Alright.
Before anyone gets too happy—
Let me remind you of something.
—
Nothing stays easy for long.
—
Ren is in a good mood today.
Which is great.
Suspicious.
But great.
—
We're at the pier again. Obviously. At this point, if someone asks where we live, I'm just going to point here.
Ren's leaning on the railing, not even checking his phone every five seconds.
Growth.
Real growth.
—
"You're smiling too much," I say.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm just normal."
"Exactly," I reply. "That's the problem."
Mio laughs softly beside us.
—
His phone buzzes.
He checks it.
Quick glance.
Small smile.
No panic.
No overreaction.
—
"What did she say?" I ask.
He shows us without hesitation.
—
Yuna: I might be free this weekend
—
I freeze.
Then slowly turn to him.
"Oh no."
"What?" Ren asks.
"That's a setup."
"It's not a setup."
"It's always a setup."
—
Mio shakes her head. "It's not a bad thing."
"It's a dangerous thing," I correct. "Expectations are forming."
Ren sighs. "You're overthinking."
"I learned from the best," I say, pointing at him.
—
He types back.
Simple.
—
Ren: Really?
—
He pauses.
Adds more.
—
Ren: That's good
—
Sends.
Done.
—
I watch him carefully.
"You didn't ruin it."
"I told you I wouldn't."
"I'm still surprised."
—
His phone buzzes again.
—
Yuna: Yeah… maybe we can call?
—
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the ocean feels quieter.
—
I look at Mio.
She looks at me.
Then we both look at Ren.
—
"Well?" I say.
He doesn't answer.
Just stares at the screen.
—
"That's good," Mio says gently.
"I know," he replies.
But he still hasn't typed.
—
"Why are you hesitating?" I ask.
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm just thinking."
"That's worse."
—
He exhales slowly.
"I don't want to mess it up."
There it is again.
That fear.
Still there.
Just quieter now.
—
Mio steps closer. "You won't."
"How do you know?" he asks.
"Because it's just a call," she says. "Not a final decision."
—
I nod. "Yeah. Relax. You've already survived worse."
"Thanks," Ren mutters.
—
He looks at his phone again.
Then types.
No deleting this time.
—
Ren: I'd like that
—
He sends it.
—
We wait.
Because of course we do.
—
Yuna: okay :)
—
That tiny smile at the end?
Yeah.
That means something.
—
Ren lets out a small breath.
Didn't even realize he was holding it.
—
I grin.
"Look at you."
"Stop."
"You're evolving."
"I hate you."
"You love me."
Mio shakes her head, smiling.
—
The sky is starting to shift into evening again.
Soft colors.
Warm light.
The kind of moment that feels calm—
But important.
—
Summertimes are coming.
And now?
—
We're adding calls back into the mix.
—
Yeah.
This is getting serious.
—
So yeah.
Don't get too comfortable.
Because something always changes.
—
But maybe—
Not all change is bad.