(Little warning; this chapter is a bit shorter than my recent chapters because I'm on vacation and I'm doing this on my phone right now (I apologize for any typos). It's actually still a long chapter but maybe it'll feel short after the last couple of big chapters.)

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"Link..." Here I am shaking my head again. This is what I've wanted for so long but all I can think about is poor Mipha, sitting in her room, regretting this entire trip. Or is that just another excuse to reject my one shot at love.

"What is it? Do you not believe me?" Link frowns, holding on to my hand.

"That's not it. It's just... a lot. So many things are happening at the same time; so many hearts were broken along the way. You probably don't even know what happened at the lodge before Mipha kissed you. I just feel like there are still too many things we haven't talked about. It's a lot to process... and I have never been in a relationship, I don't even know what to do or say. But u do know that I'd like to create some sense of order before leaping blindfolded into something new."

"Wait, what happened at the lodge?"

"A lot actually... It's not my place to tell you but right now I think we should put all the cards on the table."

"I agree."

"Well, first Revali asked Mipha out. She said no because she thought you and her were going to work out."

"Shit..."

"And then Revali practically forced Impa to confess something to me... She didn't mean for me to know, but she... I guess, somehow she has or had feelings for me. I'm not sure."
"Like feelings feelings?" he asks surprised. At least I'm not the only one who didn't see it.

"I never thought my best friend could like me like that. That's why I believe you when you say that you didn't know about Mipha's feelings. I also believe that you love her the same way that I love Impa. But looking back, there were a lot of signs; I could have and should have realized it sooner. Now I'm just wondering if you could have realized it too. With Mipha I mean."

"I could have questioned it more often, but when every girl acts awkward around you, eventually it becomes the norm. I got so used to red cheeks and giggles and all that, Mipha's behavior didn't stand out. Yours did."

"I see..."

Link has both his hands around one of mine as if letting go meant losing me forever. "I can... um," he bites his lip and looks away with creased brows. "Do you want me to tell you... do you want me to tell you about the kiss?"

"No," I remove his touch to tightly snake my arms around my stomach.

"I think whatever you're picturing is worse than what it really was. I'm not saying it's not bad but it might make it a little easier for you... I don't know. Just a thought."

"Maybe. I just don't think I want to hear it."

"Yeah..."

"How long was it?"

"The kiss?" I nod and he rubs the back of his neck. "Um, I don't know. A second?"

"You couldn't have stopped her?"

"I had no idea she was going to kiss me. I thought she just came by to wish me luck. I looked away for a second when they called up my name and by the time I looked back at her it had already happened... She caught me totally off guard."

"And then? Why didn't you tell her about us after she kissed you?"

"They just called for me and reporters were trying to get me on camera--Mipha left pretty immediately. I didn't get a chance to say anything to her. I would have, but there wasn't any time."

"Did you miss your jump because you were distracted by the kiss?"

"I was thinking about what the hell I'm going to do next, yeah... I wasn't very focused." The despair returns to his mien as he sighs quietly. "I was so fucking mad at myself. I know I screwed up. Now I get why it was so important that I talk to her about us... I didn't expect her to do anything like that. I'm so sorry for the way you found out. I wanted to be the one to tell you."

"Yes... Sucks when you find out through others."

That's exactly why I wanted him to tell Mipha himself. Now she had to find out during a horrible fight. All this must be just as bad, if not worse, for her.

"I was going to talk to you, really. I wanted to do it after dinner, maybe before, I don't know, but I was definitely going to tell you. I just didn't think Mipha was going to tell you as soon as we got back..."

"She tells me everything that happens between you two. I had to pretend that I am supportive of you two together because I couldn't tell her what was really going on."

"I'm sorry. Zelda... I don't ever want to make you cry like that again. When I saw you in Revali's arms... I was so scared of losing you. I instantly knew why you were crying and– I've never been that scared in my life. I'm still scared, but I'm glad we're talking."

"Me too, Link."

I look at his pleading eyes. The biggest mistake we made was not telling Mipha. I could blame him and allow the anger to poison my heart, but deep down I know that it is not his fault alone. I was a hypocrite, too scared to confront reality. So I hid behind Link, hoping my problems would magically go away. I believe forgiving the people I'm mad at is a necessary step in ridding my heart of these ill feelings.

