❛ remember, i'm always just one call away. ❜ -Ophelia for Maki ( she knows Maki can handle her thing herself but she is still gunna offer help <3 )
Maki exhales softly through her nose, the faintest scoff of amusement escaping her as she adjusts the strap of her bag higher onto her shoulder. Her eyes flick sideways toward Ophelia, not quite meeting her gaze at first. There’s a pause — not awkward, but thoughtful — like she’s weighing the sincerity in those words.
“One call away, huh?” she repeats quietly, her voice even but warmer than she probably intends. She shifts her stance, boots scuffing lightly against the pavement as she crosses her arms, though it’s more self-conscious than defensive. A loose strand of hair brushes against her cheek, and she tucks it behind her ear with deliberate slowness.
“You say that like I’d actually call.” There’s a faint curve at the corner of her lips now — subtle, but real. Her eyes finally lift to Ophelia’s, sharp and observant, searching for even a hint of teasing. Finding none, her expression softens by a fraction.
She uncrosses her arms after a second, fingers flexing at her sides as if she’s fighting the instinct to brush the comment off. “I’m not great at… relying on people.” The admission is quiet, almost reluctant, but not dismissive. She takes half a step closer, close enough that her shoulder nearly bumps Ophelia’s. “But it’s good to know you’d pick up.”
There’s a brief silence before she adds, more firmly this time, “Just don’t regret saying that. I don’t call unless it matters.” Her gaze steadies — steady and serious — but there’s trust buried beneath it.
After a moment, she nudges Ophelia lightly with her elbow, the gesture small but meaningful. “And if I’m ‘one call away’ too, don’t hesitate. I might complain about it,” she mutters, a hint of dry humor slipping through, “but I’ll still show up.”
Her expression settles into something calm and grounded — not overly sentimental, but genuine. “So… thanks. I’ll remember that.”
