My heart seemed to beat slower and louder by each passing second. Had he just done what I thought he just did? I knew he was waiting for an answer. But I didn’t have one. Instead I began to lift my trembling arms to cup the sides of his face. At that moment, a most delicious shade of blush came burning up to his face.

Why was it only now that I was realizing my feelings for him?

Wait a minute. Feelings? I don’t have feelings for him, but…

That thought did not stop me from pulling his lips closer to mine. For another moment, it became scary. Like I could almost hear his heartbeat too.

I had to raise myself up to my toes, while he bent down.

We seemed to pause an inch or so before his pure black orbs met my opal ones. The eye contact seemed to reassure us as we finally closed up the gap between our frames.

There was no resistance or tension between us now. His cool hands floated up and encased my back, while mine dug themselves into his ebony locks. It wasn’t rough, and there was absolutely no tongue like other girls would imagine their first kiss being. It felt light and feathery, and made me weak to the knees. However I did not wobble and remained still for what seemed to be hours. Finally, I had to let go. Inhaling a large dose of much needed oxygen, I noticed him caressing my hand in his. I flush an impossible shade of red.

‘Hanabi?’ I glance up at him.
‘Yes...Itachi?’
‘Have you always had these feelings?’ I frown. He was too good at reading my mind.
But the smile came back, ‘No.’
He smiled back and kissed my forehead.

No, these weren’t feelings.

This was love.


-Monika E. MunoZ-