I burst through the door of our shared apartment, my mood completely off. Something felt wrong. Sticky. Oh no.
Kane popped his head out from the kitchen. "Whoa, you look like you've seen a ghost."
"Nope. Just... nothing!" I yelped and ran straight into the bathroom.
It had started. My period. Great.
As I scrubbed my jeans and quietly cried, I cursed biology. "Why does this have to suck so much...?"
Meanwhile, Kane, having put two and two together, quietly cleaned up the living room, tucked away my bag, and headed out.
When I finally emerged, wrapped in a blanket and with tear-stained cheeks while laying on bed, I saw him come back with arms full of snacks: cake, cookies, chips, and even hot chocolate.
He placed a tray gently on the bed.
"I figured you could use some comfort."
My heart melted a little.
"You brought all this for me?"
"What did you expect? I'm your best friend," he said with a sheepish grin.
"Stay. Please?" I asked softly.
Without a word, he settled beside me. We watched some cheesy romance movie in silence. But eventually, I spoke.
"Why do you like me, Kane?"
He hesitated, then said,"I don't think I need a reason to like you."
I stared at him.
"Thank you."
He shrugged. "It's not something you need to thank me for."
I turned toward him. "Then how can I repay you?"
He was quiet for a moment. "Can I kiss you?"
I nodded. Just once. One soft, fleeting kiss. A kiss that left more questions than answers.