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Mei and Mk are best friends.
They've been best of friends since forever.
Everyone around them craved to have a friendship as good as theirs.
Nothing could ever change that.
Not even something as simple as feelings...
~♡~
Mei has been on strict watch by her parents lately, since her collapse in the battle with Lady bone demon and the Samhadhi fire. She didn't go for parties, ride her awesome bike, go to the sweet, sweet! arcade, or go on adventures with...Mk. That one stung the most. She wasn't allowed to do anything, really. Well at least not anything that could trigger her flames and it's not like she could really go any where with her legs the way they were.
Mei stared at the ceiling of her room lost in thought. It had the classic decor of teenage tomboy girl. Walls decorated with boy bands and indie game posters, clothes scattered in strategic corners of the room and comic books piled here and there. She just finished recording her livestream to share updates about her life and how bored she was during the home lock down.
She was sprawled on the floor with her legs half on the bed and her torso on the ground. She has on a traditional jade chinese dress with two short slits at the side of her thighs.
"It's doesn't look that bad" Mei stared at her injured leg for the tenth time today.
Recently removed from a heavy cast to a smaller one. She traced her fingers on where open wounds used to be. Only faint scars remained. She could still remember what happened that day in the battle. Some of their friends were unconscious, some badly hurt, Mk captured by the Lady bone demon and her attempt to save Mk. The first attack sent her crashing into the ground but when she tried to get up she fell, only to notice her leg was in a pretty bad shape. That didn't stop her. Mk was her best friend and she had to protect him.
She proceeded to fight, even though she had to limp, even though the pain was excruciating, even though Red son screamed her name for her to stop and control her flames... Her emotions. She still pressed forward, letting her red flames engulf her to charge at Lady bone demon. She knows she shouldn't have done that. She managed to break the restraints holding Mk and get him to stop Monkey King... and she was able to make sure he was okay.
She remembers everyone using their powers to destroy the Lady bone demon, Mk fighting together with Monkey King after releasing him from his possession then she transforms to her new dragon form after finding a way to suppress the flames to help. Soon they had won the battle, everyone rejoiced and Mk called out to her as she came down from her dragon form, happy that everything was all over but something wasn't right, she didn't feel... okay...?
She remembered her body being racked with pain and her body going numb. Mk called out to her again, she smiled knowingly at him but this time he returned her smile with a look of fear and him screaming something she couldn't hear. She couldn't feel anything anymore. It was already too late.
Her dragon form and fire dissolving, her vision going blurry, then everything fading to black and the feeling of falling, only to remember waking up in a hospital moments later to her crying parents. When they realized that she was awake her parents rushed to her side to comfort her, telling her that everything was going to be okay. The doctors came in soon to request for her parents attention making them leave for the moment.
Apparently her body couldn't handle her new powers and the samadhi fire all at once and if she had continued she would have lost her life. And...about her leg. I mean it was badly broken but she'll live.
When she took her time to look around the hospital, she noticed Pigsy, Tang, Sandy, Red son and Mk outside the room. Mk hesitantly came into the room. The gang and especially Red son walked ahead of him as he lagged behind. They were just as badly injured. They all flooded her and asked if she was okay, Sandy and Tang almost tearing up and when she reassured them that she was alright. They all had a sigh of relief.
Red son tossed her favourite dragon plushie to cheer her up, which she appreciated, and left soon after because he didn't want to be caught being nice to the dragon horse girl. Mei noticed Mk sit on a stool beside her hospital bed, he's been quiet for a while. Mei slowly reaches for his hand and holds it, the relief settling in Mk's eyes as he held her's back. He smiled back but his eyes had a look of guilt in them. He looked like the reality of it hit him like a truck. That kind of look didn't really suite his cute face. Not that she thought he was cute or anything.
"Mk..." Mei pondered. She hasn't seen Mk since that hospital visit, and that was weeks ago. She missed him the most.
The root of her problems, now that she had the time to think about it, WAS Mk. It wasn't exactly that she blamed him for anything that happened. It was just that... the idea of losing her best friend that day was an unbearable thought. She would take a hundred weeks apart from Mk than live in a world where he didn't exist anymore.
Mei loved her friends, she really did care about every single one of them. She'd chosen them over and over and over, put them above everything and everyone else at one point. But in the end, she had done it because she always had her best friend by her side. She had the privilege to fight alongside Mk, because Mk had chosen her. Mk was her rock, her best friend.