Three simple words, yet they come with much more hardship, probably because I want them to be as honest as possible. You can't expect someone to finish a puzzle when you are hiding it's pieces. Link couldn't have known. What happened hurts, but I believe his side of the story. He's not to blame.

I take a moment to really confront the feelings that make me sick inside and let go of them with a deep exhale. It's difficult, but I can finally feel the anger that has been digging its claws into my heart diminish.

"I forgive you," I say hesitantly. Relief and surprise replace Link's nervous expression. "I forgive you for postponing the confrontation, leading Mipha on, and kissing her. Or being kissed I suppose. And for getting into a fight with Revali."

"He hit me first."

"You hit him back."

"Fair enough..."

"You didn't let me finish."

"Sorry. Please continue," he straightens his back and pushes his shoulders back to sit up politely.

"I forgive you, but I'd also like to ask for forgiveness. I'm sorry for burdening you with my secrets. I should have had your back. I wasn't a good friend to either of you. I'm sorry for pushing you away, for yelling at you, hurting you, and for hiding away all night. Although, I do believe that it was the right choice to retreat and take the time to think about everything. Be that as it may, I feel bad for leaving you in the hallway after all the things you said at the pool..."

"I meant every word."

"I believe you. I just needed to think about some things and didn't want my emotions to cloud my judgement. I have some bad habits and issues I need to overcome but I don't want to shut you out as I work on myself. So, I'm really sorry for everything too."

"I forgive you," he says along with a shy smile.

"Thank you," I lift the corners of my mouth for an attempted smile.

A moment of quiet finds us. I don't mind it. I welcome it, really. After all the shouting last night, the slamming of doors and heart wrenching punches, I am glad that we can sit in peace.

"Can I hug you?" He asks, moving closer by an inch.

I nod but remain where I am. He opens his arms and leans in to wrap them around my back. My shoulders relax at the first touch and my body just sinks into his gentle hug. This honesty is refreshing. Not only among Link and I, but Impa and Mipha as well. I wish it could have gone differently, but ultimately I am extremely relieved that everything is out in the open now. Almost everything...

My heartbeat exhilarates the closer his lips are to my neck. Even during an innocent hug, a vivid and painful memory sneaks it's way into my mind. After all this, there is still something I am keeping from my friends. I thought it would be okay to just keep it to myself, but after suffering the severe side effects of secrets, it may be wise to tell Link about Karusa.

However, I can't help but compare Link and Mipha's tragedy with mine. Karusa may have had different intentions, but he did something that I didn't consent to, similar to what Mipha did. If I bring it up now, I will be the biggest hypocrite of all time. I blamed Link for the kiss and felt disgusted thinking about it... If I tell him what happened at the stadium, he might react the same, or worse, think poorly of me for keeping it from him after he told me about Mipha immediately.

"Did you think about us last night?" Link asks in a soft tone.

"That was the only thing I could think about," I answer quietly. I should tell him right now.

"Me too. I'm sorry for shouting my feelings at you like that. That was childish."

"It wasn't... Please don't apologize for it, that will only ruin it."

"Why would that ruin it? I still meant it."

"But apologizing is an expression of regret... And if you regret it... I mean... It was the first time you said that you..." I press my lips together.

"That I love you?"

I can only nod and hope he won't break our hug to look at me. I don't want him to make fun of my flustered expression.

"It wasn't the first time that I said that to you. Maybe the first time you heard it, but I tell you almost every day," he says.

"That's not true. Yesterday was the first time."

I can feel his smile against my hair. "Sometimes I like to say things to you when you're asleep. Just a few words, like 'sweet dreams'... or something like that. Is that creepy?"

Involuntarily, I hold my breath and dig my nails into the back of his hoodie to keep my shock contained.

"Are you blushing?" Link asks, small bits of amusement slipping through his tone. I can picture his smug face. Can he picture the tears in my eyes?

"I missed it?" I manage to say, still holding my breath.

"Hm?"

"I missed your first I love you...?"

"No, you were there."

"But I didn't hear it..."

"I think you did. You just don't remember."

"I would remember. Are you kidding me? I could never forget that. When was it? How did you say it?"

"You want me to tell you all the details?" I back away to give him a serious nod. He raises his eyebrow in uncertainty as his cheeks adapt to mine. "Then I should do it properly and show you." He tucks a strang of hair behind my ear and studies my face in silence.

"What are you doing?"

