Prologue

There were many reasons why Mina would vehemently object the idea of going out with her childhood best friend whom not only has she known for her whole life, but someone seen as a younger brother she’s sworn to protect to their parents.

No, Mina was not flustered of confessions, she gets at least one daily. And her most dreaded holiday is always Valentines’ Day for the floods of wasted paper piled in her locker and the wall of sweets with blown up balloons all stacked up at her desk. So no, this was not a valid reason she could use, knowing too well he knew that.

No, Mina was not the type to panic when situations are thrown at her, in fact she’s more of the opposite. An ace in the archery club, its known to the whole school Mina can’t be surprised with.

So, what is the reason to Mina’s inability to decline his confession that Autumn day, under that big tree in the park, their neighborhood surrounds?

Her eyes keep blinking, her breathing keep changing pace from shallow to deep breaths, but her heart. Her heart is steady like any other day. Steady like the seasalt waves on those calm days. Steady like a relaxing song one drifts to sleep to. Steady like Mina’s stance, ready to shoot the arrow at the awaiting bullseye. Steady.

Steady like his grasp on her waist whenever he holds her.

Steady like his eyes whenever he gaze into hers.

Steady. Like him.

Mina blinks again, clearly distracted.

Is he waiting for Mina to accept, or decline, or simply reply to her confession in general? For someone who’s been with him for all his life, the latter seems to be better at reading Mina than she does herself.

It's not fair.

She subconsciously whispers, her soft voice carried by the wind to his ears.

"What's not fair?”

Those listed memories Mina had in her head, transferred to the secreting places of her journal, branded into the back of her mind like home, comes flowing out. She doesn’t believe in them, these reasons, but they are something she could use. And to escape this imprisoning tension of such forbidden choices, Mina will use anything if possible under this circumstance.

Inhaling sharply, she glares at him as she holds up a finger, “One.”