Yuri's POV:
I was writing my essay when April's call rang.
My girl's calling, I'm supposed to take it as quickly, or she'll blackmail me.
I took it almost immediately. Was she in a cafe? Noise!
"Hello?"
"Heyyy, come to the cafe. I'm bored as heck, I feel bad for Ci-N," she whined, "He's been listening to my yaps since this morning."
"Okay, will be there by 1."
"That's too much ti-"
At least I accepted to come. I feel like a personal tamer of April. Don't know why, but when she's near me, she's less wild.
"Barely 15 minutes!" I argued.
What does she expect me to do? Fly like Superman and come to the cafe? T_T
"You argue like a married couple, what the hell?" I heard it, pretended not to hear. But I noticed. It was Keifer's voice.
"Okay... bring my clothes too. These are too... sweaty." She pretended she was hurt and vulnerable. I know her more than she does! Delivery service? I need payment.
She didn't ask.
She ordered.
Typical.
"Bye."
"I'll call you 'baby' for the rest of my life if you don't come here by 1."
Oh. I'll go late.
I quickly closed my books, my laptop and went to grab a jacket. Good thing I love her, or else I would've declined her offer and resumed writing my essay.
Love you.
I walked to my room, opened the cupboard, and stared at the chaos inside like it personally offended me. Then I picked out what she'd actually wear without complaining for the next five hours. Comfortable t-shirt. Loose pants. Extra, just in case she changes her mind mid-emotion.
Because if she's uncomfortable, I'll hear about it for the next three days.
I folded them properly.
Of course I did.
I'm not a monster.
"Why do I do this?" I muttered.
Answer: her.
Always her.
Wait, what did I just see?
Is that..?
SHIT! That's a very.. ew.. what the hell.
It was a picture of her and me when we were kids.
I was staring at her like I was SO deep in love (probably yes) while she was crying.
I took sunglasses from the cupboard, it's hers, but why not? Whatever hers is mine.
I locked the door and went to my car. The drive was too exciting. You expected I'd say quiet, didn't you? I wanted to meet her.
I parked, stepped out, and walked in like I wasn't about to enter a battlefield.
I didn't even have to see around to find her. She was all I could see.
She was sitting beside Keifer; Ci-N and Jayjay were there too.
Huh. Family reunion.
April saw me first.
Her face lit up as if someone had just given her unlimited food.
"YURIIII!" she called out.
Keifer turned next.
And there it was.
That exact look.
I'm done with it.
He's her brother, it's been almost 5 years since their parents married, and I still don't believe it.
"It's been twelve minutes!" April whined. She's so whiny.
"Too soon." I shot back. You know why I said.
"Felt like twenty." She said deadpan, but her face screamed so in love.
Okay, is this with love or anger? I name this longry.
She took the bag from me.
I folded those clothes carefully. For her.
Picked them without thinking twice. For her.
Left my work halfway. For her.
"Hope it's not ugly," she added.
"It's not."
"If it is, I'm returning this."
"It's not."
She nodded once. "Okay."
Just like that.
Trust.
She leaned slightly toward me, not enough for anyone else to notice, just enough for me to. "Did you bring the black t-shirt?"
"Yes."
"And the loose pants?"
"Yes."
"Wow. You know something?"
"Yeah?"
"Bringing clothes was just an excuse."
That was it. That was all she needed. Not the clothes. Me being here.
"Real?"
"Yes, of course!"
She suddenly reached for my ice cream.
I moved it away. "No."
"Give."
"No."
"Yuri."
"No."
She glared, then grabbed my wrist, trying to pull it AND me closer. "Give."
I sighed. "Ask properly."
"I am asking!"
"You're threatening."
"Same thing."
I let out a breath and gave in. She took a bite immediately, then another, like she had won something important.
"You love me," she said casually, still eating. I noticed it; she slightly leaned onto me.
"…That's not the point."
"It is."
I went quiet for a second.
Bad idea. She's gonna go mom-mode.
She noticed instantly.
"Why are you quiet?" she asked, nudging me with her elbow. Looking at me straight in my eyes. My gaze met hers. Beautiful eyes, killin' me.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm thinking."
"Dangerous."
"For you."
She snorted softly, and I swear that sound alone could ruin my entire life.
What would I be without her?
Quieter. Definitely quieter. Less… alive. More normal.
And I don't think I'd like that version of me.
She kept talking, arguing with Ci-N now, stealing his spoon mid-sentence, completely unbothered by anything else. Loud, chaotic, impossible.
And still.
beautiful.
Not the soft kind. Not the calm kind.
The kind you feel.
I've seen her angry. I've seen her break. I've seen her pretend she doesn't care when she clearly does. And I've seen the way she trusts without saying it, like right now, sitting close, keeping the bag near her, like I'm just… supposed to be here.
"Yuri," she said again, softer this time.
"What?"
"Don't go quiet like that."
I glanced at her. She wasn't looking at me, just tapping her spoon against the cup, but there was something under her voice.
"I won't," I said.
She nodded once, like that settled everything.
I glanced at Jayjay; her face looked like she was connecting a few dots.
Did she get new information?
I looked back at April.
Still arguing. Still stealing food. Still acting like she owns everything around her.
And maybe she does. She owns my heart. And my love.
At least.
this version of me.
If she falls, I'll catch her.
If she breaks, I'll stay.
If she pushes me away, I'll still be there.
Because if loving her turns me into this:
This idiot who drops everything, this fool who shows up without being asked, this guy who memorises what she likes without realising.
Then fine.
I'll be that.
Just like that, she nudged my leg and smirked.
She leaned. I leaned too. God, I'm purely running over my instincts. Don't make this a public kiss or something like that.
"Look there," she whispered.
My gaze followed hers, oh. It was Keifer, smiling and looking at Jayjay like she was his world, and he was orbiting her.
Same problem.
Same type.
Different girl.
So, this is what they call "Best friends are similar."?