Mei stood on one feet, ignoring her crutches at the corner of her bed, she used her bed to hold her steady and tried to walk across the room, only to stagger and almost fall on her face. "Argh, still not ready yet." Mei whined lying on the floor once again. She looked up at her room window to gaze at the blue sky and trees being shook by the wind. "I wonder what everyone is up to, without me..." Mei rolled into her favourite dragon plushie on the floor beside her.
"Pigsy's probably cooking up a mean pot of tasty food and Tang's probably getting on his nerves freeloading on the noodles." Mei giggled squeezing her stuffed dragon.
"Sandy's probably making tea or working on some awesome robot upgrade, and Mk's..." She paused as his sad face flashed in her mind. "I wonder what Mk's been up to..."
Mei felt her face grow red, her heart beating fast, she buried her face into the plushie. She remembers. When she collapsed, Mk had caught her and held in his arms, then she had blacked out completely.
Mei thought for a while. She couldn't help but feel strange after that battle. Her cheeks burns whenever she remembers that moment. These were the same feelings she felt when she risked her life to save Mk. These feelings were new to her. And they didn't exactly feel like the kind of feelings you have for your best friend.
"Ahh! I want to go out! I wish I could go out!" Mei spoke into the plushie and raised it up like she was making a wish to it. "I... wish i could see him too." Mei murmured looking at the plushie's eyes as it sparkled in the light from the window.
"Tack... tack." The sound of something hitting Mei's room window alerts her. As she looks at the window, she notices pebbles are being thrown at it. Curious to find out who was trying to break her room window, she limped carefully to the window and opened it. A rock hits her straight on the face.
"Oww!" Mei exclaimed angrily as she looked down her window but all of her anger instantly vanished when she found out that the boy she had spent the whole morning thinking about, was staring straight up at her.
"Mk!?" Mei yelled surprisedly. "Shhh! I'm sorry about the rock!" Mk yelled back quietly with that killer smile that made that strange feeling spike up in Mei again, her heart beating fast and cheeks uncontrollably hot.
"Can i come in?" Mk whispered as Mei nodded and gave him space to do so.
Mk used his staff to hoist himself up and land on her window sill. "Hello Mei!" Mk said giving her a crippling hug, making Mei limp back a little. "Hey, monkie man!" Mei giggled, her heart skipped as she replied, not believing who was in her room.
"Ohhh~ I've missed you soo much Mei i-" Mk noticed Mei limping on one side of her leg.
"Oh! Uh h-how's your leg doing? Is it okay? are you sick? Should i call an ambulance-" Mk's frantic words were cut off with Mei's laughing as he panicked looking at her leg. Mk was funny whenever he panicked.
Mei saw him struggling and decided to help him out of his panic. She missed this. Mk's funny reactions. "It's okay Mk, i'm fine, my legs feeling pretty good too, you don't have to worry." Mei reassured him as he calmed down a little but his face still showed he was a bit worried. "I can't believe you're actually here." Mei says in her bubbly voice as before to change the subject. "Wait.. but how DID you get past my dad and the security systems?" They walked to her bed.
Mk lit up like his usual self, helping Mei to sit on her bed. "Well, there's nothing the great Monkie kid can't get past, plus I literally begged your dad like a thousand times to see you and he said "No, my daughter is not ready to receive any visitors in her current condition, especially rambunctious ones." Mk said in his best Mei's dad impression making her laugh.
"So i decided to sneak in anyway to see how my Bff's doing." Mk boldly said as Mei sat beside him. Mk sighed contently, lying down on Mei's bed. "You know, it's really good to see you again Mei."
Mei joined Mk peering up at the bright jade ceiling. She could feel Mk turn his head. So close that his breath tickled her neck. Mk's proximity was always a comfort. But something in her stomach turned at the warmth emanating from him. "It's good to see you too Mk." Mei replied.
He nudged her side gently, an arm grazing her stomach. "Hey, Mei."
His voice sounded so much better in person, especially up close. Hearing his voice for real was so much better than through the phone. It was so easy to be around Mk. Even when they hadn't been talking, it'd felt as if there was a constant chatter between them. Like they were psychic.
She rolled over to her side, coming face-to-face with him. They've always been close. She couldn't count the times she'd done this before but the weird feeling of Something (definitely with a capital S) grew stronger.
