Bab 83: [83] Confession
While the other girls were getting ready for bed, Yan-Hua me onto the balcony to have a private word with me.
The heavy curtains pulled back slightly, and the cool night air of Banff washed over us as we stepped onto the modest balcony. The panoramic view of the stars hung in the backdrop like a grand tapestry. Away from the others, Yan-Hua seemed different, less guarded, her eyes held a shimmer of anticipation.
"Chang, I..." she began, her voice almost a whisper in the evening breeze. She paused, her eyes searching mine in the soft moonlight. "Thank you for everything." Her words were earnest, filled with a sincere appreciation that warmed me more than any fire could.
There was an unspoken understanding between us, a shared bond forged through adversity. I nodded, the simple gesture holding more weight than any words could convey. "We're in this together, Yan-Hua." My voice was just as soft, my eyes reflecting the same gratitude.
She blinked and smiled, a hint of mischievousness seeping into her gaze. "I have a surprise for you." Her words were laced with a playful curiosity that piqued my interest. She then motioned for me to close my eyes, her fingers gently brushing against my cheek in a silent request.
Trustingly, I obliged, my heart rate slightly escalating with the unknown. The world around me darkened, and the soft rustle of fabric and the scent of her filled my senses. Then it happened. Something soft, warm, and indescribably sweet pressed against my lips. Time seemed to stop as Yan-Hua's lips connected with mine, sealing our shared secrets and promises in a moment of silence. The unexpected surprise was both shocking and comforting, her lips a sanctuary in a world gone mad.
The kiss was over as quickly as it had begun. I opened my eyes to find Yan-Hua smiling up at me, her cheeks flushed in the soft moonlight. A moment of pure connection amidst a world of chaos.
Her fingers traced circles in the open palm of my hand as she continued to speak, her voice barely above a whisper, her words spiraling in the cool night air. A nervous energy seemed to simmer between us, the anticipation of her next words evident in the way her fingers twitched slightly in mine.
"Chang, do you remember our conversation from before?" She began, her gaze shifting from our entwined fingers to meet my eyes, a certain vulnerability within them that was as compelling as it was intriguing.
A moment of silence passed as I replayed our previous conversations, her cryptic words finding context in our memories. I looked at her questioningly, unsure of what she was referring to. Yan-Hua took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling under her loose shirt, her next words held a surprising amount of seriousness.
"About the...the promise I made," she elaborated, her face reddening slightly, "if we could all make it to Banff alive."
A gentle breeze passed between us, rustling the fabric of her clothing as her words hung in the cool air. Suddenly, it hit me - the harem. I had dismissed it as a joke back then, a moment of levity in an otherwise grim situation. But her serious tone and the flush on her cheeks made it clear that she was serious about her proposition.
"The harem...?" I voiced the realization, my voice echoing the surprise that was etched on my face. Yan-Hua nodded, a coy smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Yes, the harem. I know it might seem... unconventional. And I would have never imagined myself saying this before, but circumstances are different now. We are different now." She paused for a moment, her gaze unfocused as if she was navigating her way through her tangled thoughts.
"And I think... I think I want to keep that promise," she confessed, her gaze returning to mine, the vulnerability replaced by a newfound determination.
Her admission hung in the silence, the seriousness of her words sinking in. It was an unusual arrangement, to say the least, but this was an unusual world we were living in.
We then turn around and saw eavesdropping Cassidy. "Welcome aboard the harem!" Cassidy exclaimed. "You heard every word didn't you?" I said. "Yep!" Cassidy smiled with closed eyes.
"I should've known you'd be eavesdropping, Cassidy," I chuckled, shaking my head in disbelief as I leaned against the cool balcony railing. Cassidy had always been the type to bask in the chaos of our unorthodox band, the adrenaline, the humor, even the prospect of a harem. I glanced at Yan-Hua, her eyes wide and cheeks flustered from Cassidy's sudden appearance.
Cassidy sauntered over, her stride confident and a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, c'mon, did you two lovebirds really think I'd miss out on such juicy details?" she smirked, her arms crossed casually over her chest. Her eyes danced with amusement, reflecting the silver glow of the moon. "You know, I never was one to pass up on good gossip."
Her smirk widened as she continued, "Besides, who do you think had the first spot in this harem of yours?" Her tone was teasing, yet there was a sincerity in her words that mirrored Yan-Hua's earlier confession.
"And 'welcome aboard the harem'?" Yan-Hua repeated Cassidy's words with a blush, an awkward laugh escaping her lips. "That's one way to put it, I suppose."
"Oh, you bet!" Cassidy's laughter echoed through the silent night, her voice filled with her characteristic enthusiasm. "We're all in this together, aren't we? It's going to be quite the adventure, don't you think?"
I found myself chuckling at Cassidy's optimism, shaking my head at her antics. I felt Yan-Hua's hand squeeze mine, her nervousness from earlier seeming to dissipate with Cassidy's infectious laughter.
"You heard every word, didn't you?" I finally confirmed what we both already knew, looking pointedly at Cassidy. Her grin was infectious as she shrugged, her eyes twinkling with uncontained mirth.
"Yep!" Cassidy confirmed, popping the 'p' for added effect, her smile never wavering. She winked at Yan-Hua and added with a chuckle, "But don't worry, your secret's safe with me. Welcome to the harem, Yan-Hua."
There we were, huddled together on the bed, the thin blanket thrown haphazardly over us. The bed was far too small for five grown adults to comfortably fit, but none of us seemed to mind. There was a certain comfort in our closeness, a reminder that we were not alone in this harrowing world.
As Hazuki settled down on the edge of the bed, she laughed softly. "Did you ever think we'd be here, squeezed on a bed like a bunch of sardines?" she questioned, her gaze flickering between us all, each of us nestled under the warmth of the shared blanket.
A moment of silence passed before Kaya, who was lying on her stomach with her arms wrapped around her pillow, answered, "Can't say I did. But then again, I didn't expect half the things we've gone through to happen."
Her words held a certain gravity, reminding us of the ordeals we had faced together, the enemies we had fought, and the bonds we had forged in the process. Yet, despite the harsh reminder, none of us denied her words. We all had our respective pasts, our individual trials and tribulations. But it was those very experiences that had led us here, huddled together on a small bed, trusting each other with our lives.
Breaking the sudden serious atmosphere, Cassidy let out a light-hearted chuckle. "Well, it's certainly an upgrade from the cold, hard ground of the woods, don't you think?" she teased, propping herself up on her elbow to glance at each of us, her smile wide and inviting.
"Definitely," I responded, a hint of laughter in my own voice. The truth was, despite the situation, I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. The bond we had, forged in the fires of adversity, was stronger than any other I had known.
Yan-Hua was the last to speak, her voice soft and gentle as she looked over her shoulder at us, her body pressed against mine. "It's not about where we are, but who we're with, right?" she murmured, her eyes softening as they met mine.
The room fell silent once more, the sincerity of her words washing over us. And for a moment, as I laid there on that cramped bed, squeezed between the women I had come to care for deeply, I knew that I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
After all this was my dream.
My harem.
Q: How often do you watch harem animes?
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone