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“Please KJ” Jett sighed beside the engineer using the computer. “Neon really wants to go to this show, she will be very disappointed if I don't arrange it.”
“But you did tell her you weren't going, did you? For this whole case of being an international criminal? That thing about them calling the police in your face every time is pretty sad.” Killjoy commented as she kept her gaze fixed on the computer screen. There were just a few minutes left for the opening of ticket sales for the Taylor Swift concert.
“Exactly why I'm saying. She's just like shit while pretending everything is fine. Man, I feel like the worst girlfriend in the world.”
The Korean sat on the floor and put her hands to her face. The disaster in Venice never ceased to haunt her. Guilty of a crime she didn't commit, her life was terribly and unfairly limited. As much as Jett pretended to find the situation funny and sometimes even joked about it, all she could feel about it was the most terrible exhaustion.
But Neon was a big fan of the American singer and had been very excited with the news of the concert not far away. The Filipina only talked about it for weeks, until a comment from Phoenix made her finally understand the situation.
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“It's The Eras Tour! Since 2018, you know? It's going to be so badass! I really want to be able to go see Taylor, it's like my dream since I was a kid, it was just really blurry thinking about it because you know, I was always training or doing something to manage all that extra load, but now it's cool!” Neon said excitedly, pacing back and forth in the cafeteria.
Phoenix, Yoru, Raze and KJ and Jett were sitting at the table and only the Korean woman hadn't touched her food.
“I think she's pretty badass too.” Phoenix commented, his mouth full of the pão de queijo Raze had made. “And Raze, this thing is really good! Where is this from here? Matos-Gerard?”
“Minas Gerais, menino!” Raze said loudly as she held back the urge to laugh. “You managed to mix two states and still get it wrong. It's not really my thing, but the food in Minas is very good. It only takes a beating for Bahia. Too good, amigo.”
“Portuguese is too difficult, fam.” Phoenix laughed and ate another pão de queijo. “So, Neon… Jett let you to go there? Jealous the way she is, I think it is an evolution. Well, they say that all Pokémon evolve.”
“What do you mean by ‘let’?” Neon arched an eyebrow and looked at the Korean woman.
“Come on, if Jett shows up at an event like this, even the FBI will be springing for her, sis. Did you forget the whole internationally wanted criminal thing? Come to think of it, I don't even judge the guys. The other Jett scares even me.”
An uncomfortable silence hung over the room. Jett was staring at the plate of three pão de queijo in front of her. It was still hot judging by the steam coming out of them. Neon’s glow had completely disappeared and now she just stared at the floor thoughtfully.
“You know what would be better? We can watch it on TV and do something with friends, I don't know. Better than being in the middle of a bunch of people, right?.” Neon broke the silence.
"Great idea! And hey, I'm the genius here." KJ laughed nervously, trying to help lighten the mood of the moment. “Raze takes care of the food, this is really good!”
“Opa, you can let the baiana here solve it. You can take the girl out of Salvador but you can't take the girl out of Salvador.” The Brazilian stopped to reflect on what she had said. “Or something like that.”
"For me and this asshole it's a great idea." Phoenix said realizing the aura that had been set up because of him and hit Yoru's ribs with his elbow, who only responded with a nervous grunt.
“Jett?” Neon caught her girlfriend's attention.
“I never liked Pokémon.”
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“But how do you plan on going on this thing? I think it's easier that they cancel the concert if Sunwoo Han confirms presence, you know?” KJ sighed and looked at the Korean girl. “Scheisse, I feel awful that I can’t do anything.”
“Relax, I fixed that.” Jett pulled a passport from her jacket pocket and handed it to the German. “I swallowed all my pride and asked the ex-asshole Chamber for help. Now I can't hate him anymore and it's all Sova's fault. For some reason I'll never understand, he can handle that manipulative croissant pretty well.” She commented while KJ analyzed the passport in detail in a kind of scanner. “I had no idea he had so many contacts. This is apparently very well done.”
“It's so good because it's true. Everything here has been carefully added to the database, as if it has always been here. If I didn't know you, I could easily tell that you are... Joon-Hee, born on August 5, 1999, in Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul. Name of parents, grandparents, professions of all. It really is a professional job.” KJ left the passport on the table and looked at the Korean woman. “What did he charge you for that?”
