Purpura
As soon as I could hear Sou snoozing, I sighed. My hand went to my lips. What were we? Were we just two friends who happened to kiss? Or were we dating?
Was he even in the mood to date anyone after Sehun? He kissed me back, but... I hugged my pillow. I couldn't be too sure with him. Sou was a moody guy.
I stared at the dark ceiling, thoughts swirling in my mind. I couldn't deny the feelings I had for Souta. He was more than just a friend to me. But I also didn't want to force anything on him, especially after what he went through with Sehun.
The way he kissed me tonight, though, was different. It was not a kiss of comfort or reassurance. It was filled with passion and longing, and it left me breathless. But was it just a fleeting moment, or was it something more?
I closed my eyes, remembering the warmth of his lips, the way his hand felt on my cheek. The way he looked at me under the starlit sky, his eyes soft and filled with emotions he didn't bother to hide.
I wanted to believe that it meant something. That I meant something to him. But I also didn't want to get my hopes up, only to have them crushed later.
Sleep didn't come easy that night. I kept tossing and turning, replaying the night's events over and over in my mind. The kiss, the way he held me, the words he whispered. It all felt real, but I was afraid to believe it.
When dawn broke, I found myself staring at his sleeping form. His face was peaceful, free from the worries and troubles that usually clouded his eyes. His chest rose and fell in rhythm with his soft snores, a comforting sound that soothed my anxieties.
I quietly got up from my sleeping bag, deciding to let him sleep a bit longer. I picked up his guitar, feeling the cool strings against my fingers. Maybe playing a bit could help clear my mind.
As I strummed a soft melody, I found myself thinking about our relationship. We were friends, that much was true. But we were also soulmates, connected by a bond that transcended lifetimes. Did that mean we were destined to be together? Or was it just a cruel twist of fate?
I didn't have the answers. I wasn't even sure if Souta had them. But I knew one thing for certain. I cared about him. More than I had ever cared about anyone else.
And regardless of what we were, or what we could become, I would be there for him. Just like he was there for me.
Sou yawned as he rose from bed. He had the day off from school today, so why was he up so early?
"Couldn't sleep?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
I stared at the guitar and nodded. "Yeah, I kept... thinking about stuff."
He looked at me, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Ya sound good."
I blushed, placing the guitar down. "Thanks."
We sat in silence for a while, the morning light filtering in through the window. Sou looked at me, his yellow eyes filled with a sort of calmness that I hadn't seen before.
"About last night," he began, his voice barely more than a whisper. He hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "I... I meant it. The kiss, I mean."
My heart pounded in my chest. Was this what I thought it was? Was he saying...
"I know things have been... complicated," he continued. "But I like you, Purpura. More than just a friend. And I'm not just saying this because of what happened with Sehun."
I felt my breath hitch in my throat. He liked me.
"I don't want to rush you into anything. And I don't want to mess up our friendship. But I thought you should know." He looked at me, his eyes filled with honesty.
I snickered. "Knew you would fall for me eventually."
He grumbled and lightly elbowed me. "Hey, don't ruin the moment!"
I laughed, the tension of the moment melting away. "Just sayin', it was bound to happen. I mean, look at me."
He rolled his eyes, a fond smile on his lips. "Yes, yes, we all know you're irresistible."
"I'm glad you finally admitted it," I teased, poking his side.
He let out a yelp, swatting my hand away. "Stop that!"
I chuckled, my heart feeling light.
"Alright, alright," I relented, raising my hands in surrender. "I'll stop teasing. For now."
He squinted at me suspiciously. "For now?"
"Well, I can't make any promises about the future," I admitted with a shrug. "Teasing you is too much fun."
He groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I can't believe I confessed to a troll."
I snickered, patting him on the back. "You love me."
He peeked through his fingers, a soft blush on his cheeks. "Yeah, I guess I do."
And just like that, the moment turned sweet again. I found myself reaching out, gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind his ear. He looked up at me, his eyes soft and tender.
