?For once, Micheal felt at peace.
?
?He didn’t know how long it had been since that feeling last visited him, but now that it had, he never wanted it to leave. No pain, no regrets or guilt—just this: the warmth of Jasmine resting her head against his shoulder, the two of them swaying gently on the old swing Aki had installed years ago for his little sister. Back then, it was just a childhood toy. Now, it felt like a sanctuary.
?
?The swing creaked softly beneath their weight. The cool, lazy breeze rustled through the leaves, brushing against their skin in slow, calming waves. The late afternoon sun bathed the world in amber, painting their faces in golden warmth. Aki wasn’t home—it was just them. And for once, Micheal at ease. And he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
?
?Jasmine’s fingers traced small, absent-minded patterns on his arm, gentle and affectionate, as if she was grounding herself to him. She lifted her head slightly, her cheek brushing against his collarbone, and tilted her face up to look at him. A soft, peaceful smile played on her lips.
?
?Micheal turned to meet her gaze, and for a moment, time itself seemed to pause.
?
?The light caught her just right—soft beams of gold weaving through her loose hair, casting a gentle halo around her. A strand clung to her cheek, and he resisted the sudden urge to tuck it behind her ear. Her eyes, clear and warm, looked up at him like he was something worth cherishing. And all at once, he felt his heart stutter in his chest.
?
?He still remembered the first time she kissed him—her lips against his, trembling with uncertainty but filled with a kind of fire that made everything else go silent. That memory lived in his veins now, burned into the very rhythm of his heartbeat. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was the first time he realized he could love someone like that.
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?She leaned closer, her lips barely grazing his ear. Her breath was soft, teasing.
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?“You really stink, you know that, right?”
?
?The sound that escaped Micheal was somewhere between a scoff and a laugh. He glanced down at her, smirking.
?
?“Way to ruin the mood.”
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?Jasmine rolled her eyes. “It’s true though,” she said, curling up closer again, head back on his shoulder, clearly unbothered by her own complaint.
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?“You’re awfully comfortable for someone who’s so offended by my smell.”
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?She smirked. “Guess I’ll leave then. You can go back to being the same sad, angry, racist little gremlin you were before me.”
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?
?“Hey—wait—no!” Micheal’s voice cracked with sudden panic, and it made her burst out laughing.
?
?It was a beautiful sound—light and melodic, honest. It wrapped around his chest like a ribbon and pulled a laugh from him too, even though his cheeks were flushed.
?
?Jasmine wiped a tear from the corner of her eye and grinned up at him. “You’re so easy to mess with. Is that how you always are, or am I just special?”
?
?He looked away, cheeks still warm. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, love. I’m not as much of a pushover as you think.”
?
?The word slipped out so easily—love—like it belonged. Jasmine’s smile faltered for just a second, her breath catching in her throat. But she quickly recovered, playfully smacking his arm.
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?“Bold words for someone who was about to beg a second ago.”
?
?Micheal chuckled, then pulled her a little closer, letting his head rest on top of hers. The swing kept moving gently, carrying them through a silence that wasn’t awkward or forced, but comfortable. Familiar. Safe.
?
?They sat there like that for a long time, just breathing, just existing in a world that hadn’t quite caught up to them yet. Jasmine’s heartbeat thumped steadily against his ribs, and he held onto that sound like a lifeline.
?
?After what felt like a small eternity, she spoke again, her voice quiet.
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?“You have to get back to training, y’know?”
?
?Micheal groaned. The words didn’t even sound like a command—more like a quiet reminder that the world outside still existed. Still needed them.
?
?“Do we have to?” he murmured.
?
?“Yeah,” she said, not moving. “We do. Or Aki’s gonna kick your ass. And as much as I’d love to see that happen… I have a duty to fulfill.”
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?He sighed, his grip on her tightening slightly. “I know. I just… I don’t want to go back. Not yet.”
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?She didn’t reply right away. Then, softly: “Me neither.”
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?The world out there would keep spinning. But here, in this moment—her body against his, the sky slowly turning shades of rose and violet—they could pretend the world had stopped.
?
?Micheal closed his eyes.
?
?“I wish things could stay like this,” he whispered.
?
?Jasmine didn’t speak. She just reached for his hand, threading her fingers through his.
?
?They let the silence stretch on, stealing every second they could before reality came to claim them again.
?
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