𝗟𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝟮 𝗠𝗬 𝗨𝗡𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗡 ━━━━━ 𝘁𝘂𝗽𝗮𝗰 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝘂𝗿.

056.

' WED , MAY 10TH 1996. '
parking lot ⸻
los angeles , california !

KARIO'S LIPS ARE SOFT YET FAMILAR AGAINST MINE , a gentle reminder of the connection we've been building over the past few dates. I savor the moment, feeling the warmth of his hands on my back. As I pull away, my eyes drift past him to the street beyond. A sleek, expensive car catches my attention as it pulls away from the curb. The silhouette is unmistakable, and my heart skips a beat, as a ray of thoughts swarm my mind, but I brush them all away.

Kairo notices my distraction immediately. He steps back slightly, searching my face with a concerned expression his hand still comfortably against my waist. "What's up? You okay?" he asks, his voice full of genuine care and curiosity.

I blink, pulling myself back to the present moment. I force a smile, hoping it doesn't look too forced. It's all trauma and overthinking all over again. "Yeah, I'm fine," I reply, trying to sound convincing. "Just thought I saw something, that's all."

He studies me for a moment longer, his brow furrowing slightly as if he's weighing whether to dig deeper. His kindness makes my heart ache a little, such a true gentleman. Kairo has always been intuitive, and he has a knack for sensing when something is bothering me. But tonight, I don't want to bring any of my problems into this space. I want to stay here, grounded in this moment with him.

"Alright," he finally says, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to him. "Let's get inside don't want you walking up there by yourself, let me take you there."

The evening air is crisp and cool, and I welcome the warmth of his embrace. We begin to walk towards the apartment building, our steps falling in sync. The summer sun casts a warm glow on the sidewalk, illuminating the path ahead. As we walk, I can't help but feel grateful for Kairo's new presence in my life. He's been a steady, calming force, always there to support me without judgment or expectation.

"You know," Kairo starts, his voice breaking the comfortable silence, "I really like going on dates with you . . I feel like we got a lot in common." I glance up at him, feeling a swell of affection. "Me too," I admit. "I like you, a lot."

He gives me a playful nudge with his shoulder, and I laugh, the sound echoing softly in the hallways. "And you know," he continues with a teasing grin, "If you ever need to talk about whatever it you got going on in life, I'm here. I mean . . . I'm not a therapist or anything, but I'll still be here."

His sincerity touches me, and I rest my head against his shoulder, finding his sincerity and sympathy endearing and refreshing. "Thanks, Kairo. I really appreciate that."

We reach the entrance of the apartment building, and he walks me to the front door. The hallway is quiet, the distant hum of the city life muffled by the walls. I reach for the doorbell, knowing that the home isn't empty, yet feeling a little saddened to end our date. Standing here with Kairo, everything feels simple and easy, like it should be.

Kairo leans against the doorframe, watching me with a gentle smile. "You sure you good?" he asks again, his eyes soft with understanding. I nod, trying to put as much reassurance into my gaze as I can. "Yeah, I'm sure. Just tired, I think."

He chuckles, the sound warm and comforting. "Alright. I won't push you to it then." Kairo and I stand at the entrance for a moment longer, neither of us wanting to end the night just yet. He glances at me, his eyes full of warmth and concern.

"Well, I hope you get some rest, Sanai." he says, pressing a gentle kiss against my jawline. His touch is gentle yet charming, and I can feel the genuine care behind his words.