"So... Mei, i was wondering. Would you kind of want to ditch your lockdown and go for an awesome adventure around Megapolis city with your best bud in the entire world?" Mk asked expectantly.
"Do i?!" Mei squealed from an excitement overload but used her hand to cover her mouth to try to be quiet. "I haven't left my house in weeks! Of course I'll go!"
Mk jumped to his feet feeling energized. "Alright! Today's going to be so much fun! Plus Pigsy, Tang and Sandy's been wanting to see how you've been doing for a while now and-" Mk stopped when he noticed Mei speak. "Um... What about my leg? It's pretty hard to have fun with their current state." Mei said frowning.
"Oh yeah, I've thought of a way to make it work." Mk said proudly, pulling Monkey king's staff out of his ear as both of them got very excited. "Say it with me Mei!" Mk said as he began to spin his staff. "Here! comes!" they both whispered in unison "Monkie Kid! "
Bright golden light consumed the room as small blocks floated in the air and rearranged itself around Mei's leg forming a kind of golden mechanical cast with cool green dragon designs on it. As much joy filled Mei's heart she gave it a try, the first step was okay... And then the second and the third, then she was running across the room, then jumping.
"So how's does it feel-" Mk couldn't finish his sentence as Mei tackled him in a bear hug, her arms wrapping around him. He hugged her back, his whole body enveloping hers. Mei was so happy, she had to suppress a tingle of her flame. She wouldn't want to burn him.
It was like she was anchoring herself on him. The thought that someone could walk into her room see them and think they were just your typical young lovebirds, instead of, you know, lifelong besties and platonic soulmates, kind of excited her.
"Thank you Mk! Thank you so much!" Mk put his own arms around her and squeezed, Mei nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck. Mei felt those feelings resurface again as Mk hugged her back but she suppressed it, Mk always looks out for her, and that's why she loves him... as a friend... right? Yeah that's what it was.
Mei broke the hug and rushed to put on her green jacket on her dress. Mk's eyes were still trained on her as she gathered her stuff. She could practically feel his gaze boring a hole into her back when she shuffled on her jacket.
"Sorry, I'm not in my usual style today." she said shyly, she's really not used to people seeing her in a dress, being dolled up and all. "Nah, it's no biggie, besides you look really cute in it anyway." Mk says, Mei's face turns bright red at the compliment and turns away.
"Huh... are you okay Mei, your face is kinda red... Oh no! are you sick?, are you hurting somewhere?!" Mk was about to panic again but Mei's laughing snapped him out of it. "No Mk, haha, I'm okay, i mean it." Mei giggled again, her cheeks were still pink but it was truly a pretty sight to see, even in Mk's eyes. He smiled.
"Cmon Mk, let's have that amazing adventure you were talking about." Mei said as she grabbed unto Mk and he used his staff to hoist them out of the room to Pigsy's delivery motor and they drove off for to experience today's fun adventure.
~♡~
Their little adventure began with Pigsy's noodle shop, Pigsy made them a free bowl of noodles, and some tea from sandy. Everyone was worried about Mei, they asked her a lot of questions about her health and recovery with Mk standing beside her, feeling proud of himself for bringing Mei to the shop, she felt really loved by her friends.
*insert (Pixel Cat by Di Young) song for fun montage here*
They first went to their favourite spot which was the Anti-Gravity Arcade to play Monkie mech ultra, then after that they went to the Disco ground and caught some smooth moves as Mk took the role of the Dj. They went bowling and later branched at the ice-cream store to eat a ton of ice cream.
They even went to a pet shop and Mei got to see all the cute little ~puppies~, and finally they went to get their favorite boba tea drinks and snacks.
Mk paid for all of it. He said he'd made some extra cash and he wanted to treat his best friend today. Mei was touched. Mk always knew how to make her day.
~♡~
Later they drove to a garden near Monkey King's place and they decided to take a walk around a small park there, it was on a cliff filled with trees and vines with little monkeys happily playing in the evening sun.
"Wow, this place is really nice today." Mei said as she and Mk walked through the greenery drinking their boba. "Yeah it's really good this time of the year." Mk replied as they both spotted a bunch of monkeys gathered in a spot then the both of them had the same mischievous idea, they snuck up to the monkeys and screamed at the top of their lungs almost giving the monkeys a heart attack.
