My Idol, My Brother

Chapter 12: Just When You Thought Everything's Okay

"What if we met in a different circumstance? You know? You came to Japan, we bumped into each other, and we're not all of a sudden siblings, would you still have your romantic feelings for me by now?" Jesse asked before sipping the noodles from his instant ramen.

Aya looked at him, "What?"

"Just a... hypothetical question... you know? Curiosity,"

Aya raised an eyebrow to look at him while sipping, then answered once done, "Yeah, if you're not as an asshole as you used to be, there's a big chance, yeah,"

Last night, even though the power came back, the two were inseperable. Jesse didn't leave Aya's side until they have to get up because their stomachs were screaming for help. It's been a while since they were left alone at home again, Jesse wanted to make the most out of it and spend as much time as he can with Aya.

"So... uhm... what if that happened, given that you still love me, and I tell you that I love you?" Jesse asked again.

"What's wtih all these questions?"

"I told you, just curiosity,"

Aya scratched her nape and tried to think of how to answer Jesse's complicated question, "Um... I guess, then we'll be together then," sensing something, Aya looked with suspicion at Jesse, "tell me, what's really with all these questions?"

"You see, last night... and everything that happened, I.. I don't know how to explain it, it might take us all day,"

"We do have all day,"

Given the circumstance, normally with all the dramas and shoujo animes Jesse watched, this wasn't the right timing to confess, but this wasn't a shoujo anime, nor a manga, nor a romantic drama, this was his real life. He looked at Aya and he knew with the looks she's giving him, she wouldn't let him go and she wouldn't take any lie for an answer.

"Actually..." he grabbed Aya's hands and looked at her, his eyes full of emotion,"I love you, if... if it weren't for the social rules of us being siblings, I...I want you to be my girlfriend, my future wife, the person I'll grow old with,"

"J-Jesse... are you...."

"I know you'll say I might be joking but no, hell I'm not!" he cupped her face, "I'm seriously serious, I'm in love with you, and I'd go against moral rules if I have to,"

Aya looked down, she's still trying to absorb everything he had said. It's something she had been desiring for years now, even before she had met Jesse to be her brother. Even though she wanted to move on from her love for him when he was still mean to her, she didn't have the chance to, Takaki pleaded her to help Jesse, she fell in love with him even more after that.

"Aya....? Your silence, does it mean I'm rejected...?"

She held Jesse's hands as well. "I just don't know what to respond... this is real right? I'm not just dreaming?"

"I'll make you feel it's real," Jesse palmed her face and kissed her gently. Aya first was hesitant, but feeling the warmth of Jesse's lips on her, she responded to his kiss, his love.

"Do you believe it now?" Jesse asked.

Aya pressed her lips together and nodded, "Yeah,"

"So, what's your answer?"

"I love... you too... I never stopped loving you, might never will..."

Jesse pulled her and embraced her, making her feel his love, "I won't let anyone or anything severe us,"

"Un," Aya embraced him back and hid her face to his broad shoulder, "this feels so warm,"

Jesse scooped Aya's body and went upstairs to his room. He looked at her with gentle and loving eyes as he carefully placed Aya down his bed, "I won't do anything to you, I just want to snuggle with you now... as someone you love and someone who loves you," then he laid down beside Aya and let her pillow on his chest and pecked her lips.