The drive towards the park was quiet. A comfortable silence had settled between the two. The only sounds were that of the city and of the engine of the love bug.

Kwan leaned back in his seat, blissfully unaware of the internal conflict brewing within Kiki. His eyes flickered around outside as they passed buildings and other cars, interested in the day-to-day life of New Yokers.

Kiki's hands gripped the steering wheel, normally she'd drive with one hand, but today it was two because Kwan was making her a bit nervous with the butterflies in her stomach besides the guilt for the reason she wanted to hang out with Kwan.

'Stop it, Kiki. No getting ahead of yourself. Just... just confess later the reason why you wanted to spend time with him. Honesty is the best policy, and it's better to say it now rather than not say it at all, and it gets brought up by someone else. I'm sure he'll understand and won't be mad... hopefully.' She thought to herself, digging deep to find the confidence when the time was right to confess everything to him.

Kwan picked up on Kiki's slight distress, sensing that something was off. He could sense the nervousness in her body language as she gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning somewhat white.

He glanced at her, concern evident in his eyes. He was curious about her behavior but felt the need to give her space, knowing that she would tell him in due time or maybe she wouldn't. It was her prerogative, after all, and he wasn't going to pry either.

"So," he spoke up, breaking the silence and hoping to ease some of Kiki's distress with some good, old-fashioned teasing. "Do you often have impromptu picnics with boys you have met only a few times?"

"Not really," Kiki admitted, her voice shaky as her cheeks tinged pink, her heart skipping a beat at his question. "I actually have never been around a boy... like this. Unlike Sabrina and Lacy, I'm more reserved and tend to focus on myself and things I like rather than boys... plus, I've never exactly had a friend who was a boy..."

Kwan's eyebrow raised in surprise at her words. "Really?" He chuckled softly, his expression softening to a kind smile. "Well, I'm flattered. I'm glad to be the first. You sure know how to make a guy feel special." He leaned back in his seat, a playful glint in his eyes as he teased Kiki.

Kiki's cheeks flushed harder, her heart fluttering at his words, only heightening her nervousness. "Y-yeah, I guess so..." She stuttered, trying to concentrate on the winding road ahead to ignore her speeding heart.

Her hands gripped the steering wheel in a tighter death grip, causing her movement on it to be a bit jerky, like how her heart felt. "Do you often tease girls like you're doing me?"

Kwan chuckled again, finding a small sense of satisfaction in flustering her. "Only the ones whose reactions are cute." He side-eyed Kiki, wondering if she'd faint from how flustered she was. He had never seen a girl blush as brightly as Kiki could from his teasing.

"I'm kidding. I actually don't have mates aside from Cooper and Daniel. I mostly have acquaintances." He reassured her, hoping that his words would put her at ease and lighten the blush on her cheeks.

Kiki, despite the lingering anxiety and guilt, couldn't help but let out a small laugh, her cheeks still flushed. "Acquaintances? You're so... charming, it's hard to believe you don't have a plethora of friends, including girlfriends?" she asked playfully as she pulled into the parking lot of Van Cortlandt Park.

Kwan pursed his lips, shaking his head to deny he had anything of the sort. "I've never had a girlfriend or girlfriends. I have met a lot of girls, but I was never interested in any of them. I just haven't found the right girl." He said, shuddering at the memory of all the girls who threw themselves at him when they found out he was nobility.

Kiki parked the car and turned off the engine, her curiosity piqued. "I guess we have that in common," She mused, turning to face Kwan, her eyes widening with surprise. "Well, I hope you find one."

Kwan chuckled softly, running his hand through his hair as he got out of the car. "Yeah, my parents want me to get a girlfriend and get married so they can have grandbabies." He rolled his eyes at the thought, reaching into the backseat and grabbing the plastic bags of bodega snacks and food.

Kiki closed the door and went to the front of the Volkswagen bug, opening the hood and pulling out a small picnic basket. "I think all parents are like that, including mine. I just don't have the heart to tell them I don't think I want kids." She closed the hood and locked the car with her keys.

Kwan nodded in understanding, carrying the plastic bags of food in his arms. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. I know my parents want grandchildren. But, like you, I don't think I want kids, especially in this economy and world with what's been going on in it."

They walked side-by-side, passing other park goers until they found a good spot by a small lake.

"I know, right? I'd rather adopt." Kiki led Kwan towards an area with a few trees, a large patch of grass, and a nice view of the small lake to sit and have their picnic on.

Kwan set the bags down on the ground and helped Kiki lay out a picnic blanket she had brought, a small and old but comfy one. "Adopting is a good idea. I would rather adopt a child older than five, considering they are often less likely to get picked in the foster system, which is sad."

He sat down on the picnic blanket and started to open the plastic bags, pulling out the tamales, empanadas, and Mexican pastries, along with the other snacks and pastries, setting them down on the blanket.

