Broken reality

'Sometimes the things we trust most are the easiest things to lose.'

'You ate my fries.'

Zyelle kept her eyes on her phone.

'I didn't.'

Kael looked down at his plate, then at hers. His was half empty. Hers was completely empty.

He looked back at her.

'You did.'

She continued scrolling.

'Maybe you ate them.'

'I was watching you.'

'Then you should have stopped me.'

'I tried.'

'When?'

'About five minutes ago.'

She finally looked up. 'And?'

'I told you to leave my food alone.'

'You didn't.'

'I did.'

'You said, "Keep them."'

'Because I knew you weren't going to listen anyway.'

A smile tugged at her lips as she reached for another fry.

Kael caught her hand before she could take it.

'Absolutely not.'

She glanced at his hand around her wrist, then at him. 'Let go.'

'No.'

'Kael.'

'Zyelle.'

'It's one fry.'

'You said that six fries ago.'

'And I'm still saying it.'

He shook his head, but there was already amusement in his eyes. She tried to pull her hand free, but he held on.

'You're very stubborn.'

'You knew that before you started dating me.'

'I did.'

'So this is your fault.'

'How?'

'You chose me.'

He looked at her for a moment, the teasing expression on his face softening.

'Best decision I ever made.'

She stopped struggling.

A smile slowly appeared at the corner of her mouth.

'Nice save.'

'I wasn't saving myself.'

'You were.'

'Believe whatever you want.'

He released her wrist.

Zyelle immediately took the fry.

Kael stared at her.

She popped it into her mouth and smiled innocently. 'What?'

'Nothing.'

'You're looking at me.'

'I'm allowed to look at my girlfriend.'

'Not like that.'

'Like what?'

'Like you're about to say something annoying.'

He leaned back in his chair. 'You know me too well.'

'Unfortunately.'

'You stole that from me.'

'I improved it.'

Kael laughed.

Zyelle returned her attention to her phone, though the smile remained on her face. A message appeared on the screen. She read it, typed a quick response, and put the phone down.

When she looked up, Kael was still watching her.

'What?'

'Nothing.'

'You keep saying that.'

'Because it's nothing.'

'Then stop looking at me like that.'

He smiled. 'Like what?'

She narrowed her eyes. 'Exactly like that.'

He laughed again, and she tried not to smile.

It didn't work.

Their arguments were usually like this. They began over something stupid, lasted longer than necessary, and somehow ended with one of them laughing. Usually Kael. Sometimes her. Never both at the same time.

They had been together for a little over a year, but the beginning had never felt like a beginning to Zyelle. There had been no grand moment when she suddenly realized she was falling for him. It had happened in pieces: a conversation that lasted longer than it should have, a phone call that turned into another one, Kael remembering something she had mentioned once and forgotten about herself.

The first time she was upset, he hadn't tried to fix it. He had simply sat beside her.

She remembered looking at him then and thinking that maybe she could get used to this.

She had.

Very quickly.

Now there were things about him she noticed without thinking. The way he tapped his fingers against the steering wheel whenever he was impatient. The way he rubbed the back of his neck when he was embarrassed. The way he said her name whenever he wanted her attention. The way he never finished his food if she was still eating, even when she insisted she didn't want any more.

Especially then.

Their friends had grown tired of making comments about them months ago. They were always together. If Kael was invited somewhere, someone asked where Zyelle was. If Zyelle showed up alone, someone wanted to know where Kael was.

They had become a pair without ever deciding to become one.

She didn't mind.

Not with him.

Outside the restaurant, Kael reached for her bag. Zyelle moved it behind her.

'I can carry it.'

'I know.'

'Then why are you taking it?'

'Because I want to.'

'I don't need you to carry my bag.'

'I know.'

'Then give it back.'

'No.'

She stopped walking.

Kael took another two steps before realizing she wasn't beside him. When he turned, Zyelle was standing there with her hand extended.

'Kael.'

He looked at her hand, then at her.

'No.'

'Why are you like this?'

'Why are you arguing with me over a bag?'

'Because it's mine.'

'Exactly.'

'That doesn't make any sense.'

'It makes perfect sense.'

She walked toward him and reached for it. Kael lifted the bag above his head.

Zyelle stared at him.

'Are you twelve?'

'No.'

'Then give it to me.'

'No.'

'You're irritating.'

'And you're short.'

Her mouth fell open.

'Excuse me?'

He laughed and started walking again.

She hurried after him. 'Take that back.'

'No.'

'Kael.'

'You heard me.'

She caught up with him and hit his arm.

He laughed.

She hit him again.

'Okay, okay.' He finally held the bag out. 'Here.'

She took it. 'Thank you.'

'You're welcome.'

She walked ahead of him.

Two seconds later, his fingers slipped between hers.

She looked down at their joined hands, then at him.

He said nothing.

Neither did she.

They continued walking.

After a while, Zyelle leaned against his shoulder.

'Tired?'

'A little.'

'We can go home.'

'I don't want to.'

'Then what do you want to do?'

She thought about it. 'Nothing.'

'Nothing?'

'Just walk.'

'Okay.'

He didn't question it.

They walked until the noise from the restaurant disappeared behind them. The evening air was cool against her skin, and Zyelle tightened her fingers around his.