The pair burst into laughter, holding their stomachs. "Ahhh, I haven't had this much fun in... Forever!" Mk exhaled as he took a seat at the park bench to relax. Mei smiled staring at Mk a little longer than she planned. There's just something about being with Mk that gave her that fuzzy feeling again.
"Are you going to join me or are you just gonna keep staring?" Mk asked innocently, making eye contact with her.
"I wasn't staring." She said as she quickly turned to face the amazing view, her face a light shade of pink from being caught.
Mei walked up to the protective ledge in front of them and rested on it to take in the view, Mk watched her as the breeze blew into her hair. He never thought Mei looked a certain kind of way before. But today she looked really beautiful in this scene.
"I've missed this kind of stuff so much. " Mei said bringing Mk back from his thoughts. "Though it... might take a while for my parents to trust me to be careful with the samhadhi fire." She smiled sadly sitting next to Mk on the bench. She caressed her casted leg which caught Mk's attention. They were silent.
"Umm Mei... can we talk about..." Mk started as he moved closer to her, their hands dangerously close.
Mei knew Mk could be a bit dense sometimes but he always knew when they really had to talk about things that were important. She was reluctant at first but they couldn't keep ignoring what happened on the day of the battle.
"It's about my fight with Lady bone demon, Isn't it?" Mei began as she clenched her fists. She was getting nervous.
Mk noticed her hands and gently held it. "Why did you battle her all on your own?" Mk asked. The pain and confusion evident in his voice. Of course he had to know, especially when her actions almost caused him his best friends life.
'Why did I do it?' Mei thought. Was that even a question? It's was obvious.
Many good reasons crossed her mind. It was because he was her best friend, wasn't it? and he was in danger. Of course she couldn't just stand by and let him get hurt, she wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything happened to him, she... she couldn't let the boy who made her heart beat the way it did, disappear from her life.
"I... just couldn't bear to watch you get taken away i... had to protect you somehow." Mei answered, her voice almost shaking.
"You shouldn't have risked your life for me," Mk said sadly. "You were so badly hurt, we were so scared, we could have lost you Mei... I could have lost you." He whispered the last part but Mei heard it.
Mei felt his hand grip hers tighter, she saw Mk's eyes begin to water and she realized. The real reason why she risked her life trying to save her best friend, the reason she was so afraid and filled with emotion the moment she saw his life flash before her eyes, the reason her whole world lights up when she sees him or when he smiles and her knees feel weak.
She had developed feelings for Mk. Her best friend in the whole wide world.
Mei got closer to Mk, she draped her arm across his back, wiping his tears away which Mk really appreciated. "I'm so sorry Mk,"
"I was just... mad at Monkey King for lying about the whole fire thing and me being the fourth ring and all that and... I just didn't want to lose you, Mk." Mei told a white lie, she should tell him there was more things she felt that led to her actions that day. But she was scared. They never kept secrets from each other but today she had to.
Mei took a moment to think. What if Mk didn't like her in that way? What if they'd stop being friends because of it? Fear made it's way into her mind.
She shouldn't ruin their friendship with her stupid "feelings" that keeps trying to get in the way. Even though these feelings were choking her, just as it was when she decided to go face the Lady bone demon head on. She slowly released Mk from her hold.
"I couldn't bear to lose you too Mei..." Mk replied with a soft smile. "Thanks for saving me that day, we... no... i couldn't have done it without your help." Mk corrected himself and Mei's heart fluttered all over again.
The both of them caught each other's eyes at that moment and Mei couldn't look away. She knew she shouldn't but she couldn't help it. She yearned for Mk's affection. What would happen if their relationship were to change into something more than it already was? Would Mk think of her differently if she told him that she wanted to be more than just a friend?
Mei's eyes trailed his lips, her heartbeat quickened. What would happen if she leaned a little closer to the boy and claimed his lips with hers. What was happening right now was out of her control, like a force pulling her towards Mk.
Mei opened her mouth to say something, but the blaring sound of her phone's ringtone made her jerk back with lightening speed. Mei quickly jumped up to answer the phone, face completely red. She spent the next minute yelling at her dad, giving an excuse that she just went to get some fresh air and that she'll be back home later today.
When Mei hung up the phone she couldn't look at Mk. 'What the heck was that just now?! Wasn't she about to say something stupid just now?!' When Mei finally turned to peek at him, Mk was looking at her a bit concerned.
