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"hey," jeno called from the drivers seat of his car, while isla sat in the passengers side, spacing out while looking at the window.
she turned to him, "hm?"
"you're quiet."
isla looked down into her lap, not able to deny it because it was true. they were on their way to drop jeno and shotaro off at the airport, which had been the day they've all been dreading. jeno slept at isla's house the night prior with all of his belongings in his car so they could meet the others.
although it was hard, isla tried not to think about it the entire time she was with him, and it worked until the morning of and the fact that they were now parked in front of the airport.
"yeah... can you blame me?" she replied, hiding the fact that she wanted to burst out in tears. the boy smiled sadly at her and they sat in comfortable silence for a few moments until they absolutely had to get out of the car. they grabbed his luggage and quickly made it inside.
jeno spotted his parents instantly as isla made her way to shotaro who smiled brightly upon seeing her. the others watched as their arms wrapped around each other, swaying back and forth lightly.
"are you gonna be okay without me?" shotaro asked, chuckling lightly at how tightly she held him.
"no." she replied, feeling her eyes water but blinked the tears away before she pulled away from the hug.
"i don't wanna make you anymore emotional, but i really do need to thank you for everything. i wanted to give up so bad but you managed to make me keep going, so, thank you." his voice and face became soft as he spoke, feeling overwhelmingly happy but sad at the same time.
"please no, i'm gonna cry," isla replied, brushing her hair out of her face, "this is all you dude. you did it on your own, and i'm so proud of you."
the boy smiled again as jeno came up to them, shotaro walking back to give them privacy along with the others.
she looked up at him with the saddest eyes ever and immediately broke down into tears. jeno laughed out loud, shocked at how quickly she began crying and pulled her into him.
"it's okay," he hushed, rubbing circles into her back as tears damped his shirt. he knew it wasn't really okay, he wasn't okay, but maybe if he told himself it was, he'd eventually start to believe it.
"this fucking sucks." she cursed, her voice muffled until she pulled away, wiping her tears.
jeno nodded, "it does. i'm sorry, isla."
"no, don't be. i'm so happy for you i just really wish it didn't have to be like this."
"can i be honest with you?" the boy asked suddenly, isla nodding in response. "i don't expect you to wait for me, at all. actually, i kinda hope you don't. if you find someone that makes you happy while i'm gone, then don't hold back from it."
