Venzel stood there, staring at his reflection in the dark screen.
He debated whether he should at least wash the dirt off his face.
Maybe even tame his hair. Or maybe—
Crunch. Crunch.
He suddenly heard footsteps on the gravel. Quick, heavy and even urgent.
Venzel froze, heart climbing into his throat.
He stepped out of the greenhouse nervously, he squinted into the sunlight.
And there she was.
His girlfriend.
Charging toward him like a storm with a ponytail, eyes blazing.
She looked like she was coming to murder him, and for a split second, he wondered if she actually might.
But he didn't run.
He didn't move at all.
His heart wouldn't let him, nor his body, for the record.
She stopped in front of him, just inches away, panting, flushed, and furious.
Tears glistened in her eyes. Her cheeks were red. Her lips trembling.
Before he could say a word—
PHEK!
A slap. Clean. Loud. Echoing through the quiet fields like a thunderclap.
His head turned slightly from the impact, more from surprise than pain.
But before he could process it—
She threw her arms around him.
Tight. Desperate. Shaking.
She buried her face into his chest and sobbed.
"You idiot... You absolute idiot..."
Venzel's heart squeezed.
The pain in her voice, the way her hands clutched the back of his shirt, the warmth of her tears soaking into him, it was too much.
Slowly, he wrapped his arms around her.
One hand cradled her head, the other held her close.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice thick.
"I'm so sorry... I thought I was doing the right thing."
She didn't answer, only held him tighter.
There were no grand declarations.
No speeches. Just the sound of her quiet sobs and his steady heartbeat, syncing together in the afternoon light.
She sniffled, still clinging to him, then muttered against his chest, "By the way, I ran away from home to come here. My parents are probably furious with me by now."
She looked up and frowned. "And that's all your fault."
Venzel nearly choked. "Huh?! How is that my fault?!"
Eyes still bright red from crying she giggled as she saw the expression on his face.
It was a funny little giggle, slightly wheezy from all the tears, but genuine.
"That's yours to figure out."
Venzel raised a brow. "Oh really?"
With a smirk, he reached down and pinched her nose gently.
"Eep—!" she squeaked.
Then, without warning, he scooped her up into a princess carry.
"Wha—Venzel?!"
He grinned down at her. "Well, looks like my little coal digger has already decided to be with me for life, huh?"
Her eyes widened. "...Wait. What did you just call me?"
"Coal digger," he said casually.
She squinted. "...Did you just say gold digger?!"
Before he could clarify, she began squirming in his arms like an angry cat. "Gold digger?! Put me down! Let me down this instant, you jerk!"
She started punching his shoulder, not hard enough to hurt him seriously, but definitely with a little spice.
"Ow—Hey! Kana! Kanaaa! I said coal! C-O-A-L! You know, like… hardworking, black-soot-covered, determined and underappreciated!"
She froze mid-punch.
"...Oh."
Venzel puffed out a breath in relief.
She stared at him, then slowly curled her arms back around his neck, burying her face into his shoulder.
In a whisper so soft he almost missed it, she said:
"You're my gold, Venzel."
He blinked.
Then his smile returned, softer this time.
"…Guess that makes you my diamond in the rough."
She groaned into his neck. "Stop before I start crying again."
"Too late," he teased, adjusting his grip as he carried her back towards the farmhouse.
As he walked, carrying her like a princess across the field, a sudden thought hit him.
"Wait a sec… How did you even get my new number?"
Kana blinked, then her eyes narrowed.
Without warning, she reached up and pinched his nipple.
"OW—HEY!" Venzel nearly dropped her. "That's a war crime!"
"Why did you change your number?!" she snapped, puffing her cheeks like an angry squirrel.
"Stop, stop! I'll answer! I'll answer—don't pinch—ow, owww! Kana, seriously, stop!"
Kana finally let go, but her hand hovered dangerously close to the same spot like a loaded weapon.
Venzel's eyes darted to it.
"Phew…" he breathed in relief, still wincing. "Okay, okay, I'll tell you! I changed my number because I was scared you'd call just to… to break up with me, okay?!"
That hesitation... that tiny flicker of vulnerability in his voice, should have earned him mercy.
It didn't.
Kana's eyes narrowed again. "You idiot."
She latched back on, harder this time.
"OW—KANA!"
They staggered. His footing slipped, and gravity did the rest.
With a yelp and a stumble, the two of them tumbled down into the soft dirt.
Thud.
Venzel hit the ground with a grunt, taking the full brunt of the fall but instinctively, he wrapped his arms around Kana to keep her from getting hurt.
She landed right on top of him, arms braced against his chest, her hair falling over his face.
There was a tense silence.
Venzel blinked up at her, breathless, still cradling her protectively. "You okay?"
Kana looked down at him, strands of hair falling over her red cheeks.
She gave a shaky sniff, then murmured, "That was for being stupid."
And with a sigh, she melted into him, face buried into the crook of his neck, hugging him like he was the only stable thing left in her world.
Venzel smiled with a aching nipple and all.
"…Fair enough."