>> Kai is only soft for Oliver

  Oliver “finally has a spine”

  They’re more honest and authentic and comfortable around each other >>

  Kai’s friends are so confused … WHAT DID HE DO TO KAI?

  Since when does she smile like that?

  That’s not her usual “I’m making fun of people and being annoying on purpose” smile,

  or her arrogantly smug “I’m the smartest person in the room” smile,

  That’s a gentle sweet “I’m so happy to be here” smile.

  WHAT DID YOU DO??

  ~ ~ ~

  (Oliver POV)

  Sam, Charlie, Kai and I are having dinner together at a restaurant.

  Apparently, Charlie treats just Kai and Sam to a meal on a regular basis (something they’ve been doing since highschool).

  Those three have known eachother since primary school.

  I’ve known Sam since highschool since we went to the same one.

  But now, we’re all over the age of 20.

  I’m dating Kai (who I met in college and I didn’t know she knew Sam) and Kai had me meet Charlie during the year before Kai and I started dating.

  The point is- I am friends with all of them so I guess that’s why Charlie often asks I join in their usual dinner meet-up.

  This is the fifth time I have joined in, and I’ve realized by now that the dinner is always in casual places, very laid-back environments.

  Right now, the four of us are at Seoul Bites. (It’s a Korean food place, so good)

  Shortly after we find a place to sit and all order food, Kai heads to the washroom (or the bathroom as some call it)

  Sam hums, “So now that Kai’s gone, let’s gossip about her.”

  I look at Sam with mild surprise, because I can’t tell if she’s being serious or if she’s joking.

  Sam is a very lively person but even after all these years, I still can’t really read her very well.

  “Ayy! Don’t give me that surprised look- we’re not gonna slander her.”

  Oh. Good.

  Frankly, the idea of gossiping about my girlfriend and best friend doesn’t sit well with me, but I guess talking about Kai with her friends is alright.

  Charlie does a mock-vocal-fry. “Like, one time, she took the last slice of pizza.”

  Sam snickers. “Ate the last of your poutine.”

  “Drank my Cherry Soda. Oh! Here’s actual gossip: Kai always chews on straws and it p!sses me off.”

  Sam’s face becomes dramatic. “Ayy, I knowwww”

  I feel bit surprised. “Huh, I never noticed this.”

  Charlie asks, “Has Kai ever drank a drink you had? Like I order drinks sometimes and she thinks it’s so f#cking funny to steal little sips of it.”

  “Not really… I mean she has asked to share a drink with me before but she never did it without asking.”

  Charlie almost seems annoyed. “Lucky.”

  They’re annoyed? Uh…

  I add, “But that also may be because Kai knows I get iffy about who touches what- especially relating to food or drinks.”

  Sam leans forward. “That’s so real though! Like, I’m so glad I have a younger brother because if I had a sister thinking she could borrow my clothes or my accessories or something - I am telling you- that girl would be twelve feet under.”

  Charlie looks at her. “I’ve borrowed your make-up before. And hair clips, I think.”

  “That’s different- I let you have those things because I’m nice.”

  “No you’re not, you’re a demon.”

  It takes me a second to process Charlie was joking, so I force a small laugh.

  Sam looks at me with what I interpret as an apologetic expression.

  “Sorry- we were talking about Kai” Sam gets us back to the original topic.

  Charlie relaxes back in their chair. “Being in a relationship with Kai must not be easy, eh?”

  … what?

  Unsure where this is going, I simply say: “I mean… no relationship’s easy.”

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  Sam flips her hand and pointed glances to the side. “Oh everyone says that.”

  Yeah…

  Wait- is that a bad thing?

  Umm

  Wait- what was I supposed to say?

  Maybe more detail?

  “Uh, well, for Kai and I- we don’t always see eye to eye, and we’ll disagree at times, but I’ve been told over and over that stuff is normal.”

  I glance up at Charlie and Sam who seem interested.

  I continue, “Besides, she and I typically resolve things within a day or two. We just make sure to be honest and-“

  Sam interrupts me. “That’s sweet, but I don’t mean fights, Oliver. I mean Kai has an avoidant attachment style.”

  Oh… that’s what she’s asking about?

  Why?

  Also, that was kind of out of the blue, right?

  “Wow, that was… very blunt.” I try to laugh it off. “Um, y- yeah. I know.”

  Charlie tells me, “I’m sure it must be tough.”

  Not really…

  Do they think I’m having a hard time with her?

  Why would they?

  I repeat, “Tough?”

  “Yeah, you haven’t noticed?” Sam checks her nails as she talks. “She can be really distant at times.”

  I try to mull this over in my brain.

  “Hmm… definitely at first, it was tough, as you put it. You know we were friends for a whole year before we started dating, right?”

  “Yes”

  “Well I’d say that first year was probably the bulk of the … I guess- tougher parts of a relationship.”

  “Like what?”

  I don’t think Kai would like me to go into that…

  frankly, I don’t either.

  Those were sensitive moments for her and me.

  I keep my tone light. “I don’t need to go into that… besides, if you know the term avoidant attachment style, then you probably can guess some struggles.”

  . . .

  This is kind of weird,

  . . .

  Am I supposed to say something more?

  Charlie prompts a slightly chilling “And…?”

  Unsure what to say, I gently prompt back: “And what?”

  Charlie and Sam look at each other before Sam asks, “What did you learn from these… struggles?”

  What did I learn?

  …

  I decide to finally address the pondering of my mind:

  “I’m sorry if this comes across rude, but… why are you asking all of this?”

  Sam looks at the ceiling, while Charlie sighs before giving an explanation.

