Led by the Wind through the Sky

Stuck between Two

Rena had a lot to think about.

She felt happy in the knowledge that Prapai wasn't an intentionally bad person. She felt jealous of his interest in Sky - though she wasn't sure if it was because of her interest in him or her interest in Sky. She felt hope when she remembered how he said that she was different to the other people he spent time with. She felt guilty that she had agreed to help him earn Sky's forgiveness.

She knew that she should tell Sky everything. She should tell him that Prapai is her unrequited love, that she had approached him to get to know her competition, but it wasn't like that anymore and she didn't want to risk losing Sky. Even without her developing feelings, he had become one of her closest friends, her best friend.

"I think I'm getting quite good at this."

Rena was in Sky's apartment helping him with one of his assignments. She was glad her teachers were so mean as to give her last-minute assignments. This wasn't the first time she had helped Sky with his work and she can't imagine finishing it all alone. It was so much work.

"You are! Perhaps it's because you're an art student that you picked it up so quickly. Thank you for helping me, again."

"No need to thank me, Sky. This is fun!"

"Why didn't you choose to study architecture?"

"It's so precise. I prefer being a bit freer. I like to colour outside of the lines. Do whatever I want. Architecture has so many rules. Yuk."

"Is that how you live your life? Outside the lines? Not following the rules?"

"I don't want to be put in a box according to society's expectations. As long as I'm happy and not hurting anyone, can't I live my life as I wish? Otherwise, what's the point?"

When Sky didn't reply, Rena looked up to find him staring at her with a strange expression.

"What?"

"Nothing. I just didn't know you felt that way."

"Does it surprise you?"

"I suppose not. It's just different from most people. It makes sense though."

"It does?"

"Knowing I spent the night with... him, it seemed so normal to you. I mean, I don't hide my sexuality, but I don't advertise it either."

"Oh, right. Well, P'Pai spends the night with girls and guys alike, so that is normal to me. If you ever need someone to talk to about boys, I'm your girl. I - I mean that if you need to talk to someone, you know, open-minded, I'm here."

Rena could've slapped herself. She didn't want to hear Sky talk about guys. It would probably be too hard to hear. Sky was even less likely to love her back than Prapai. Her feelings had moved from a player to a gay man. How was it possible to be this unlucky in love?

"Thanks, but Rain's the one who likes to share the details of him and his boyfriend. He doesn't know the meaning of the word oversharing."

She laughed. Rena could picture Rain's neverending commentary about Phayu and Sky's less-than-interested expression.

Her heart clenched as she realised that this was an opening to making good on her promise to Prapai.

"Speaking of, I ran into Prapai the other day. He'd like to talk to you and I think you should."

Sky didn't even have to think about his response.

"No."

"Sky..."

"Why should I? I'm perfectly happy with never seeing him again. He's nobody to me and I'm nobody to him. Simple."

"He wants to clear up a misunderstanding. He's not the person you think he is. Can you hear him out, for me?"

Seeing that he wasn't quite convinced, she leaned forward and took his hands in hers.  Looking at him with wide eyes, she fluttered her eyelashes ever so slightly with a small pout on her lips. She hadn't been sure if it would have any effect on him, but Sky looked down at their hands and then into her eyes and a strange expression passed over his face.

"Fine. If it means that much to you, I'll meet with him."

Rena felt sick. She had convinced her friend to do something he didn't want to do. It felt like she was siding with Prapai over Sky. Yet, if it came down to it, who would she choose: her first unrequited love who had given her hope or her gay best friend whom she was developing feelings for?