“You did very well. Perhaps I should have been more alert. But that doesn’t mean you can come with me. It’s too dangerous. I’ll take you back in the morning and?—“
“And I’ll follow you again. And again,” she simply states.
“I mean it, Moe. It’s very dangerous.” I give her a quick rundown of what I’d heard about my destination and that everyone who goes there goes missing.
“It’s dangerous for you too and you’re going.”
“That’s because I don’t have any other alternative!”
“What do you mean?” She narrows her eyes at me.
“It’s complicated.”
“So?”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, Moe. Please.”
“Fine then. I’ll leave, but only if you tell me to my face that I should have a happy life. Go on, I’m waiting.”
I stare at her, my mouth open.
“It’s easy. Three words. Say them, and mean them. Then I’ll leave on my own. I won’t stay where I’m not wanted.”
“Have a—“ I gulp down uneasily. “Have?—“
She raises her brows, waiting. “Yes?”
“Happy.”
“A happy what?”
“L-l—” I look away. It’s like pulling the words with tongs. Even writing those words took me about eight tries. How could I wish her to have a happy life knowing I might never be part of it? Moe is right. I can be selfless. But when it comes to her I’m too fucking selfish.
“It’s going to be dangerous,” I add in a defeated tone.
She smirks. “I knew it,” she whispers to herself. “No worries, Nyk. I’ll do my best to stay out of trouble.”
And for the first time since seeing her today, she gives me a bright, genuine smile. Suddenly, even if I die, I know it’s going to be without regrets.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt,” I mutter, already regretting my decision.
“But it’s okay foryouto get hurt?”
“I… I’m immortal!” I protest.
She narrows her eyes. “You’re not very good at being immortal, Nyk.”
“Maybe, but I’m learning,” I grumble.
She chuckles and splashes me with some water. Drops of it enter my eyes and momentarily blind me. She continues laughing, the most melodious sound I’ve ever heard in my life. As long as she never stops laughing, I don’t mind being the object of her amusement.
I do a poor attempt of splashing water toward her, mostly to join in on the action since I don’t want to hurt her or do something that might make her uncomfortable.
Pearls of laughter echo in the stillness of the night. My own ragged breath joins in as I evade her playful splashes and throw some of my own. The more this continues, the more my mind goes into overdrive.
She came after me. She followed me into the dangerous unknown.
She wouldn’t have done that for anyone, right? She must like me to some extent; have some feelings for me…right?