  “We have known Kai since the tail-end of her learning to speak.”

  Sam adds, “We were around for her emo phase, and when she first got into mystery novels.”

  Kai did tell me she had a goth phase… that’s different.

  Charlie continues, “And we were around for the times she entered relationships.”

  Wait what-

  I clarify: “Do you mean romantic relationships?”

  Charlie answers slowly. “Yes. And it’s just… uh…”

  Sam picks it up. “And it’s just, uh… in all that time, Kai has never behaved with anyone the way she does with you.”

  I dumbly make an “oh” sound.

  Then the statement catches up to me, “Wait- what do you mean?

  Charlie glances at the ceiling briefly before looking at me. “Dear god! Buddy- she smiles around you! She talks about feelings! She’s…”

  Charlie tries to find the words. “gentle? Soft?”

  Sam chimes in. “and when she talks to you, it’s so different.”

  “What?”

  Charlie almost seems agitated. “Well with us- it’s like- everything is wrapped in a veil of irony or some hidden playful insult.”

  Sam nods. “It’s like talking to a little boy, I swear! Kai is like my brother Hugo and he’s four years younger than me!

  “Meanwhile she talks to you like she’s your wife or something.”

  My voice cracks. “My wife?”

  Kai and I being married in the future… (dreamy sigh~)

  Wait… what?

  Sam leans forward. “How did you do it, Oliver Lee? How did you wife-up the immovable iceberg emo?”

  I feel my face frown. “She’s not an emo. You know she doesn’t like it when people mistake her for an emo.”

  Sam flips her words again. “I know she’s not an emo- I’m just playing around.”

  I’m starting to see why Kai behaves differently with me…

  Wait, that was a rude thought…

  Thankfully, Charlie gets us back on track. “Anyways! How did you get Kai to go soft for you?”

  Soft…

  My voice comes out a little nervous. “I don’t know - I just sorta … behaved as my natural self and that worked.”

  Sam makes a confused sound.

  “I don’t know! Kai says I was special. To me, nothing I ever did felt extraordinary or anything.”

  Sam asks, “What does she tell you?”

  “She sometimes tells me that I’m really patient and a great active listener- and umm- she told me I am very respectful for not forcing anything… but isn’t that just being in a relationship?”

  Charlie and Sam stare at me before yelling, “… WHAT THE F#CK???”

  Am I hallucinating? This feels unreal- two people are looking at me with… very intense eyes.

  Why isn’t Kai back from the washroom yet?!

  Charlie’s voice is still loud. “NO - THAT SH!T ISNT F#CKING NORMAL!”

  I shrink into myself a bit. “It’s not? I feel like it should be…”

  “I hope you’re joking!”

  Sam says, “Forget listening to my needs - I WOULD KILL FOR MY BOYFRIEND TO LOOK UP FROM HIS PHONE!”

  ? ? ?

  “Wh- why won’t he look?”

  Sam cries, “I DON'T KNOW! Wah ??”

  Sam clings to Charlie, making a scene. Knowing people are starting to look, I try to calmly ask, “uh, have you told him how you feel?”

  Sam wails, “y- yes… and he said I’m fLat! Like a pancake!”

  “Oh no” (wait- how is that related?)

  Charlie pats Sam and holds her close. “You are not flat, baby, you have wonderful boobs.”

  What in the world…

  I whisper, “Uh, sorry to interrupt but- We’re still in public…”

  Sam suddenly sits up, angry now. “I’m pretty sure he’s cheating on me!”

  Charlie sways her eyebrows. “I’m telling you, Chica, that b!tch got knocked up.”

  What… is happening?

  Suddenly, I feel someone standing behind me.

  Is that a staff member? Are we in trouble?

  But then I hear a low, cold, “Oi…”

  I don’t need to turn around to know Kai’s expression is very scary right now.

  Sam and Charlie’s wide eyes and small mouths tell me as much.

  Kai’s voice is low and dangerous. “First you make Oliver uncomfortable, then make a scene in a restaurant?”

  Charlie yells, “It was Sam’s fault.”

  Kai whispers, “Charlie.”

  Quieter, Charlie apologizes. Sam nods: “Sorry mommy!”

  Sam looks at Charlie and whispers, “I hate you.”

  Charlie looks up at Kai. “Sam just really wanted to know how Oliver wifed-you-up!”

  Sam yells, “It was not just me!”

  I look back at Kai, whose eyes tell me she’s kinda confused by the question, but I can see from the edge of her mouth she’s almost amused, too.

  She repeats, “How did Oliver wife-me up?”

  They both nod. “Yeah!”

  Kai puts one hand on my shoulder, then slides into the seat next to me.

  I’m slightly sidetracked by the electric sensation on my shoulder, but I process Kai saying, “he’s a gentleman, and he’s adorable. My two favorite things.”

  [brain goes blank for a moment]

  My heart misses multiple beats.

  She… thinks I’m a gentleman?

  And adorable?

  My face heats up and I look down shyly.

  Kai!!

  I hear Sam snicker. “What- like- holding doors open and stuff?”

  In a mock-male voice, Charlie chortles: “Ladies first!”

  I see Kai roll her eyes. “The term gentleman extends beyond just chivalry. Of course, you two wouldn’t know that considering the ruckus you just made.”

  Sam and Charlie both sigh, and change the subject and keep calm.

  Kai’s rubbing my back! Ahh~ Now the electric feeling is like a waterfall!

  I’m probably blushing way too much…

  “Adorable” and a “gentleman”, eh?

  I hope she means that.

  I’m so happy.

  Ah… also…

  today I have seen…

  That Kai is the “older sister” of her main friend group…

  It kinda suits her.