearty meal. Hana politely smiled at the comment and thanked the woman.

Mori watched as Hana's eyes darted towards a particular picture that hung on the wall across from them.

"What is it?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Nothing." Hana continued cutting through her toast.

The picture was of a high cliff that abruptly cut off before a body of water. It was a beautiful photo with a man dangling his legs off of the ginormous rock that stood hundreds of feet tall. Mori turned to get a better view of the photo.

"It's a cliff in Norway called Pulpit Rock," the young woman stared at the photo with him. "There's something very alluring about that picture. I don't know. Every time I come, it's always taunting me to visit."

Mori turned to watch her look longingly at the photograph. "You should go."

Hana shook her head. "It's just… nice to think about. Can you imagine the hike to get to that tip? I'm sure the view would be more incredible in person." She took a bite of the toast. "I mean, it's not like it's far. The flight to get to the town nearest to the cliff is 2 hours from London, and from there, it's an hour drive."

Takashi tilted his head. It sure seemed like she was planning to go if she'd done this much research about it. He wondered what was stopping her. She noticed him looking at her quizzically. Hana smiled sheepishly.

"I, um…" she paused. "I planned it all out, I just… I realized that you wouldn't be there." Hana shrugged. "It wouldn't have been the same without you, so I just never really had the courage to go."

"I'll come with you." No hesitation. It looked like it would be interesting. The photograph was certainly enough to convince him. And of course, Hana as a reason was more than enough to solidify his decision.

"No," Hana shook her head. "You're only here for a week. Let's not get crazy." She looked up at him again. He blinked. Hana put down her fork when she realized he was still serious. Her lips parted in surprise.

"You're going to be hit with jetlag, Takashi. It's a 6 hour hike in total," she explained. "I don't want you to overexert yourself."

Mori shrugged. "It's fine."

Hana pursed her lips. Oh, how tempted she was.

"Let's go," he smiled at her. The way her eyes lit up at his words made his stomach flip over.

That evening, Hana booked their flight as Mori showered. She excitedly presented him the tickets that she printed out as he stepped out of the bathroom. Two tickets, a rented car, and her backpack was already packed. Mori was glad he packed his own hiking backpack as a travel bag – not that there was much. Her excitement was contagious. Though it certainly wasn't enough to keep him awake.

By the time Hana had gotten out of the shower, he was fast asleep. It was 9 PM. She booked their flight for the early afternoon. They would rest for the night before driving to the site the day after. Hana carefully crawled into bed after making last minute arrangements on her laptop.

She ran her hand through his soft hair as he slept. Hana expected things to feel awkward. But oddly enough, everything fell into place. Even how he shifted to face her in his sleep, how his arms somehow made their way around her waist to pull her towards him. All with his eyes closed. Somehow they just fit.

Hana woke first at 8 AM. For the first time in the long time, she stayed in bed for just a little while longer as she relished in the feeling of being enveloped by his arms. Hana came to love how they both breathed in sync. It was certainly much more comfortable than that one time she slept by the fireplace with him, now years ago. How far they have come, Hana thought. She smiled to herself.

It took all her willpower to shimmy her way out of his firm grip. She needed to make breakfast for the two of them and make travel arrangements to get to the airport. Hana let him sleep for a while longer, knowing that Takashi would require all the sleep he could get after a whirlwind flight and tiring day. It was only about to get more exhausting.

Mori woke up to an empty bed. It would've been a regular thing to him but he suddenly felt so cold without her beside him. He could hear the clacking of her keyboard as she worked by her desk with a cup of tea on the side. Takashi reluctantly lifted himself up from the bed. Hana immediately turned to find him groggily rubbing his eyes.

"Did I wake you? I'm so sorry, I meant to let you sleep until 9." She walked from her desk over to his side of the bed. He shook his head tiredly. She couldn't help but to smile at how adorable he looked with his messy hair and half-dazed expression.

She kissed him on the cheek and told him to get himself washed up for the day, grazing her fingers through his hair. How she wanted to do that since she first laid eyes on him at the airport, it was incredibly satisfying. Hana elicited a grin on his face when she pulled away while he obediently nodded, obviously still in a daze.

Takashi found her in the kitchen brewing tea. A plate of fresh fruit had been placed on the counter along with a few pieces of toast and scrambled eggs. Her hair was in a loose bun, already falling apart as she was still dressed in her pajamas. A loose fitting grey t-shirt and sweatpants while her feet were bare.

His arms swooped around her waist before he planted a kiss on her temple. His own way of saying good morning. No words needed.

She laughed at the gesture and faced him so she could return the affection.

"I could get used to this," Hana whispered.

Takashi smiled at her. He couldn't have agreed more. They were in such bliss. Neither of them wanted to think about things like whether this phase would last, or if it were a phase at all. There was no talk about the future, what direction this was going – it was the present that mattered. And the present made them so incredibly euphoric – it felt like a dream.

