Her voice was soft, but there was something in it that made me stop. "You can't just say all that and walk away. Don't do that to me." She hesitated, almost whispering, "There's still something I want to ask you."
I turned back to her. "What is it?"
Sena's grip on my hand tightens. Her cheeks go bright red, and she looks away, trying to keep that tough act going. "About yesterday," she says, voice a little shaky. "You told me I'd make your life miserable if I became your girlfriend. That I'm annoying. But then you said you didn't hate it. Honestly, I don't get it."
She's never this open. For a second, she seems almost... lost. Like she needs me to say something real.
"So, what am I supposed to be right now?"
I scratch my head, not sure where she's taking this. "Uh, I mean, I don't know what you're getting at. We're not dating, so just be yourself. Don't worry about what I think."
She lets go of my hand, shoulders dropping. That little moment of honesty slips away, and I see the usual frustration in her eyes. "That's not what I meant!"
She whirls around to face me, annoyed now. "You said I'd make your life miserable. Does that mean I need to change? Am I supposed to stop being...whatever it is that bothers you?" She throws her hands up, voice getting louder. "Or do you just not want me around? Because that's what it sounded like yesterday!"
"Okay hold on a second, are you seriously asking if you want me to stay with you? Is that what this is about?"
Sena stops dead. She blushes even harder and glances away, folding her arms tight. She's all worked up, but not angry—just embarrassed. "That's not what I meant! Don't put words in my mouth. I just... I need to know where we stand."
Why are these conversations suddenly so confusing? Seriously, it drives me nuts.
"Okay," I say, rubbing my hands together because suddenly I don't know what to do with them. "Here's the truth. I like being around you. You're not boring," I go on, because now that I've started I can't stop. "You make things… less dull. Like the other day in class—when I gave you that gum and you blew that ridiculous bubble and it exploded? Everyone turned around. Even though both of us got caught. Totally worth it."
Her mouth falls open. "Wait. You thought that was funny?"
"Yeah."
"I thought you were mad," she says quickly. "You told me to be quiet."
"That was me panicking," I admit. "Didn't want the teacher looking our way. Also—pretty sure I was the one who handed you the gum, so that's on me."
She laughs, then stops herself, cheeks already pink. She takes a small step closer, like she hasn't realized she's doing it. "So you're not annoyed by me all the time?"
"I mean. Sometimes you are."
She stiffens—
"But," I add immediately, reaching out and taking her hands before I lose my nerve, "I don't hate it. It's part of you. And honestly? It's kind of what makes you fun. Kind of… attractive."
Her face goes completely red. "A-attractive? I mean, I k-know I am. But you can't just say that like it's nothing!" She looks away, but she doesn't let go. If anything, her grip tightens. "Idiot."
I grin. "Told you. I say things before my brain catches up."
She exhales a laugh, soft and a little shaky. "You're so weird."
The moonlight hits her face and for a second she looks younger, less guarded. Real.
"But… Do you really think I'm that attractive?" She takes another step toward me, and suddenly it's like the world drops away. The river, the bridge—everything goes quiet except for us, stuck in this electric, perfect moment.
"I'm not going to pretend," I say, staring at the railing instead of her. "You're one of the prettiest girls in school. Everyone knows it. That's kind of why you're… you."
There's a pause. Too long.
When I look back at her, the confidence is gone. She looks caught off guard, like she wasn't ready for that at all.
"But... y-you still think I'm a pain in the ass if we're dating, don't you?"
"Yeah. Probably. But, that doesn't mean it'd be bad. Just… louder. More complicated. More fun."
"More fun? Are you seriously saying that?" She leans closer, making our faces only inch away. Her typical mischievous smirk starts to return, "So you're admitting you'd enjoy dating a troublemaker like me?" The moonlight catches her playful expression, her confidence slowly rebuilding but with a softer edge. "Because I can definitely promise you won't get bored. Ever."
"Did you just confess to me? Pretty sure five minutes ago you said we weren't even friends."
"I... I wasn't... I mean..." She stammers, uncharacteristically flustered. The moonlight illuminates her blushing face, and it throws me more than anything else. "Don't make me say it out loud!"
Her fingers twist into the front of my shirt and tug me forward. There's literally no gap but a thin air between our lips right now. Her voice is a mix of defiance and nervous excitement. "Fine. Maybe I am. So what?"
She looks away, waiting - her body language screaming anticipation.
"...Wait, you actually are?" My face burns. I was just pretending to be tough and teasing her. I hadn't meant for any of this to happen. I was just supposed to apologize. Sensei told me to fix things. That was it. This wasn't part of the plan at all.
"Ha! Now YOU'RE the one blushing? Seriously?" She pokes my cheek, her trademark smirk returning. "Thought you were all 'say whatever comes to mind' guy? Where's that confidence now?"
Her teasing tone masks her own lingering vulnerability, but her eyes sparkle with genuine affection, "Well? What do you say now?"
"I... I don't know. I didn't expect to come into this situation." I try to step back. She doesn't let me.
Her voice drops. "Don't tell me you're about to back out," she says. "Because if you do… I swear I will never speak to you again and will hate you for the rest of my life."
"That feels excessive," I mutter.
"Try me."
I let out a long, defeated sigh. There's no graceful way out of this.
"…Fine," I say. "Yeah. I think I could… eventually enjoy dating someone like you."
Sena's eyes widen, a slow, triumphant smile spreading across her face. She lets out a small, breathless laugh. "Took you long enough, you big dummy!"
She doesn't pull away, her grip on my shirt still firm. Her gaze is intense, a mix of relief and pure mischief. "So, are you going to kiss me or just stand there looking all flustered? we are dating already here, hello?"
I swallow and reach up, rubbing the back of my neck. Then I lean in—
And she suddenly laughs.
"Hold on." She lifts a hand and rubs at my forehead with her thumb. "What is that?"
I blink. "What?"
"Well, well, well, mind telling me whose lipstick is this?" Sena eyes sparkle with amusement, the moment of tension replaced by pure, unfiltered joy.
"Oh my god, Sensei!"
Her eyebrows shoot up. "Sensei?"
"She—she kissed my forehead earlier. Like. Encouragement. I didn't even know it was still there. That explains why people wouldn't stop laughing at me."
Sena's eyes go wide, then she bursts into uncontrollable laughter, "WAIT, your sensei left a lipstick mark on your forehead and you walked around like that all day?"
I bury my face in my hands. "Please don't."
She's laughing too hard to stop, clutching her stomach. "Some boyfriend you are, Romi. Getting marked by another woman right before dating me!"
She's teasing, but her hand remains softly on my forehead, her touch unexpectedly tender.
"I wasn't marked. She was the one who told me to apologize to you. It was just… support."
Sena's teasing expression softens, her touch gentle as she wipes the lipstick mark. "Sensei did that? Encouraged you to apologize to me? So she knew I was waiting. "Huh. Guess she's not so bad."
She looks up at me, her typical defiant spark returning, "But don't get any ideas, boyfriend. We're dating now, I won't let you get close to any woman other than me, understand?"
"Don't worry Sena, she just kissed me on my forehead. That was nothing but the teacher's affection for her student."
Sena's smirk widens, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Oh, I know it was just affection. But this..." She brought her lips close to mine until there was no distance left. It was a soft, sweet, real kiss under the moonlight. on the water bridge, The bridge lights blur, the water below reflecting the moon like it's holding its breath with us. She pulls back just enough to look at me, eyes shining. "This is different."
She pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, her eyes sparkling with challenge and triumph.
"Consider that a down payment, boyfriend. For all the trouble I'm about to cause."