Serenity should be angry at Malkiel for interfering with her personal problem but seeing him all quiet made her less angry and more embarrassed. After Malkiel offered to run away, they went out of the amusement park and wandered around for a bit until it was already sunset. They settled at a nearby convenience store and sat outside of it.
And for that long Malkiel didn't say a word to her, she fiddled her fingers as she tried to think of what she could say to him. But she was also speechless, her mind wandering to the earlier scene.
Malkiel stole a glance at Serenity before letting out a sigh. He couldn't take it anymore, his worry for Serenity and anger for Jace hadn't subsided yet and he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to comfort Serenity right now if he couldn't even handle his own emotions.
He stood abruptly which made Serenity flinch. She looked up at Malkiel who had offered her his hand.
"Let's go, I'll take you home"
Serenity blinked at her offer but took his hand nevertheless. He helped her up and started walking briskly. She stared at his back as she tried to match his pace but stopped midway. Malkiel looked back when he felt that Serenity wasn't following her.
"What's wrong?"
He asked, genuinely concerned for her.
"Why won't you ask me?"
Serenity muttered in a small voice, but it still reached Malkiel's ears. The street was empty and there was no soul to be seen aside from the two of them.
"Ask you what?"
Serenity frustratingly stared at Malkiel who was already staring at her.
"Ask me what happened earlier, what had gone wrong, why did Jace cheated, who the girl beside him was. If I'm okay, why won't you ask me"
It was a sudden burst of fit but Serenity didn't care. She was frustrated, she was angry, she was sad, she was feeling multiple overwhelming feelings all at once that she felt like she would die of heartache.
Malkiel walked towards Serenity and stopped when they were only inches closer.
Instead of asking everything that Serenity frustratingly blurted out, Malkiel only said one word to her.
"Cry"
Serenity stared at him, and there she finally could see it. Malkiel's face was etched with worry and sorrow written all over it.
"What?"
"Damn it Serenity, cry, there's no one here but me"
And there she felt like a dam suddenly collapsing. The tears immediately made their way down her lovely eyes and Malkiel watched as the glowing rays of sunset hit her tears making them glisten into the almost evening air.
He couldn't contain it any longer, he closed the short distance left between him and Serenity and pulled her into a tight hug. Something that made her cry even louder but her arms wrapping around him only made him tighten his hug.
"Let it all out, Serenity. I'm here. I won't leave you"
Serenity cried her heart out and Malkiel was there to lend her his shoulders. Surprisingly, Serenity was able to settle to sniffles after minutes of crying, maybe because she could feel Malkiel's breath on the nook of her neck as well as his constant light pat on the back.
"Are you feeling alright now?"
She was slightly better, but she didn't want to let go, she didn't know why but she liked the feeling of being hugged so tightly and it was what she needed as a comfort.
She didn't answer Malkiel and instead buried her head in his chest. She felt Malkiel caressing her hair underneath the hat. She suddenly remembered how he looked earlier.
"Are you mad?"
The question took both of them off guard. Serenity because she couldn't believe she blurted that out and Malkiel because he hadn't expected such a notion from someone who was bawling her eyes out earlier.
He chuckled lightly which made her pull away from the hug.
"Why would I be mad?"
"Your expression earlier said so"
"Serenity, did you think it was because of you?"
Serenity couldn't answer him, if it wasn't because of her then why was his expression so cold?
"It was because I hate how Jace made you look in front of so many people"
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why did you hate it? Was it because I was your friend?"
Friend? Malkiel smiled sadly at Serenity as the word friend tasted sour in his mouth. Instead of answering, he let go of Serenity completely and tried to divert the topic.
"Why don't we go home instead? I know you want to be alone right now but I personally think Quincey and Galene are better at comforting you than me, so why don't I give them a call? They're your friends after all."
He's deliberately trying to avoid her question and she instantly feels uncomfortable about it.
"Don't you like being my friend?"
Malkiel sadly looked at Serenity who was now serious. He tried to smile but he was betrayed by his feelings.
"Does my answer matter right now?"
Serenity's eyes widened and then realized earlier she was devastated as if the whole world crashed on her, she felt betrayed, angry, and sad all the same time. But now, she couldn't feel any of it and instead, she was curious why Malkiel was there, why an expression she'd never seen him wear was plastered on his face. Why does he feel different, why does he look angry and sad at the same time?
She couldn't and wouldn't believe that all it took her to forget about the event earlier was a cry. No, she wasn't like that. She would mull over the fact that her boyfriend broke up with her in the following days. But why was she feeling nonchalant about it right now?
Malkiel gave him another sad smile before offering his hand to her.
"Let's just go home Serenity huh?"
No
"No"
She needed to hear it.
"What?"
"Malkiel why were you at the amusement park and why aren't you asking me anything? Why are you angry at Jace? And why won't you tell me if we're friends or not"
Malkiel stared at Serenity. He couldn't believe that Serenity felt the need to know all of this information but he wasn't ready yet.
He couldn't tell his feelings when she had just broken up with Jace, right?
Malkiel was uncertain about what to say or if it was good to even confess in this kind of situation.
"Malkiel?"
He stared at Serenity who was standing in front of him, within an arm's reach. So close yet so far. Was this what falling in love meant? It didn't matter anymore if Serenity could reciprocate his feelings, he accepted that before. But now that she was within reach, would it be alright for him to hope once more?
"It's because I like you"
Malkiel didn't know where he got the decisiveness and resolve to confess but he had already done it and it rendered Serenity speechless.
"Not the type of like as a friend or as a younger sister. Not the type of like towards a classmate or bandmate."
Malkiel closed their distance and as he stared at the shock written in Serenity's face he couldn't help but smile sadly.
"It's the kind of like where I want to kiss and hold you. The kind where I want to spend the whole day, from waking up in the morning to sleeping in the night with you.
I like you Serenity Vanya Soriano"