॥The Wrong One॥

Walking into the apartment he called home, Vodia immediately switched on the kettle, hoping the calming properties of the tea would help relieve him of his headache. 

After leaving Raian's boat house, Vodia had just driven around the town, not knowing whether or not to return home. His decision of remaining with Kayana until her birthday may not have been the smartest but he couldn't handle leaving her just yet. He wanted to know that he'd done all he could to make her happy. 

After the sun had set, Vodia knew he had no choice but to go home and also, though he didn't want to admit it, he wanted, no, needed to be near Kayana and make the most of the time he had left with her. He wouldn't tell her that he had found Raiain. He would help her continue her search, and when the three days were over, he would reunite them. 

Slamming his palms on the top of the counter, Vodia sighed. 

Rubbing his forehead with his fingers, he turned to lean against the cupboards. 

This was getting much too complicated. How he wished he could just take Kayana home, make her his and pretend this never happened. But he knew he couldn't do that to her. 

Pouring the boiled water into his cup, he stirred the tea absentmindedly. 

Turning around, he noticed Kayana standing there, leaning her head on the side of the doorway. 
Her hair was in a state of disarray and her eyes red with sleep, signifying that she had just woken up. And truthfully, she had never looked so beautiful. 

Vodia's eyes softened as he extended his cup in a silent offering. Kayana nodded, pushing off the wall to make her own cup until Vodia shook his head. He turned, grabbing another cup and going about making another. 

Once he was done, he noticed Kayana had moved to sit on the couch, her legs curled up under her as she regarded him with her large eyes. Vodia placed both cups on the table infront of them and took a seat next to her, far enough so they weren't touching, but close enough so he could reassure himself that she was still there. 

Kayana, noticing the way that Vodia sat a safe distance away, moved her body until the length of her night-dress was touching his pants. A red blush decorated her cheeks but her eyes were determined. 

Looking into Kayana's eyes, Vodia hesitantly lifted his arm, settling back as Kayana moved herself to fit into his side. He knew this would only hurt him once she left, but he couldn't help but bask in the small victory that she had finally begun to feel comfortable in his presence. The thought of Kayana retreating back into her shell, of choosing Raian over him made Vodia tighten his grip involuntarily, pulling Kayana closer into him.

His thumb traced light circles on Kayana's waist and she sighed lightly. She knew she could get used to this, she knew that she had just been being difficult and in denial. Perhaps Corin had saved her from making one of the largest mistakes of her life. If she had ran away with Raian, she would never have met Vodia. Her husband.

The term made her smile and lifted her head slightly to look up at the man she was slowly falling for. The man who wanted nothing from her except for her to be happy.

Vodia looked down at her right at that moment, and their eyes locked. Kayana tried to convey her happiness, her contentment at just staying how they were. Later, she would realise she had been trying to get Vodia to stop the search for Raian, but for now, she was happy with how they were.

Kayana's eyes dropped to his lips before she glanced back to his eyes, her lips parting slightly. She noticed that Vodia's eyes had dropped to her lips and grazed her bottom lip with her teeth. Vodia took this as an invitation and leant his down, his eyes reading Kayana's the whole time, waiting for her to pull back, or to push him away. To tell him he was doing the wrong thing. But what he saw surprised him, and he doubted the credibility of his own eyes. He saw anticipation, he could her warm breath on his face, her eyes following his every moment. The few seconds felt like minutes, and slowly, their lips met. And it was better than what Vodia had remembered. Although he had been replaying the previous one continuously he knew his memory did not give it justice.

Kayana's lips were soft and gentle against his own probably slightly chapped ones. The kiss served to reinforce what he had always thought. Kayana was too soft for all the troubles that had been thrown her way. She didn't deserve any of it. Thinking of her hurt, Vodia growled, leaning back, his hand woven around Kayana's waist pulled her to lay on him. Neither thought of the position they were in, their minds completely on the heaven they were experiencing.