"Anything." Jett looked to the side and pouted. “He said I cannot pay his price.”
“And he is not wrong. This here would cost more than Brim pays us per year.” The engineer chuckled and looked back at the screen. “Maybe more than he pays everyone every year.”
“Are you calling the old man a cheapskate or us poor? I still don't understand.”
"Both. We are poor and Brim urgently needs to soften that heart of stone and give us a raise.”
"That hurts. And you're saying that because you're only going to pay for one ticket.” The Korean took the credit card out of her pocket and held it out to the German. “After that, I'll be on bread and water for so long that I haven't been able to calculate yet. I know it's Taylor Swift and all, but why the fuck does it have to be so expensive?"
“That's why I borrowed Chamber's card.” KJ smirked. “If he's trying to buy everyone's affection with a black card, the idea was perfect and it's working very well. Even Yoru said he doesn't think he's such an asshole anymore. Do you want me to buy yours and Neon's on his card too?”
"No." Jett responded immediately and smiled. “Like, I'd love to tap into that evil baguette's goodwill, but…it's Neon, I want to do it for her… She deserves something of our own, you know? It wouldn't have, like, the same value if I used money that I literally didn't give my life to earn. If you say that to anyone, I'll push you off the edge of Ascent without the slightest bit of remorse. My reputation would be in shit.”
"AW! That's the cutest thing you've ever said!" KJ squeezed the Korean girl's cheeks. “I didn't know you were so lovey about Neon, cause you're always the most bitchy on the ride. I've seen you play with the feelings of everyone who tried to get close because it looked funny."
“Come on, shut up. You weren't all that nice in that Viper thing either." Jett said on impulse and soon regretted it. She knew very well that the German was very sensitive towards the American woman.
Jett felt ashamed. That old self-defense habit that always hurt everyone around her. Killjoy had always been a great friend to her and Neon, even helping a lot when neither of them knew how to confess. At that moment, she really wanted to apologize to the engineer, but she knew that anything she said wouldn't take away the bad memory that flashed before the other girl's eyes.
Viper was a touchy subject. Her and Killjoy worked together for a period at Kingdom a few years ago. Something happened between them and, in a moment of fragility, Killjoy had confided this secret to the Korean woman. What right did she have to mention it in such a careless way?
"KJ, sorry about that, I..." Jett sighed. “I'm a sucker. You can hate me if you want.”
“No time for that.” The German responded quickly. “Sales opened.”
Silence reigned for the next few minutes. Jett silently watched the reflection of the monitor in the German's glasses. That was so characteristic of her that the Korean felt like laughing. How many times had she already seen that same scene while telling Killjoy how much Neon irritated her with that attitude of always challenging her to see who really was the fastest. She remembered the moment when she finally realized how much the Filipina could stir her feelings and how it seemed so simple for the German. Killjoy seemed to have understood this from the beginning by the way she laughed in her face.
Killjoy had always been there to talk. Even though most of the time she was too busy working on some prototype and ended up screwing it up every time Jett told her something new, like the first kiss between her and Neon. The German was welding a prototype and looked quickly at the Korean, without turning off the weld. The result was a ruined pair of gloves and a visit to Sage's room in the middle of the night as Jett was bombarded with questions and details.
“Competence does not stop at the laboratory.” Killjoy straightened her glasses and looked at Jett. “Do you want the good news or the bad news?”
“Mix them.”
“I managed to buy tickets for the most expensive box for everyone. If Chamber's card was crying, yours is breathing by machines." The German woman smiled wickedly as she returned the other girl's credit card.
“... sometimes it sucks to love someone.” She took the card from the German's hands, staring at it for a few moments. “I'll have to steal Phoenix's later. He doesn't need another pair of shoes."
“That was cruel. Buying sneakers is kind of the reason for his existence.” Killjoy relaxed in her chair with a sense of accomplishment.
“And jackets. I'm still waiting for that idiot to give me one, they are awesome.”
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“What did you really want to talk about, wind girl?” Neon said breathlessly, running on the specially designed treadmill to contain the extra load she produced.
