Jayden's PoV

I watch in silence with a small but slightly bitter smile as Kyoko speaks with her mother, father, Takumori and Yoshiro, then Director Sakai, and then more people here to meet her as Kyoko Kishi.

I make myself as small as possible against the wall in the corner in my chair. I didn't have all the time in the world left, and I really wanted to spend more of it with Kyoko, won't these random people leave already?!

Handshake after handshake, smile after smile, even I could tell Kyoko's getting tired.

"We should let her rest, poor girl's been through a lot." a visitor suggests.

A little bit later, her mom pecked her on the forehead before leaving with everyone else.

"Another reason why I hate people." She grumbled. I laughed.

Comfortable silence descended upon us until I decided to ruin it, "Hey, Kyoko, about what I wanted to tell you earlier."

She looked a little surprised at my serious tone all of a sudden, she locked her gaze with mine, telling me she's listening.

"...Since I came overseas to study without a parents' consent, technically, I'm skipping class back in my college." I proceed to push out the difficult words, "And they just sent me an email yesterday. I wouldn't be able to graduate if I kept missing classes."

When what I said to her finally sunk in, she blinked a couple of times with her questioning grey eyes, becoming visibly depressed.

"...So, when?" She asks, already knowing what I need to do.

"Four more days, my step-dad already booked a plane ticket." I closed my eyes and let my head rest on my crossed fingers.

The comfortable earlier silence became indescribably suffocating and awkward instantly. We've only been together for less than 24 hours, and yet....

"..." Her choppy hair completely covered her face from my view as she murmured, "First, your first love; second, my stubbornness; third, your hesitance. I thought we made a break-through, but now, half a globe is going to be in between us?"

Her hands that were supporting her weight on both sides clenched up so tightly her knuckles were getting white. Her fist shook ever so slightly, showing her frustration.

I bet she's thinking that life hates her right about now.

I shuffled my chair closer to her bed, then glide my hand onto hers, relaxing her hold a bit.

"What's in between us right now?" I suddenly thought and said, repeating the same thing she told me not too long ago.

She stopped trembling, but she doesn't yet look at me.

"What's stopping us from having the best times of our lives right this moment?" I take up her hand and brush my lips across her knuckles, "It's only in the late afternoon, the day is still young, let's go somewhere, yeah?"

Her hand squeezed mine as she peered at my face, "Mm-hmm."

"I know long-distance doesn't sound like the most promising thing in the world," I add with the most sincere voice, "but I'll definitely come for you, mark my words."

She looked like she was on the verge of tears when she finally turned to me, "...Thank you.... That was sweet... even for you."

I stood up and pulled her up with me, "I've never officially asked you. Would you be my girlfriend, Kyoko?"

A smile finally broke onto her face, "Of course."

~~

Kyoko's PoV

"How'd you know I like watching horse races?" I ask as we take a seat in the stadium.

"I briefly conversed with your parents while you were out like a light." He responded while handing me popcorn and soda.

I let out a small laugh, "Good. I was afraid you'd take me to some fancy candle lit dinner restaurant thingy."

In the corner of my eye, I see him crumble up a piece of paper, "What's that?"

"Oh, nothing." He grinned, "Just a business card for some fancy candle lit dinner restaurant thingy."

I laughed, "I was just kidding, I don't mind--"

Just then, a gun shot was heard.

Startled, my head snapped to the field, only to feel stupid when I realize that it was the signal for the race.

All the horses dashed out to the fields with respective riders on them. I don't bet on these races, but they're fun to watch, all the same.

Before I knew it, I was at the edge of my seat, cheering it on like everyone else present.

A little bit later, after having some really nice soba noodles for dinner, he piggybacked me while taking a quiet stroll in a nearby park.

Because.... Walking takes effort.

"Whoop." He hummed as he dropped me on to a bench, then plopped down next to me.

Now that the excitement of the day has passed, the insecure feeling of long distance came back to me. I let out a silent sigh, hoping to chase those thoughts away.

Of course, the harder you try to throw something away, the harder it'll come back and hit at you, like a boomerang.

All of a sudden, I felt his arm snake around my waist. I glance at him, "what're you doing with my phone?"

"Adding myself into your 'favourites' in contacts and in every social media you have...which is nothing."

"Those things are a waste of time." I commented, "don't download any!"

"Great." He tossed me one of his infamous cheeky grins, "I'm your one and only."

I made a face in attempt to hide my blush, "You're a sneaky little brat."

"Mm-hmm." He doesn't deny it and only types away on my phone with a little smile playing on his perfect lips.

A little while later, I stared-annoyed-at the new apps on my phone: Skype, Snapchat, Facebook, Kik, Wattpad, Instagram, and...is that Tumblr?

"I don't like you." I state plainly.

"What did you say?" He asked purposefully as his hand reached over and shut my phone, then stuffed it into my pocket.

"I said--"

He swallowed my words by firmly pressing his lips against my own. He pulled away with a smooch, "Sorry, I couldn't hear you, would you mind repeating that?"

The look on his face and eyes made clear of his real intentions. Still, I wanted to get a point across.

"Don't just--"

It was futile. The second I opened my mouth to speak, he would cover my lips with the sweetest kisses that I don't know how to react.

Oh well. I gave up on struggling and let him be spoiled this once.

I swing my arms around his neck and pushed back so he won't be in such an uncomfortable position. I end up straddling him on the bench in the midnight bright moon.

My hair wasn't long enough to curtain around us, but it felt as if we were the only people in the world all the same.

I felt his hand travel up my back to the back of my head, bringing my head down.

That night, we drowned in each other's kisses until we lost track of time.

~~~

Happiest times were always the shortest.
In the blink of an eye, four days flew by. Ultimately, his move was inevitable.

He spent the past day saying goodbye to all the staff in the school that he miraculously befriended all, and of course fellow students.

Mom and dad stood a little ways behind us as I embrace Jayden tightly.

We were at the airport, a couple of meters away from the security check. After he passes that, I won't be able to see him again in at least a few months.

"C'mon... It's not that hard to say goodbye." He tries to console me, but his own grip around me tightened.

"It's hard to say goodbye, because everyone doubts there'd be another hello."

He buried his face into my shoulder, "...We'll definitely have another hello, I promise, I'll be coming back for you. We'll keep in touch."

I softly nodded my head, "Yeah...."

He gently whispered comforting words into my ear, but his soft voice only made me want to cry harder, I'm going to miss his voice so bad. I don't know when I can see him again.

He pulled back a little to look at me, he brushed his thumb across my cheek, as if I was already crying.

"...See you soon." He said in place of the dreadful 'goodbye', and leaned down. I waste no time to meet his lips in our final kiss.

He kept glancing back and giving me small, but reassuring smiles until he disappeared behind the smoggy glass walls.

I kept waving even a little bit after I couldn't see him anymore.

After a few more seconds, I hear mom slowly approach behind me, dad shortly behind her.

I blinked are one last time, making sure no tears were going to spill while I promised him not to cry.

I then spun around, smiling at them. Mom looked a little surprised but she had her hands up against her chest. Dad had his usual bored face on, but he looked at me intensely.

I let out a small sigh to calm my ragged breath, then went towards them, "Come on, mom, dad."

I took both their hands like a little girl, "Let's go home."

--------------------

AND WE'RE DOOOOONNNNEEEE

Also, I have edited every other bidder's routes, new and improved! Not just correcting grammar typos.

I will be uploading another chapter regarding the future of this book shortly, please read it and comment on it!

Shout out to the amazing people who stuck with me since the beginning of this now 80-chapter-long book!!!!!!!!

PEACE!

-Lily 💗

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