Chapter 28
The soft hum of the car engine was drowned out by the thudding of Kokoro’s heart. He sat beside Mika, her slender fingers entwined with his, refusing to let go since the moment they entered the vehicle. The AC breeze from the car vents cooled his face, but it did little to mask the rising heat beneath his cheeks. He subtly tried to free his hand, not because he disliked it, but because the sensation was far too stimulating for a boy his age. Yet each time he even shifted, Mika would tighten her grip and gently hush him.
"It’s our date, Kokoro. Couples hold hands on dates," she whispered, a soft smile dancing on her lips. Her voice was velvet-smooth, and it made Kokoro shut his mouth with a silent blush of defeat. She was impossible to argue with, especially when she looked at him with those soft ashen-gray eyes.
Mika tilted her head, peering at him through thick lashes. "Aren’t you forgetting something?"
Kokoro blinked, caught off guard. He stared at her for a moment, trying to understand. "I don’t think so..."
But when he saw her suddenly shy expression, a faint blush blooming on her porcelain cheeks, it clicked. As a budding manga artist, Kokoro had drawn countless romantic scenes just like this. His eyes widened in realization, and his lips curled into a small, embarrassed smile.
"You look... beautiful today. Very, very beautiful," Kokoro murmured, sincerely.
Mika’s eyes widened before she turned her face away, hiding the red that swiftly colored her ears. "Thank you," she whispered, stealing a shy glance back at him. "You look handsome too."
Without another word, she leaned her head on his shoulder, nestling against him with the contented sigh of someone finally where they wanted to be. Kokoro froze at the unexpected contact. He stared ahead blankly, his muscles locked in place, the scent of Mika’s floral perfume clouding his thoughts. His heart raced even faster, his body tense, but he didn’t dare move. Control yourself... you’re still young... he thought to himself.
To say the ride was exhausting would be an understatement.
When the car finally rolled to a stop, Kokoro quickly unlatched the door and stepped out, taking a long breath of air like a drowning man who’d reached the surface. He stretched his arms toward the blue sky, his back popping slightly from the tension.
"You okay there?" Mika giggled, stepping beside him.