"It's nothing important." Jett leaned against the concrete pillar next to the treadmill Neon was on and crossed her arms.
Every time Jett got that way, Neon knew she was hiding something. The Filipina then looked at her girlfriend in the most suspicious way possible. Jett instinctively looked away and smiled. Perhaps that wasn't the only reason behind that different attitude on the Korean's part, the sports outfit Neon was wearing wasn't helping at all at that moment. The sharp blue eyes analyzed every well-marked detail of that body she loved so much, including the sweat that ran down her girlfriend's exposed abdomen.
“Hoy, you know you can't hide anything from me, right?” Neon smirked, slowing down the treadmill. “You’re just embarrassing yourself trying, you know?”
“I'm not hiding anything, firefly…” Jett adjusted her body, leaning fully against the pillar as she waited for her girlfriend to come to her. “Can’t I stare at my hot girlfriend at the gym and not be hiding something?”
“Yes, you can, but like… I know you.” As soon as the treadmill stopped, she went to the Korean woman, but didn't hug her. “I'm sticking with sweat. Bad timing if you wanted affection.”
"I do not mind about it." She then pulled her girlfriend close and hugged her tightly. “I'm used to you being sweaty… the difference is that it's usually in bed.” Jett smirked and whispered in Neon's ear. “And moaning my name in such a cute way… seriously, you can't be without me, can you?”
“Lucky you I like you.” Neon, now visibly blushing, bit her girlfriend's cheek. “For you to stop being so cocky.” Soon after, she kissed the bitten place. “Yeah, I don’t think I can.”
Unexpectedly, Jett pulled her girlfriend into a slow kiss and, even with slight protests, it was quickly returned by Neon. The Filipina finally stopped resisting and hugged her tenderly, deepening the kiss. That was without a doubt one of the things Jett loved the most. The first kiss of the day, after being apart for a while. Unhurried, unlike anything they did, it was calm like the first one. The two were certainly too fast most of the time, of course, the job demanded it. The whole world demanded that they were always running. It wouldn't be fair if they did the same with each other.
"I hope you don't have plans in a few days, you know..." Jett said between the kiss, still holding her girlfriend close.
"Depends on the day." Neon pulled back slightly, not before placing another soft kiss on the Korean's lips. "What do you have in mind?"
"I got tickets to a show there, if you want to go..." She took the tickets out of her jacket pocket and let them float next to her hand, the same way she does with her favorite dagger.
Neon was silent. She had an idea what it was about, but she was refusing to believe it. Her mind wandered to every possible possibility, always coming back to the fact that Jett couldn't go to these kinds of places. At the same time, everything in her wanted to scream at the mere possibility of going to the concert she wanted so badly. She then, in a move faster than the Korean woman expected, took the tickets.
Those cinnamon eyes carefully analyzed the tickets as Jett waited for an answer with a smile on her face. It was really nice to see the girl she loved so much happy.
"How?" Was all Neon could manage to get out.
“KJ and I used all available protocol technology to defeat the bots and get tickets.” Jett smiled in that characteristic way she did when she felt like she'd won something. "Seriously, it wasn't even that hard, sparky."
"We will not go."
"What? Fuck, why?”
“I'm not going without you, Jett.” Neon sighed and took her hand to her girlfriend's jacket, holding the fabric tightly between her fingers. “I'm the only person who can keep up with you, remember? I won't leave you alone. Nor will risk going and having people try to arrest you or shoot you.”
“Would you live the rest of your life in a cave with me, firefly?” The Korean woman held her girlfriend by the waist and approached, placing a kiss on her cheek.
"Hoy... I didn't say that." Neon smiled and turned her face slightly, giving her space. “But I would visit you. And laugh at your stupid face.”
“What if I chain you on my bed?” She began to plant kisses along her girlfriend's jaw, down to her neck.
“I would try to leave. After a while. A long time." Neon let out a soft moan. “I hope those damn chains are strong, wind girl.”
The two laughed softly and Jett hugged her girlfriend again. They stayed that way for a few more minutes. Some kisses, soft caresses while the Korean insisted on saying how beautiful Neon was like that.
And she really was.