Vodia's deep throated sound sent a chill up Kayana's spine and she pressed herself closer, moulding her softer body to his much harder one. A sigh escaped her and she felt his arms tighten again and she knew her response had been the right one. Never had she experienced feelings like this.

She finally understood the difference between a boy and a man.

The realisation of her feelings hit her and she moved her hands between them, exploring the chest of the man who held her as if she was the most precious thing in the world. This was all she could have ever hoped for.

Abruptly, she felt Vodia pull away, his chest heaving and his breath coming out in fast pants as he grabbed her hands, stopping her from continuing her exploration.

"What?" She heard her own voice, airy and sounding nothing like her usual sound.

As Vodia remained quiet, she touched her fingers to his swollen lips. There was a swell of pride in her chest. She had done that.

Kayana realised that with Vodia she was finding out new things about herself and stepping out from the carefully constructed boundaries her father had spent the early stages of her life resurrecting around her. She owed Vodia more than the ungrateful brat she was being. And now, she knew.

Leaning down again, Kayana was surprised when Vodia let her take the lead. Lying still as he watched her lean closer until their forehead touched. A smile graced Vodia's lips, reflected on Kayana's. He tilted his head to kiss Kayana's forehead, then guided her head to lean on his chest, one hand still wrapped around her waist and the other playing with her beautiful hair.

Resting his chin atop her hair, Vodia decided that he would tell Kayana that he had found Raian. He knew if Kallm were here, he would advise against it, instead saying to enjoy Kayana's sudden expressiveness, but Vodia couldn't. He knew that he would never be able to look in Kayana's eyes if he didn't tell her the truth and let her decide which of the boys that loved her she would choose.

"Sweetheart, I have something to tell you." His fingers continued to twirl and smooth out her locks.

Kayana made a move to sit up, but Vodia held her steady, resettling her into his body. Her weight reassured him.

"I spoke to Raian today. I found his house." He kissed the top her hair as he felt her start to make a sound to interrupt him. "Please let me finish Kayana. We have agreed on a deal. Now before you get offended, hear my reasoning. I suggested you meet in three days on your birthday Kayana. This will give me three final days to live with you as my wife."

Kayana attempted to get up, to tell Vodia that she had made up her mind, but she stopped. This was her chance to be reunited with Raian. Her earlier resolutions dimmed.

"Is that okay Darling? Just give me these three days. Three days, and you will be free to be with Raian."

She heard the pleading tone to his voice, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him to stop. To not bother with meeting Raian. That she had made her choice. But she wasn't sure anymore. She didn't know what to do.

A tear escaped her eyes, and soon she was crying into Vodia, again. Him whispering comforting words in her ears and stroking her back. Not once getting angry that she was ruining another of his shirts. What Kayana didn't realise was that Vodia thought that Kayana's tears were tears of joy. Joy that she'd be reunited with her love.

And with every tear, his heart dropped even lower.

॥The Wrong One॥

As Kayana's tears subsided, they both lay on the couch. Not speaking, Kayana's mind in turmoil, her comfortable feelings for Raian battling her new, exciting feelings for Vodia. And Vodia's mind resigning him to the fact that Kayana would be leaving him in three days. No more would he be able to walk into his home and know that she was waiting for him.

Even though they had spent the past few days searching for Raian, he knew they had come a long way from the naïve, proper Kayana that he had met in the beginning.

He knew he'd lose her, he just didn't know how much of himself she'd take with her.

The tea was forgotten as the cups stayed on the coffee table, the liquid inside cooled down.

Vodia knew that both he and Kayana were still awake and they had just settled into a comfortable silence. And he was okay with that. If anything, he wished Kayana would take away this feeling of companionship they had shared.

He felt Kayana shift, and her head popped up, her chin resting on her palms on his chest. He looked into her eyes, his own softening as he tried to memorise every dip and swirl of the colours of her irises.

"Why?"

That one word had Vodia's mind swirling with answers, and he knew there was so much he could answer with, but he went with the words he wanted to convey everything he was feeling. Everything he wanted to say to her, to give her, to show her.

"I love you."

॥The Wrong One॥