It didn't feel like I was adjusting anymore.
That was the difference.
Before, everything felt like something I had to get used to—his presence, this place, the way things worked here. Every step felt like a transition, like I was slowly fitting into something that wasn't mine.
Now… it didn't feel like that.
Now it felt like I was already part of it.
"You're staring again," Kairo said.
I didn't look away. "You always notice."
"Yes."
"That's still annoying."
"It's effective."
I let out a small breath, but there was no real irritation behind it. Not anymore.
Silence settled between us, but it didn't feel awkward. It didn't feel like something waiting to be filled. It just stayed, steady and familiar.
"You're not holding back anymore," he said.
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's still true."
I glanced at him. "And you're still not going to explain why it matters so much to you?"
"I already did."
"No, you didn't," I said. "You just keep repeating it."
"That's enough."
I shook my head slightly. "You really don't like explaining things."
"I don't need to."
"Of course you don't."
Another pause passed, but it didn't feel tense. It felt natural, like this kind of conversation had already become routine.
"You're different now," Kairo added.
"I've always been the same."
"No."
I frowned slightly. "Then what changed?"
"You stopped resisting."
"That again."
"Yes."
I exhaled softly. "You really think everything comes back to that."
"It does."
I didn't argue this time. There wasn't anything new to say.
Because part of me already knew he wasn't wrong.
"You're not thinking about leaving anymore," he said.
"…No."
The word came easily.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
"And you're not forcing that answer."
"No."
Silence followed, but it didn't feel heavy.
It felt settled.
"You're still thinking about him," Kairo said.
I didn't deny it. "Not like before."
"How?"
"It's not something that affects what I do anymore," I said. "It's just… there."
"That will fade."
"I know."
"But you're not holding onto it."
"I'm not trying to," I admitted. "I just don't want to pretend it didn't matter."
"It didn't change anything."
"I know," I said. "But it still mattered."
Kairo didn't argue. He just accepted it, the way he always did when it didn't interfere with what he had already decided.
"You're calmer," he said.
"I think I just stopped fighting something I already chose."
"You chose it a while ago."
"I know," I replied. "I just didn't admit it."
"And now?"
"…Now I don't see a reason to deny it."
That was the difference.
Before, I kept holding back, like saying it out loud would make everything real.
Now, it already was.
"You're not holding yourself back," Kairo said.
I frowned slightly. "You've said that already."
"And it's still true."
I glanced at him. "You really don't let anything go."
"No."
Of course not.
"That doesn't mean everything has some deeper meaning," I said.
"It does."
I shook my head slightly, but there was no frustration behind it this time.
Because arguing didn't feel necessary anymore.
"…Maybe," I admitted.
Silence followed, but it didn't stretch.
It just stayed.
"You're not avoiding me anymore," he said.
I blinked. "I wasn't avoiding you."
"You were."
"When?"
"Before."
I hesitated.
Because…
He wasn't wrong.
"I guess I was," I admitted.
"And now?"
"…Now I'm not."
The answer felt simple.
Too simple.
But it was true.
Kairo stepped closer, closing the distance between us again.
This time—
I didn't react.
Not even a little.
"You don't step back anymore," he said.
"I didn't notice."
"I did."
Of course he did.
"That doesn't mean anything," I said.
"It does."
I looked at him, and this time I didn't look away.
"…Then what does it mean?"
Silence.
Then—
"You tell me."
That answer again.
"You're the one who keeps bringing it up," I said.
"Because you won't say it."
"I don't know what you want me to say."
"The truth."
I exhaled slowly.
"…It means I'm not uncomfortable anymore."
The words came out steady.
Clear.
Unavoidable.
Silence followed.
"And?" he asked.
"And it means… I don't feel like I need to keep my distance."
The truth settled between us.
He didn't respond immediately.
But I saw it—
That quiet shift.
That subtle change.
"You're finally honest," he said.
"I think I am."
"You are."
I let out a small breath.
"…Yeah."
Another pause followed, but it didn't feel uncertain.
It felt… settled.
"You're not leaving," Kairo said.
"…No."
The word came easily now.
Without hesitation.
Without doubt.
And this time—
It didn't feel like something I had to remind myself of.
It felt like something I already knew.
Something that didn't need to be questioned anymore.
Something that had already become real.