“I managed, you know? Let's go see Taylor, firefly.” Jett kissed his girlfriend on the forehead.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I promise, I'll be by your side the whole time. Who do you think will make the best stories? The filters Phoenix chooses are just terrible, I look like a character from a dorama and-“
Jett's ranting was interrupted by an unexpected kiss. Neon finally allowed herself to feel happiness for the show. She knew how difficult this kind of thing was for Jett, so she tried to show as little as possible how important it was to her. But the realization of a childhood dream was something different, as if suddenly, their reality was different.
They wouldn't just be agents of protocol, forced to kill each other over something that some didn't even fully understand. Now it was just a group of friends going to a concert by a famous singer. Moments like that made Neon feel that all that effort was worth it. She remembered that she was human too.
And that kiss made her understand why she insisted on fighting. That kiss would always be worth it.
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“They turned out beautiful!”
Killjoy was excited, as always, to be testing a new prototype. Jett couldn't risk her powers drawing attention, even accidentally, so she asked the German for something to suppress her powers temporarily. She then suggested a technology similar to the one she was developing with Kay/O's help, but Jett had something different in mind.
The bracelets on her wrists hurt a little, but Jett was happy. They were similar to the ones Neon always wore and now she wondered if they hurt her wrists the same way. It wasn't that much, but all the time it must have been too much trouble. The Korean touched one of the uncomfortable bracelets and smirked.
“My girl is badass.” Jett commented as she pressed down on the metal. "If it were me, I'd just go fry everybody and fuck it."
"Uh... good thing she's the one who can fry people." Killjoy got up and straightened her clothes. She was very well dressed for the occasion, a far cry from the greasy overalls she wore in the lab. “It would suck to try to develop something to stop them stealing our radianite and then getting ‘fuck it’ in the face and dying.”
Jett laughed out loud and gave the engineer a little punch on the shoulder. Killjoy laughed too. Both recognized the immense effort Neon put in every day. The Korean took a deep breath and put on her denim jacket over her loose white T-shirt. She couldn't draw too much attention, so she'd opted for ripped jeans the same color as her jacket, black sneakers and a hat. Killjoy had helped with the light makeup and blue eyeliner that she liked.
As much as she felt very comfortable with her favorite necklace, Jett felt that it might be risky to wear it in public, so she opted to leave it in her room. Again the bracelets bothered her, she clenched her fists tightly.
“Are you sure you don't want the other device? You know, I don't think Neon would care about something like that." Killjoy stopped beside the Korean woman, looking at their reflection in the mirror and then began to roll up the sleeves of the other girl's jacket up to her elbows.
“I know I don't, but I want to do this. Come on... I don't even feel anything, it just tickles.” Jett gave a thumbs-up as the German finished. “Let's go, everyone should be ready by now, Neon sent about fifteen messages saying that she is doubting our relationship because of this delay.”
“It's easier for her to fry half the world than to think about breaking up with you, but that's okay. I will accept this harmless threat as an incentive to move faster.”
The two left Killjoy's laboratory. Jett took a deep breath and adjusted her hat. Before entering the boarding area, the Korean woman stopped in the middle of the corridor. She closed her eyes and tried with all her might to feel the wind around her. The feeling of not having air currents at your disposal was frightening indeed. As much as she tried to push her own body up, nothing happened. It was as if the wind had abandoned her and it had a terrible feeling. Memories of when she was still a child, the rejection she felt from her own family, friends, even people she thought she could trust and turned their backs after the Venice incident. People she loved and knew her well couldn't believe so easily that she would do something like that, but they did. That certainly still brought a bitter taste to the mouth.
But there was Neon. Distracted by the others around her, indisputably beautiful in a sleeveless crop top with a high collar and beige cargo pants. She knew how to use makeup very well, however much she chose not to do it all the time. Jett stopped in the middle of the hallway and stared at her girlfriend from a distance. The way she smiled excitedly next to Phoenix, Yoru and Raze was enthralling. She no longer felt the discomfort of the bracelets and the bitter taste seemed to never have existed.
Jett started to run. Slower than she was used to, since at that moment the wind no longer propelled her. Before Neon could turn around completely, the Korean woman hugged her tightly, with such need that it made the Filipina's feet slightly off the ground. She didn't mind that, she just returned the messy hug as best she could.