Souta coughed and stood up. "Well, I'm gonna do my assignment." He went over to his backpack and took out his orange binder.
I blinked. "What assignment is it?"
"It's about my future. The teacher wants us to write what our plans are."
I stood up and sat down on his bed. "And what are your plans."
He hummed. "Well, remember what you said before?"
I shrugged and chuckled. "I've said a lot of stuff, honey."
He blushed. "Hey, be original with the pet names! Also, what I mean is how you mentioned I would make a good doctor one day."
"So, you plan on going into medicine after all?"
Souta's eyes flickered with a hint of uncertainty, a rare sight for someone who usually exuded confidence.
"I've been thinking about it a lot," he admitted, flipping through the pages of his binder. "You know, after everything that happened with Sehun and Ava, I realized life is too short to not follow your dreams."
I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "So, you're serious about this?"
He nodded. "Yeah, I am. I want to help people, to make a difference. And I think I can do that as a doctor."
The determination in his voice was palpable, and I couldn't help but feel proud of him. "That's a big decision, Sou. But I think you'd make an amazing doctor."
He smiled, a genuine smile that reached his eyes. "Thanks, Purpura. That means a lot, coming from you."
I watched him as he began jotting stuff down. "Need any help with the assignment?" I offered.
He shook his head, a playful glint in his eyes. "Nah, I got this. But maybe later, you can help me study for the entrance exams?"
I blinked. "Entrance exams."
"Oh, right. Sometimes I forget that you've never gone to school."
I scoffed. "Not that I need it. I already know a lot about stuff."
He hummed. "Got not dreams of your own?"
I looked down. "Just staying alive is enough." My eyes widened as Sou hugged me from behind.
"Don't worry, I will keep you safe. I won't let your so called 'dad' capture you again."
'Sou...'
His embrace was warm and secure, a stark contrast to the cold fear that often lingered in the back of my mind. His words, simple yet powerful, washed over me like a soothing balm. I leaned back into his hold, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability.
"I know you will," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But... I don't want to see you get hurt for my sake. This is my battle to fight."
He tightened his grip. "Ya aren't alone, ya big dummy! Please, let me help. I've been trainin' these past few weeks. Ya've seen how strong my void powers can be."
The resolve in Sou's voice was unshakeable, and it stirred something within me—a sense of camaraderie, a spark of hope. I turned within his embrace to face him, my eyes locking with his.
"Okay," I said, the word more of a surrender than an agreement. "We'll fight together."
He smiled and hugged me tightly. "I won't let anything happen to ya, honey!"
My face reddened. "Hey, you said no unoriginal pet names."
He laughed as he let go of me.
I watched Sou as he chuckled, the sound echoing in the quiet room.
"It's not that funny. Anyway, what are these exams you mentioned?"
"Alright, alright," he said, still grinning. "I'll explain the entrance exams."
He sat down next to me, his binder open on his lap. "So, college entrance exams are these big tests you take to get into university. They're pretty important because they determine what school you can go to and sometimes what you can study."
I furrowed my brows, trying to grasp the concept. "Sounds stressful."
"It can be," he admitted. "But it's also a chance to show what you know, to prove you're ready for the next step."
"And you're studying for these... exams now?" I asked, still a bit puzzled.
"Not yet, but I plan to. I need to start hitting the books pretty hard. There's a lot to cover—math, science, language arts, and more."
I leaned back, impressed. "You really are serious about this."
He closed the binder and looked at me. "I am. And I want you to know that no matter how busy I get with studying, I'm here for you."
I smiled, touched by his words. "And I'm here for you too, Sou. We'll tackle your exams and my... other issues together."
He reached out, squeezing my hand. "That's the spirit. Now, how about we take a break from all this heavy stuff? Want to go grab some breakfast?"
I nodded, feeling a sense of normalcy return. "Sounds good to me."
As we stood up, I couldn't help but feel a surge of hope. With Sou by my side, maybe, just maybe, we could face anything. Even my so-called dad.