๐ฟ โ @silverfcng gets a little angst ๐
๐ฟ โ ๐verything was going well , as far as Jin could tell . He looked so cute , with his hair all brushed and combed in such an organized way . Of course , she { { had } } to ruffle it and shake up that perfect image , but , that didn't mean he looked any - less cute . In fact . Jin thought he looked even { { cuter } } that way . Dinner was rocky , but they stumbled through it like pebbles in a creek . Lee was nice , and charming . Sure , they had some awkward moments , like when he yelled that she wasn't his girlfriend -- and sure , maybe that hurt her feelings , but . . . She understood . She { { wasn't } } his girlfriend , but . . . Maybe she could be ? One day ?
That made her eyes flicker with something { { warm } } for the first time in a long , long time . Hope . That was a magical word , wasn't it ? A word that she hadn't had the chance to experience since she was a little girl . She fiddled with her chopsticks , feeling smaller and { { smaller } } with each passing awkward silence . Yet , somehow , his failed - attempt at juggling managed to make her giggle . They could move past this , she saw that . Did he see it too ? Hope { { danced } } in her mind , again .
As the date went on , that glimmer of hope came further to the front of her mind . Soon , the danger that her heart would break because of Lee { { vanished } } , and the feeling that they would have another night together was what mattered . Sitting in front of her was someone who made her laugh , made her { { smile } } . He listened to all of her weird thoughts , and cared about what she had to say . In a way , he was like Jet but . . . { { Pleasantly } } different . Jet was like a big brother , Lee . . . Was a lot like her . Quiet , misunderstood , but clearly cared about the things around him . Without even trying , Lee was making her fall in love with the genuine boy from the teashop even more than she had when she first saw him .
In the blink of an eye , she was running through the streets of Ba Sing Se with Lee's hand curled in hers . She trusted him , which meant he got to go with her to her favourite place . She wanted to show him the lanterns , and how they made the water { [ glisten } } in a particular way . . . And , when they didn't , she thought the entire evening was ruined , but he didn't let it end . He told her to close her eyes , she did so without question . A few minutes passed , warmth { { flickered } } across her skin . When the command was given , she opened her jasmine eyes to see the most beautiful sight she had { { ever } } seen . The lanterns glowed with a brightness unlike they had ever before , and in front of her . . . The boy who made it { { all } } happen . She couldn't believe it , as awe settled across her features . He . . . Really did all of this ? For her ? Did he . . . like her too ?
That hopeful feeling came back as Jin took a small step forward until she was standing right beside him. Her fingers toyed with the fabric of her green and gold dress robes , nerves among the stars . She wanted to do something , but she was afraid of what he would think . They only had one night . If they never had another , at least . . . Maybe , just { { maybe } } , if she did the thing she'd been wanting to do for months . . . He'd stay forever ?
โ I have something for you , too . โ
Jin managed as her eyes fixed on his golden hues . This time , she watched him close his eyes and settle into his own nerves and thoughts . She'd { { never } } kissed a boy before but , she really wanted to kiss him . She wanted him to know { { just } } how much she had come to like him through their brief conversations and little glances . Her eyes fluttered to his hand , paused , then looked back up at him . She rose on the balls of her feet , then closed her eyes gingerly as her lips gently pressed into his . His were soft , hesitant , but they also felt like they'd been worn through a lot of biting and uncertainty . Her kiss was short , but it was him kissing her { { back } } that surprised her . She didn't think he would . She expected it to end there , but he { { actually } } kissed her back . For a single breath of time , Jin felt her heart { { finally } } reach his . She smiled into the kiss , feeling her entire being fly into the sky . Her heart spun in her chest , happiness settling across her form . . .
. . . And then , he abruptly pulled away . All that warmth she felt went with his withdraw , her heart sinking into her shoes . She searched his face for any answer she could get as tears began to line her eyes .
โ What's wrong ? โ
โ I have to go โ .
Then he was gone from her life just as fast as he had come in . Into the streets of Ba Sing Se , like a shadow in the night . As for Jin , she just stood there near her favourite fountains , eyes glistening from the tears she didn't want to let fall . Her entire body felt { { numb } } as his footsteps became silent . One by one , those tears she fended off began to trickle down her cheeks and drip into the soil beneath her shoes .
Her arms folded over her chest , using them to { { hug } } herself as her own form of comfort . Quietly , Jin moved towards the fountains until she was close enough to sit on the ground beside them . Her folded arms rested along the edge , her eyes watching how the fountains looked in the lantern light . Beneath her bangs , she caught a glimpse of her own { { pittiful } } reflection , until her tears made it vanish behind a symphony of ripples . That was when Jin let everything go . She buried her face in her arms , shoulders trembling from the weight of the world trying to drown her .
She should have known . . . good things don't stay around for her .