Mei explained that the phone call wasn't that big of a deal and joined him on the bench.
Mei watched Mk as she sat down and slowly and cautiously moved closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder to watch the sunset with him. He didn't protest.
Mk reactions didn't really help Mei's feelings either. Ever since the Lady bone demon incident, Mei started to notice that Mk has been treating her differently. Their interactions have been different, especially their physical contact, it's wasn't like their usual best friends treatment but like maybe there's something more...
'Ah... no Mei, snap out of it.' Mei thought. She must have hit her head when she collapsed, that's why she's having these crazy thoughts. Yup, that's why.
For a while after, Mei and Mk talked for a bit till the sun was setting and a deep orange gray coated the sky. "It's late." Mk stated, checking the time on his phone. "Do you wanna go home?"
"I don't know," she muttered, cursing the time. Sighing, she loosened her grip on his hand and removed her head from his shoulders. "but I guess we should probably leave."
~♡~
On the drive back, when they got close to Mei's home, Mk drove the opposite direction. It was like he was reading her mind once again, knowing perfectly well that she wanted to stay with him a little longer. He always knew what she wanted. Often, he knew what she needed or wanted, even when she didn't know that herself.
They didn't always have to talk, like right now. Mei sat in the extra seat, her good knee drawn to her chest and staring probably a little morosely at the passing scenery. Mk had turned on some music, low enough that she could barely make out the lyrics.
She would have missed this. If she didn't control her flames, if she hadn't rushed to save him. She would have missed having someone around her who knew her, the way Mk really knew her.
"Can we go over to your house?" Mei requested. Her voice sounded small, a little sad, and Mk looked at her immediately, concerned. She flashed him a little smile. "I just really don't want to go home anytime soon."
As soon as they got to Mk's house, Mk pulled into the backyard, parked the motor and they both walked to the upstairs balcony. Mei rested on the railing while Mk went into his room through the window to the stack of movies in the corner.
He started to recommend new monkey cop series to binge, while Mei just stared at the view of rooftops of various buildings. This was one her favorite spots to be. Mk's balcony. The evening sun had stretched its gilded fingers across the city. It was beautiful.
She pulled out her phone and took a picture of the sky, ignoring the missed calls and messages from her clearly angry parents and put it on silent, sliding it back into her jacket pocket.
"Hey Mei, you coming in?" Mk asked poking his head out the window, holding copies of different movies.
"No. It's perfect out here, with this view." Mei made a side comment. She was being quiet.
"Alright. What's going on?" Mk sighed, knowing she had something she wanted to say. He sat on the window sill his legs dangling from it. Mei bit her lip, worrying it into her mouth.
"Things... have already changed so much." she answered. It was like there was a volcano inside her, trying its best to erupt. She fidgeted with the dragons of her jacket. "I've gone from being a carefree girl who had fun all the time and went on hero adventures with my friends, to a caged animal, who can't even leave her home." Mei pouted angrily.
"Now everyone tells me to do stuff i don't really want to do and, like, i guess I'll have to take supervised training from my uncle to learn how to master my stupid powers."
Mk snorted. "Yeah. But I know you'll be super cool when you master your stupid "awesome" powers." He joined her on the railing. "Your parents are just being protective after what happened. I'm pretty sure you'll get your freedom back when you recover."
Mei pouted again. "I'm totally gonna break out of there before that."
"Mmhm, I'm sure you will." Mk nodded, laughing again.
He looked fond. Mk never teased her about her bouts of defiance. She knew she had her moments of impatience and stubbornness. He never criticized her for being herself.
"Well, my parents think it's best for me to live with my uncle instead of hang around with you guys here at the noodle shop," Mei signed. "...And Red son will be there to help me train, too..."
"Wait... What?!" Mk exclaimed. He started to panic again. "You can't leave. What about our friends? All our adventures together? We'll miss you to death!" Mk pleaded. "What's going to happen to our friendship if you're only going to hang out with Red son?"
"No, Mk..." she put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "Don't, it's really not going to be like that. Sure Red son's our friend, but you're still going to be MY best friend, not him." Mei reassured him.
"It's all my fault." Mk started, blaming himself as he turned away from Mei to look at the quiet city. "If only I could be of any help to you, maybe your parents would have been okay with you being with me and the gang. To help with what you're going through." Mk continued.
"You know me, dying to become a great hero like monkey king. But If I can't be reliable to my own best friend, does that even make me a hero at all?"
