Love Blooms

Chapter 13

"then what, are you going to tell me that you regretted ever meeting me?" you knew you were going a little far, and you knew that it was petty, but you needed to tell him. you wanted to know if that kiss ruined everything. "is that what this is about?"

"Y/N," he looked up at you with an intense stare. "i never regretted meeting you. not once."

"then what-"

"i'm sorry." you shut your mouth, and wanting to hear what exactly he wanted to say. rather than jump to conclusions, you needed to hear it through and through. "last night, i was worried that i scared you, or that i pushed your boundaries. that's why i said that."

his hand squeezed yours, almost like he needed reassurance or permission to keep going. you hesitantly squeezed back. but just to be safe, you spoke up. "you didn't. i was more hurt by what you said to me after."

"i know, that's why i want to clarify this. that kiss wasn't a mistake, i wanted it to happen."

"you what?!"

"i wanted to kiss you," tighnari said bluntly.

"why though... you don't even like me like that," you said, tighnari could hear the slight ounce of pain in your voice. so they do like me.

"i did a lot of thinking today, and i came to terms with a lot of things. one of which is that i've already been over that person. i just never wanted to accept it since i loved the idea of being with them. that was all i ever knew."

you stayed quiet.

"i'm not saying this because you're my first kiss, and i'm not saying this because i feel guilty for what i said, but i'll never regret that kiss because it made me realize what i really feel."

"and what do you feel," you felt inclined to ask.

"i'm attracted to you," tighnari said with a blush, his grip never faltering. "through all the nights that you spent comforting me and being patient with me, up until now, i started to become attracted to you."

you blushed and looked at him with wide eyes. he took your silence as a way of telling him to continue. "and... i know you feel the same way."

you didn't want to answer him, settling for breaking his gaze and looking away. "aren't you rushing this? i don't want to be a rebound or a distraction for you."

"you're not," tighnari said softly, rubbing your hand with his gloved thumb. "how could i betray your kindness?"

"i know you wouldn't intentionally, but i wanted to make that clear," you said, giving him a more determined look. "that's something i won't stand for."

he nodded, "i understand. just know that in the 0.01% chance event that it does, it'll never be intentional."

"alright," you said, then yawned. "well it's getting late and i'm getting tired."

"i bet," tighnari said, then let go of your hand and patted you on the head tenderly. "get some rest. have a good night."

you moved forward and hugged him, "... you too."

he hugged you back, his tail looping around and gently holding you as well. were hugs with him always so intimate?

you hesitantly broke from him, and he waved you goodbye while you did the same. after you closed your door, you sat down right behind it and buried your face in your palms. then you grabbed a nearby cushion and screamed into it happily. how could 24 hours be so bipolar?

"AHHH!! Y/N WHAT HAPPENED?"

you shrieked and looked up, being met with cyno and his spouse sitting on your bed. cyno had a knowing smirk on his face while his partner was trying very hard to contain their excitement.