"You seem different behind the suit. And
what's up with the mask you're wearing?" Angela asked, reaching up to touch his face.
"I wear it every time for a number of reasons, Angie," Johnson said softly, exhaling through the mask.
"Oh really?" Angela teased, poking at his waist. "What could they be... or could it be that you... use it to meet others?" Her face flushed bright red with embarrassment.
"What?" Johnson blinked, confused. "What's it?"
"You dense moron," Jake teased from within his mind.
"I'm confused here. What are you guys talking about?" Johnson asked again, utterly lost.
"She meant" Jake started, amused. "She meant if you're using it to sneak around and talk to other girls aside from her."
"Hahaha," Johnson burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.
"What's so funny? You're laughing at me!" Angela protested, hitting his chest repeatedly with her small fists.
Still laughing, Johnson reached up and began removing his mask, but Angela quickly stopped him.
"Wait! Are you sure you want to do this? Revealing everything about yourself to me? Why?" she asked cautiously, though there was a faint softness beneath her tone.
"Yes," Johnson said firmly. "I am sure of what I'm doing. It's because I trust you. That's why I'll show you what I am. And besides..." He smiled, looking straight into her eyes. "I don't mind. Because I love you."
Angela raised a brow. "So you love me, huh? How sure is that? Maybe you're just saying it because I'm pretty," she teased.
"Nah, I'm not," Johnson replied, his tone turning serious. "I never say what I don't mean, and I'll always be truthful and honest
especially with you."
Angela's eyes softened. "Then tell me," she said quietly. "How do you truly feel about me? Say the truth. Don't hold anything back."
Johnson sat close to her, and they both lay back on the grass, facing the sky. The cool evening breeze swayed the blades gently beneath them, carrying the scent of rain and earth. Above, the heavens stretched endlessly painted in fading blues and warm golds, with stars slowly blinking awake one by one.
There was silence between them..not heavy, not awkward..just still, like the whole world was listening.
Then Johnson turned his head toward her. His voice came low, almost a whisper, like something sacred meant only for her.
"Angela," he said, "I love you. Not because you've done anything to earn it. Not because I expect anything in return. I love you... just because I do."
Angela blinked, her emerald eyes wide, lips parting slightly, but he continued.
"I love everything about you not just for your laugh, your quiet moments, the way you exist beside me. You're my friend, my bestie, my sister, my mother, my girlfriend... everything I could ever need and even what I never thought I deserved."
The stars reflected softly in his blue eyes as he spoke.
"I know I can't love myself. I know I'm still learning. But somehow, you made me feel like I could. You've done so much..with me, for me, to me..and still, you stay. So I love you. Without reason. Because love with a reason fades when the reason does. But mine won't."
Angela swallowed hard, her lashes glistening with tears, but he wasn't done.
"Even if you grow older, fall in love with someone else... even if you forget me..I'll still love you. Whether you're rich or poor, brilliant or confused, beautiful or broken... I'll still love you. Because I choose to. Because my heart decided long before I did."
He looked back to the sky, the moonlight brushing softly over his face.
"And if I died... or lost all my memories... I believe my soul would still remember yours. Still love you."
Angela moved closer, her fingers brushing against his hand.
"My greatest wish," Johnson said quietly, "is that you might love me the same way. That we'll make memories together..
good, messy, unforgettable oneseven if I already know..."
He trailed off, turning his head.
Angela was silent for a long moment, her eyes tracing the stars before she finally turned to face him.
"I won't lie to you," she said softly, voice trembling but sincere. "I don't think I feel exactly the same way... not yet. But I know one thing for sure...you're the first person I've ever fallen in love with."
Johnson's breath caught, her words sinking into him like warmth in winter.
"I trust you, Johnson," she continued, eyes shimmering. "Even when you don't trust yourself. Even when you carry so much pain behind those eyes. You love me unconditionally, and that means more than I can ever explain... but please..."
She reached for his hand, gripping it tightly.
"Please, try to love yourself. Even just a little. You deserve that much. For everything you've been through, for everything you've carried alone... I promise I'll be by your side."
Her voice trembled again as a tear slid down her cheek.