"That's not true Mk!" Mei yelled at him. "Have you forgotten how many times and situations you've helped save this city and your friends?"
"You're Mk, my BEST friend and you've saved me more times than i can imagine, even without any monsters or bad guys around, so don't go around saying that kind of crap cuz your MY hero and that should be all that matters." Mei affirmed him.
Mk was at a loss for words as Mei poured out her heart to him. Mei couldn't phantom why he would even feel that way after doing so much for her and the world. Then the memory of the conversation they'd had over a year ago came back to her.
She remembered the way he looked when he told her about how he didn't have much but he was glad that Mei had been the only thing in the world that had been just his. If she left, then he could lose her.
She was his. She still was.
Mei hadn't given it much thought at that time. But she realized now that, no matter what, there was no person on Earth that she wanted to belong to, other than her best friend.
If she told Mk how she felt about him right now...
What would be the outcome?
Mk looked at her surprised. His cheeks and nose were red. He was a little bit adorable.
A younger Mei would have repressed these thoughts. She would have chalked them up to societal conditioning or whatever, told herself that she was being stupid. But now, she almost basked in the warmth of her affection for Mk. These thoughts just felt natural.
"I'll get better! We both will!" Mei declared. "I'll train super hard and convince my parents to death that we're stronger together. Then we can hang out all the time, i promise."
"And besides, I'm not going to my uncle's even if my parents force me to." Mei claimed, proudly.
"Really?" Hope spread across Mk's face. His eyes, so big and so brown, were searching hers. Mei could only shake her head.
He hugged her again. It felt more desperate almost.
"Thank you Mei, I'm so glad." Mk signed in relief, smiling, his lips moving against her shoulder. Mei's heartbeat picked up at his touch.
"Oh Mk, I'm pretty sure i can figure something out instead of going all the way to my uncle's place. I can even make Red son come over to my place for training." Mei said enthusiastically.
Then because she could, she buried her fingers in his hair. His hair felt soft to touch. As they'd aged, she loved that they'd continued to hug and hold each other and high five and fist bump and pepper each other's bodies with unnecessary friendly touches, but the kind of unmitigated desire for touch had waned. Now, she was hungry for it again.
"I'm glad we beat the Lady bone demon, Mk." Mei said breaking from the hug, her and Mk face to face. "I wouldn't know what to do if I woke up one morning and realized that I'd lost you to her."
"You could never lose me, Mei." Mk chuckled, detaching from their hold and walked towards his room window. Mei already missed the touch. "And second. That should be my line."
Those words... and her feelings flared up again. Her phone flashed once again with a message from her dad ordering her to come home right now for the last time or else. She switched it off. She was going to be in so much trouble for this.
"Well, since we can't catch up on the new Monkey Mech hit series together, I was thinking i could lend you a few to take with you before I take you back... home..?" Mk stopped as Mei held unto his jacket.
Mei couldn't shove it down her chest anymore, not this time. She tugged the edge of Mk's jacked to stop him from going inside.
She had to tell him. She needed to.
She let her head fall forward, her bangs covering her eyes, cheeks growing pink. Mk had seen this before. It was like deja vu.
"Mk, I..." Mei began. Where was her stupid courage when she needed it? The courage that had made her join Mk on the mission to go after the lady bone demon. Where was all that when she needed it?
"I... know i could never lose you. But still, in the end, I don't care about anything or anyone more than I care about you. I... I could be dirt poor, but as long as I had you, I'd be the happiest person alive."
Mk's face grew red from the sudden adoration. "Woah Mei, you don't mean that." Mk laughed, slightly embarrassed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
Mei thought it through once again. She couldn't really tell if she'd succeed at mastering her new powers or even be able to hang out with Mk again after what she was about to say.
"I know it's not what you wanna hear but I mean it. I think I'll always mean it. You've always been my whole world, Mk."
Things might not work out between them after this, but she couldn't let this chance escape her, not now, not ever.
"I love you, Mk." She says lightly as her face came into view. Her confession was more like an acceptance.
Everything stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Umm, I love you too Mei, you're my best friend." Mk replied innocently, clearly not understanding what she meant.
“No, Mk. It's more than that." Mei spoke up to be clearer.
"I love you, ...as more than just a friend." Mei confessed, summoning courage as she moved closer to Mk. "It's this kind of... love."
