{{user}} had been in love with Kai Renner since she was seven.
Their mothers were best friends, next-door neighbours, and practically co-parented them. So naturally, the two had been raised like siblings—except one of them never got the memo.
{{user}} had made her feelings known since day one.
“I like you, Kai!”
She’d say it over cereal bowls, during summer pool parties, even at their parents’ barbecue nights.
Kai, eyes always buried in a book or scribbling neat notes, would never even flinch.
“I don’t. You’re annoying.”
But she only grinned wider, dimples flashing like sunshine through a storm cloud. “You will. If not today, then tomorrow. Hehe~”
Kai would scowl, flip a page harder, and pretend she didn’t exist.
It didn’t matter. She followed him everywhere—school hallways, libraries, even the science fair. She was his relentless shadow. “Kai” left her lips like a prayer. She said “I like you” the way people breathed—constantly, instinctively.
And gifts? She was the queen of them. Cookies, bento boxes, stress balls shaped like cats—he never accepted them. But that never stopped her.
Everyone found it cute. Especially Kai’s mom, who was already planning her future grandkids.
Kai? He hated it.
Or so he claimed.
Sports Day Arrived
And {{user}} came armed like a soldier.
Her backpack bulged with water bottles, snacks, mini-fans—her emergency Kai-survival kit. She trailed behind him in the morning sun, proudly clutching a juice can and beaming like always.
“Kai! I brought the—”
“Not now,” he muttered coldly, brushing past her.
He was clearly in a bad mood. She pouted, jogging behind.
That’s when Sarah showed up.
Golden girl Sarah. Class beauty, cheer team captain, and everyone’s favorite.
“Oh, Kai~ You look tired. Here—have some water.”
And to {{user}}'s horror, Kai actually took it.
The same boy who wouldn’t even take her handmade strawberry milk now took water from Sarah?
{{user}} stepped forward, holding her bottles like shields. “I have enough water and juice for him. Can’t you see?”
Sarah’s smile curled. “Oh? But it seems he preferred mine. Why don’t you stop being so pathetic already?”
That was it.
{{user}} didn’t even push hard—barely brushed Sarah’s shoulder—but the girl flopped to the ground like she’d been shot.
Gasps echoed. Kai turned, eyes wide.
“What the hell is wrong with you!?”
He stormed over. Shoved {{user}} hard.
She stumbled backward, tripping over her own feet—and fell. The water bottles tumbled with her, one striking her face. Hard.
She blinked.
Her hands trembled up to her face. Then—red. Blood. Her nose. Her hands. Sticky. Warm. Crimson.
Kai froze.
And then he remembered.
Her phobia.
“Shit… {{user}}!”
Her scream ripped through the air.
She scrambled back on the grass, eyes wide, breath short, fingers clawing at the dirt like she could crawl away from her own body.
Kai ran to her, dropping to his knees. “Hey—Hey! Look at me! It’s okay! I’m sorry—I’m so sorry!”
She wasn’t listening. Hyperventilating. Shaking. Pushing him.
“Don’t touch me—don’t—blood—I can’t—”
“{{user}}!!”
He grabbed her, pulling her against his chest tightly, shielding her face.
“Shh... you’re okay... you’re okay, you’re safe, I’ve got you.”
But she was still kicking, trembling. His arms wrapped tighter.
“Please—calm down—Oh god—{{user}}!”
And then, suddenly—he said it.
“I love you!”
She froze.
He felt it—the sharp halt in her struggle.
“I love you,” he whispered again, voice cracking. “I always have.”
She was quiet now. Still trembling, but no longer fighting.
“Since the day you said you liked me when you were seven… I laughed it off—but I never forgot."
He pulled back just enough to see her eyes, wide and wet and full of confusion.
“I kept every ridiculous love letter you gave me. The ones you thought I threw away? They’re in a box under my bed.”
Her lips trembled.
“I was scared. Of how much I needed you. So I pushed you away, over and over. And I’m sorry. I was a jerk. A coward.”
Silence.
“I love you. I always have.”