(M) Unspoken Affection - MilkLove Fan Fic - Completed

19. The first kiss

Love PoV

I hurried through the studio doors, my heart pounding with concern. I knew Milk would be there, but something felt amiss. Normally, her cheerful greeting would echo through the space, but today, there was only an eerie silence. And then, I found her, sitting amidst scattered pottery shards, her face buried in her hands, tears flowing freely.

"Milk..." I whispered, rushing to her side. Gently, I enveloped her in my arms, kneeling beside her as she sobbed softly. Her chair, designed for pottery, seemed too small for the weight of her sorrow.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" I asked, my voice trembling with worry. Tenderly, I wiped away her tears, each drop a testament to the pain she held inside.

"It hurts so much, Love... I saw Gun earlier... Am I the reason you two aren't together? Am I the villain?" Milk's voice cracked with insecurity, her usual confidence shattered.

I held her tighter, feeling her anguish reverberate through her trembling frame. "No, Milk, you're not the reason," I reassured her, my own tears mirroring hers. This was the first time I'd seen her so vulnerable, and all I wanted was to shield her from this pain.

"I don't know what to do, Love. I want to be strong for us, but why does it hurt this much knowing I've hurt you?" Milk confessed, her words heavy with guilt and longing.

"We'll figure it out together, Milk. Let's go home," I suggested softly, knowing there were things I needed to explain, to make right. She nodded silently, and I took charge, tidying up as she gathered herself.

Back at home, Milk sat quietly, her emotions swirling like the storm outside. I watched her, knowing her tendency to bury her feelings, but today was different. She needed reassurance, and I was determined to give it to her. I brewed tea, its warmth a comforting embrace as she sipped it slowly.

"Milk," I began gently, meeting her tear-filled gaze. When she looked at me, her vulnerability pierced my heart once more. I cupped her face, lifting it gently to meet mine.

"Milk, whatever Gun said... you need to know it wasn't you. It was me," I confessed, my voice raw with honesty. "I thought I loved him, but every moment I spent away from you, I realized it was you I craved. You're the one who completes me, Milk. I can't deny it any longer."

Milk's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and hope. "Are you sure, Love? After all this time?"

"Yes, Milk. From the moment we met, something changed in me. I tried to deny it, even to myself, but it's you. Always you," I admitted, my voice trembling with emotion.

Tears welled up in Milk's eyes again, but this time, they were different. They held a glimmer of understanding, of relief. "I've been so afraid, Love. Afraid that my feelings were too much, too soon."

"You never pushed me, Milk. You respected my feelings, and that meant everything to me," I assured her, brushing a stray tear from her cheek.

She sighed softly, leaning into my touch. "But what about Gun? Did I come between you two?"

I shook my head gently. "No, Milk. Our breakup wasn't because of you. It was because I couldn't ignore my heart any longer. Gun sensed it too, that's why he pushed for things to move faster. But it wasn't what I wanted, what I needed. I needed time to realize that it's you I want by my side."

Milk nodded slowly, processing my words. "I've missed you, Love. Even when I tried to focus on my work, a part of me was always with you."

"I've missed you too, Milk," I whispered, drawing her closer. "And I promise to make things right. To show you, every day, how much you mean to me."