OR MAYBE IT was time to take my first steps towards him.

Albeit, I'd already taken many, but I'd already stopped a while ago. I think I'd stopped taking steps forward once I'd come here to Redchester. Or earlier than that, maybe, when he'd graduated, contenting myself to watching from a distance.

But he was walking towards me now, so why didn't I do the same and meet him in the in-between?

It was with that mindset I dropped him a text that night.

Are you free any day next week?

He replied so fast I wasn't sure how to react. Don't have lessons on Thursday. And I'm free Tuesday afternoons. And basically every evening.

I chewed on my bottom lip, trying my best to word this without it being too... obvious. I found a new Chinese restaurant like twenty mins away, wanna go with me one night?

More than happy to. Are you free on Wednesday?

Wednesday night? I squeezed my eyes shut, running through my schedule. Yes. I'm free. I'll come to yours at six?

Sounds good.

And that was that. I let out a huge sigh of relief, tossing my phone to the side, flopping onto my bed. My god, what was I doing? But it didn't feel wrong. It felt quite right, in fact, what I was doing now.

Like I should have done this a long time ago.

I sighed.

Maybe this could be it? All these years? What kind of ending would make it up to these thirteen years?

What kind of ending could live up to this long path?

I couldn't even think of one, in all honesty, that would live up to all my expectations. But perhaps the process was more important than the ending. Perhaps the process was what I would remember after years and years, rather than how it all ended up.

It was time to be brave.

If Cami was here right now she might scream at me. She'd also be pleased, because I was finally doing something about all of this rather than let it stew.

I would tell her tomorrow. It was a bit too late for that now.

That, and I wanted to postpone the screaming as much as humanly possible. I was trying to sleep, and it wouldn't really help. It was likely to have the opposite effect. Perhaps I ought to put on some ASMR and turn my phone to Do Not Disturb mode so that I had an excuse to finally turn off the light and sleep.

I woke up the next morning feeling... relieved. Far more relieved than I'd been in the past while, as if a massive stone had been lifted.

I was going to say yes, right?

I'd made up my mind.

And I wasn't someone who changed my mind easily once that happened. I stuck with the same thing the whole way through. That was how I worked.

I didn't know how this was going to end up. But even if it ended disastrously, even if it all fell apart in the end, I think we were both mature enough to deal with it. We were both enough to deal with the consequences even if it all splintered into little pieces. We'd known each other for so long.

But I loved him.

Ever since that first time I'd met him when I was five.

No one else.

And I hoped that, sometime along the past while, or perhaps in the future, I'd become, or will become that for him too.

But if it didn't, I rather thought I'd be alright. I'd be sad, but I'd move on. If it didn't work out in the end, maybe the knowledge that I'd at least given it my best try would be enough for me to finally forget about him.

I didn't tell Camille like I thought I would. Instead, I found myself dialling another number on my phone, someone who I hadn't talked all that much with in the past two weeks. Eileen.

"Oh my god, hi, it has been so long." Eileen's voice yelped through the phone. "Sorry, I'm cooking right now so you're on speaker."

"Oh, are you busy? I can call back later!"

I heard the clattering of pans on her side, and then, "Nah it's fine! I was kind of bored cooking anyways. What's up?"

"Kind of just wanted to talk. And rant about some stuff. Seek your opinion."

"Oh, I love that. Go ahead, start talking. Ignore the noise."

"I think I'm going to agree to be Orion's girlfriend."

All sounds paused on Eileen's side, and then, a loud shriek. "Oh my god, finally! Camille's been bitching about it all day and night long, like my god. Okay. Okay. Good!"

My eyes narrowed. "Has she mentioned about her and Dean?"

"Wait what now?"

"Oh that bitch—"

"Wait, wait, you can tell me about that later. You and Orion first! What happened?"

"Don't know, I just... thought about it, you know?"

"What, you're not scared it'll all go wrong anymore?"

"I mean, I still am. But like, if it goes bad, it goes bad, yeah? I can survive. I'm an adult now. Not going to cry my eyes out over it. Actually, maybe I still am, but after that I'll move on."

"I am so proud of you," Eileen gushed. "I'm sure you two will be adorable together. How are you going to break the news to him?"

"I invited him out later this week."

"Perfect! Oh, do keep me updated. Wait. If you and Orion are going to get together and Dean and Camille are... whatever, you need to tell me later, does that mean I'm the only single one left among the three of us?"

