(M) Unspoken Affection - MilkLove Fan Fic - Completed

7. Four months to go

Milk PoV :

A month has passed. Gun had informed Love about his upcoming business trip and Milk found herself increasingly torn by her emotions.

As she approached Love's apartment, her steps faltered momentarily when she saw Gun talking to Love at the door. Their affectionate goodbye kiss felt like a knife twisting in Milk's heart. She hurriedly ducked into the emergency stairs, hiding until the elevator dinged and Gun was gone, off on a business trip for two weeks.

Taking a deep breath, Milk composed herself and approached Love's door, preparing to put on a brave face. Before she could ring the bell, the door swung open, revealing Love's concerned face.

"Milk! Are you okay? I thought I saw tears," Love exclaimed, pulling Milk into a comforting hug. Milk fought back her own tears, burying her face in Love's shoulder.

"Just some dust in my eyes," Milk replied, forcing a smile. "I'm fine, really."

Love held her at arm's length, concern etched in her features. "You know you can tell me anything, right? I care about you, Milk."

Milk nodded, her smile feeling more brittle than ever. "I know, Love. Thank you."

Changing the subject, Milk suggested they work together at the pottery shop and have dinner later. Love's enthusiastic agreement lifted Milk's spirits momentarily, and they set off for the shop together.

During the drive, they shared a comfortable silence, a closeness that Milk cherished deeply. However, upon arriving at the shop, Milk noticed Tu waiting outside. She had already discussed with Tu about helping Love with the shop, planning to keep Love happy and unaware of Milk's impending departure.

When they arrived at the pottery shop, Milk's eyes fell on Tu already inside, setting up the workspace with her usual enthusiasm. Tu's presence was both a comfort and a source of torment for Milk. She knew Tu was aware of her feelings for Love.

Tu's playful smile didn't go unnoticed by Love, who clung a little tighter to Milk's hand. Milk squeezed Love's hand reassuringly, silently communicating that Tu was just a friend. Love seemed to relax a bit, leading Milk into the shop with a smile.

Throughout the day, Tu couldn't resist teasing Milk whenever Love showed signs of jealousy. It was subtle yet pointed, nudging Milk's sore spots knowingly.

n a quiet moment, as Love was inspecting a new batch of clay, Tu leaned over to Milk with a knowing grin. "You know, Milk, I think Love gets a bit green-eyed whenever I'm around," Tu whispered conspiratorially.

Milk sighed softly, her gaze drifting to Love, who was watching them with a faint frown. "Maybe... but it's probably just friendly concern," Milk murmured, trying to downplay her own feelings.

Tu raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on, Milk. You can't tell me you haven't noticed. There's something more there, isn't there?" Tu prodded gently, her eyes reflecting both amusement and sympathy.

Milk hesitated, torn between denial and acceptance. "Maybe... maybe there is," she admitted quietly, more to herself than to Tu. The realization weighed heavily on her heart, a mixture of longing and resignation.

As the day drew to a close and they locked up the shop, Tu couldn't resist one last playful jab at Milk. "So, when are you going to confess your undying love to Love?" Tu teased with a wink.

Milk chuckled weakly, feeling a pang of sadness. "Maybe in another lifetime," she replied wistfully, knowing that her unspoken love for Love would remain just that—an unspoken secret buried deep within her heart.

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As they sat in their favorite restaurant, Milk couldn't help but steal glances at Love, her heart swelling with adoration. Love's excitement over the food, her infectious laughter, and the way she animatedly talked about their shared experiences—all of it made Milk's heart ache with longing.

"Milk! This is great, you know I love this restaurant so much! The meat is just sooooooo nice!" Love exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"I know! And I can eat other things as usual! Do you like it, Love?" Milk asked, trying to keep her tone light despite the storm of emotions inside her. Love nodded enthusiastically.

"Like it? No!! I love it, just like my name!" Love replied, her joy palpable. They ordered their food with careful consideration to Milk's allergies, a testament to Love's thoughtfulness and their deep understanding of each other.

Once their order arrived and they settled into their meal, Milk found herself searching for the right words, yearning to connect with Love on a deeper level. "Love, I love spending time like this with you, just the two of us. I've missed this so much. I'm glad you could join me," Milk confessed, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.

"Of course I'll spend time with you. I even invited you to dinner with Gun, but you always refuse," Love said, her lower lip pouting playfully.

Milk chuckled softly, feeling the weight of unspoken truths hanging between them. "I just don't want to intrude, you know? I have love to give too, and I don't want to feel like a third wheel. It's hard to see you two so happy together... sometimes it makes me feel a bit lonely," Milk admitted, hoping Love wouldn't read too deeply into her words.

"Your love? You mean Tu?" Love asked, her tone serious, catching Milk off guard.

Milk's heart skipped a beat. "What? Tu? No, Love, we're just friends. We go to dinner to discuss important designs for our shop. She has unique ideas sometimes, that's all. You don't think there's something more between us, do you?" Milk asked, her smile softening her words.

Love's expression shifted, a mix of uncertainty and longing crossing her features. "Well, I don't know... you two seem to be getting closer every day. And you always turn down dinner with me and Gun now. You never used to do that," Love admitted quietly, her eyes searching Milk's face.

Milk reached across the table, taking Love's hands gently in hers. "Love, you know I enjoy our time together. But... just with you. Remember what Gun said? I don't want him to feel like I'm taking you away from him. That wouldn't be fair," Milk explained, her voice tinged with sadness.

"What if you are taking me away, Milk? Not in that way, but he should understand how close we are, right? I think he does... I just want to spend time with you too," Love murmured softly, her eyes pleading for understanding.

Milk squeezed Love's hands gently, feeling her heart break a little more at Love's innocence. "I love spending time with you too, more than you know. But I want you to be happy, Love. I don't want you to argue with him because of me. He has every right to feel jealous. After all, he's your boyfriend," Milk replied softly, her gaze dropping momentarily.

Love's smile faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "Okay, I understand," she replied quietly, her eyes meeting Milk's with a hint of sadness.

As they continued eating in subdued silence, Milk couldn't shake the heaviness in her heart. The momentary slip of her tongue weighed on her mind. "I hope you'll always be happy, Love. Even if one day I'm not around as much," Milk blurted out, instantly regretting her words.

"What do you mean, Milk?" Love asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Milk tried to backtrack, realizing she'd said too much. "Nothing, I was just being dramatic. Forget I said anything. Let's enjoy our meal," Milk deflected, forcing a smile as she pushed the topic aside.

Love looked at her intently for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Alright, let's eat. Our food is here," Love said brightly, clapping her hands together with renewed enthusiasm.

Milk watched Love with a mixture of love and sorrow, knowing deep down that moments like these might become increasingly rare. She resolved to cherish every smile, every laugh, and every shared moment, even as she prepared herself for the inevitable goodbye.

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of bittersweet emotions. As they parted ways for the night, Milk went home with a heavy heart. She knew she had to be strong, to support Love in her happiness even if it meant hiding her own feelings. But deep down, she couldn't help but hope that one day, Love might see her as more than just a friend.

In her quiet apartment, Milk sat alone, gazing out at the city lights twinkling below. Tears welled up in her eyes as she silently vowed to be there for Love, no matter what, even if it meant sacrificing her own heart.