I've learned something important this summer.
If you don't say things out loud… they don't disappear.
They just sit there.
Awkwardly.
Like that one chair nobody uses but no one removes either.
—
Ren is worse now.
Not in a dramatic way.
Just… quieter.
He still shows up. Still stands at the pier. Still checks his phone like it personally offended him.
But he doesn't complain anymore.
And honestly?
That's scarier.
"You could just tell her," I say, kicking the railing lightly.
He doesn't look at me. "Tell her what?"
I stare at him.
"You're kidding, right?"
Mio sighs softly behind us. "He's not ready."
"I'm always ready," Ren mutters.
"Sure," I reply. "And I'm great at subtlety."
He almost smiles.
Almost.
—
Yuna still texts.
That part hasn't changed.
But there's a rhythm to it now.
Not constant.
Not urgent.
Just… steady.
Like everyone's trying not to disturb something fragile.
—
Ren's phone buzzes again.
He doesn't rush this time.
That's new.
Yuna: School was less scary today.
He reads it once.
Then again.
Like he's checking if the words will change.
"They won't," I say.
He glares at me. "Can you not?"
"No."
He types slowly.
Too slowly.
Ren: Told you.
He pauses.
Deletes something.
Types again.
Deletes again.
I lean in. "This is painful to watch."
"Then don't watch."
"I physically cannot look away."
—
Mio steps forward, resting her arms on the railing. "You don't have to say everything perfectly."
Ren exhales. "It's not about perfect."
"Then what?"
He hesitates.
And there it is.
That thing again.
The thing no one says.
"If I say it wrong…" he starts, then stops.
Mio finishes it quietly. "You're afraid it'll change things."
Yeah.
That.
—
Across the distance, Yuna is probably doing the same thing.
Typing.
Deleting.
Thinking too much.
She does that.
They both do.
It's exhausting.
—
Ren finally sends something.
Ren: I'm glad it's getting easier.
Simple.
Safe.
Completely not what he actually wants to say.
I shake my head. "Unbelievable."
"What?" he snaps.
"You had one job."
"I did it."
"No, you didn't."
Mio smiles faintly. "He's trying."
"That's the problem," I reply. "He's trying instead of just being honest."
—
His phone buzzes again.
Yuna: Me too.
That's it.
Two words.
And somehow, it feels like a full conversation.
—
The sun starts dropping lower.
The sky turns that orange-pink color that makes everything look softer than it really is.
Ren leans against the railing.
Quiet again.
But not as heavy as before.
—
"You know what's funny?" I say.
"No," he replies.
"You think not saying it keeps things safe."
He doesn't respond.
"So does she."
Mio glances at me.
"Meaning?" she asks.
"Meaning both of them are protecting something that already exists," I say. "Like it's going to break if they touch it."
Ren finally looks at me.
"And what if it does?"
I shrug.
"Then at least it was real."
—
He looks away again.
Back to the ocean.
Always the ocean.
—
Summertimes are coming.
And for two people who clearly feel the same thing—
They're doing a really impressive job of not saying it.
—
Yeah.
This is going to take a while.