Trouble in paradise (official)

Chapter 59 "Butterflies 🦋."

"Ran?"

Lani slowly opens the door to Ran's room, looking around for him. She notices the balcony door is open and walks out there to see Ran sitting in a chair. He was humming to himself while throwing back a few drinks. As she steps over the threshold, getting closer, she notices a giant canvas sitting in front of him full of colors.

"Babe?" She whispers. His eyes caught her at the door. He turns around with his cigarette in his mouth and a paintbrush in his hand. He looked like a painting himself.

"Oh...hey what's up?" He smiled and went back to painting.

"Um—-hey. What's this? You're an artist now?"

"Haha, yeah are you surprised? This is what I do in my spare time. Don't go around telling everybody."

"Come on now, why would I do that?" She looks over at the breathtaking view. It was dusk and the sky was painted a beautiful wash of pastel pink and burnt orange, reminding her of fall. "I haven't really heard from you in a few days. So I was wondering what you were doing." She walks over to a stack of the canvases he wasn't using and flips through the paintings.

"Oh?" He looks down at the ground before looking back at his canvas again. "Has it been that many days... I'm sorry. I've been around. Guess I've just been a little busy."

"A little busy huh? Too busy for me, that's a first."

"Didn't think you would notice." He dips his brush in the water, swirling it around a bit. Lani rolls her eyes as she continues to flip through the pages.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing really."

"Mhm." She shakes her head and looks back at his paintings. "These are really good Ran." She takes a closer look at one of them. The cherry blossoms scattered across the grass caught her attention. 

"You think so?"

She realized it was the pond they liked to sit at.

"Yeah, I like this one..... is this our spot?"

"Yeah, it is."

Lani walks over to him, plopping down on his lap.

"Oomf! Heh, alright... are you comfortable?" He chuckles, adjusting himself.

"Very, thank you." She leans back and kisses him right under his chin. Ran immediately softened under her touch. He hugs her from behind, pulling her into his chest. He rests his chin on her shoulder, inhaling her perfume. He missed her scent more than anything. Was it even worth it to be mad at her if it meant he would end up this miserable?

"I read something the other day that made me think."

"Oh yeah? What'd it say?"

"It said something like holding onto anger for too long is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies."

"So you do hate me?! Why'd you lie?!"

"I didn't! That's not what I said."

"Mhmm and this.... Is this a painting of the view?"

"Now you're just trying to be funny. Is it that bad?! "

"It's not that." She chuckles picking up a paintbrush. "You mind?" She says looking back at him.

"Go ahead."

"Your room has one of the best views in the house."

"Really?"

"Mhmm. Haven't you noticed some mornings I'll just sit out here with my coffee and watch the sunrise?" She says, pressing white fluff into the canvas.

"Yeah. Just out here naked, without me. What would our neighbors think?" He laughs.