"Yeah, and those are the kids who are in the most need of a home. Babies are usually the first to get adopted." Kiki nodded as she sat down next to him, her eyes glued to the array of bodega treats and snacks he was laying out. "You know, Lacy was adopted when she was seven."

Kwan looked up, surprised, before pursing his lips. "Really? That's nice. I'm sure her adoptive parents are blessed to have her." He leaned back on his hands, his expression thoughtful.

Kiki nodded, her eyes going to the lake and watching the ducks that were floating on the water. "They are. They love her, and she loves them." she sighed softly, picking up an empanada and taking a bite out of it.

Kwan grabbed a tamale and took a bite, savoring the taste as his gaze roamed over the landscape of the park, taking note of the few people who were walking around or playing.

After a moment of silence, he looked at Kiki, noticing a faint frown on her face. "Hey, you okay? You look like something's bothering you." he gently prodded her, tilting his head to the side.

Kiki flinched and turned to Kwan, her heart skipping a beat. She bit her lip, deliberating over her options. 'Should I tell him now? It's better now than later...' she thought to herself, anxiety bubbling up in her. 'I need to tell him now. Don't want a misunderstanding later."

After a moment of hesitation, she took a deep and steadying breath before speaking. "Kwan, there's something I need to tell you," Her voice was low and serious, chewing on her lip afterward as her fingers plucked at her chunky pastel beaded bracelet.

Kwan set down the tamale and turned to face her, concern etched on his face. "What's wrong? You sound serious all of a sudden." He asked, his voice tinged with worry as his eyes darted around her face.

Kiki let out a shaky breath, bracing herself for his reaction. "It's about why I asked you to hang out with me today at the park..." Her gaze darted to her hands, focusing on the bracelet around her wrist once again.

She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes, steeling herself to just come clean. "I ask you to spend time with me because Sabrina wanted me to spend time with you so we could become closer so she could get closer to Cooper..." The confession came out in a tumble of words, her eyes burning with tears.

There was a long pause, and the silence between the two was palpable. Kwan's expression was unreadable at first. He just sat there processing what she just said, blinking a few times.

"Wait... what?" He finally said, breaking from his stunned state, his voice tight, skepticism written on his face as he eyed her, feeling things out first. "Sabrina asked you to spend time with me and get closer to me so she could get closer to Cooper?" he inquired, making sure he heard it right.

"That is what Sabrina wanted me to do... but I don't feel comfortable doing that, so that's why I'm coming clean now because I truly want to spend time with you with no ulterior motives." Kiki clarified, chewing harshly on her lip, causing it to bleed. "I'm not like Sabrina or Lacy, I don't like doing underhanded things, and I know I should have told her no, but with Sabrina, she doesn't take no for an answer."

Kwan's expression softened, processing her clarification. He reached out with a napkin in hand. He pressed the corner of it onto her bleeding lip. "Don't do that," he chided gently, his voice betraying his concern. "Don't hurt yourself."

Kiki reached her shaky fingers up and pressed the napkin onto her bleeding lip, staring at him bewildered. "Sorry," She had realized she had bit her lip to the point of it bleeding when she tasted the blood, but until Kwan said something, she had still been gnawing at it.

"Kiki," Kwan pulled his hand back, a soft yet understanding expression on his face. "I'm not mad if that is what you're worried about." He sighed deeply as he leaned back on his hands before speaking softly. "I know you aren't the type of person who would do such underhanded methods, and I'm glad you told me before it became a huge misunderstanding like in kdramas." He flashed a soft smile, hoping to put her at ease.

Kiki inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath as Kwan reassured her, but the guilt still gnawed at her conscience, knowing she had kept the truth from him. "But... but I still went through with it, and it was the whole reason that gave me the push to ask... it was a lie by omission...." She protested softly, her eyes downcast.

Kwan took note of the guilt in her voice and shook his head. "Kiki, look at me." he spoke softly, hoping to catch her gaze as he shifted closer to her. "There is no such thing as a lie by omission. Not telling someone something isn't a lie, and regardless of your motives, I would have accepted it either way because I want to spend time with you, too."

Kiki slowly raised her head, her eyes locking with his gaze as he shifted closer, his words sinking into her consciousness, the guilt fading slightly. "How can you not be hurt? I don't understand. You should be mad or angry at me, but you're not. You're understanding." She whispered, her heart still heavy.

Kwan reached out tentatively, hesitating before placing a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not mad, angry, or hurt because you came clean with me. You told me the truth. I understand the situation you were in." He responded, his tone gentle yet firm, "Yes, that was the reason you asked, but you felt guilty about it from the beginning. Guilt means you're not a bad person, and it means you felt remorse over it."

Kiki leaned against his touch and inhaled a shaky breath, the guilt fading slightly as he comforted her. "But I still went through with it even though I felt guilty." She argued softly, her voice wavering as she averted her gaze.

"Kiki," Kwan softly said, her name earning her gaze, his hand still a comforting presence on her shoulder. "You didn't do it out of malice or for some nefarious reason. You just wanted to keep the peace." He explained, his voice still soft yet firm.

