Hugs and Kisses | Armin x Annie

Chapter 19 - Paradise

Annie's Point of View

I was laying down in bed as Armin was silently stroking my hair.

"I'm sorry for storming out."

He gave me a weak smile and kissed my forehead.

"Don't do that again. What if you got into an accident? Or you got lost? What would I do to find you?" there was a hint of sadness but at the same time disappointment in his voice.

"I'm sorry..." I mumbled. I couldn't make eye contact with him. Guilt filled me.

"Annie...What did you do yesterday when we argued?"

"I waited for your explanation." I answered him. But why is he asking me this all of a sudden?

"Maybe you should try listening to your father's side...Okay?"

"It's different situations Armin."

"He's still your father, Annie. But I'm not telling you to make up with him right now. You have all the right to be mad at him but there should be a time in your life, that you forgive him okay?" He held my chin and made me look at him.

"No matter how wronged you were, you should always forgive. It's okay to not forget, but forgiveness should be given for closure. To atleast close the open wound he left you. So it won't hurt as badly next time." He kissed me on my lips and looked at me again after. He pulled me into a hug and I was now facing his chest while he rested his chin on my head.

"Remember how I told you that your smiles were paradise to me?" I remembered how he told me that line when we were out on a date in the flower fields. It was the happiest day of my life.

"Ofcourse. I'd never forget that."

"Can you bring me to paradise right now?" I can't help but smile. He knew just the right ways to make me happy.

"I'll always be here to support you okay?" He kissed my forehead and grabbed my hand. He kissed the back of my hands too as he looked at me lovingly.

"Thank you, Armin."

---

We cuddled each other as we both watched my comfort anime. He didn't leave since we got home and he'd make sure I was alright.

"What! It ended already? Not even a kiss scene!" I was so disappointed. Most anime romance films are just too cute and sweet. It needs a little spice at least.

Armin chuckled as he messed with my hair. He cupped my face and gave me a kiss.

"There. We made our own." I slightly blushed at what he did. He used to be so reserved before but now, he screams boyfriend material.

"Can we watch hentai next?"

He choked on air as I laughed at my own joke. I was only kidding.

"Baby. That's bad." he gave me a lecture on how watching r rated stuff is bad.

"Don't you watch r rated films before?!"

"No. I never watched one my whole life." I gasped and looked at him with a surprised face.

"No way! How are you that big?!" He glared at me and hit my head gently.

"Oww! You should try watching some." I laughed as I acted like a bad influence on my own boyfriend.

"But I already have you." I was stunned with what he said.

"HEY! S-Stop it!" Damn it did I really have to stutter.

He leaned in closer and kissed me on my forehead.

"I love you." He whispered. His voice made a wonderful harmony that only I could hear.

I felt worse today but Armin brightened up my day.

If I was like the moon to him, he was like the Sun to me.

He gave me light so I could shine.

He gave me happiness so I could smile.

He gave me love so unconditional.

I thought my will to live drained as Bertholdt left me. I didn't care about my body and where it went. I didn't care if I was played or I was used.

I thought all along that he taught me how to love. How to cope. How to live.

But all he taught me was pain, regret, and fear.

Armin changed me.

He taught me a world beyond love. He taught me reality.

He taught me how to respect others. How to strive harder. How to rise up after falling deeper.

He was the sun which shone every single day in my life. He gave me warmth and comfort. Something I always needed.

It was indeed Serendipity when we met.

I wasn't looking for a lover and he was just looking for a job.

I didn't expect us to go this far. I didn't expect him to love me back.

I grabbed his hand and kissed the back of it. I intertwined our fingers as I felt comfort in his soft skin.

"I love you too, Armin Arlert."

---

I arrived at my office alone. Armin said that he was just going to get something from home which he forgot so I gave him my car keys.

I sat down Armin's desk and went through his drawers. He has several papers lying around. I saw something familiar and grabbed it.

"W-Why does he have this?"

It was a picture of me and my dad when I was younger. He carried me in his arms as we both smiled towards the camera.

"Your mom isn't home yet. Let's take a picture of both of us so we could show it to her when she comes home okay?"

"Hmm!" he picked me up and prepared the camera.

"1,2,3 say Annie!"

"Annieeee!"

Tears started falling down again and I immediately wiped it out of my face.

"Ugh I'm such a cry baby." I sniffled and was about to stand up when the door opened.

I was expecting Armin but it was my dad. I didn't know how to feel. I was mad yesterday but right now. I'm calm.

It's as if I want to give him another chance.

He stayed with me for a couple of weeks after mom left. I still remember the moments we had. It was happy, everything was in a warm tone as I imagine it in my head.

He kneeled down infront of me and leaned his body on to the floor.

My eyes widened at what he did.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Annie...I'm sorry...Please..."He rubbed both of his hands together.

My heart broke seeing him kneel in front of me like that.