Hana seemed much more calm about delayed flights and travel arrangements being changed than anyone else he had seen before. During the days of the Host Club vacationing, it was always Kyouya who handled the rebookings while Tamaki and the Twins wailed or complained about their vacation being ruined. Hiro would join in on the mess if he wasn't too busy producing a track on his laptop – the noise cancelling headphones seemed to drown out the chaos.

Hana sat back in the seat and smiled. She was no stranger to these kinds of things. Especially from living abroad and traveling during her days of modelling.

"It happens," she shrugged. "Always expect the worst case scenario before travelling. That way you'll be prepared." They arrived in Norway in the evening, when the skies had already darkened. They slept almost immediately after arriving at their hotel, both of them expecting a long day ahead.

There was rain in the forecast but Hana laughed it off claiming that it would only add to the experience. She was always up for an adventure, no matter how dangerous or unideal. They woke up before the crack of dawn to drive to the hiking site.

"What if we get lost?" Mori asked while Hana navigated the roads. The GPS system was mounted to her left while she kept a decent speed on the dark roads. The sun hadn't risen yet.
"Then we get lost," Hana shrugged. "We'll ask someone for directions, I guess."

Hana laid back in the seat while she drove, paying attention to the roads while listening to the music being played. Mori listened to her humming as she excitedly tapped her fingers against the steering wheel.

"When did you learn to drive?"
"Sixteen," Hana answered. "Overseas." The age to get a license in Japan was 20. Mori hadn't even gotten a driver's license yet. There was never need to drive when you lived in Tokyo.

"Why?"
"Honestly? I just thought it seemed like a useful skill – and Hiro was all about cars when he was 16. He really wanted a sports car – not sure if you remember that phase. But I mean, he got it and I'm sure it's still sitting in the garage somewhere. He ended up buying a couple cars and letting me drive them, for fun."

Hana kept her eyes on the road and continued. "Driving is… relaxing, I think. I enjoy it. Like, when you place your hand outside of the window and let the breeze run through your fingers. Or when you're on the racetrack with a sports car and you're turning right at the apex. The sensation just… reminds me of being alive. Just like hiking."

"Being alive?"

The girl paused as she tried to explain her stance. "Every day is so mundane, don't you think? Sometimes you forget you have blood flowing through your veins and that you're truly alive to breathe in the fresh air and experience new things."

Takashi thought for a moment. She had a point.

Though he would argue that sometimes, he did enjoy the mundane details of life. There was something very comforting about a routine. Mori did not mind the days being mundane, but rather, he enjoyed the regular days of uneventfulness. Was that strange?

"I like the mundane days," he admitted.

Hana laughed. "I guess it's different for all of us. I suppose working the usual 9-5 corporate schedule just wasn't for me. My internship wasn't even 9-5, it was more like 24/7. Investment banking is nothing close to mundane, it was a constant high-stress."

Mori nodded, listening closely and processing his thoughts.

"What will you do?"

"At the company?" Hana hummed. Mori was glad how quick she was able to catch onto his half-finished sentences. "The plan is to get control and have it grow under my hands for a bit. Get some steady growth, wait for the market to stabilize before announcing the merger with the Ootori Corp. They're looking into creating a subdivision of computer software, anyway – it's only a matter of…"

She paused. "Conscience, I guess. Whether I'll truly be able to give everything up and betray my father. Not that… not that we are family to begin with. It's… it's complicated."

Mori nodded and snuck a glance at her. She was focused on driving but he could tell that the future weighed heavily on her shoulders.

"It'll be a few years," Hana quietly said. "A few years of me pretending to take over a multi-billion company and then… who knows." Everything seemed so uncertain. Of course, the uncertainty still made her anxious. Though nowadays, it was more of a fact that she learned to accept. A way of life.

"What do you want to do?"

She shrugged. "I have some money invested in stocks already. I mean, I'm not a millionaire – but… it's steady so far. Everything is always a gamble. Life is a gamble," Hana sighed. "There's never quite a way to win. Just a way to evade the system."

Mori couldn't quite decide if Hana had grown to be a cynic, or perhaps just a stone-cold realist. Either way, something about her shifted. She was much more cool-headed. Less angry at society as a whole, and more accepting of the harsh realities of the world they lived in. How she fought against society strategically instead of bashfully – it was the true mark of maturity.

Hana had one hand on the stick shift and the other had a firm grip on the wheel. He instinctively reached over to her hand, reassuring Hana before she got too lost in her own thoughts.

He brought her back from her daze. She glanced at him before turning back to the road.

"Do you ever wonder about… your father?" Were these questions too personal? Mori no longer had much of a filter around her. He had grown much too comfortable around her. Even more so than Honey, to a degree. They had time to pass, anyway.

She paused for a few seconds. "My biological father? I… I guess not. Life has been too distracting for me to think about my actual lineage. Ojii-san has been more of a father, or really, a parent, in my entire life. I suppose I never really felt the need to search for whoever he is, out there. I have everything I need."

