Months had passed.
Ethan had spent those months replaying the same thought over and over again in his head. It was a simple thought, but it haunted him: What if I never tell her? What if he never said the words he'd been carrying around like a weight on his chest? The fear of never knowing was worse than the fear of rejection.
He couldn't wait anymore.
Today was the day.
He checked the clock again. 4:47 PM. He had a little more than an hour. It had been a long time coming. and he wasn't going to mess it up. Not this time.
Ethan grabbed his phone and sent a text to Aika. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment, but then, like something out of instinct, he quickly typed it out.
Hey Alka, are you free tonight? I've got something important to talk about, and I'd love it if you came over for a bit. Please let me know if you're available!
He stared at the screen for a while, not sure if the message sounded too much or too little. Was he pushing it? Was this too sudden? But it was already out there. There was no going back now.
He set the phone down and went back to the preparations. Everything needed to be perfect.
He had spent the last few hours setting up, ensuring everything was just right. The table was set with simple plates, neatly folded napkins, and candles placed in every corner of the area, their flickering light casting a soft glow against the shadows of the yard. He had planned the meal himself-grilled steaks, some vegetables to roast over the fire, a few bottles of wine that he hoped would ease any tension.
The grill was already sizzling, the crackling sound of the wood fire mixing with the birds chirping in the distance.
Ethan wiped the sweat from his brow. He was exhausted, his muscles aching from all the work, but he didri't care. He had a goal, and it kept him moving, kept him focused. This wasn't just about food. Thia wasn't just about setting up a pretty table. This was his moment, the one thing he'd been waiting for.
Noah had helped with some of the decorations, and Mia and June had pitched in too, making sure the whole thing had a welcoming, cozy vibe to it. The last thing Ethan wanted was for it to feel like a grand gesture. He just wanted it to feel real, feel like them. Feel like Alka.
He had a lot to say, but words always seemed to fail him around her. This time, though, he was going to make sure she heard him. He would tell her everything even if his heart felt like it was about to explode from his chest.
Time passed, and Ethan kept pacing, checking his phone every couple of minutes. He had to look perfect for her. The nervousness made his hands shake a little. What if she didn't show? What if she wasn't coming? What if she didn't care enough to respond?
The doorbell rang
Ethan's heart leaped into his throat.
He opened the door, and there she was. Aika.
She stood in the doorway, her eyes wide, her expression soft, but there was something in her gaze that made Ethan's stomach flip. Was it surprise? Or was it something else? Maybe he was just imagining it. "Hey" she said, voice calm and steady. I got your text. What's going on?"
Ethan swallowed hard. "Aika, I'm glad you came. I-I wanted to show you something. I've been preparing for this... a while."
She raised an eyebrow, glancing over at the table and the fire crackling in the background. "You did all this?"
He nodded, a little sheepish. "Yeah, I wanted to do something special. I thought... maybe we could have a meal, talk a little. I've been thinking about... some things."
Her lips curled into a faint smile, though it seemed distant. You really went all out, huh? I guess you're
feeling nervous or something."
"Yeah," he chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. "A little. I've never done anything like this before. And, uh... I really just want to spend time with you. I've been wanting to tell you something."
She stepped inside, and he motioned for her to sit down at the table. As she took a seat, Ethan couldn't help but notice the way she looked around. She didn't seem uncomfortable, just... peaceful. And that made him feel a little more at ease.
"I prepared everything myself," he continued, trying to fill the space with casual conversation. "Took a bit longer than I thought, but I think it turned out okay." He laughed, his voice a little strained.
Aika smiled, still not saying much, but her eyes were warm, comforting. "It looks great," she said. "Really. It's... unexpected. But in a good way
He sat down across from her, trying not to let his nerves get the best of him, "Alka, 1-
Before he could finish, she looked up at the sky. Her eyes seemed distant as she watched the clouds slowly drift by. Ethan could tell she was lost in thought. His heart dropped a little, wondering if she was zoning out or just avoiding him.
"Aika?" he whispered.
But she didn't respond right away. The silence hung between then like a heavy cloud.
Finally, she spoke, but her words weren't what he expected. She didn't speak about the food or the table or anything about the setup at all. Instead, her voice was slow, almost contemplative
"You know," she said quietly, "life has a funny way of making us think we have all the time in the world to decide, to choose, to take action. But it's never that simple, is it?"
Ethan's brow furrowed, unsure of where she was going with this.
She took a deep breath, her eyes still on the sky. "Sometimes we feel like we have to make a choice, right? To go left or right, to stay or leave, to love or let go. But life life doesn't really give you those choices. Not in the way you think it does."
Her words hit Ethan like a truck, each one leaving a deep mark on him.
"I thought... I thought if I did all this, if I gave you what you needed, I could make you choose me," Ethan whispered, his voice cracking a little. "But maybe I was wrong. I thought if I just made everything perfect, you'd see me the way I see you."
Aika finally turned her head to face him. Her eyes were soft, almost sad, but there was a quiet strength in them. "I see you, Ethan," she said gently. "I really do. But love... love isn't a choice we make because
someone else makes us feel something. It's something we feel when the time is right. And sometimes, the right person isn't always the one who's there for you in every moment. Sometimes, the right person is the one who lets you grow, lets you figure things out on your own."
Ethan's chest tightened, and his words stuck in his throat. "So... what are you saying? You don't feel the same?"
Aika let out a slow, steady breath. "I'm saying that we can't control love, Ethan. You can't control who you love. And sometimes... the answer is just... no matter how hard we try to make sense of it, it's just not meant to be
For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Ethan's heart felt like it was shattering into pieces, but he didn't know how to react. She wasn't rejecting him outright. She wasn't saying he wasn't enough. But she wasn't saying what he wanted to hear.
"You know," she continued, her voice soft, almost like she was talking to herself, "life is like the clouds in the sky. They change, they drift. You can't hold onto them. And maybe that's what love is, too. Something that just... comes and goes, like the wind. And we just have to learn to let it pass when it's time."
Ethan sat there, motionless. His words failed him. Aika wasn't just rejecting him. She was teaching him something bigger than himself. She was teaching him that sometimes, you had to let go not because you wanted to, but because you had no other choice.