In the middle of the park, surrounded by the laughter and distant shouts of children playing, two young people no older than twenty were talking while sitting on a bench. The atmosphere was cheerful, but neither of them seemed to fit into it.
"More than a month without seeing you, and now you tell me you're getting married."
"Yes."
Yaina clenched her fingers tightly over her knees.
"Ren… you know that I don't want, truly and from the bottom of my heart, for you to be with her."
"I…"
"Let me finish, please."
Ren exhaled slowly before nodding.
"All right."
"That girl isn't good for you, Ren. There's something about her that gives me no peace."
Ren turned his face slightly toward her, frowning.
"Yaina, I don't understand you. Did you really make me come all the way here just to speak badly about Miya?"
"I came so that you wouldn't make the mistake of marrying her."
Ren lowered his gaze for a moment, then lifted it from the ground with a sharp gesture.
"Mistakes? Like yours, when you kissed me without warning? That kind of mistake?"
"Ren…"
"No. Now let me speak."
Ren straightened his back.
"I know what I'm doing. I know Miya. She's a good person. And she was by my side when you couldn't be."
Yaina fell silent. She watched him for a few seconds, lips pressed together, eyes fixed on him.
"Are you anxious?"
The question caught him off guard. Ren ran a hand over his face, dragging along the fatigue he hadn't been able to hide. He had barely slept for two days because of the wedding preparations.
"I'm not tired. I'm just upset with you."
"It's about that day, right?"
"Yes."
Ren held her gaze. There was something tense in his eyes, almost pleading.
"Why? Why did you come to me wanting to leave everything behind, only to return later to the same place as always?"
Yaina lowered her eyes for a second. When she raised them again, her voice came out softer.
"Ren… at that moment I was confused. I was in shock. I just wanted everything to go back to normal, without problems."
Ren let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Are you playing with me?"
"No," she replied immediately. "It's the truth. I just… don't want to regret things again."
"Regret going back to that man?"
Yaina slowly shook her head.
"No. I… Ren, ten years ago I lost my parents. And it was my fault."
Ren frowned, hardening his expression.
"What do you want me to feel? Pity for you?"
Yaina lowered her head, hurt by his words. Her shoulders tensed and, for a moment, she seemed torn between responding or staying silent. In the end, she spoke.
"Why are you acting like this? Why are you saying these things to me? It's because of Miya, right? Did she say something to you?"
Ren looked away.
"No," he answered, with a slight hesitation.
"That tells me everything," Yaina said coldly.
"I didn't say anything."
Ren held her gaze for a few seconds. Then he let out a sigh and lowered his head, as if the weight of the conversation had finally reached him.
"All right. You matter to me, and I don't want to push you out of my life like this." Ren lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry for making you remember things you might not have wanted to."
A child passed in front of them riding a bicycle, closely followed by his parents. Ren followed them with his eyes until they disappeared into the crowd of the park.
"Miya asked me to stay away from you, and I understand that… but I don't want to. I don't want to lose the people I care about the most again."
A bitter attempt at laughter escaped Ren.
"I'm an idiot. Now I know."
Ren fell silent for a few seconds while the noise of children filled the air around them. Then he spoke again.
"I still don't know if I should get married."
"Don't do it, Ren," Yaina replied.
Ren let out a low laugh.
"No… even if I have doubts, I already promised her. Besides, I was the one who proposed."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want her to leave…" Ren whispered. "I truly love her and, besides… I'm going to be a father."
"Miya is pregnant?"
"Yes."
Yaina's eyes went dull instantly. The answer fell with silent weight, and before she could say anything, moisture gathered in her gaze.
"Are you okay?" Ren murmured.
Emotion finally blurred Yaina's vision. When Ren noticed, he stepped closer and hugged her carefully.
"We'll stay in touch, right?" Yaina whispered, her voice trembling.
"Yes."
"Will you be a good father?"
"Yes," Ren replied, his voice breaking.
"Will you be okay with her?"
Ren closed his eyes for a moment.
"Yes."
With an awkward gesture, Yaina wiped her eyes and clung more tightly to Ren, taking a deep breath to keep from breaking down.
"Then… be happy."
"Yes… Yaina."
Chapter 27: New Home