First Love
Kaede smiled as she twirled the rose in her hands.
“Right.”
“It’s not exactly a well kept secret either. Just by the clothes you wear.”
Kaede blushed, looking at the intricate patterns in the silk.
“I guess so... I try to be humble usually.”
“That is a virtue, but.”
Kaede eyed Mary again.
“There’s a difference between humbleness and shame.”
Sadness showed itself again.
“I know.”
Mary took her hand.
“It’s really cool that your family is the way it is. I don’t see you any different either way.”
Kaede held on to Mary’s hand a little tighter.
“I- I like you a lot.”
Mary blushed now, not having expected the declaration.
“I- I like you a lot, too.”
She bit her lip a her weak response.
“No, I love you.”
Mary was shocked by her own audaciousness.
“That was way too much, I’m sorr-“
She felt a quick tug on her arm, Kaede pulled her in close. Kaede caressed her cheek, and their lips met.
They had kissed before, but this time felt different. The flame that had been kindled back to life now roared.
“I wasn’t expect-“
Kaede put a finger to her lips.
“I love you.”
She smiled and they briefly kissed again.
Mary then was aware they had departed, the car glided quietly along the semi-deserted road.
They held each other’s hand, but Mary was staring out the window lost in the lights of the city.
“The city looks beautiful at this time.”
Mary shook her head returning from her thoughts.
“Sorry.”
“Is something the matter?”
Mary was smiling as she shook her head.
“No. I’m just thinking about how happy I am.”
Kaede began to blush.
“Happy?”
“Yes, that I met you.”
Kaede blushed even more.
“I- I am too. Y- you...”
Mary tilted her head, and patted her hand.
“I hope you... I think. I’m still afraid that you won’t like me, people say I’m different when they get to know me better.”
She turned her head. Wincing at her brazen words.
She felt a soft touch under her chin, guiding her attention towards Mary’s eyes.
“Please, don’t do that.”
Kaede blushed, embarrassed by her meekness.
“I’m not, her.”
Kaede felt the warmth of tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to compare. I just.”
Mary wiped a tear from her cheek.
“It’s okay.”
Kaede sniffled, her sorrow began flooding back.
“This is a date. I shouldn’t be talking about her.”
“Why not?”
The city lights that shone through the window, blurred into fractals.
“I just said I loved you and start talking about another girl. The fact that there, was, another girl... You probably think poorly of me now.”
“No I don’t.”
“I’m-“
Mary kissed her.
“I know what you’re going to say, please don’t.”
Kaede’s tears began to stop.
“I want to get to know everything about you. And, I hope you’d like to get to know everything about me.”
Mary smiled as she felt Kaede’s delicate fingers once again touching her cheek.
“Yes.”
“There were girls before you.”
Part of Mary expected Kaede to react with discomfort, but her eyes still sought honesty in hers.
“There was only serious relationship, with whom I can say I loved. In a way, still love.”
“Still?”
Mary began to feel guilt creep into her chest, a soft ache that sank.
“A younger part of me, a chapter I’ve only recently closed.”
The ache grew heavier.
“My first love, from high school.”
The ache sank and changed to conscious dread.
“It was Rika. We were ending it tonight after dinner, we hugged and kissed one last time.”
