𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩 ₓ˚. ୭ ᶜʰᵘᵘʸᵃ ⁿᵃᵏᵃʰᵃʳᵃ

✧. ┊𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒖𝒔. 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒄𝒉𝒖𝒖𝒚𝒂

Chuuya's POV

They say when you're in love it feels as if you're in a safety net. Being in the same room fills your chest with an unknown warmth - even in the coldest and harshest of nights.

When you begin the fall, you never really notice it. How the attraction slowly festers into something more.

The way you begin to notice the minor details. The way you hang onto every word that spills from their mouth. The way their presence fills your eyes will love, humbling your beating heart.

For me, the expression of this feeling cannot be fully put into words so I found a form in which not only displays it but also calms me. Through the melody of music.

My fingers slowly moved along the keys of my piano, the slow combination of notes filling the small void.

The sound of keys rattling and the apartment door opening made me glance away from the keyboard; but my fingers continued to move.

"I'm back..."

'She sounds tired,' was my first thought. The only noise was the sweetness of the piano; only for a moment until she spoke up again.

"I didn't know you played the piano?"

She almost sounded surprised. My eyes turn downward towards the instrument laying on my lap.

"Yeah, it helps calm my nerves," I respond; almost in a whisper.

My jaw clenches at my weak response; slightly ashamed of my venerability in this moment - even if she didn't know.

"Did you write it?"

The question almost caught me off guard, but the warmth in her tone sent my heart jolting a few paces quicker.

"Mhm," was all I could say until I mustered my voice back, "you should get some rest,"

"You should as well."

Her response made a smile grow uncontrollably onto my face, and an idea was fostered as I slowly ceased my playing.

"I have a free day tomorrow, and I heard that my favourite shop was doing a special deal,"

When her response didn't come after a few moments, the feeling of fear of stepping a line slowly crept into me.

"You want me to go shopping with you?"

Her question sounded hesitant and concerned. I began playing again; calming my heart again.

"It can get lonely shopping by yourself sometimes,"

My response brought an onslaught of memories of Ayaka. Ayaka never really liked going out in general—and that included shopping.

Her hum of agreement pulled me out of my memories of arguments with Ayaka; and I continue, "we can leave later in the morning; allowing you to have your Sunday sleep in. I can take my bike and give you a small detour of the city,"

"That would be lovely, Chuuya,"

The giddiness in her voice made me feel a stir in my stomach, the thumping of my chest resounding into my ears.

"You should go to sleep now."

My comment made her comply with my wish; her disappearing into my once bedroom.

I continue my soothing tune for a few minutes until the rustling sounds in the room ceases. The common silence weighed heavily, and I turn my gaze towards the slightly jarred door.

They say when you realize you had fallen it's like the world slows. The awareness crashes down on you and looms over like a merciless cloud.

But as the awareness of my situation comes to me it's as if I already knew. My stomach didn't fill with the butterflies as it did with Ayaka. Instead, the mellow tenderness of home settled in.

And I knew my heart was never Ayaka's from the very beginning and has been beating for someone else.

But with the realisation and exhilaration that came with the fall; guilt slithered in as well, plaguing my mind at the solicitude of Ayaka.