(M) Unspoken Affection - MilkLove Fan Fic - Completed

15. The realization, the love

Milk PoV

"I can't handle these two lovebirds. They're making my solitary life look even lonelier," Tu joked, nudging me with a playful smile, and we shared a heartfelt laugh. Tu had returned at the perfect moment, right after Love and I had bared our souls to each other. It still felt surreal that Love had agreed to be with me. The confession had been a whirlwind, my attempts at being smooth and confident unraveling in the face of overwhelming emotion. I never expected Love to reciprocate so openly and sincerely.

"Come on, Tu, give me a break. This is all new to me... and you can find another audience for your gallery. Shoo!" I teased, laughing, as I noticed Love blush deeply. She wasn't usually one to show her feelings, so her wide-eyed gaze at me spoke volumes.

"Hey, Milk! Stop teasing Tu... let's get back to work," Love said shyly, quickly retreating from our playful banter.

"But Love..." I started to protest, but she walked away with a soft smile over her shoulder. My heart swelled with warmth. Seeing Love so affectionate in Tu's absence felt like a dream come true. She had always been loving, but this time, it felt different, as if she was staking a claim on me, and I gladly accepted. I wouldn't entertain anyone else's advances now.

"I'm glad you and Love have figured things out. Seeing her smile again... it means a lot," Tu said sincerely after Love had left. Tu understood Love's quiet nature when it came to matters of the heart and respected her privacy.

"Yeah, me too. It took everything in me to confess, but Love's directness surprised me. Seeing her determination gave me the courage, especially after dealing with that grumpy cat earlier," I replied with a fond smile, recalling our recent escapades.

"Love doesn't mess around when she wants something. She goes straight for it," Tu said softly.

"Unlike you, who ran away!" Tu teased, bursting into laughter.

"Hey, that's not fair! I respected what Gun wanted and realized I needed something different by being considerate. It wasn't something I should pursue. So, we both took time to figure out what we truly wanted. For me, after coming back from Phuket, all I want is to take care of her, even if it hurts. I'm ready to embrace it," I explained, my voice steady with conviction. Tu chuckled softly, then looked at me with a warm smile.

"Setting jokes aside, I'm genuinely happy you two are together. Honestly, I... I didn't like that guy with Love. With you, she pours out everything—her passion, her smiles, even her appetite," Tu said softly, her voice tinged with sincerity.

"When she was with him, sure, he supported her, but when I heard about her being pressured into marriage and having to give up her business, I was furious. You can't stomp on someone's dreams... I'm relieved it's over. I knew she cried her heart out after they broke up; I once saw her eyes swollen. I assumed it was from watching sad movies or missing you, so I didn't pry," Tu confessed, and I nodded understandingly.

"I wanted to come back sooner, but I couldn't bring myself to face it all. I needed to return ready to embrace everything anew. The only constant has been my love for Love," I said softly, a smile playing on my lips as I looked back at Tu.

"Well, I'm glad you took your time. Seeing both of you smile... it warms my heart. As much as I tease you lovebirds, I truly am happy you're back together. From now on, I just want to see Love happy! And now that you're back, Ciize won't nag me anymore... Yay!" Tu exclaimed happily, and I shook my head, smiling warmly. Tu could be delightfully childish at times.

"I'll nag you too!" I joked back, and Tu simply shook her head with a knowing grin.

"No, you won't! I have so many of your secrets, and if you dare, I'll tell Love how you cried on my shoulder before leaving, unsure if you'd ever come back. Remember how tightly you hugged me? You wouldn't want your jealous Love coming after you," Tu threatened playfully. My eyes widened at the memory. It was true—Love had a jealous streak, and I definitely didn't want to provoke it.

"Tu! No way..." I chuckled nervously.

"Yes way! I'm the highway!" Tu declared, and we both laughed, savoring the playful banter. I was grateful Love was by my side now, and Tu had become an invaluable friend. Knowing View and June were still here filled my heart with gratitude.

I had anticipated my two-year absence would be a challenge, but it had turned into something profoundly beautiful. I hoped my relationship with Love would continue to deepen and evolve, bringing us even closer together.

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Love PoV

I left Milk and Tu to their lively banter, my mind swirling with the implications of Milk's confession. How had I found the courage to push her to that point? It was the jealousy, I realized, triggered every time I saw June hanging onto Milk's arm—it should have been mine, I often thought.

Closing my mouth, I acknowledged the truth I had been avoiding: "I think I've been falling for her for a long time, but I was too afraid to admit it," I whispered softly to myself. The memory of Milk's flushed cheeks after her confession brought a smile to my face, but it was the sincerity in her eyes that touched me most deeply. Her words had been earnest and heartfelt, and it suddenly hit me how blind I had been to her feelings all these years.

Now that we had both confessed our love, uncertainty crept in. Why had everything seemed so effortless before? Perhaps because now, our emotions were deeper, our commitment more serious. I resolved to be the best I could for Milk, who always saw the best in me, who valued my passion and supported me unconditionally. From that day forward, I promised myself to nurture our love and allow it to blossom.

Lost in these thoughts, I was startled to realize it was closing time at the shop. With a fond farewell to the art class students, including Tu who winked mischievously at me, I blushed knowing she was teasing me about Milk. Their laughter echoed in my ears from that morning's banter, and I felt a surge of gratitude that they had become such good friends—just as I was grateful to count Tu among mine. I had once envied Tu's closeness to Milk, but now I knew Milk had chosen me, and that realization was enough to calm my old insecurities.

As I finished up my work, I felt familiar arms wrap around my waist from behind, and a smile spread across my face. The scent was unmistakable—it was Milk.

"Milk... we're still at work," I chided gently, though secretly I welcomed her embrace and wished it could last longer. Milk released me and turned to face me, her smile as radiant as ever.

"I'm sorry... I just really wanted to hug you. I was so caught up with pottery earlier that I didn't get a chance to talk to you," she confessed softly, and my heart melted at her words. Despite her busy schedule, the fact that she still made time for me filled me with warmth and affection.

"Yes, you've been spending more time with Tu than with me," I teased, playfully pouting. Milk's expression turned momentarily flustered, and I stifled a laugh, relishing the sight of her genuine panic—it had been too long since we shared such playful moments.

"Oh, no... Love, no... It's just that we need to finish the orders quickly," Milk replied seriously, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

"I know, I'm just teasing," I said with a laugh, and Milk gave me a knowing look. I knew what was coming next whenever I teased her, and sure enough, she began tickling me relentlessly until I surrendered, breathless and laughing.

"Okay, okay... I give up! I won't tease you anymore," I gasped, and Milk laughed joyously, pulling me close in another warm embrace. In that moment, wrapped in her arms, I felt utterly complete.

"Come on, let's go out for dinner. I know a special place for us," Milk suggested, still chuckling as she released me. Though a pang of reluctance swept over me when she let go, seeing her smile eased any lingering doubt.

"Alright, let's pack up and head out," I agreed happily. Having Milk by my side made every day brighter. I didn't know why it took me so long to realize it, but they say love comes when you least expect it, and this time, fate had certainly smiled upon us.

I was ready to embark on this journey with Milk, to ensure that our love remained strong and enduring. She completed my days, and I vowed to do everything in my power to complete hers in return.