When the hug ended, they both took a step back and stared at each other. Neon was sure that Jett was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, but the Korean would say the same about her. The bracelets quickly caught Neon's attention, causing her to immediately frown.
“Why are you wearing this?” The question was quick, curt than Neon would have liked, but she had to know.
“I can't risk it. Any radiance signal has to be blocked. KJ made it for me… I like it matches yours.” Jett smiled and brought her hand to her girlfriend's hand, giving it a gentle caress. "Don't you want to match me, firefly?"
“You don't have to go through this…” The Filipina looked away, uncomfortable.
It was then that Jett saw that Neon was wearing her favorite necklace. The same one with the replica of one of her daggers. The Korean woman turned visibly red and approached, whispering in her girlfriend's ear.
"Can't stay away from me for long, can you?" Jett lightly bit her girlfriend's ear and then kissed her cheek. “It’s not bothering me, okay? Shall we go to the show?”
“You are the dumbest person I know.” Neon sighed, slightly sulking. “Lucky for you, stupid people are my type.”
“I'm too badass at being an idiot.” Jett smirked
“In that I agree.” Yoru said as he passed both, entering the Vulture that would take them to the concert. “Are you coming or not?”
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This was even better than they expected. Of course, everyone's apprehension upon arrival was evident and even difficult to disguise, as Phoenix kept talking and calling the Korean woman Joon-Hee while she herself didn't utter a single word. Nothing, just the purest silence.
When they finally made it through security without any problems, Neon was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief. From that moment on, she was sure that one of the best memories she would have for the rest of her life began. Jett held her hand tightly, a little jealous of all those people around looking at her girl. The Filipina thought that was funny.
Killjoy led them around the box, as if she always knew what to do. Everything there felt new to Jett, she really didn't go to many parties, let alone events like this one. She made a mental note to thank Sova and Chamber for that later. Really that stupid Frenchman had done something amazing and Neon was so happy to be there that nothing would ever be enough to repay what he had done.
“This is really insane!” Phoenix looked around the cabin with a cup of vodka in his hand. “So many rich people, man!”
“That reminds me we have to talk to Brim about a raise.” Killjoy adjusted her glasses and spoke quietly. "And thank Chamber for the card."
“Did Chamber pay for all this here?” Neon frowned and whispered to the engineer. The idea of receiving anything from the French gunsmith makes her sick.
“Not all.” The German smirked. “Long story, but not everyone.” She quickly looked away from Jett, who was getting more drinks from Phoenix, and looked back at the Filipina.
Neon understood what the engineer meant and smiled. Jett knew her well.
The show's special effects left everyone there awestruck. Phoenix, Yoru and Raze kept talking about how Taylor changed clothes so quickly and Killjoy was already spending some time trying to figure out how some mechanisms there worked to add to her laboratory. Neon hadn't stopped singing for a single minute, she knew all the songs and loved them. Jett accompanied her as best she could, sometimes singing wrong and pretending nothing had happened, which made the Filipina laugh.
After good hours of concert, finally Love Story, the song that Jett was waiting for, was starting. She knew that Neon liked that specific song, she had seen the Filipina sing in the bedroom several times when they were alone. I had always found the way she acted out each part of the song cute, even though Jett never accompanied her.
“Can I be your Romeo?” Jett whispered to her girlfriend as soon as the music started.
“It will be fun to watch you try.” Neon whispered back and walked away, starting to sing along with the music.
All the agents there started to sing. They were very close, but that didn't bother Neon. She was surrounded by important friends and the love of her life, there was no doubt about that. Killjoy and Raze hugged her, also singing with all the emotion that the moment demanded. Yoru, even though he was dragged by Phoenix, was singing loudly and dancing as he was pushed and pulled by his friends.
Neon felt like laughing. That moment didn't seem to get any better. Until the slowest part of the song came.
"I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town"
Neon looked at Jett, as if singing to her. The smile did not leave the Korean's face.
