My Last And My Only

Chapter 175: The Ride Home

The first problem was getting Khae off the couch.

"Khae."

"Hm?"

"We're going home."

"I know."

"...Then stand up."

"I am."

"You've been sitting for the last thirty seconds."

Khae frowned at her own lap.

"...Oh."

Angela laughed so hard she had to grab Paolo's shoulder.

"I can't."

"She's trying."

"I know."

Aiah crouched in front of Khae, smiling despite herself.

"Come on, baby."

Khae looked at her.

The corners of her lips lifted.

"...Okay."

To everyone else's disbelief...

She actually stood.

Paolo threw both hands into the air.

"Excuse me!"

"We've been trying for ten minutes!"

Angela pointed dramatically at Aiah.

"She says two words and suddenly Khae cooperates?"

Fea chuckled.

"I guess we were using the wrong approach."

Khae looked genuinely confused.

"Weren't you asking me to stand?"

"We were."

"I thought you wanted me to stay."

"...How?"

"You all kept telling me 'No.'"

Lindtsey laughed.

"That's not what we meant."

"Oh."

Khae nodded thoughtfully.

"...Communication is important."

"It is," Aiah agreed.

"So let's communicate our way to the elevator."

"Sounds good."

Khae took one careful step.

Then another.

On the third, she wobbled.

Without thinking, she reached for Aiah's hand.

Their fingers intertwined naturally.

Neither of them seemed to notice.

Everyone else did.

Paolo slowly looked at Angela.

Angela slowly looked back.

"...Well."

"That explains a lot."

Fea smiled quietly.

"So that's what effortless looks like."

They made it into the hallway.

Khae blinked at the elevator doors.