A small smile tugged at her lips. Hana had learned to be grateful for what she had. She came from privilege and Hana made every effort to remember that. Humility was very much a trait she strived to obtain at all costs. Ojii-san would have been disappointed in her otherwise.

Mori nodded in understanding.

They finally reached the carpark at dawn, catching up on the time they had lost. The skies were still overcast, but Hana was optimistic as she unloaded the car with their backpacks filled with supplies for the day. It was freezing cold without the sun.

"Ready?" She asked him, ignoring the cold and the wind. He nodded. She took his hand and they began the hike to the iconic cliff.

The path was steep and rocky. Some places were more slippery than expected given the spring rain that fell upon them. It was not the most popular destination of the season, especially given the weather. But that didn't stop her from pushing forward, while making sure he fell closely behind.

They were surrounded by lush forestry, wetlands, and beautiful ponds along the way. Hana made sure to take out her small DSLR camera to capture the moments. It was a challenging hike, Mori had to admit. He was panting about an hour into the entire journey. The steepness was no joke.

Hana found a spot beneath the branches of the tree to shelter them for a bit before the continued on with their journey. They rehydrated themselves and ate their bananas that they packed from the hotel breakfast.

"I don't know if you know this," Hana murmured. They let the pellets of rain fall around them for a little while longer before pushing forward. She looked up at him. "How important you are to me," she finished.

Her hair was up in a ponytail, practically soaked at the ends. Her face had no make-up on, her dark circles showing, her eyes still a little swollen from the lack of sleep. She was in no position where she dressed to impress. She was as raw as she could be in front of him.

"I'm serious," she poured out all her feelings, like how the rain had poured over them. "I just… I've always known that you would play an important part of my life. I just didn't know how. Whether you would be just a childhood friend or… who knows. But I didn't dare ask for too much."

Mori felt the same. He just wasn't sure how to express all of that in words.

"But now that you're here," Hana whispered. "Is it too much to ask for you to never leave?"

He knew exactly what she meant. Physically, they were going to be apart for who knew how long. But emotionally, they were attached. Forever, if that was allowed. If fate allowed them to be intertwined for life. If somehow all the stars were able to align for them to stay.

Takashi shook his head and gently tilted her chin upwards from the ground. He reached down to her lips, giving her his answer. Hana wrapped her hands around his neck, not wanting to let go. This was the bliss they didn't know when they would ever experience again.

"You're my sun. I can never leave you." His orbit was forever intertwined with hers. Her force of gravity was too strong for him to ever think of leaving.

By the end of the 3 hour hike, the couple finally reached the tip of the cliff that overlooked the fjord below. It was so incredibly serene. The fog had cleared up as the hours had gone by, with the sun occasionally peeking out of the clouds. The steep cliff had no railings, nothing to hold them back as they sat at the very edge.

Mori finally understood what Hana meant by feeling so alive. The idea that he could fall 600 metres to his death by a slight shift forward was more than enough to remind him that he was alive. The cliff was in the midst of the mountains surrounded by a deep emerald green with the aquamarine water that calmly wavered at the bottom.

She held his hand tightly with a smile.

"I can't believe I'm here," Hana was ecstatic. "All this time I've been dreaming to do this and here you are. You made my dreams come true."

Takashi shook his head. He hardly did a thing. He only tagged along.

They sat in silence for a bit. The view was still breathtaking. They breathed in the beautifully fresh mountain air and let the sunlight touch their skin after 3 hours of hiking. The warmth was much needed after the cold rain.

"I'm not your sun," Hana decided. The warmth of the sunlight made her realize something. Mori turned to look at her. "You're my sun."

He tilted his head, perplexed by her sudden statement.

"All this time, you think I'm some unattainable… star. But I'm not, Takashi. You're my sun. You always show up for me. My orbit never leaves yours because I need you. I always return to you – and that won't change, so long as you want me."

"Always," he answered, after a few seconds of processing her words.

There was something very relieving about hearing your feelings being reciprocated. There is a rush of anxiety and terror through your veins when you decide to be vulnerable. How you lay everything out for the other party to take and to cherish, or to throw away and destroy. There was no in between.

"You complete me," Takashi whispered.

They never thought of themselves as incomplete. All their lives, they were never searching for a missing piece. Life was a distraction. School, family, work, and more responsibilities.

Yet somehow, this feeling of being complete appeared when they were together. And suddenly, when they were apart, something was missing and they knew exactly what that sudden hole in their chest was meant to be filled by.

They had grown to be dependent on each other to a degree that neither of them could admit was healthy. They each had different lives to lead and places to be. But for now, they had a few more moments of being complete with their hands intertwined with their arms entangled with one another.

This was what being alive felt like.

A/N: In before I disappear again after Reading Week. Thanks for reading, all of you. Honestly, this fic was supposed to be done in September of last year. Not sure how it dragged out to be so long, but here we all are, oops. As usual, your thoughts are much appreciated. They keep me motivated while I drown in all my assignments, midterms, lab reports, and soon, finals. Much love to all of you for your patience and continuous readership. I appreciate it more than you know.