"Reenacting it," his eyes are smiling but his lips are holding back.

"Now? Here?"

"What's wrong with now and here?"

"It's poorly timed. The mood is unfitting. And the setting isn't romantic..."

"I think the Christmas tree is romantic but if you need a mistletoe and a singing baby deer–" he teases.

"They're called fawns."

"So you admit you want this to turn into a Disney movie," he chuckles.

"That's not necessary," I mutter and brace myself for his words. Language and literature; such beautiful forms of art. How can three ordinary, everyday words, put together in the right order and applied at the right moment, make my heart tickle? I'm nervous. The good kind of nervous. My butterflies are back and they are more vigorous than ever.

Link repeats his gentle gesture, tucking my hair behind my ear when a voice from behind startles us enough to slam some distance between us.

"Morning," Sidon's voice pulls our eyes to the stairs while I back away instinctively as if Link's touch was a deadly disease. Sidon is not wearing his usual bright smile but his eyes are soft and free of anger. "Just wanted to grab some water for my sister."

"She's awake?" I get up to follow him into the kitchen.

"She didn't sleep," he answers.

"I figured as much... How is she? I feel so bad... Can I speak to her? I'd like to apologize and talk about everything that happened."

He grabs a glass from the cabinet and fills it with water from the fridge. "She said the exact same thing," he gives me a tired smile.

"Do you think she'll talk to me right now? Or does she need more rest?"

"Let's ask her," he nods toward the stairs.

I follow him upstairs and try to prepare myself for a conversation that is impossible to prepare for. As we reach Mipha's door, another door opens and Impa steps into the hallway. Her hair is unkempt and she's wearing the same thing she wore last night. We stare at each other in the most awkward way as silence pressures us into a conversation.

"I'll give you guys a moment," Sidon says and enters his sister's room.

"H-hey," why am I so nervous around Impa all of a sudden?

"Hi," she looks away, rolls back and forth on her heels, and looks back at me.

"How are you?"

"Hungover."

"Shocker," I try to joke.

"I know right?" She gives me half a smile.

"So... You're up early." Why is this so awkward?

"Because my phone rang. Your dad called."

"What?"

"Yeah he called to wish you a Merry Christmas," she holds her phone up. "I didn't answer but he left a voicemail saying you should call him when you have some time."

"Er... okay? I'll call him later."

And just like that we're back to silence. But only for a few long seconds.

"You don't have to avoid me," she says.

"That's... that's actually a colossal relief."

"Are you going to be weird about sleeping in the same bed as me?" She asks and cringes at her own question.

"No. I'm not going to be weird about anything."

"Oh. Okay. Well. Great," she shrugs and smiles. "Where'd you sleep last night? Can I guess?" She smirks at me.

"Er,  funny story," I shyly remark. "I slept in Revali's bed."

"Shut up! That means Revali slept with Mipha?"

Shout a little louder, the village hasn't heard you yet. "No, and please lower your voice... Revali slept in his room."

"On the floor?" She asks, I shake my head. "The desk?" I shake my head again. "The closet?"

"His bed."

"Okay but then where did you sleep?"

"His bed."

"Okay but then where did he sleep?"

"His bed," I growl.

"Sorry I don't get it. What's the punchline?"

"It's not a pun. Revali and I shared a bed because..." I quietly whisper, "because Mipha and Link kissed and then Link and I got into a fight. Just don't mention it to the others. We haven't really talked about it yet."

"If this is a joke you have to tell me right now."

"Not a joke."

"Perfect," Impa clenches her fists, walks a few steps, and hammers them against Link's door. "Open up asshole!"

"Stop!" I say in a panicked whisper.

Impa opens Link's door before I can explain anything. One glance in his room and she turns on her heels and storms toward the stairs.

"Link!" She shouts downstairs. "I suggest you run because once I get my hands around your neck—" Link steps forward and shows himself at the bottom of the stairs before she finishes her threat. "Holy shit, What happened to you?" She asks disarmed, lowering her fists and dropping her stance immediately.

Revali opens his door to bless us with his sour face and deep glower.  "Can you please shut the fuck up or at least beat him up quietly?" Revali complains. Impa takes in his appearance and puts one and one together.

"What the shit!" Impa cusses. "I've been waiting for this fight for ages! I can't believe I missed it! I'm never getting drunk again."

