This is a very spontaneous update, and it's important to note I wrote most of this sitting on the floor of my bedroom while listening to "Francesca" by Hozier on loop.
TW: Kissing
The scariest part wasn't the thought of rejection. It was the way Rei was staring at her, and the fact that Rina couldn't tell what Rei was thinking or feeling.
"You…you like me?" Rei whispered, like it was this impossible thing that could never actually happen.
"Of course." Rina looked away, intently focusing on the ground below them. The tree they were sitting in was surrounded by a lovely, lush field of moss and clover, with wildflowers all over and—
"Rina," came a soft voice, interrupting her thoughts and forcing her to look at Rei.
"...Yes?"
"I…I like you too."
Suddenly, Rina was no longer scared of rejection or not being able to know Rei's feelings, but what would happen next. Now that they had confessed to each other, what were they supposed to do? Announce it to the world?
She whipped her head back to face Rei again, and found Rei smiling at her. This time, the smile was sweeter than before, and also full of something else Rina couldn't place.
Rei scooted closer to her until their shoulders were almost touching and Rina could make out the individual strands of hair that had fallen across the dark skin of Rei's forehead, and the glints of light in her brown eyes. Then she reached out a tentative hand, an invitation, which Rina accepted by lacing her fingers with Rei's.
They sat there, holding hands while sitting on a maple tree branch, for a few moments, soaking up each other's silent company and giddiness.
Then Rina leaned closer to Rei and turned, so their faces were only a few inches apart.
"Can I kiss you?" she said, even softer than before, so that she could barely even hear her own voice.
"Yes."
The two of them leaned closer together, their lips a hair's breadth from touching, both waiting for the right moment. Rina wasn't sure how Rei felt, but she knew that for her, she didn't think she could work up the courage to actually kiss someone, even if they had just confessed their feelings to each other and both said they wanted to kiss the other.
Finally, though, Rei closed the distance, and Rina's world changed.
She'd never thought about what it would be like to kiss someone. When she was younger, it wasn't something that even crossed her mind, and even when she got older, Rina had just thought, Ew, why would I ever want to kiss a boy?
Rina supposed that was a hint that she'd never liked boys to begin with.
Zarina had won the election. She'd done it.
It was almost unbelievable. She hadn't even thought anyone knew of her, much less the Councillors, so the fact that they had unanimously decided that she would become one of them was insane to her.
Not that she'd entered herself. Her mother had put her up for the spot of Councillor without telling Zarina, which she'd been mad about at first, until she won.
But not all of her anger had gone away, because a part of her didn't want anything to do with the Council. It was mostly due to her relationship with Lyrei.
They'd been dating for five years now, and Rei was one of three of the most important people in Rina's life. Her parents still didn't know, and thought she had some anonymous boyfriend who was too shy to meet them. But maybe that was for the best if they never knew.
When Rina found out that she'd won, she immediately went to Rei.
"I need to talk to you about something," she said, lingering in the doorway of Fallentree, Lyrei's new house. As its name suggested, a tree had fallen over the river that ran around the estate like a moat, which was how people accessed the house.
Rei hugged her tightly before pulling away and saying, "Does this have anything to do with you winning the election?"
Rina froze and nodded.
"I'm still not sure if I should actually go through with it," she confessed, taking Rei's hand. "You know how the Council feels about bad matches. I'm fairly certain we're the epitome of a bad match. Do I really want to align myself with them? And are you sure you're fine with your girlfriend becoming a Councillor? Plus, we're not allowed to be in romantic relationships. Won't that jeopardize my place of office?"
"Rina," Rei said gently, putting her arms on Rina's shoulders to cut off her rambling, "I'll be fine. We'll both be fine, and if you decide it's too much, you can always resign."
"You're sure you're fine with it?"
"Yes." Rei hugged her again, kissing Rina's forehead and adding, "If anyone can convince the Council to change their ways, it's you. And when your position as Councillor does come to an end, I'll be waiting right here for you."
