The incident at school had thrown Cid's carefully constructed plans into disarray. He had intended to express his feelings for Kiyomi gradually, to let his actions speak louder than words. But her unexpected display of courage, and her subsequent accidental confession in history class, had thrown him off course. He spent the next few days replaying the scene in his mind, analyzing every angle of Kiyomi's reaction. He knew he should talk to her, but the fear of rejection was paralyzing. What if she was just embarrassed? What if she doesn't feel the same way? The questions swirled in his mind, creating a knot of anxiety in his stomach.
One afternoon, while walking home from school, Cid spotted Kiyomi sitting on a park bench, reading a book. He hesitated, his heart pounding. Should he approach her? What if she was expecting him to apologize for his awkwardness after she defended him from the bullies?
He decided to take a deep breath and walk towards her. As he got closer, he noticed a boy sitting beside her, laughing and pointing at something in the book. Cid's heart sank. He felt a pang of something he couldn't quite define, a mix of disappointment and confusion.
He slowed his pace, considering turning back. But then, he saw Kiyomi's face. She was smiling, a genuine, radiant smile that reached her eyes. It wasn't the same smile she had given him, not quite. This one held a different kind of warmth, a different kind of light. Kai is so funny! I never knew he had such a goofy side. It's nice to just relax and laugh after such a stressful week. (Kiyomi's POV)
Cid felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. He had been so caught up in his own feelings that he had forgotten to consider her perspective. Perhaps she was already seeing someone else.
He decided to walk past, pretending not to see her. As he did so, he heard her voice, soft and melodic. "That was so funny, Kai," she said, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes.
Kai? Cid's heart felt like it had been punched in the gut. Kai was the star quarterback, the most popular boy in school. He was also Cid's best friend. Kai? Cid thought, a wave of confusion washing over him. Why is she with Kai? He knew Kai was charming and funny, a natural at everything he did, including talking to girls. But he never thought…
He continued walking, his head bowed, his shoulders slumped. He felt a familiar wave of self-doubt wash over him. He was just a clumsy, awkward bookworm. What chance did he have against someone like Kai? What could I possibly offer her that he can't?
He reached his house, feeling utterly dejected. He kicked a loose stone down the sidewalk, his frustration spilling over. Why did he have to be such a coward? Why couldn't he just talk to her, express his feelings honestly? He felt a surge of anger at himself, at Kai, at the unfairness of it all.
As he walked up the steps of his house, he noticed a small, folded piece of paper lying on the welcome mat. He picked it up, curious. It was a note, written in Kiyomi's delicate handwriting.
He unfolded the note, his heart pounding. It read: "Meet me at the park tomorrow after school. Kiyomi."
Cid stared at the note, his mind reeling. He couldn't believe it. Why would Kiyomi want to meet him at the park? Was she going to explain her interaction with Kai? Was she going to finally address the accidental confession in history class? Or was it something else entirely? What could it be? He felt a flicker of hope ignite within him.
A wave of anticipation washed over him, mixed with a healthy dose of anxiety. He spent the rest of the day in a state of nervous excitement, unable to focus on anything else. He replayed every possible scenario in his mind, each one ending with him confessing his feelings for Kiyomi. But what if she turns me down? What if she's just trying to let me down gently?
The next day at school, Cid found it difficult to concentrate. He kept glancing at Kiyomi, trying to decipher her expression. But she seemed preoccupied, her gaze fixed on her books or her friends. He couldn't tell if she was nervous too, or if she had already forgotten about the note. He felt a growing sense of unease. He couldn't shake the image of her laughing with Kai in the park.
Finally, the school day ended. Cid gathered his belongings, his heart pounding like a drum. He made his way to the park, his steps slow and hesitant. He scanned the area, searching for Kiyomi.
And then he saw her. She was sitting on their usual bench, her back to him. He took a deep breath and walked towards her.
"Kiyomi?" he said softly.
She turned, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "Cid," she said, her voice warm and welcoming. "I'm glad you came."
Cid sat down beside her, his heart still pounding. "What… what did you want to talk about?" he asked, his voice a little shaky.
Kiyomi hesitated, her gaze drifting to the ground. "I… I wanted to apologize," she said softly.
"Apologize?" Cid asked, confused. "For what?"
"For… for history class," she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that."
Cid's heart sank. So, that was it. She was just embarrassed about the accidental confession. He felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. So, she was just embarrassed, he thought.
"It's okay," he said, trying to sound calm. "It wasn't a big deal."
Kiyomi looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "It's not?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Cid shrugged. "No," he lied. "It's fine."
A moment of awkward silence hung in the air. Cid could feel his heart breaking. He had hoped for something more, something deeper. But it seemed that Kiyomi just wanted to forget the whole thing.
"Well," Kiyomi said, breaking the silence. "I should get going. I have to help my mom with dinner."
"Okay," Cid said, his voice flat.
Kiyomi stood up, brushing off her skirt. "See you tomorrow, Cid," she said, her smile a little less bright than before.
"Yeah," Cid replied. "See you."
As Kiyomi walked away, Cid couldn't help but feel a pang of regret. He had missed his chance. He had been too afraid to tell her how he really felt. He had let the image of her laughing with Kai cloud his judgment, making him believe he had no chance.
He sighed, feeling utterly dejected. He had let his fear hold him back, and now he might have lost his chance. He watched her go, his heart heavy with unspoken words and a bitter taste of regret.