Aria felt her cheeks grow warm, as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her face at once. There was something gentle in Kai's eyes that made her heart slow down and speed up at the same time. He looked at her the way someone might look at sunlight after a long night.
"I had to trust someone," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I picked the right person."
Kai moved closer until the space between them almost disappeared. His voice was steady but soft when he replied, "You did."
Aria's eyes dropped to his chest, and she noticed how tense his shoulders were, as if he was holding something heavy inside. "Is it really as dangerous as Elisa thought?" she asked, her tone uncertain.
Kai nodded slowly. "Yes, and no," he said after a pause. "It's dangerous because we don't fully understand it yet. People fear what they cannot explain, and some of them would rather keep it that way. But it won't stay hidden forever, not if we can do something about it."
A chill ran through Aria's body, and she rubbed her arms as if to chase it away. "I think…" she started, then corrected herself with a small smile, "No, I know I'm glad I met you." She reached up to touch the small pendant beneath her shirt, feeling its warmth against her skin.
Kai's lips curved into a faint smile, his eyes softening with relief. "I feel that way too," he said, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to quiet down, as though it was listening.
The lights around the campus glowed faintly in the distance, and the soft murmur of voices drifted through the cold evening air. Everything felt far away, quiet, and still. Then, without saying a word, Kai did something that caught Aria completely off guard. He stepped closer, closing the small space between them, and carefully pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her head. His hands were gentle, and his touch was warm against the chill of the evening. He did it simply to keep her ears from getting cold, but the small, thoughtful gesture made her heart beat a little faster.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice barely louder than a whisper.
Aria nodded, surprised by how kind and tender he sounded. For a moment, the cold didn't matter anymore. The wind still brushed past them, and the night was still cold, but beneath the old tree where they stood, everything felt warmer, softer, almost safe.
"Yes," she said after a pause, her eyes meeting his. She searched his face, as if looking for some kind of promise or reassurance. "We'll figure this out, won't we?"
"Yeah," Kai said quietly. He looked up for a second, watching the snow fall around them. The flakes were getting larger now, settling gently on their shoulders and hair. One landed on Aria's cheek, cool and light. She wiped it away with the back of her hand, but she did not step back or move away. Somehow, standing there in the quiet snowfall, she didn't want to.
Kai reached out and gently turned Aria so she was facing him once more. The touch was soft, filled with a kind of care that words could never fully explain. He held her hands carefully, as if they were something precious that could break if he wasn't careful.
"Aria," he said quietly, his voice trembling just a little, "Thank you. I know tomorrow will be hard, harder than either of us wants to admit. But I need you to believe me when I say this. I will come back. I promise you that."
Aria lifted her gaze to his face, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to pause. The honesty in Kai's brown eyes caught her off guard. They were filled with determination, but also fear and hope all at once. Above them, a cold wind brushed through the branches of the old oak tree, making the bare limbs creak softly. The sound felt almost like a whisper, a message carried from far away, perhaps from Kai's sister, reaching out through the silence of the evening.
Aria's lips curved into a small, brave smile. "I promise I'll keep that tree waiting for you," she said gently.
Kai blinked, his expression shifting from surprise to something brighter. "You… you really will?" he asked, almost like a child who had just been handed something too good to believe.
Her smile deepened. It was steady, full of warmth, and it told him everything he needed to know.
Kai took a slow step closer, closing the space between them. The air was cold, but in that moment, it didn't seem to matter. Snow began to fall again, soft white flakes drifting down and settling on their hair and shoulders like tiny pieces of light. He looked at her for one last moment, memorizing her face.
"Be careful," he whispered, his breath visible in the cold air.
And for a heartbeat, the world held its breath with them.
Aria took a deep breath and gathered every bit of courage she had. Her heart was beating fast, but she leaned forward anyway. When their lips met, it was a soft and gentle kiss, one that seemed to take both of them by surprise. It felt so natural, as if it was something that had been waiting to happen all along. The surrounding cold seemed to fade for a moment, and it was as if the snow itself melted where they touched. Their lips lingered for a few seconds before they slowly pulled apart. Aria's eyes were shining, filled with emotion and light that reflected the moment they had just shared.
Kai reached out and cupped her face carefully, his touch warm and reassuring. "Yes," he whispered, his voice calm and tender. "Be safe."
Aria looked at him, her voice steady even though her heart ached. "You too," she said softly.
They stood there in silence for a little while, side by side beneath the tall oak tree. The moonlight spilled through the branches, covering them in a silver glow that looked almost magical. For that brief moment, it felt like time had stopped. Then Kai gave her one last nod and a small, comforting smile before he turned and began to walk away. Aria watched him go, the quiet night wrapping around her like a blanket, holding the memory of that kiss close to her heart.
Aria stood quietly and watched him walk away. His shoulders drooped a little, as though the weight of goodbye rested on them. The sound of his footsteps slowly faded into the distance, leaving only the soft whisper of the wind behind. For a long moment, she did not move. Then, she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and softly whispered into the still night, "Until we meet again."
The wind seemed to hear her. It rose suddenly, swirling the snow around her feet in a gentle dance before fading once more into silence. Aria pulled the hood of her sweatshirt tighter around her head, shielding herself from the cold. When she lifted her eyes, the sky was already deepening into shades of blue and gray. Far above, the first star shimmered faintly, like a small promise breaking through the darkness.
Under that single star, Aria felt something warm stir in her chest. It was as if Kai had not truly gone, as though a piece of his spirit still lingered beside her. The feeling filled her with a quiet strength she had never known before, one that told her she would be all right. With her hands tucked deep into her pockets, she turned toward the path that led home. Each step felt lighter, and though the night had grown cold, her heart carried a gentle warmth that would not fade.