Zoe feels a sudden blow in her chest.
"That's the thing. Kaito treats everyone the same way. Taylor, another friend of ours, also said that Kaito 'might have led Marie on' last semester. It might be the same for me. Not on purpose, of course. He's just... Really kind."
"Why don't you ask him then?"
She narrows her eyes.
"And then what? Make things awkward between us? I like how we are now. And what am I gonna ask him? 'Do you like me?' 'Are you also leading me on?' It's not that easy."
Elle lets out a deep breath, fixing her bangs.
"I don't know what you want, Zoe. We are just going in circles here. If you like how things are now, then why are you stressing out? It's because you have a crush on him. Then will you do something about it? No, because you like how things are now. But you're still stressed because you have a crush on him. See? We're going in circles."
"Sorry..." Zoe mumbles.
"Think really, really hard about these feelings that you have for him. Is it just 'tiny' like what you're saying? If yes, then it'll fade away. You're just going through some phase. Maybe it's because he's always next to you, and he understands you. He's not like Seth, who did not give you the space you needed to breathe. But if that's not the case, then you must make up your mind. Will you take a risk or not?"
Zoe doesn't know the answer, so she simply presses her lips into a thin line.
"Is he the type of person who's gonna throw you away because of a tiny crush?"
"No. Kaito isn't like that."
And she believes it. She's only known him for about two months, but she trusts he's more than that. He treasures his friends, and that includes Zoe. Plus, Marie is still his friend, which means that he might not care much about crushes and flings.
Ouch.
"Then you can go for it. Or you can also choose to let it go since you only have like... Two months left?"
The truth hits her suddenly. The end of the exchange program is coming near, and even though they'll both return to the same country, things won't be the same.
Maybe Elle is right. Maybe she can just let it go after all.
She feigns a smile.
"You know what? You're right. I'm making a big deal out of this. We only have two months left, so I think this will go away at some point. I need to figure out my life first. I have no time for this."
******
"Hey, m-morning."
Kaito and Zoe have morning classes the next day. She initially wanted to risk being late so she could avoid him, but it didn't turn out as planned because he texted her that he was waiting downstairs.
"Morning," he greets, licking his lips cautiously. "It's pretty hot today, isn't it?"
"Um, yeah. It is."
The sun is bright and strong, and Zoe can feel the pebbles of sweat accumulating on her nape. Japan's summer weather is like her home country's weather, humid and hot. The two chortle clumsily, unable to maintain eye contact.
She opens her dark blue umbrella as he also fumbles through his backpack.
Scowling, he says, "Shoot, I left my umbrella. Is it okay if I go back to grab it?"
"Let's just share," Zoe offers nonchalantly.
Kaito raises his eyebrows. And then Zoe realizes that sharing with him will mean standing too close together.
YOU ARE READING
The Spring I Met You
Romance"Things that are special, though temporary, tend to last longer in our memories," Kaito says. Zoe recalls the Hanami party that they had and everything that has happened since she arrived. She remembers every detail perfectly. She nods slowly. "You'...
