The Moon Is Beautiful

Chapter 32

It's him.

My childhood crush. My childhood best friend. Now that I actually look at him properly, I can't believe that I didn't recognize him. He still has those same features as he did when he was merely six years old.

That black hair, those blue eyes...

I'm in shock. I cannot believe that after all these years, the two of us have met again. But now that I'm staring at him, all I can think about is how he didn't come to see me off.

It may be childish of me to hold onto something like that, but I can't help it. He was the first person of the opposite sex to hurt me. And it stuck with me.

"It's you." I breathe out, staring up at him with wide eyes.

He smiles at my words. "Do you remember me now?"

His smile has a frown forming on my face. I feel a little annoyed at his reaction, at his smile. How dare he smile?

And then, like fate, I remember Kaden telling me the story about his first love, and how he regrets not going to see her off. If that's really the truth, then I shouldn't be so angry, I guess. But I still deserve an explanation.

"Why didn't you come?" I find myself asking, staring at him with accusing eyes. The smile slips off his face and a pained expression overtakes his features as he realises what it is I'm talking about.

He looks down. "I...I don't know what to say. There was so much I wanted to say had we met again, but now, I'm at a loss for words."

I breathe in reply.

"I'm sorry," he apologizes, bringing his gaze back up to me. My breath hitches at the sincerity in his sparkling blue eyes, and I realize. Kaden is back. "I told you before, but I regret it so much. I was being childish and was only thinking about how unfair it was against me. But I fight think of how much it would hurt you when I didn't show up."

I remain silent, allowing his words to sink in. The fact that Kaden has returned must mean that he's being completely honest and sincere with me right now.

I find myself reaching for his hand, our skin barely brushing against each other. "It's okay. Yes, I was really hurt by what you did, but it'll be be silly of me to hold it against you, especially with all that you've just said."

He smiles, grabbing my hand. "Thank you, Rosie. You won't regret it. I promise you."

We share a moment of us just staring into each other's eyes, smiling, until I realise that there is something else we need to talk about.

"So...Sin." I awkwardly say. Realization dawns on his face and he sighs.

"Right. We should probably talk about him," he says, a frown creasing his forehead. "Where do I even start?"

"How about you start where he came?" I suggest, unsure if I'm wording my sentence correctly. Is using the phrase when he came even correct? I doubt it.

"Alright. But how about we talk about this later, somewhere else more private? I don't quite feel comfortable speaking about it here in the open for everyone who passes by to hear." he says, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

And then I realize. My friends!

"Alright, we can talk sometime later," I hurriedly say, my eyes widening in realization. "I have to go now. Bye."

The moment I finish, I rush away from him, trusting that he'll be able to get home on his own. I mean, why wouldn't he be able to?

When I reach Ms. Anderson's shop, the three of them are sitting at one of the tables with a platter of fish and chips in front of them.

"Finally! We've been waiting ages for you." Eliza says when I sit down next to her.

"Sorry." I merely say.

"And? Who was that guy from earlier?" she questions, leaning forward to me. I should have known. Of course he's the first thing she asks about.

"I told you. He's a friend." I say, taking a bite of a chip I randomly picked up from the pile.

"Really? Because it didn't seem like he's merely a friend to you." she says, staring at me with disbelief in her eyes.

"What do you want me to say? That we're going out?" I question.

"Are you?" she excitedly asks, her eyes lighting up.

"No we're not!" I exclaim, rolling my eyes at her. She hums, not looking convinced in the least.

"But he's cute. Quite a sight to look at." she notes, taking a sip of her drink. She's right, and I'm ashamed to say that I agree with her. It's not like I've blatantly checked him out, but once you really take a second to really look at him, he's beautiful.

He isn't like the usual sexy and handsome man. He doesn't have the common features to him, even though I've encountered many men with blue eyes before.

He looks different from other men, and not in a bad way. He's beautiful, painfully so.

"Do you like him?" The sudden question startles me, but not as much as the person behind it. My gaze is forced to the person, Raine.

"What does that matter to you?" I bite. No, I don't like Kaden, at least not in a romantic sense, but that's none of his business. To him, I'm merely a toy he enjoys playing with for now, but once his interested in me tires, so will my attraction to him. Hopefully.

"I'm just curious. He doesn't seem like your type." he muses, and I flinch. I know why he's saying this. Because Kaden looks nothing like him.

They couldn't be more polar opposites, both in looks and in personality. While Raine has rough on the edges features, Kaden has gentle and clean-cut features. While Raine has a carefree personality, Kaden is more reserved.

They are so different. Kaden is every girl's dream man in every aspect, so why am I interested in Raine who's the kind of guy who sets off red flags wherever he goes?

There must be something terribly wrong with me.

"Shut up." I meekly say, upset as I lean back in my seat. I hate that there's nothing I can use back at him. He's complaining gotten me, frustratingly so.

He smiles, seeming pleased by my inability to think of a comeback. I roll my eyes at him, shoving another chip into my mouth.

I have to get rid of my attraction to him. Promptly.