Thorns with fragrance

05

Breaths and feeling mingling together, alone together in their university's field.

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Jane let herself be dragged away from Ben, she couldn’t shake of the overwhelming feeling of being...liked? She was now, pretty much completely over Ben, she was starting to think that no one could ever like her as much as Kenneth did. 

He had provided her with more comfort than most people had for her entire life, and they barely knew each other. 

‘Maybe...fate really exists’ she thought to herself as her cheeks reddened at that cheesy thought. 

Kenneth finally stopped after dragging Jane away into the university’s field. 

“Are you feeling alright? Your face is flushed” Ken asked as they stood facing each other, with intertwined hands. 

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine, it’s... Uh hot” Jane said fanning herself dramatically and pushing up her sleeves 

Kenneth chuckled “I would apologise but...I don’t think I did anything wrong” he said staring into Jane’s eyes, almost as if he was challenging her to say otherwise. 

Jane stood there as her face reddened further, not knowing what to do. 

“Jane...I am not sure if this is a wrong time to say this or if it's the perfect time...I could have done this in a million different ways but I want you to be mine as soon as possible, I can’t wait or drag this along any further, I have liked you from the first time I saw you and I am so glad that you decide to spend your time with me. Every single second of your life that you decide to spend with me gives me immense amount of happiness. I want to be able to share all of my happiness and worries with you and take away all your pain and make you happy...” Kenneth said in between sighs and heavy breaths whilst staring intently at a flustering Jane 

“I know I sound very cheesy but what I’m trying to ask as earnestly as I can is...Will you be my girlfriend?” Kenneth was now down on one knee, he had a little velvet box opened out in front of him. 

Jane’s hands went up to her mouth as she stood there startled at the scene playing out in front of her. 

“If you agree...I want to give you this promise ring” Kenneth explained “Promising you everything I have until we can move ahead together and forever after that...Nothing seems to make me happier than you do and I hope you feel the same, I may be going fast but-”  

Jane cut his rambling of with a squeaky, quiet- ”Yes”  

“Huh?...You...?” Kenneth whispered as Jane nodded aggressively  

Kenneth could feel his heart fluttering like crazy and his hands were starting to shake as he slipped the ring into Jane’s middle finger of her extended left arm as she wiped the tear off her face with her right hand. 

Jane’s mind was in a mess, she didn’t know how or what to feel, no one had done anything as special for her in her life and she hadn’t felt this amount of happiness because of someone. 

She leaned down and wrapped her arms around Kenneth’s neck and the distance between them vanished, their lips met and their eyes fluttered shut. 

Kenneth got up and his hands crawled up Jane’s body and pushed the back of her head, gently gripping the back of her neck with one hand as he deepened the kiss. 

They both stood there in each other's arms, alone in the corner of their university's field, their breaths mingling with their feelings, they gave each other everything they had to offer.  

Finally running out of breath, they pulled away, breathing heavy and with flushed faces, they looked at each other and broke into giggles. 

After laughing at seemingly nothing until they ran out of breath again, the air around them got really quiet...they both had too many thoughts to acknowledge and so they stood there taking a minute for themselves and thinking of what to say first. 

“I was jealous” Jane declared, breaking the silence and making Ken look up at her, puzzled. 

“Wait, I should say that, why were you jealous?” Ken asked, not being able to hide his small smile. 

“Well, it’s because you were being like a puppy around the Brie woman and she made me feel insecure by her very presence but now that we’re dating, I don’t think I care any longer” Jane said and continued “I would still not be all mushy around others if I were you though” she continued, almost jokingly  

Kenneth let out a chuckle “I wouldn’t do it if it upsets you sweet thing”  

Jane chuckled too and repeated “Sweet thing? Is that what you discovered today?” she asked with a little giggle as she blushed  

“As a matter of fact, yes, it is” Kenneth said earnestly with a large smile painted across his face as his large green eyes sparkled. 

“I don’t think my thoughts are valid after that” Kenneth said, still smiling  

“Tell me, even though I technically know, what made you jealous cute ass” Jane said teasingly with a grin  

“Cute ass?” Kenneth said laughing and continued “Since you already know...Could you please... just be mine? I don’t want to share you with anyone” Kenneth said with a serious face  

Jane stood there shook at the sudden change of mood, she moved closer to Kenneth and lay her warm palm on his cheek as he leaned into her palm and closed his eyes. They didn’t have to say anything more.  

They finally started to make their way outside the university as everyone from the office started piling out and giving them the stink eye. 

As they walked by the sidewalk, Jane voiced her thoughts “Ken...how did you meet Brie?”  

Ken hummed and tilted his head “Why did you think of her again?” he asked curiously 

“She seems interesting” Jane said thoughtfully 

“She is, her parents immigrated here from India years ago, we met in high school, we both were alone and outcasted...she was bullied and I was a rebel no one wanted to be associated with, so we befriended each other” Kenneth narrated. 

“That sounds...pretty depressing” Jane commented  

“It was” Ken said with a laugh “We got along well together and did a lot of stupid s**t, it was fun, then we started sharing everything with each other, we’re pretty much like siblings really” he said endearingly. 

“That’s nice” Jane said with a smile “It’s nice to know more about you, I want to know everything about you” Jane stated with a grin  

“And I want to know everything about you” Ken replied with a smile  

Jane nodded, almost nervously. 

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-At Jane’s apartment-  

01:30 am  

The school bell rings and it’s an outer body experience, I can see myself standing and waiting for Bailey to come out from the playground. 

I have a huge smile on my face but my stomach is sinking, I feel a presence behind me and turn, painfully slow...I don’t want to turn, I don’t want to look at what’s behind. 

“YOU DID THIS! IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT! YOU DON’T DESERVE HAPPINESS” I hear the voice screech even before I fully turn around and when I finally look, with squinted eyes from crying, wailing loudly, I hear myself apologise profusely to her. 

Quick as light, her hand reaches out for my neck- 

Jane sits up, startled, soaking with sweat and tears running down her face, she calms her breathing and grabs her phone from the nightstand next to her and dials Bailey’s number and speaks into the phone quickly. 

“I love you, I love you so much” Jane said over and over again 

“I love you too sis” Jane hears her sister reply.