Us? Forever.

Chapter Ten: Something New

Chapter Ten: Something New

Motoko: I don’t flatter. I say what I think.

Motoko: And… thanks.

I paused, my fingers hovering over my phone.

My thoughts drifted again.

No one had ever made me feel like this before.

Why her?

Why was everything happening so suddenly?

…Why did it feel like it was all because of her?

A notification pulled me out of my thoughts.

Sakura: Let me guess… your favorite color is purple.

I blinked.

Wait—what?

Motoko: How did you do that?

Sakura: Logical, right? Your name is Violet. Wake up, Waterston.

I laughed softly.

She watches Sherlock Holmes too?

Interesting.

Motoko: I’m sorry, Sherlock. I’ll be more attentive.

Sakura: Hahah. I wasn’t even sure you’d get that.

Sakura: You’re really interesting… and kind of peculiar.

I paused at that.

Sakura: I don’t really understand it, but… you’re kind of magnetic.

Sakura: I can’t explain it properly, but I feel like I’m getting… a little addicted.

My heart skipped.

Sakura: Sorry… I’m just very straightforward. And this is all new to me. I didn’t know how to keep it in.

I stared at the screen, unsure of what to feel.

Sakura: I really like talking to you. It’s kind of weird.

Sakura: I’m aromantic, yeah… but talking to you is stirring something I don’t think I’ve ever felt before.

My breath caught slightly.

Sakura: It’s rare to find someone you can be completely yourself with.

Sakura: I usually feel misunderstood… or too much for people.

There was something about the way she said it.

It felt real.

Honest.

And somehow… it made something shift inside me too.

Something quiet.

Something unfamiliar.

Something growing.

I just didn’t know what it was yet.

I swallowed lightly before replying.

Motoko: I think I understand what you mean.

Motoko: I like talking to you too… it feels easy. Natural.

There was a short pause.

Sakura: Yeah…

Sakura: It really does.

I stared at the screen, my thoughts racing again.

Was this… what I thought it was?

No.

That didn’t make sense.

We had just started talking.

So why did it feel like something was already changing?