Kiana And Sal's Bizzare RomCom Drabble Collection

KiaSal Drabble 58: Forgotten Memories 4.3 Toxic Codependency

"Also about Mei..." Sal brought up the topic carefully.

Kiana hummed, her response filled neither with anger nor judgment.

"I was never trying to hide anything..." Sal took a deep breath as he felt her hand upon his trembling ones. A silent show of support. "It was...she was..." He tried to form a sentence, but that fight from months ago still weighed heavily on his mind. "Mei was formidable"

"I know." Kiana smiled. "She has always been. To me and now to you."

Sal nodded.

"And I am sure she said some very hurtful things to you." Kiana gave him a side glance as she squeezed his hand.

"Yeah..." Sal took a moment, feeling Kiana's warmth. He was happy she was here. "Kiana, that day when I told Susannah I don't understand what I am feeling I was being honest. And that's why I am sorry I can't explain. She is not someone I inherently dislike, but her presence ever since Nagazora has threatened my reality. It's like I-"

"Did she say you don't deserve to be by my side or something?" Kiana asked nonchalantly, yet her tone carried a familiar warmth.

Sal was stunned.

"Your expression is priceless." Kiana let out a soft giggle. "And I take it she did."

He nodded.

"I guess then it's the same for both of us." Kiana sighed. "During our fight, too, she said something similar... She didn't mean it, I know her, so I can tell. But it was hurtful. She thought the two of us...We were just using each other to cure our pain and loneliness. We were not respecting each other...we were lying to each other about support and walking towards the path of toxic codependency...I know she was lying about us using each other..."

"But she wasn't wrong about codependency." Sal completed his tone, a sad yet true.

Kiana nodded.

For a moment, the two didn't speak; Sal let the reality sink in, and Kiana finally accepted their reality.

There was a sound of chime as the candy store door slid open. The grandmother, along with the two kids, gazed at the young couple with concern but decided to let them have their space.

"So..." Kiana was the one to break the silence. "Um...should we apologise or something?"

"I don't think we have to, not for this at least."

"But I still hurt you."

"And so did I."

"Then we both should?"

"I think our action already did that for us." Sal gazed at her with a wistful yet hopeful smile. "It is proof that we both are healing...from our past and from our actions. And that's enough."

"You really have a way with words, Dork."

"I learnt it thanks to you, Dumbo."

"You know, one of these days I just might take you for myself."

"I don't think I will be offered an option if it comes to that." Sal sighed.

"Of course not, as a benevolent friend and technically fake wife, I am very understanding."

"That you truly are."

"Ah! Is that sarcasm I hear!" She glared.

"No, really," He reiterated. "I mean it. You are amazing, Kiana. The amount of progress you have made in the last few months, from getting therapy to changing your outlook towards life... All of it is amazing."

Kiana's eyes widened as her cheeks heated up. She pursed her lips and leaned on his chest, hiding her face.

"Idiot..." She whispered. "But thank you..."

"You are welcome." He earnestly accepted.

"And Sal, you too," Kiana replied in a muffled whisper.

"Hm?"

"Just like me, you have grown too. And I hope you know how proud I am of you for that. Like super proud."

"Um...oh... Wow." He stuttered. "Thanks."

"Hehehe." Kiana giggled. "You know, I think I like this communication thing better than fighting each other."

"Tayrah will be happy to hear that." He smiled.

"Aren't you?"

"I am. More than you could imagine."

"Hehehe, also dork, let's address the codependency next time with her."

He nodded.

"I still don't understand how we ended up that way, but yeah...we will get through this as well."

"As long as you stick by me, everything will be fine." Kiana declared. "Though we will respect boundaries too...but ummm... I am not giving up my cuddling time."

Sal giggled as Kiana pouted, but joined in as well. And there, under the dark of the Pacific night, the two friends fated to be soulmates were true to each other.