Mei slowly closed the gap between them. Her heart beating a thousand times more. Then she did it. She leaned into Mk and laid her lips on his.
Kissing Mk wasn't a great idea, but it was somehow simultaneously the best idea that she could think of.
Her first kiss...
And he didn't push her away.
Mk has been in a situation like this before. It was when the Gin and Yin demons trapped him in a calabash. Fake Mei had told him she was in love with him and he almost puked out of disgust from the mere concept of it.
But here he was being kissed by the real version of her, his first kiss and he didn't hate it, he kind of... liked it even.
The kiss was short, just enough to prove Mei's point. When they pulled apart, Mk was wide-eyed and speechless.
"I know it's selfish of me..." Mei looked away, nervously playing with her fingers. "But it's because you're my best friend Mk, that's why I want to do all these things with you. That's why I love you."
Silence...
For the first time, Mk didn’t seem to know what to say. His best friend had just confessed her feelings for him and kissed him. It was a lot to take in. He never thought Mei would see him in such a way.
They had this beautiful friendship and he treasured that more than anything, he couldn’t have asked for anything more. But the way his heart was beating and feeling at this moment, was saying otherwise.
All he could feel right now was affection for the dragon girl standing in front of him.
Mei waited patiently for Mk to say something, anything, while watching his face.
There was still no answer. To Mei's disappointment.
Mei's confidence started to dwindle as she didn't get a answer. She knew she had already messed it up. Their perfect friendship which they had nurtured for years all up in flames because she couldn't keep her feelings to herself.
She couldn't blame him though. Who would want to date their best friend all of a sudden. Of course she was asking too much from him.
“I'm sorry,” Mei says to break the silence.
“You don't have to give me an answer.” She was embarrassed. "I just felt like I should say it, is all." Mei felt her eyes start to water. Things definitely won't be the same after this.
"I'll just go." Mei said dejectedly as she started to leave.
"No, Mei, don't leave." Mk held her hand, not letting her go.
Mk brought her closer to him. "Don’t apologize either, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
"I... I don't?" Mei questioned as she perked up.
"Yeah because... I actually feel the same way about you." It had also finally clicked to Mk, what his true feelings towards Mei were. It was his turn to feel something fuzzy in his chest as he blushed.
"Sorry, I just needed a minute to take it all in." Mk said scratching the back of his head, embarrassed again.
Mei couldn't believe what she just heard. Mk liked her back?
"You like me... too?" Mei asked in disbelief. Her heart beating fast again. She should probably get it checked.
"Yes." Mk answered. Of course he feels the same. How could he not?
He and Mei had been together so long that he could barely remember a time that she wasn’t in his life in some capacity, and the intense trust he held with the girl in front of him was unfathomable. And Mk wasn’t afraid of change, not anymore at least.
“You know Mei, we've been through many adventures together,” Mk started, taking Mei's hands into his own. “And I’ve loved every minute of it. But I think… none of that will ever beat how gorgeous you are to me when you’re in the midst of an adventure." Mk laughed at his own realization.
"Your humor, your laugh, the way your eyes light up and your smile when we discover something new and exciting might just be my favourite sight in the entire world.”
"I do care about you Mei, I just didn't realize how much I truly felt about you sooner."
"I love you, Mei"
Mei just looked at him for a long moment like she couldn’t believe he was real. A flood of emotions swelled up in her heart. She squeezed Mk into a tight hug for the 20th time today. She wished to hear these words from him and it has finally come true. Mei wanted nothing else but to love this boy to death. She's never gonna let go.
“You have no idea how happy this makes me.” She said wiping her eyes.
"Not as happy as i am." Mk said as they separated a little. Mk leaned forward. “Hey Mei, do you think I could get a proper kiss?”
The question really shouldn’t have caught her off guard the way it did but she nodded her head, “Yeah, I’d like that” Mei decided, it felt like a good place to start.
Mei and Mk leaned in to each other and slotted their lips together. The kiss was sweet and unhurried, Mei melting into Mk’s warmth as he drew her in closer, moving his hands to frame her cheeks.
Her second kiss with Mk was surreal. It was magical. It was something beyond explanation. She couldn't contain the happiness in her heart.
They kissed as the sun set over the city, the warm wind dancing against their skin.
They weren't sure what the future had in store for either of them, but one thing was for sure.
It was going to be exciting from now on.