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"Remember when we're four, we used to sneak on Norman's bed in the middle of the night and just cuddle him until morning"
"Yeah, and he can't sleep well because it's cramped and he's hot and you kick us out of bed".
Ray and Emma laughed quietly, both reminiscing Norman.
The night was still young but in the silence of the forest, they have to keep their noises low, with only the flicker of the fire that keeps them warm. Trying not to disturb the other four in their rest.
Ray wrapped his arms around Emma who did the same to him. They both leaned in the thick trunk behind them to suppress to cold under the sea of stars.
It's Norman missing hours.
Maybe because of the comfort of the night that they reminisce their fallen friend. At first it hurts, but after almost two years, the subject became casual to them. It makes them feel like Norman is still with them, like a ghost who guides. Now, they only had each other to keep hold on tight, for their family.
So falling in love was easy.
They are special since their childhood but they are closer now. They know they're inlove with each other but yet still too young.
They still found themselves protect and comfort the other. Sometimes a little touch and forehead kisses, enough to give them butterflies in the stomach. But they're usually in each other's arm, cuddling like they're still kids and innocent. Like before when they don't have to think about surviving for a day.
"Because I like her".
Ray reminisced, feeling Emma snuggled closer to his neck.
When he started having feelings for Emma, those words echoed in his mind night and day. Now that they both feel the same way, and can be called a couple, everyday it eats his conscience. But what he can do? He can't help but fall in love with her, too.
She's strong and courageous and kind and smart and pretty. A beauty inside out. And he's just a boy who watch her close everyday until he can't keep his eyes off her for a second, afraid that she'll vanish any second.
Maybe if Norman escaped with them, his presence will no longer needed. She won't need him anymore.
"Hey Emma". He said cutting off the silence between them. "What if, just what if, Norman was still alive, will you still love me?".
He felt her chuckled, looking up to him with a confused smile on her face. "What kind of question is that?"
"Hmm, I was just thinking, maybe you won't fall in love with me if you're always with Norman, planning and stuff. Or worst, i could have d-died in that incident". Talking about his suicide attempt. He saw Emma's face slowly frown.
"You know we won't let you die, Ray, I'm sure of it" Her eyebrows are connected into a single line before she sighed. "But I honestly don't know. You might be right, I will be with Norman most of the time because you always want to be alone." She paused.
"Norman is very special to me and to you, both of you are special to me. Before we didn't think of falling inlove, and i don't know what i feel for Norman but, now I realized, he didn't give me the feelings you can give to me." She grinned to him widely and he knows he's flustered and so did she.
Emma came back to cuddling him, wrapping her arms around his torso and settled on breathing against his scarf, her gift, sighing in contentment like as for the moment she holds everything. "And I'll never ever regret loving you Ray. You're the sweetest and the most caring, prettiest ever supportive person I know." She pulled back for a second to give him a peck on his cheek. "And I love you".
Maybe she could hear the loud thudding of his heart, he felt so full. Her love is so warm, sometimes he think he doesn't deserved it. His world so dark, he didn't even think of making out of his 12 years of age, and yet she wants him to live, giving him love at the same time. What a wonderful gift, how could he ask for more.
Right now, all he want to do was kiss her hair.
There's so many things running on his mind at the moment but one thing is certain, Norman is alive, standing here in front of him.
With all the things he wanted to say, all he did was slap him in the face as hard as his trembling hands can give.
His tears are bound to fall, and his heart is about to explode.
"You got to see amazing things, right?" Norman's smirk is so annoying to look at.
"Yeah", amazing things and all he could think of was Emma. Emma and her amazing her.
He tugged them both into a hug, letting his tears fall heavily along with his happiness that both of people he swore to protect with his life is here inside his arms.
The people he love the most.
The day passed and everything's very fine, that even for a day, they tend to forget all the burdens this world give them.
Norman still didn't know about him and Emma, they forgot to tell him. Maybe later, not now that they are still catching up, playing games and endless stories.
What if Norman is alive, will you still love me?
It's the start of this ugly feeling in his chest, staring at Emma sleeping beside him, on the floor, after they fell asleep on Norman's shoulder, who's gone when he wake up in the middle of the night.
He reached out for her face, caressing her cheek gently. He love her. But above all things, her happiness is his priority.
For two days he barely talk to Emma, who would start her morning running to Norman's office to say goodmorning before to him.
"Ray, are you okay?" Emma asked him, with questions in her eyes yet so bright he could be blind.
"Yes, just exploring things here in the shelter"
"Is that so? Hang out with us then, Norman always ask for you."
"Hmm, later". Before kissing her cheek then go down the stairs for breakfast together. In which they spend with Norman, and he never felt so out of place.
He have to do something, to keep himself busy, so for days he walk around the shelter trying to give Emma space and time she needed to keep up with Norman.
At that night, he went to sleep early skipping dinner. Just laying in his bed for hours until his eyes gave out and put him in a dreamless sleep.
He woke up with someone cuddling him from behind. He knew very well who's hot breathe it was on the back of his neck. Yet he still pretend to sleep.
"I know you're awake". Emma said against his back, slipping her fingers i between his. "You're avoiding me. Tell me why."
"I'm not". Ray sighed.
"Yes you are. You can't fool me. Everyone did noticed."
"I just wanted to sleep, this the only time again that i could sleep for a long time." But Emma's arms wrapped tighter around him.
"Ray please, I missed you, talk to me?".
Who is he to hurt her like this? And who is he to not give in to that pleading voice.
He turned around to face her and her smile is the first thing he saw. He admit, he missed her so much.
"I just, I just want you to keep up with Norman, you missed him right?"
"Are you jealous?" A smile slowly forming her lips like she's winning something while wiping his hair off his face.
He's always soft to her, letting his true emotions free. He pouts, like a kid who found guilty of liking a candy. Flustered as Emma laughed lovingly.
"Oh Ray I love you". She dived in his chest, hugging him so tight he could feel her wide grin against his chest. "Norman knows, even from the start. And I told him, how special you are to me. He's the one who opened the idea of you being jealous to him". She looked up to pinch his cheeks. "You're so cute."
"Fine, I admit. I just, i just wanted to give you space."
"Without talking to me about it?" He can't speak, he's so guilty. "Ray, I love you, and will always choose you. Of course Norman will always be special to me, to both of us, but you're different. I want you to be mine alone."
Maybe she could hear the sounds of his heartbeat and the things he might be thinking, "You seem not convinced yet." She said before cupping his face bringing her lips to his. It's so soft. While his was chapped and dry.
It was one of the rare times they kissed on the lips, mostly on the cheeks and forehead only.
He leaned in to the touch and kiss her back, hand on her jaw letting her lead him.
Assurance.
It feels stupid that he needed assurance, didn't he trust Emma? Or if he's like this, a dumb who easily get insecure and let her girl be with someone other than him, Emma surely would get tired of him eventually. He's stupid. Very stupid if he would let Emma fall out of love with him. He can't imagine life without Emma anymore.
Resolve to fight for her, he kissed her more passionately, earning a moan from both of them as he get on top of Emma, bringing her hands around his neck.
For minutes of endless kissing, he showered her with love. He missed her so much just as she made him feel that she missed him too.
He smirked with his forehead touching hers. He's so stupid. "I'm sorry Emma."
They are both a flustered mess as Emma smiled beneath him. "Don't leave me again, please?"
"I will never do that again, I promise."
This time, they hold onto each other tighter.