Just The Two Of Them
836 Words
CHAPTER 8
The moment Sabrina appeared near the lantern garden—
Chris immediately let go of Leanne’s hand.
Too fast.
Like he suddenly remembered something important.
Or someone important.
Leanne quietly lowered her gaze.
Why did that bother her?
Sabrina walked toward them calmly, though her eyes briefly lingered on Leanne before returning to Chris.
“There you are,” she said softly.
Chris scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
“…Hi.”
“You disappeared again.”
“I was busy.”
“You were releasing lanterns.”
“…Emotionally busy?”
Sabrina sighed tiredly.
Leanne suddenly felt like a third wheel.
An awkward third wheel.
“I should go back to the booth,” she muttered quietly.
Chris blinked.
“Huh? Already?”
“You guys are talking.”
“We’re not talking about anything important.”
Sabrina raised an eyebrow.
“That’s rude.”
Chris grinned innocently.
Leanne tried ignoring the weird tightness in her chest.
Why was she even feeling like this?
Chris and Sabrina were technically engaged.
Even if Chris disliked the arrangement—
Sabrina had been beside him for years.
Meanwhile Leanne had only recently returned to his life.
So why did she suddenly feel disappointed?
“Lea?”
Chris tilted his head slightly.
“You okay?”
Why does he always notice when I get quiet?
Leanne forced a small smile.
“I’m fine.”
Chris stared at her carefully for a second.
Then suddenly—
“Come with me.”
Leanne blinked.
“…What?”
Before anyone could react—
Chris grabbed her wrist again and immediately pulled her away from the lantern garden.
“Christopher Reyes!” Sabrina called out.
“I’LL BE BACK.”
“You absolutely won’t!”
Chris laughed loudly while dragging Leanne through the crowded festival again.
Leanne nearly stumbled.
“Chris, slow down!”
“You looked sad.”
Leanne froze slightly.
“…What?”
Chris looked back at her while still walking.
“You always go quiet when something’s bothering you.”
Leanne stared at him.
How did he notice that so easily?
And why did he care so much?
Eventually Chris stopped near a quieter section of the academy gardens.
Far from the noisy festival booths.
The distant lantern lights glowed softly through the trees while cool wind brushed past them gently.
Chris finally let go of her wrist.
Then he looked at her carefully.
“…Did Sabrina say something to you earlier?”
Leanne’s eyes widened slightly.
How did he know that?
Chris sighed softly while rubbing the back of his neck.
“She talks scary when she’s jealous.”
“She wasn’t scary.”
“She threatened a guy with a high heel once.”
“…What?”
“She missed, thankfully.”
Leanne accidentally laughed.
Chris smiled immediately after hearing it.
There it is again.
That strange feeling in her chest.
Why does his smile affect me this much?
Chris suddenly sat down on a nearby bench before patting the empty space beside him dramatically.
“Sit.”
“You sound like an old man.”
“I’m emotionally elderly.”
Leanne rolled her eyes but sat beside him anyway.
For a while—
Neither of them spoke.
They simply watched glowing lanterns float through the night sky quietly.
And honestly?
The silence felt comfortable.
Not awkward.
Just peaceful.
Then Chris suddenly spoke again.
“…Do you regret coming here?”
Leanne blinked.
“To the academy?”
“Yeah.”
She thought about it carefully.
About getting lost constantly.
About rich students staring at her.
About the overwhelming campus.
Then—
About the literature club.
About Carl’s quiet kindness.
Ren’s calm presence.
Kai’s soft awkwardness.
And Chris.
Especially Chris.
“…Not anymore,” she admitted quietly.
Chris smiled softly.
“Good.”
Then he leaned back against the bench dramatically.
“Because if you left, I’d become unbearably annoying from sadness.”
“You already are unbearably annoying.”
“That’s so mean.”
Leanne laughed quietly again.
Chris looked at her with that same soft expression from earlier.
Not teasing.
Not dramatic.
Just warm.
And suddenly—
Leanne became very aware of how close they were sitting.
Close enough for their shoulders to brush slightly.
Close enough to hear his quiet breathing.
Close enough that her heartbeat started acting embarrassing again.
Why does everything feel different when I’m alone with him?
Then Chris suddenly spoke softly.
“…I’m really happy you’re here, Lea.”
Leanne froze.
The words sounded simple.
But painfully genuine.
Chris looked away toward the lanterns while smiling quietly.
“It feels nice having you around again.”
Something warm spread through Leanne’s chest.
Dangerously warm.
Then Chris suddenly looked back at her with a grin.
“Plus now I have someone who laughs at my jokes.”
“They’re terrible jokes.”
“And yet you keep laughing.”
“…Unfortunately.”
Chris laughed brightly again.
And for the first time that night—
Leanne forgot about Sabrina’s warning completely.
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