"That's as likely as telescoping a Robin Hood in archery," Revali dismisses Impa's unrealistic new year's resolution.

"Somebody start spilling some tea," Impa demands.

"Okay. But can we do it quietly? Somewhere else?" I bid.

"How about a cemetery," Impa snaps. "That'll save us the trip to Link's funeral."

"You don't have to murder Link," I say without any sign of sarcasm.

"Do you know me at all?" She says to me, holding Link hostage with her eyes. "You're so dead. I mean it! I'll add a couple bruises to your face before ripping your head off."

"You have to calm down, Impa," I beg, trying to remain calm myself. "It's not as bad as it sounds."

"I don't care what it sounds like. If it's a fact, it'll be your legit medically confirmed cause of death."

"Impa, no," I try again.

"Let me explain," Link says to her, bravely holding her razed blade sharp eye contact.

"No, let me," Mipha's small voice joins the clamour. Everyone falls silent and aims their eyes at her. She is nearly invisible next to her tall brother but nothing could take our eyes away from her. Her eyes are puffy and red from crying all night and he legs are caught in a slight tremble.

I'm the first to step up. "I'm so sorry about all of this. I'm sorry for keeping secrets. You've been such a great friend and I betrayed you. I'm so sorry." I'm a matter of seconds I've started the waterworks and don't see an end to it any time soon. Why can't I, for once, hold my tears back? It's not fair of me to cry and ask for pity. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for everything," I repeat myself. What else can I say other than— "I'm sorry, I'm so—"

Mipha pulls me into a hug, taking my voice away. "I understand," she says forgiving, her arms tightly wrapped around my back. "I understand your situation. It must have been so difficult to hear me talk about Link every day. You love him. You just didn't know how to tell me. I understand."

"Mipha—" I cry and weep so much that I can't utter another word.

"I understand," she rubs my back.

"I'm so sorry."

"Me too."

I now put my arms around her back as well and return her dear hug. Mipha is amazing. How can she be so understanding after everything I've done? After everything that happened last night? How can she be okay with this? Wait. She didn't say that she's okay with this. She only said that—

"You said you were going to explain," Impa crosses her arms at Mipha. I take a step back, aiming my eyes at Link at the bottom of the stairs. Without words, without secret code or supernatural mind reading abilities, I can sense his guilt from up here. His eyes are attached to Mipha for a few seconds until they jump over to me. 

"Perhaps I should apologize to Revali first," Mipha turns toward him, her hands folded, her eyes lowered.

"I just wanna know why everyone's totally chill about Mipha and Link hooking up," Impa cuts in.

"Impa," I scold her with a silencing scowl.

Mipha's face has turned a deeper shade of red. She takes a step back, unable to look at any of us. "I-I-" she stutters. "I am no longer certain whether I am ready to talk about this. I apologize..."

"You're fine. Take all the time you need." Sidon guides her back to her room but before he closes the door, Revali lets out a long, deafening whistle that gets all our attention.

"This is some bullshit!" Revali shouts at us, stopping Mipha from retreating to her room. "We're not in kindergarten and I'm sure as hell not doing this for another day! You've all had a whole night to hate yourselves and hate your friends, it's time to grow up and fucking talk to each other like verbally advanced college students!"

"Revali—" Sidon tries to protect his sister from another heartbreaking situation but Revali doesn't wait for Sidon to say another word.

"If everyone's just gonna hide in their rooms for the rest of the week we might as well go home today. I didn't want to come here in the first place but somehow it actually didn't suck as much as I thought it would. You could almost say I kinda enjoyed it. Until I blurted out that Impa's into Zelda. And until Mipha rejected me, kissed that jerk down there, told Zelda about it, caused a fight between me and said jerk, and found out about Zelda's and Jerk's I-Don't-Know-What-To-Call-Your-Relationship. And until I ended up having a new roommate despite my one and only request of having a room to myself." He lets out a long sigh once he's done with his hurtful but truthful rant.

"What—the—fuck?" Impa carries a twisted expression as she looks at each of us in confusion and a hint at disturbance.

"Good, Impa is up to date," Revali's chin shoots up as he takes authority. "Now, if everyone could please find a seat in the living room because we are going to talk about this clusterfuck. All of us. Does that work for you ill-bred kids? Great. By noon this will either be resolved or we'll have our bags packed for departure. Up to you. I'm just making sure one of the two gets done in the next 4 hours."