The Promise [exo]

Epilogue

I stared at the necklace being presented in front of me. The small pink heart dazzled in the light of the food court. Even though the setting wasn't very romantic, it didn't seem inappropriate for the situation.

I looked up into his deep brown eyes which were barely visible because of his shy smile. I could tell he was nervous but could he tell how I felt at the moment? Thoughts were racing through my head and they blocked my mind from forming a comprehensible answer.

He asked me to be his girlfriend.

Again.

I looked down on the table where the necklace sat in its navy blue velvet box and I was reminded of graduation day, the day I thought I would have to say goodbye to Kai forever.

-

We were finally going to be free from high school. The thought was daunting and exciting at the same time. Where would we go as adults? Where would we be in ten years?

It was a month after the Kai incident. A month since I've had a real conversation with him. We've only ever exchanged simple pleasantries since then which hurt the most. It was the reason I didn't want to be with him in the first place. I knew we were inevitably going to break up and end up in this phase of quiet.

But I couldn't let that put a damper on my mood. Everybody was decked out in their graduation gowns and caps, taking pictures with families and friends. I stood from my seat and found my mom at the side, wiping tears from her eyes.

We took a few pictures and greeted a few other families before I felt a pat on my shoulder. I turned and saw Kai smiling at my mother and I. His cap was off and his hair was tousled by the wind.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked me after giving my mom a bow. This wasn't going to be good but a talk was long overdue.

I followed him to a spot where the crowd was more dispersed. Looking back, I could see a few eyes trained on us, wondering what we were doing. People assumed we were friends with benefits until the birthday party happened. I didn't bother correcting them.

"I'm really sorry," I blurted out after I couldn't take the silence anymore.

"What?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued. I've been contemplating this for the past couple of weeks. "I'm sorry I didn't confess to you. I should've done so so we could have some sort of relationship earlier on. But I think I'm still at the childish stage of adolescence." I laughed a little. "I don't know what I want. I like being friends with you and I was afraid of scaring you off by confessing."

"Why would you scare me off?" Kai tilted my chin up so I was forced to look right at him.

"I was scared you were just joking around with your flirting. I didn't want to be like all the other girls who have fallen into...your trap."

Kai looked amused. "So you weren't so blind to my flirting," he remarked.

I slowly shook my head. "I just thought I was overthinking things in my favour."

"Is it too late to start again?" Kai asked tentatively. I had a feeling he knew the answer.

This time, I nodded and backed away. I cleared my throat, trying not to cry. "We're going our separate ways. I don't think either of us could ever hold up a long-distance relationship, especially with the new people we'll meet."

"Haha, are you saying neither of us are faithful?"

I shrugged. "Maybe. But please, Kai." I took his hand in both of mine. "Please promise me that you'll find a great girlfriend, one that isn't as indecisive as me. You deserve one."