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Chapter 7: Coming Clean – May 3 – 4, 2021

She pulled away from him suddenly.

“Hobi!  I can’t!” she gasped.  

Then she ran for the front door.  She slipped into the hallway and ran all the way back to her apartment building.  It was only an hour later, after she’d spent herself weeping on her bed, that she realized she’d left Minnie with Hobi.  But she couldn’t face him.  She had to see Raven first. 

But he was out of town.  For a few more days.  

She glanced at the clock.  It was nearly eleven.

—

She had been so distressed that she’d left her dog with him.  Somehow, he knew he had to give her some space.  He was only just now realizing how cruel he’d been to her.  And it broke his heart.

He texted her.  “I realize you need to be alone.  I’ll take care of Minnie for as long as you need.  When you’re ready to see me, let me know.  Even if it’s just to pick her up.”

—

“Can I see you tonight?”

It was Tuesday.

Nearly twelve hours had passed since she’d had her awakening.  She’d been dreading contacting Raven.  But she’d believed she would have to weather this whole week before she had to make her confession to him.  

How on earth could he be back so early?

She sighed. And put her head in her hands.  The sooner she dealt with this situation, the better.

“Yes.  Where?”

“The garden where we first met.  At ten o’clock.”

It was going to end where it began.  That seemed fitting somehow.

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

—

She stepped into the garden.  Thankfully, this property was open late at night.  She’d been able to enter by the side gate.  Once again, she wondered if she was foolish to meet him here alone.  What if he became enraged when she broke up with him?

But she just couldn’t see it.  

So she took the path into the garden.  She walked to their bench.  He was already there.  Sitting under the moonlight.  Just like that first night.  He was even wearing the same mask.  He looked dashing again.  He was dressed in the tux too.

Her heart felt a pang.

He looked up at her.  He stood up.  

“Hi!” He reached for her.

She didn’t know how to stop him. 

So when his hand engulfed hers and he pulled her close to him, she surrendered.  

“I didn’t know there was a dress code tonight,” she breathed.

“I love you, Moonbeam.  I have always loved you.  Since the first time I saw you.  So I hope you can forgive me…”

But she couldn’t let him continue.

“Raven,” she sobbed suddenly.  “It’s I who must beg your forgiveness!  You see, you were right.  I do love Hobi!  I’m so sorry.  I didn’t mean to break your heart.”  She was weeping bitterly.

He gazed down at her.  “Will you allow me one request then?” his voice whispered over her.

“Yes.”

“Just one last kiss before I disappear from your life forever.”

She blinked.  She nodded her head.  How could she deny him something she’d already allowed him so often?

“Close your eyes.”

She did.

He drew her near, and his head bent, then his lips found hers in the softest of kisses.  “I love you, Minsu.  I have always loved you.”

It was Hobi’s voice.  And he had just called her by her real name.  Her eyes flew open.  He’d taken off his mask.  Hobi was gazing down at her.  Even in the faint light of the moon, she would have recognized him anywhere.

She stared up at him.  “I don’t understand.  You-you’re R-Raven?”

He nodded.  Then he grimaced.  “I had to try one last time.  I didn’t think you really loved me.  But Heejin was certain you did.  She came up with this elaborate ruse.  She convinced her appa to throw a ball here.  I even got Yura and Jin to go along with it.  To get you here.  Yura told all the guys not to ask you to dance.  So you would get bored and venture out into the garden.  

“I had to kiss you.  I knew you believed there was no chemistry between us.  But I had to find out.  When you seemed taken with Raven the night of the ball, I believed I had a chance.  

“I didn’t know that you had already been wrestling with feelings for me.  When you confessed, I didn’t know what to do.  I am so sorry, Minsu.  I never meant to hurt you.  I know you must have cried yourself to sleep last night.  But I also knew you didn’t want to see me.  So I decided to just let you have a little breathing room.  

“Please.  Please forgive me.  Please don’t leave me.  I meant it.  I just want to be with you.  I was miserable without you in Seoul.  I told Heejin when she asked me out that I was in love with you.  I only kissed her because I thought you would never love me.  I hoped at some point I would start to feel something for her.  But when she saw the way I looked at you at Eunji’s wedding, she knew there was no hope for her.  She wanted to see us happy.  Together.”

He was weeping.  Tears were sliding down his cheeks to stain his tuxedo.  He clearly believed that she might walk out of his life.  Her heart flipped over.

“You’re Raven.  And Hobi.  My heart wasn’t a traitor.  To either one of you.  I loved Raven because he was you.  And I already loved you.  So when I met Raven, my heart knew.  That’s why I was always so comfortable with him.  Even from the very beginning.  My heart recognized my best friend.  And my one true love.”

She gazed up at him.  “I only wish you’d told me last night.  Except…” She glanced around.  “It seems fitting that you told me the truth in the same place where the masquerade began.” 

Her eyes met his again.  “Hobi, Raven, I love you.  With all my heart.  And not just as a friend.”  She frowned.  “I just hope you’re not too disappointed.”

“By what?”  His brow furrowed.

“You can’t be my brother anymore.  I would never kiss my brother like this.”

She wound her arms around his neck, sliding her fingers into his hair as she surrendered her lips to his in a kiss of such electric bliss that she would have sworn they were floating.