"- Promise? - Promise."
Shohei Ohtani, a baseball superstar worldwide, carried the weight of an injury that threatened to shatter his dreams. He now faced not only the painful physical injury, but also a disease that posed threat to his mental healt...
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The room was cast in the soft embrace of moonlight. The sound of of panting breath still hung in the air. We were naked, our skin still slick with sweat. Y/N laid her head on my chest, her hair tumbling around her face as she breathed. I lied back, gazing up into the ceiling and listening to her slow, uneven breaths. "I love you" she sighed contently. I smiled, turning my hand over so I could brush through her hair. I kissed the top of her head as a gentle breeze drifted over us. After everything we'd been through, this was heaven. It had to be.
"Truth or Dare?" I asked, my voice breaking the silence with a playful edge.
She hummed and nuzzled against me. "Again?" She laughed lightly.
My heart swelled at the sound. I loved when I made her laugh. "I like it" I whispered.
"Truth," she chose, her voice an airy sigh that tickled my neck. "What do you want to know?"
I thought about it for a moment, running my hand along her spine. "We had a trip with Ippei's family, you remembered?" I trailed off slowly. Even though I was still looking at the ceiling, I could feel her slightly nod.
"That night..." I continued," why didn't you reply my confession?" The question that escaped my lips carried a weight I hadn't anticipated.
"I was afraid," she confessed, her voice a delicate melody.
My heart tightened. "Afraid of what?" I prompted softly, tracing random patterns across her back. Her fingers curled around mine, interlacing them as she spoke. "Afraid of letting myself love again."
Her words hit me like a blow to my stomach. The guilt in those three words stabbed me like an icepick. There must have been something else.
"But...why?" I pressed gently, wanting to make sure she understood.
"My childhood trauma" A small chuckle left her lips.
"I grew up watching my parents' marriage crumble. My father cheated on my mother. I was afraid to open up, to trust again."
There was another pause, and then she looked up at me, determination glittering in her eyes. "But then I felt safe with you, like I could finally let go of my fear."
I stared at her, unsure how to respond, how to express exactly how much her trust meant to me. She gave my hand a squeeze before continuing. "So now I'm here."
My beautiful Y/N. I never knew the struggles she'd been through. I'd only known about one other person. A small part of me felt guilty for not having paid more attention to her. Another part, however, was filled with pride. This woman loved me, she trusted me. I loved her too.
I smiled, stroking her back absentmindedly. I didn't think I'd ever get used to hearing those words. "I promise to protect you, Y/N."
Y/N snuggled closer, laying her head comfortably in the crook of my neck. "What's wrong? You sound different" she teased me lightheartedly, as if nothing serious had happened. I closed my eyes, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Nothing's wrong."