"Is that a problem?"

"Slightly." A pause. "Am I going to have to fifth wheel?"

"Do you want to fifth wheel?"

"Not particularly, no."

"Then we won't make you fifth wheel. As easy as that."

"Wow, you are so nice. I was looking more in the direction of yeah I'll help you find a boyfriend, Eileen!"

"I don't think relationships necessarily work that way."

"Pity."

"Besides, I don't actually think Cami and Dean are going to get together any time soon. Their situation is... complicated."

"Do tell?"

"I can't reveal that much—it's her story to tell. But there's some strange things going on there right now. They're flipping between loving and hating each other so fast it's giving me a migraine."

"Sounds really gou xue." Gou xue, dog blood, the term we used for extremely dramatic and nonsensical plotlines, usually found in romance novels.

"It kind of is really gou xue," I told her. "In all honesty, I've lost track of the entire situation. It's far too complicated for me."

"Maybe I'll interrogate her about it."

"Yeah, but be careful. I'm having trouble gauging her like, actual attitude towards this entire situation, if that makes sense to you? I can't tell if she's genuinely pissed or just a bit annoyed but finding the entire situation funny."

"Gotcha, gotcha. I'll keep that in mind, don't you worry." Eileen was clever, and Cami wouldn't be that offended. Probably just irritated at most. If she wanted to be angry at anyone, really, about this entire situation, it was either Dean or herself.

So far, Dean seemed to be the preferred target of her rage. Perhaps she was too scared to turn it on herself. Or was she trying to scare Dean away, to ignore and avoid this problem forever? It all seemed possible. I couldn't quite read her right now, and I didn't see a point in doing so.

Again, she'd tell me when she wanted to.

"But... yeah. Kind of just wanted to let that out of my system."

"Okay, do you mind if I ask something?"

"Yeah, sure?"

"What's happened with Jeremiah, then?"

That was a good question. I wasn't sure. I hadn't seen him in a couple weeks outside of class now, and even when we bumped into each other, we just shared a nod and continued on with our day. I didn't think we'd ever been that close, and while it did kind of sting, it was also perfectly understandable.

No hard feelings on my part. I wasn't sure about him, though.

"Nothing," I replied earnestly. "I haven't even talked to him for a while."

"Damn. I quite liked him, honestly. But Orion is just a better choice, I must agree."

I let out a laugh. "You make it sound so bad."

"It's true though! Nothing to be ashamed of about it, trust me. Well, whatever. Some people just aren't meant to stay friends. No yuan fen, you know? No point."

"Yeah, and, I mean, with what sort of happened, I think not being friends is the best choice anyways, at least for the meantime."

"Agreed." She hummed. "Well, I actually have to concentrate on cooking now, so I think I'm going to hang up. See you next time?"

"Whenever that is—any time next week? We could get lunch together."

"Definitely. Text me the date and time and place."

"Got it. See you around, Eileen!"

"You too!"

—

"YOU INVITING ME out?" Orion asked lazily, hands in pockets, glancing sideways at me, "the sun must have risen from the west today."

I scowled. "Shut up, Orion. I'm trying to be nice."

"Nice isn't what I want, you know."

Sometimes he was just like this. Saying things that I knew was intentionally flirty, but just vague enough that if I got mad it seemed like I was the one being ridiculous instead. It was starting to get on my nerves, but at the same time, it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Like I wanted to kiss him and then hug him. For a really long time.

Was that normal?

"Well, deal with it," I replied, crossing my arms, pulling my coat tighter together. "Come on, we're going to miss the bloody bus and have to stand out here for like ten minutes."

"I'll keep you warm," he said nonchalantly.

This time, I couldn't help it. I punched him on the arm, and he let out an exaggerated "ow" in response. "What on earth was that for?"

Wagging one finger in his face, I demanded, "Stop."

"Stop what?"

"You know what."

"I don't, actually."

"You're so annoying."

"You've just realised?"

I'd already booked a table at the Chinese restaurant, a Shanghai-style place, nicely decorated. It looked far higher-class than the Chinese restaurants we frequented, and the prices reflected that as well. My eyebrows shot up as I glanced down the menu. "Jesus Christ."

"It's not too bad if the food is good," he murmured. "Just a one-off thing anyways."

"My wallet is crying right now," I remarked. "Literally bleeding."

He chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. I'll pay for it."