"And I said: Romeo, save me, I've been feeling alone
I keep waiting for you, but you never come"
She turned to Killjoy as she sang. The German accompanied her excitedly, but stopped. Her eyes widened. Before she could ask what was going on, Killjoy grabbed her shoulders and turned her around again.
"Is this in my head? I don't know what to think"
Jett had one knee on the ground and a ring on her hand. No red box, no. Just the ring that she had hidden in her pocket the whole time while the fear of losing it had accompanied her the whole time. She wasn't sure what she was really doing at that moment. Marriage or anything else didn't matter as long as Neon knew. She just needed to know how much it meant to her.
"He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said: Marry me, Juliet, you'll never have to be alone
I love you and that's all I really know
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby, just say yes"
Phoenix was in tears from the start as Yoru quietly filmed. Out of goodwill or future blackmail, it doesn't matter. Killjoy was still in shock as Raze chuckled, actually finding the whole scene cute. Jett's confident smile had disappeared when Neon saw her on her knees. At that moment she was just a girl shaking with fear of being rejected.
But that would never happen. Neon also knelt down and hugged her tightly. She held the fabric of the Korean woman's jacket between her fingers, as if she never wanted to let go. And that really was the last thing the Filipina wanted.
“There, fam! That was a yes, right? I'm dying anxious here, sis!" Phoenix said loudly, which made Neon laugh.
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The agents were back on Vulture. The sun was already rising and the show had ended not long ago. Jett and Neon were sitting on the side of the aircraft, holding each other as they watched the city from above before Killjoy closed the doors completely. The wind at that time was one of the Korean's favorite things.
Neon had the ring in hand, looking at the details carefully. It was really beautiful, as much as she didn't fully understand. Engraved on the gold ring was a small wind rose, an even smaller anchor, and a thunderbolt. Of course Jett had thought of something complex. Deep down, she felt ashamed for not understanding.
"It's a wind rose." Jett said while also looking at the ring. She noticed her girlfriend's confusion. “And wind is kind of my thing, you know? I wanted you to know that... it's yours. And the anchor in navigation is like a port, you know?” She paused, blushing heavily. “And since electricity is your thing, that's what the lightning is for... You're the safe place for the storm and even though it doesn't make the slightest sense in navigation, I think it does for us...”
Neon ended the distance between their lips. A calm kiss before the sunrise. The morning glow softly touching their faces, reflecting off the gold of the ring and shining brighter.
They pulled away slightly, still keeping their faces close. Neon was so lost in the sky of those blue eyes that she didn't notice when her fingers opened, only when the ring slipped from her fingers.
Without thinking, Neon jumped to catch it.
“WHAT THE FUCK, NEON!” Phoenix exclaimed as he saw the Filipina jump, but he wasn't surprised to see Jett jump right behind her. “Geez, glad Jett can really fly to get her.” He shrugged.
“SCHEISSE! JETT, THE BRACELETS!” Killjoy screamed desperately as she ran to the Vulture's side.
But that had never crossed Jett's mind. She hadn't jumped after Neon because she knew how to fly, but because Neon had jumped. The Filipina quickly took the ring and Jett helped her put it on her finger. They were both smiling, but Jett's smile quickly faded when she realized the wind wouldn't obey her. She then looked at her own wrists and remembered the presence of the bracelets.
Reflexively, Jett hugged her girlfriend tightly. In an attempt to protect her. But it really wasn't Neon's style to be saved. She pushed the Korean woman away and pulled out the pendant. The cinnamon eyes showed the electric current that ran through her body as she focused only on the dagger. Then, Neon fit the dagger in the bracelet divider and hit it hard, breaking it.
Almost instantly, that blue glow Neon found so beautiful manifested itself on Jett's arm. The wind again bent before her. Strong but gentle, the wind currents involved the two and the feeling of falling simply disappeared.
“How did you know my dagger and your electricity would break this thing?” Jett asked in surprise, hugging her even tighter.
“I didn't know, but I had to try.” Neon smirked and kissed her lips. "You do not have to thank me."
“Hey, firefly…” Jett whispered. “Why did you jump?”
“I couldn't miss something that important.” Neon answered sincerely and looked at the ring. “I would never forgive myself.”
"But what if I hadn't come after you?" She questioned, really curious.
“I know the girl I love.”