"But that's the problem." Kiki exclaimed softly. Frustration laced her voice as she pulled her legs up to her chest. "I always want to keep the peace, so I never stand up to Sabrina. I end up buckling down and end up caving, agreeing to whatever she says."

Kwan's heart broke a little as he watched the frustration etched on Kiki's face. "Sabrina is a pushy person. I've had my fair share of people like her, so I don't blame you for not saying no. I doubt she would have listened anyway, right?"

Kiki nodded, her eyes downcast as Kwan's words lingered in her mind. "I guess so, but she's the only friend I have... I'm not good at making friends, and I don't want to ruin it -"

"That isn't your problem," Kwan cut her off, inching a bit closer, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "You should prioritize your own feelings and well-being. That's not healthy. It's important to set boundaries and stand up for yourself."

"If Sabrina gets mad at that, then that's her problem, not yours. If she can't understand it, then she was never your mate to begin with. Mates don't manipulate each other into doing things." His tone was gentle yet firm as a soft smile on his lips.

Kiki sighed deeply, her frustration still evident but with an undercurrent of reluctant understanding. "I know, I know... I just am scared. I've never been good with face to face conversations."

"It's okay to be scared. It's natural," Kwan gently squeezed her shoulder, a gesture of reassurance, then withdrew his hand. "But you shouldn't let fear rule you." He added, reaching for a bag of ranch chips and opening them, taking one out.

"I guess you're right," Kiki sighed heavily, reaching over and picking up an empanada, taking a small nibble off it as she thought about his words. "I won't do it again, I promise, and I'll find the courage to stand up to Sabrina and tell her I'm not going to comply with her underhanded methods." She lifted her gaze towards Kwan for a brief moment before looking back down at the snacks.

"Good for you," Kwan nodded, giving her a reassuring smile that mirrored his classic sparkling eyes. "I believed you. I don't think you'd do something like this again now that I know." He replied, the hint of a small smirk on his face, speaking then putting a chip into his mouth. "You're just a kind and caring person who is a bit of a pushover."

Kiki rolled her eyes playfully, playfully swatting his arm. "I may be a bit of a pushover, but just a little." She huffed, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips as she reached for the bottle of water and opened it up, taking a sip from it.

Kwan gasped, rubbing his arm dramatically, lightening the mood. "That hurt." He joked, feigning hurt as he rolled over onto his back, clutching his arm. "What are you? The Hulk?" He pouted playfully, looking up at her through his eyelashes.

"Haha, I've got the gamer strength," Kiki dryly laughed, rolling her eyes and shaking her head, but couldn't stop the amused smile growing on her lip. "Come on, Mr. Drama King, I'm going to eat all these empanadas, and you're not gonna get a single one." She joked, reaching for a spicy chili one and popping it into her mouth.

"Wait! Wait!" Kwan dramatically sat up, his eyes widening in mock-horror. "I actually like those spicy chili ones. Give me one, please?" He whined, pouting playfully at her as he held his hand, doing a classic grabby hand like a baby.

Kiki laughed, feeling much better now that her guilt was slowly ebbing away. "You're such a baby," She teased, placing a spicy chili empanada in his hand. "Are you always like this? If so, I have no clue how Cooper or Daniel deals with you."

Kwan rolled his eyes playfully as he snatched the empanada from her hand. "I'm not a baby," he protested, feigning hurt, his voice oozing with an over dramatic tone. "Out of those two, I'm the most mature and responsible." He defended himself, puffing out his cheeks, munching on it.

"Really?" Kiki threw him an unimpressed look with furrowed brows before rolling her eyes and reaching for a tamale. "Of course, you're the epitome of maturity and responsibility," She sarcastically agreed, a smile tugging on her lips as she unwrapped the tamale and took a bite out of it.

"I am, I swear it, and I'll even prove it to you if I have to," Kwan vowed, placing his hand on his chest before reaching over and cracking open his soda, taking a sip from it before grabbing two empanadas and stuffing them into his mouth.

"Prove it, hmm?" Kiki echoed, raising her eyebrows but eventually let it go and rolled her eyes. "I'll hold you to it." She commented, reaching for a bag of onion flavored chips, opening them up and eating a couple.

A comfortable silence fell between the two, no other words needed to be said, because both Kiki and Kwan were content at that moment. They ate the bodega food and snacks while enjoying the warmth from the sun, the sound of the ducks on the lake, the kids playing about, and the murmurs from the other park goers.

〰️♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰

A/N:
Sorry this took so long. I was busy and focusing on The Celestial Chronicles, but I haven't forgotten about this book. I promise.

Chapter Talk:
This draws to a close the cute little Kiki and Kwan putting. I really enjoy writing their interactions, and Kwan is such a pookie. I had always wanted him to be empathetic and understanding, especially since Kiki didn't want to use underhanded methods just for Sabrina to get close to Cooper.

Thanks for reading!