A few weeks after their confession, the news reached Anaberu like a sudden storm. Kai had received a letter, and the expression on his face was one she couldn't ignore. He was being called away.
"Anaberu, I need to go," Kai said, his voice tight with emotion.
"Where? What's going on?" she asked, her heart suddenly twisting with unease.
He paused, his eyes clouded with regret.
"It's... Akira. She's gravely ill. She needs me."
Anaberu's stomach dropped. Akira—Kai's ex-girlfriend—had always lingered in the background of their story. Despite everything that had happened between them, Kai had never fully severed the ties with her.
"She's... sick?" Anaberu asked quietly, her voice barely audible.
Kai nodded, his face torn with conflict.
"I have to go to her. She's in no condition to care for herself, and I... I owe her. I can't leave her to face this alone."
Anaberu felt as though the ground had shifted beneath her feet. She had only just accepted Kai into her heart, and now she was faced with the reality of him being pulled away again—this time not by his choice, but by the weight of past obligations.
"I understand," she whispered, though the pain in her chest was almost unbearable.
"You have to go."
"But I'll come back," Kai said, his eyes searching for reassurance.
"I won't leave you. Not for good."
Anaberu nodded slowly, though the thought of him leaving filled her with an aching sadness. She had already lost so much—her engagement, her innocence, and now, the only man she love.
"I'll wait," she whispered.
"I'll wait for you, Kai. But... be safe. And don't let her hold you back."
Kai's gaze softened, and he took her hand once more.
"I'll never forget you, Anaberu. You have my heart. I promise."
With that, he left, and Anaberu was left standing alone at the crossroads of her heart—torn between love, duty, and the uncertainty of the future.
The days that followed Kai's departure felt like an eternity. Every corner she turned, every path she walked, reminded her of the man who had once again disappeared from her life.
She had promised to wait for him, and part of her found solace in that promise—yet the other part of her ached with a deep, unrelenting sorrow. How could she move forward when her heart was tethered to someone she couldn't hold onto?
She spent her days in quiet reflection, continuing with her work, tending to her garden, and helping the villagers as she always had. But the world seemed muted, as though the colors had dulled, and the days blurred together like fog rolling in across a field.
She missed him—the steady presence of Kai, his smile, his warmth. But more than that, she missed the feeling of being seen, truly seen, by someone who understood the quiet corners of her heart.
And then, the letter came.
It was a small, unassuming envelope, sealed with a wax emblem she didn't recognize. Her heart skipped when she saw the handwriting on the front—Kai's.
She opened it with trembling fingers, the words inside written in his familiar hand.
Anaberu,
I arrived safely and Akira still has not recovered. It's been a difficult few days. I can't explain everything right now, but I need you to know something—what we share, the bond we have, is real. My feelings for you are true, and I'll carry you with me no matter where I am.
I hope you can forgive me for being torn between the past and the present, but I want you to know that you are never far from my thoughts. I'll be back as soon as I can, and I'll make sure you're never alone again.
Yours,
Kai
Anaberu read the letter twice, then again. A weight lifted from her chest, and yet a new wave of doubt crept in. He was with Akira, but his words were filled with conviction.
He hadn't forgotten her. But how long would it take for him to return? Could she trust in his promise, or was she setting herself up for another heartache?
A few weeks later, another letter arrived, this time from a friend of Kai's. The letter was brief, but it contained information that was both comforting and concerning.
Anaberu,
Kai's stay with Akira has been longer than expected. She's still not fully recovered, but he's doing everything he can for her. He's been under a lot of pressure, and his emotions are... complicated. He asked me to pass along that he's thinking of you, and he's doing his best to make things right.
Please be patient with him. He's trying to reconcile his past, but he hasn't forgotten you.
The words were kind, but they left Anaberu with more questions than answers. His emotions are complicated. What did that mean? Was he torn between the past he shared with Akira and the future he had just started to build with her?
She had always known that Kai's past would cast a shadow over their future, but she hadn't anticipated just how much it would affect their relationship. She couldn't help but wonder if he was still emotionally tied to Akira in a way that she couldn't compete with.
For months, she waited. Time dragged on, and with each passing day, Anaberu found herself growing restless. She had convinced herself that she could wait, that she could be patient, but the silence gnawed at her. She needed answers, needed something to hold onto—anything to keep her grounded.
One evening, as she sat by her window, gazing at the distant horizon, a figure appeared on the path. She squinted, unsure if she was imagining things, but as the figure drew closer, her heart skipped a beat.
It was Kai.
Her breath caught in her throat as she scrambled to her feet. He was walking toward her with purpose, his face set, but there was a tenderness in his eyes that made her heart flutter.
Anaberu didn't move, rooted to the spot, as he stopped just in front of her. There was a long silence between them, thick with unsaid words. He reached out slowly, as though unsure of how she would react, and gently cupped her face in his hands.
"I'm sorry," Kai said, his voice hoarse, as if the words had been stuck in his throat for too long.
"I didn't want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you."
Anaberu closed her eyes at his touch, a shiver running through her. She had missed him more than she could say, but there was a part of her still hesitant, unsure of where this would lead.
"Why did you stay so long?" she asked softly, her voice trembling.
"You said you'd come back, but then... there was no word. I thought I had lost you forever."
Kai's expression softened, guilt flashing in his eyes.
"I didn't know what to say, Anaberu. I was trying to make sense of everything. Akira... she needed me. But you—"
He paused, taking a deep breath.
"I thought about you every day. And I knew, deep down, I couldn't keep you waiting like this."
He lowered his hands, his gaze never leaving hers.
"I don't know what the future holds, but I do know that I want you in it."
Anaberu swallowed hard, her heart racing.
"It's been months, Kai...at least write me a letter."
"I know," he whispered.
"Please forgive me. I promise you don't have to wait anymore. I'm really sorry. I love you so much Anaberu."
Her eyes searched his face, looking for any trace of hesitation, but there was none. His words were sincere, and for the first time in months, Anaberu felt a spark of hope light within her heart.
"Can you trust me?" Kai asked, his voice vulnerable.
Anaberu exhaled, her chest tight with emotion. Slowly, she nodded.
"Yes, Kai. I'll trust you. But you have to promise me—no more secrets. You and I deserve something real."
"I promise," Kai said, his voice filled with conviction.
Without another word, he stepped forward, pulling her into a warm, gentle embrace. Anaberu leaned into him, letting herself be held for the first time in so long. There were still uncertainties ahead—still questions that needed answers—but for now, in this moment, she could breathe.