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“You know,” Nai’o says, grunting as he drops a stack of ormuu feed into Butterball’s trough. “When you said you wanted to spend time together, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
Nai’o and you have been trying to make plans just the two of you for almost a week now. Anytime you tried, however, it seems like one or both of you ended up busy. Whether it was Nai’o needing to help out on his family farm or another villager requesting your assistance, the two of you constantly seemed to be dragged in opposite directions. Today was going to be different, you had told yourself. You weren’t going to let your busy schedules interfere with spending time with your boyfriend.
You look up at Nai’o from where you had been kneeling by the fence, trying to knock a stubborn post back into place after an ormuu decided to headbutt it. “See, it’s a win-win situation now!” You grin widely, happy with the solution you had come up with. “Your chores still get done, and I get to spend time with my charming farmer. It’s the perfect compromise!”
Nai’o’s cheeks flush at your comments, and he gives a sheepish smile as he rubs at the back of his neck. “Shucks… you don’t have to do chores if you want to spend time with me.” He protests, fidgeting with his hands awkwardly. “I mean, I know I’m a busy guy, but you’re even busier than I sometimes. You’re like a superhero compared to me.”
You can’t help but laugh, hitting the fence with your hammer again. “Well, this superhero is putting the cape away for today.” You wink playfully at Nai’o, giggling as his cheeks turn a shade darker. “Sometimes superheroes need a break from their duties. Just like a certain farmer who I don’t think I’ve seen relax in about three days.”
Nai’o gives a nervous laugh, looking sheepishly at the ground. “Man, was it that obvious?” He gives you a look that you can only describe as a puppy dog look, almost like he was begging for your forgiveness before he even said anything. “It’s just that the Blue Ribbon contest is coming up, and I want everything to be perfect. If we lose to Harvest Meadows…” Nai’o’s expression falls, and he can’t bring himself to look at you as he fidgets with his thumbs. “I don’t want to think about how disappointed my mom would be in me. Or dad, or Auni. Maybe even the whole village. Oh, Dragon, what if I lose and then everyone thinks I’m a failure? That I can’t live up to the Daiya family name? What if-“
“Nai’o!” Before Nai’o can react, you're already in front of him with a worried look on your face. Your hands come up to hold his face, turning him to face you. You give his cheeks a little squish, if only to bring him back to reality. “Stay focused! Remember what happened last year before the Blue Ribbon competition? You went two days without eating, and your dad was so worried about you! It took me bringing you Sernuk noodle soup for your anxiety to calm down, and then remember what happened? You won the competition, and everyone was so proud of you!”
Nai’o opens his mouth to protest, but you quickly lean in and give him a peck on the lips to shut him up. You pull away, still squishing his face between your hands. “No, shush! I don’t want to hear the most amazing and hardworking farmer this side of Palia doubting himself and his abilities!”
You sigh, leaning in and giving his nose a slight nuzzle with yours. Your arms move down to wrap around his neck, pulling him into a warm embrace. “I understand having worries and anxieties.” You whisper, as your breath tickles Nai’o’s lips. “Everyone has them; it’s natural. I always worry whether or not I’m doing the right thing, and I bet even your mom and dad have worries.”
Nai’o lets out a relaxed sigh, his shoulders relaxing as his arms come up to wrap around your waist to hold you closer. “You really think so?” He mumbles, resting his forehead against yours. He had a tired look on his face, as if he finally felt everything that was resting on his shoulder. “I just don’t want to disappoint anyone. I need to… no, I want to prove that I can handle anything that gets thrown at me. That I’m strong and dependable.”
“And you are!” You exclaim, hugging him tighter. “You are all those things and more, Nai’o! Please believe me when I say it.” You lean in and give him another soft kiss. It’s warm and gentle, filled with all the reassurance you wish to give him. You feel Nai’o flinch at the sudden kiss, but he almost immediately leans into the kiss. It’s only when Butterball moos that the two of you break the kiss and start laughing.
“Even Butterball agrees with me.” You say, giving a smug grin. “I bet she said ‘Nai’o is the best!’ And she’s not wrong!”
Nai’o laughs, his mood definitely improved by your chipper attitude and Butterball. He scoops you up into his arms, holding you just under your bottom as he spins the two of you around. You can’t help but laugh as the two of you spin around the ormuu pen, the warm Kilima breeze blowing through your hair. When Nai’o finally stops spinning, he lowers you down just enough that he doesn’t have to crane his neck to look up at you. He has a warm smile on his face as he looks up at you, like you’re the most precious thing to him in the world.
“Thank you, sweetheart,” Nai’o says, resting his head against your chest. “I think I just needed to hear some encouraging words. To know I’m not alone in how I feel, and to know that even when I feel like I'm a disappointment, I have you and my family to reassure me.”
Nai’o lowers you again, allowing you to wrap your legs around his waist. He leans in and kisses your forehead. “Thank you again.” He says quietly enough, just so that you hear him. “For helping me with my anxiety, again.” Nai’o lets out a dramatic sigh. “Shame I didn’t get any Sernuk Noodle soup this time. You’re a pretty good cook.”
You playfully swat at his arm, eliciting a laugh from Nai’o as you pout at him. “Hey, it’s a compliment!” He explains, still holding you in his arms. “Your cooking is delicious. You’re giving my mom a run for her money with your cooking, and that’s not praise I give out lightly.”
After a few moments of playful back and forth in each other’s arms, Nai’o finally sets you back on the ground. “Alright, fun’s over. Time to get back to work.” You sigh, but Nai’o smiles at you. “What, already backing out on helping me with my chores? Where’s that superhero energy I praised earlier?”
“It’s gone.” You say, leaning against him. “I used it all up to cheer you up. My energy is now depleted.” A sly smile appears on your face as you look at Nai’o. “I think I need some of your mom’s famous blueberry jam to power me back up. And I think you could do with a quick break.” You hop away from Nai’o, before turning back and holding your hand out to him. “Let’s go! I’m starving!” You exclaim, smiling widely.
Your smile was infectious, and Nai’o couldn’t help but smile back at you. He walks forward, taking your hand in his own and intertwining your fingers. “Alright, alright. We can take a small break.” Nai’o chuckles under his breath. “You’re lucky you're cute. I can’t think of anyone else that can get me to stop doing chores.”
“Oooo. Someone’s being a bad boy just for me.” You tease, laughing as Nai’o’s cheeks flush.
Nai’o clears his throat, smiling back down at you. “Yeah, but only for you.” He says, pulling you a bit closer to him as the two of you walk toward the Daiya family farmhouse. Nai’o feels like a weight has been lifted off his chest thanks to you, and even if it means putting up with your teasing, he couldn’t be happier to have you with him. You were his light in the dark when his anxiety started to take over, and he wouldn’t change it any other way.