"I won't betray you. I'll never hurt you. I don't know everything you've been through... but I love you, Johnny. Just... be happy with yourself sometimes. Believe in yourself. Because I do."
Johnson's eyes widened, his heart pounding painfully in his chest. And then, for the first time, the mask he always wore.
both literal and emotional..cracked.
A soft, shimmering sound filled the air as the pieces of his mask fell away, revealing his perfectly chiseled face. His hair shifted from bright white to its original dark, silky, wavy strands..vulnerable, raw, beautiful.
Without a word, Johnson pulled her close and kissed her deeply, passionately, like he'd been holding it back his whole life. The breeze swept over them, tugging at their hair, wrapping around them like a blessing.
Time seemed to still. Their hearts beat together open, seen, understood.
It wasn't perfect.
But it was real.
And in that moment, it was everything.
The gentle night breeze filtered through the curtains as Angela and Johnson remained locked in their kiss, the world fading into warmth and emotion. His arms wrapped securely around her, her fingers tangled softly in his hair. It was a moment suspended in time.
"EXCUSE ME?!!"
The world snapped back like a stretched rubber band.
Standing at the doorway of the house, wearing a fluffy white bathrobe with her hair tied neatly in a bun, was Rose. Johnson's little sister stared at them, her eyes wide with disbelief, her cheeks flushed red with fury and embarrassment. And her hair..oh, her hair...was glowing, literally glowing in streaks of white like sparks of electricity.
Angela pulled away, trying not to laugh as Johnson froze in horror. "Oh no, it's not like that, Rose!" he said quickly trying to remove her hand
"Master has used 12 percent of full strength" Jake hummed reading Johnson stats
" Tch she's too strong " Johnson hissed in his mind " it's not like that rose"
"Oh yes, it is!" Rose barked back, hands on his shoulder.
"You seem chummy with Jake over there..." she hissed, tugging at Johnson's shoulder with surprising strength.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, please, Rose!"
"DON'T YOU 'ROSE, PLEASE' ME!" she shouted, grabbing his ear and yanking hard. "I told you that I was gonna go have a bath and u should freshen up too but Instead, you're outside reenacting a romance manga finale?!"
Angela burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "He was kind of dramatic," she teased.
"We need to have a serious conversation, don't we?!" Rose yelled, dragging her brother toward the house like a mother dragging her toddler from the candy aisle. "YOU ARE GOING TO BATHE, NOW!"
Johnson stumbled helplessly behind her. "Okay! Okay! Just let go of my ear! I need that to hear your sweet voice, don't I?!"
"Shut up and bathe, idiot!" Rose shouted from behind the bathroom door.
Angela was still giggling, wiping a tear from her eye, when a quiet voice brushed against her thoughts...not spoken aloud, but felt.
"Thank you."
Angela blinked, startled.
"Thank you for loving my big brother. He's started smiling again. A bit of the old him is coming back... because of you."
Rose stood at the hallway corner, still in her robe, but her expression had softened. She gave Angela a small, knowing nod.
Angela smiled gently. "You're welcome," she thought back, unsure if the message would reach.
Rose gave her a thumbs-up before disappearing...turning invisible with a faint shimmer.
Later that night, moonlight poured through the window of Johnson's room. Everything was quiet. Peaceful.
Freshly bathed and in a clean T-shirt, Johnson yawned as he tries to move about in his bed when he felt it
THUMP.
Something heavy rested on his left arm. Then another weight pressed against his right.
He opened one eye.
Angela was curled up on his left, a peaceful smile on her lips.
Rose was snuggled against his right, hugging his arm tightly, her hair glowing softly in lavender-blue hues.
Both asleep.
Johnson's eyes twitched. "...I can't move," he muttered.
Silence.
He tried shifting slightly.
Grip tightened.
"...I literally can't feel my arms."
He sighed, then smiled anyway. "I should try loving myself, huh? Don't know how to do that, Angela... but I'll be sure to protect your smile. Yours too, Rose," he whispered, patting their hair gently.
It wasn't how he imagined his night ending.
But it was warm. It was peaceful.
And for the first time, so was he.