"If this was cheaper, I'd say yes. But considering the price? No. We're splitting the price between us. I'm not leaching off you like that."

I ordered some of the xiaolongbao, alongside a bowl of chicken noodles. I was craving it, in all honesty. Orion, on the other hand, ordered dumplings alongside Shanghai fried noodles. A good choice, I must admit, though why it cost that much remained in question.

It better be really, really good.

I hadn't actually done that much research on the restaurant before coming here, despite my usual habits. I'd just been desperate for an excuse to invite Orion out.

It didn't feel all that different from all the other times we'd hung out, though. He dropped a few clearly flirtatious comments here and there, and sometimes I went along with them, sometimes I didn't.

He had to know I'd made up my mind, if I'd taken this step to invite him out.

He was just testing the waters, too scared to press too far, but not wanting to say nothing either. Being careful with his options, weighing them, trying to decide the best path to take.

I liked that.

It was quite sweet, really.

I liked how smart he was. How he was able to read me and others around him, how he always knew what to say and what not to say. It meant I was able to be around him without worrying about getting hurt. I could be comfortable, at my most vulnerable. I could put down all my shields if I truly wanted to.

He knew that, right? He had to know I felt that way around him. Even when I was doing my best to avoid him, his company still comforted me, calmed me. It felt like when I was with him, I was forever only just Salome Lam, with nothing expected of me. No expectations, no weights crushing my shoulders, forcing me down.

I could just be myself, whoever that was. Sometimes, even I wasn't sure, but he somehow seemed to know exactly what I was thinking in the deepest bits of my mind, the bits that were locked even to me.

Maybe I was overthinking it, so blinded by admiration and love. I didn't particularly care. Not anymore.

For once, I was throwing all caution to the wind.

I was betting everything on this. No way out now.

Our conversation was normal. He'd stopped treading the waters, as if he'd made up his mind too. I told myself to not be nervous, that there was nothing to be worried about. This was Orion. Orion who I've known for all my life, Orion, who I trusted with everything. Orion, who I was sure, after all these years, finally reciprocated my feelings.

It wasn't until we'd left the restaurant, though, when we were strolling through the street to the bus station, that I finally mustered up my courage.

"Orion?"

"Yeah?"

"I've been thinking about all of this and—"

His lips were on mine before I finished, his hands pulling me close to him, into his embrace. I didn't fight it. Just shut my eyes and let myself enjoy this. This was yes, then. Yes. Thirteen, almost fourteen years of pining finally coming to fruition. An ending to all this madness. His lips on mine, actually sober this time, not an ounce of alcohol in his system, the knowledge that this boy was now mine, mine, mine, and that I was his, the way I'd wanted to be since the first time I'd seen him.

He pulled away after a moment, and I opened my eyes reluctantly, meeting his. We were standing under a streetlight, people strolling by besides us, it was freezing cold and I could feel the wind blasting against my skin, but I didn't care.

"Orion?"

"Please tell me you were going to say yes."

"Can I be your girlfriend, Orion?"

"Of course you can, Salome. Of course you can. And I am so sorry I never noticed earlier."

I gave him a little grin. "Better late than never."

"We have forever."

"Don't get all dreamy and optimistic with me. Be realistic."

"I am being realistic and truthful. I'm never going to let you down, Salome. You. Only you. Let me repay all the heartbreak I caused you. Let me make it up to you. I'll spend the rest of my life doing it."

"Orion..."

"I know you don't like these big promises and you don't think they're trustworthy—but I will fulfil them. I won't break a single one, Salome."

His eyes were earnest. Genuine. Whatever happened in the future, whatever may befall us, at this moment, he believed every word he said.

And what could I say but yes?

There had never been anyone else for me.

And there would never be anyone else for him either.

Salome and Orion.

Orion and Salome.

All those years between us couldn't stop us from coming together at the end.

All these years of chasing, of always being one step late, but this time, he'd stopped and turned his head back. He'd offered his hand.

And I'd taken in.

The next steps we'd take together.

Side by side.

My days of wishful thinking were over. My days of one-sided pining were over.

My love was finally reciprocated.

It was everything I'd ever wanted and more.

Nothing could ever be more perfect than that moment.

it's almost done one chapter left i mightTTTT write some extra bonus chapters from cami and dean's perspective bc i don't think i'm gonna write a book for them but,,,, we'll see!!!!