Zavien
Never regret anything that made you smile
Zavien braced for whatever news she might say, whether it was to reveal her unrequited love or admit that they'd secretly been dating and they were 'on a break.' He wasn't sure what to expect, but he couldn't imagine anything good if it started with 'Koa and I.' And yet, she somehow proved him wrong.
It was over. After years of back and forth and maybes that Zavien only knew the surface of, Soh claimed it was over, and perhaps that should have been a relief, a weight falling off his shoulders. His main concern was pointless now. His friend couldn't be mad - shouldn't be mad. Except to find out that his best friend had slept with his ex. One he might still be in love with.
Sighing at the mess of it all, Zavien ran a hand through his hair, the strands mussed by sleep and sticking up in all directions. "Even if Koa feels the same... It sounds stupid - I know it does - " he paused, hoping Soh wouldn't take it as her fault when he said, "but I don't want him to feel like I betrayed him." Maybe if he'd been able to ask Koa beforehand or confirm that there was no reason to worry, he might feel differently, but the truth was that Koa had been betrayed when Kai took Flora, and now Zavien had slept with Soh (multiple times, he might add). He wasn't sure if his friend or their friendship would be able to recover from this.
As their talk shifted to her feelings, Zavien found himself bracing again, waiting for the shoe to drop or the guillotine to fall, ending something that had barely begun to start, certain he'd ruined something somehow.
Then her thumb brushed gently across his skin, wiping away the worries so easily that he nearly laughed. He almost did again when she shared her only regret, wondering if the morning brain fog was still lifting or if he was really this lucky right now. Everything felt lighter, a brightness taking root in the flutterings of his heart. He even cracked a smile, finally looking more fully at the beautiful woman next to him as he admitted, "I didn't really give you a reason to." Hadn't let himself act on anything that might draw her attention in that way. "Plus, we were kind of busy with our world falling apart and all."
The spark of humor softened, his smile genuine when he turned serious again. "But I'm glad you don't regret it." Squeezing her hand again, he carefully opened the conversation to the next hurdle they had to face. "What do we do now?"
It was over. After years of back and forth and maybes that Zavien only knew the surface of, Soh claimed it was over, and perhaps that should have been a relief, a weight falling off his shoulders. His main concern was pointless now. His friend couldn't be mad - shouldn't be mad. Except to find out that his best friend had slept with his ex. One he might still be in love with.
Sighing at the mess of it all, Zavien ran a hand through his hair, the strands mussed by sleep and sticking up in all directions. "Even if Koa feels the same... It sounds stupid - I know it does - " he paused, hoping Soh wouldn't take it as her fault when he said, "but I don't want him to feel like I betrayed him." Maybe if he'd been able to ask Koa beforehand or confirm that there was no reason to worry, he might feel differently, but the truth was that Koa had been betrayed when Kai took Flora, and now Zavien had slept with Soh (multiple times, he might add). He wasn't sure if his friend or their friendship would be able to recover from this.
As their talk shifted to her feelings, Zavien found himself bracing again, waiting for the shoe to drop or the guillotine to fall, ending something that had barely begun to start, certain he'd ruined something somehow.
Then her thumb brushed gently across his skin, wiping away the worries so easily that he nearly laughed. He almost did again when she shared her only regret, wondering if the morning brain fog was still lifting or if he was really this lucky right now. Everything felt lighter, a brightness taking root in the flutterings of his heart. He even cracked a smile, finally looking more fully at the beautiful woman next to him as he admitted, "I didn't really give you a reason to." Hadn't let himself act on anything that might draw her attention in that way. "Plus, we were kind of busy with our world falling apart and all."
The spark of humor softened, his smile genuine when he turned serious again. "But I'm glad you don't regret it." Squeezing her hand again, he carefully opened the conversation to the next hurdle they had to face. "What do we do now?"
