Ripples of Fate

Chapter 31: Settling In

Mailin’s POV

The morning light filters softly into the apartment, casting a warm glow over everything. It’s peaceful. Familiar. But there’s a tension in the air, something new and fragile in the aftermath of last night.

I love you.

The words still echo in my mind, and I feel my heart skip a beat just thinking about them. It wasn’t just the words—it was the way Shota looked at me, the raw vulnerability in his eyes that he so rarely shows. The way he held me, like he didn’t want to let go. Like he couldn’t.

But now, standing in the middle of his apartment—no, our apartment—it feels surreal. This is real. I’m staying. I’m not leaving. And that thought alone sends a mix of excitement and uncertainty through me.

I glance around, taking in the space that is now becoming mine too. It’s a small apartment, but it feels cozy in a way I hadn’t noticed before. Maybe because now, everything feels different. More intimate. More... us.

I start unpacking my things—clothes, books, small personal items—scattering them throughout the apartment as I try to make it feel more like home. Shota’s been watching me the entire time, quiet but with a small smile playing on his lips. He doesn’t say much, but I can feel the shift between us. There’s no longer any question of where I belong.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask, turning to look at him, my voice soft. “About me moving in?”

He raises an eyebrow, giving me that familiar deadpan look. “If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t have asked.”

A small laugh escapes me, and I shake my head. Of course, he’s sure. He doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean. But still, the thought of this—of us, living together—feels like such a big step.

“I just... don’t want to overwhelm you,” I admit, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

Shota stands, crossing the room toward me, his movements slow and deliberate. His arms are still a little stiff from the bandages, though most of his injuries have healed. When he reaches me, he places a hand on my shoulder, his touch gentle but firm.

“You’re not overwhelming me,” he says, his voice low, steady. “I want you here, Mailin.”

His words send warmth spreading through me, and I smile, leaning into his touch. “Okay,” I whisper, my heart fluttering in my chest. “I’m staying.”

But even as I say the words, a flicker of doubt gnaws at me. “Shota... we’ve only been officially together for two weeks. Are we rushing things? I mean... what if it’s too early?”

He looks at me, his usual stoic expression softening, and I see something flash in his eyes—a hint of shyness, something vulnerable.

“It’s not too early for me,” he says quietly, almost hesitantly. “I’ve... loved you since I was sixteen.”

My breath catches in my throat, and I stare at him in disbelief. “Sixteen?” I whisper.

Shota nods, rubbing the back of his neck in that awkward, almost bashful way he rarely shows anyone. “Yeah. I just... didn’t know how to say it back then. Or how to deal with it.”

I blink, the reality of his confession sinking in. He’s loved me for that long? I feel the tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and suddenly the years of quiet longing, the years we spent pretending to be nothing more than friends, hit me all at once.

“I... I had no idea,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.

Shota’s hand tightens slightly on my shoulder, grounding me. “You don’t have to worry, Mailin. I want this. I want you. I always have.”

And just like that, the weight of uncertainty lifts from my chest. I smile, feeling warmth spread through me. He’s right. We’ve known each other for so long. This isn’t too fast. It’s exactly where we’re supposed to be.

---

Shota’s POV

Watching her pack felt like a punch to the gut, and for a second, I thought she was going to leave. After everything we’ve been through, after two weeks of finally being together, I couldn’t let that happen.

When I saw her struggling with whether or not to stay, something inside me snapped. It’s not too early—not when I’ve loved her since we were sixteen. I was just too much of a coward to say it back then, and I wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.

Hearing her say she loves me, knowing that she feels the same... it’s like a weight has been lifted off my chest. The tension, the worry—it all fades away, replaced by a warmth I haven’t felt in years.

I’ve spent so long keeping people at arm’s length, keeping my walls up because it’s easier than letting anyone in. But with Mailin, it’s different. I want her here. I don’t want her to leave.

She belongs here. With me.

As I watch her settle back into the apartment, unpacking the things she had just been about to pack away, I feel an unfamiliar sense of peace wash over me. It’s new, but it’s... right. She’s always been there, and now, finally, she’s staying for good.

“You’re sure?” she asks again, a small smile playing on her lips as she catches me watching her.

I roll my eyes, though there’s no bite to it. “Yes, I’m sure.”

She laughs softly, the sound filling the room like it always does. It’s been two weeks, but it feels like we’ve always been this way, like she’s always belonged here. And as she moves around, arranging things, I realize that I don’t want her anywhere else.

“I still can’t believe you’ve loved me since high school,” she teases, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re a much better actor than I gave you credit for.”

I snort, leaning back against the couch. “I didn’t act. I just... didn’t know what to do with it.”

She walks over, her smile softening as she stands in front of me. “Well, you figured it out eventually.”

I reach out, pulling her down to sit beside me. Her warmth seeps into me, and for the first time in a long while, I let myself relax completely.

“I’m glad you stayed,” I admit, my voice quieter now.

Mailin leans her head against my shoulder, her hand slipping into mine. “Me too.”

And with that, the last of my doubts fade away. I don’t need to keep my walls up with her. I don’t need to hold back. Because with her, I’m safe.

I’ve waited long enough for this. And now that she’s here, I’m not letting go.

---

Mailin’s POV

Shota’s confession had floored me. To think that he’d loved me for so long, just like I’d loved him... it was almost too much to believe. But as I sit here, my hand in his, everything feels right.

There’s no more uncertainty, no more doubt. I’m staying. I’m his. And for the first time in years, I feel completely at peace.

“I’m home,” I whisper, the words slipping out before I even realize it.

Shota smiles—an actual, genuine smile—and pulls me closer. “Yeah, you are.”