'Your hand is cold.'

'So?'

'So give me your other hand.'

'Why?'

'Because yours is warmer.'

'You have your own.'

'Not anymore.'

Kael laughed under his breath and switched hands.

Zyelle tucked both of hers into his.

'Better?'

'Much.'

He shook his head. 'You're spoiled.'

'By who?'

'Me.'

She smiled. 'Exactly.'

He looked at her.

'You're not denying it?'

'Why would I?'

'At least pretend.'

'I don't pretend with you.'

The words came out casually, but they made him quiet for a moment.

Kael squeezed her hand instead.

They reached the car, and he opened the passenger door.

Zyelle stopped beside it. 'You know I can open a door myself.'

'I know.'

'Then why do you keep doing it?'

'Because I like doing it.'

She looked at him.

There was no teasing in his expression.

'Okay.'

She got into the car, and he closed the door before walking around to the other side.

By the time he started the engine, Zyelle had adjusted the seat and connected her phone.

Kael glanced at her.

'You changed the playlist.'

'Your playlist was terrible.'

'You liked it yesterday.'

'I have evolved.'

'In twenty-four hours?'

'I'm growing.'

He laughed.

She reached for his hand when he stopped at the first traffic light.

He looked down at their joined hands.

'What's this?'

'I'm holding your hand.'

'I can see that.'

'Then why did you ask?'

'Just checking.'

She smiled and looked out the window.

For a while, neither of them spoke. The radio played quietly while Kael drove with one hand, the other remaining in hers.

It was such a small thing.

But it had become theirs.

When they got home, Zyelle kicked off her shoes by the door.

Kael picked them up.

'Put them somewhere else.'

'I'm tired.'

'So am I.'

'Then leave them.'

He looked at her.

She looked back.

He sighed and carried them to the side.

'Thank you.'

'You're welcome.'

She walked toward the stairs.

'Zyelle.'

She turned.

Kael was standing by the door, looking at her.

'What?'

'Come here.'

She walked back, and he opened his arms.

She stepped into them.

'What happened?'

'Nothing.'

'Then why are you hugging me?'

'Because I want to.'

She smiled against his chest.

'You really like saying that.'

'Because it's true.'

She pulled back slightly, and Kael looked down at her.

'What?'

'Nothing.'

'You're doing it again.'

'Doing what?'

'Looking at me.'

He smiled. 'I'm allowed.'

She shook her head. 'You're annoying.'

'And you love me.'

She looked at him.

'I do.'

His smile softened.

He kissed her forehead, and she stayed there for another few seconds before pulling away.

'Goodnight.'

'It's not even nine.'

'I'm tired.'

'You just said that.'

'I meant it this time.'

She turned toward the stairs.

'Zyelle.'

She looked back.

Kael held up her phone.

She had left it on the table.

'You forgot this.'

She walked back and took it from him.

'Thanks.'

'You're welcome.'

She started upstairs.

Her phone buzzed in her hand.

She glanced at the screen.

A notification.

She cleared it and continued walking.

By Saturday evening, she had almost forgotten about it.

Almost.

'Why do I need to dress up?'

Kael looked up from the couch.

Zyelle stood in front of him, holding two dresses.

'Because we're going somewhere.'

'You said casual.'

'It is casual.'

She looked down at the dress in her hand.

'This isn't casual.'

'You're making it look less casual.'

She narrowed her eyes.

'That's not my fault.'

Kael smiled. 'Wear that one.'

She looked at the dress he had pointed to.

'Why?'

'I like it.'

She studied him for a moment.

'You're acting weird.'

'I'm not.'

'You are.'

'How?'

'You're smiling.'

'I'm happy.'

'Why?'

'Can't I be happy?'

'Not for no reason.'

He stood and walked toward her.

'Just trust me.'

She watched him for a moment before smiling.

'I do.'

He took her hand.

'Come on.'

She followed him outside.

The evening was cooler than she expected, and she rubbed her arms.

'You should have told me to bring a jacket.'

'I'll get you one.'

'From where?'

'You'll see.'

She sighed. 'You and your secrets.'

Kael laughed.

They reached the car.

He opened the passenger door, and Zyelle got in.

As he walked around to the driver's side, his hand slipped into his pocket.

His fingers closed around the small velvet box.

He took a breath before getting into the car.

Zyelle looked at him.

'Why are you nervous?'

'I'm not.'

'You are.'

He smiled. 'Just sit down.'

She laughed. 'You're acting suspicious.'

'Maybe I am.'

He started the car.

The drive was quiet. Zyelle looked out the window while Kael drove, unaware that he kept one hand in his pocket whenever he thought she wasn't looking.

When they arrived, she stared at the place in front of them.

'Kael.'

'Yeah?'

'You planned this?'

He smiled.

'Come on.'

He took her hand and led her through the garden.

Soft lights hung between the trees, illuminating a small table that had been set beneath them. Everything was quiet and intimate, far removed from the noise of the city.

Zyelle stopped.

'This is beautiful.'

Kael turned toward her.

'You like it?'

She smiled.

'I love it.'

He reached for both her hands.

Something in his expression made her smile fade.

'What?'

He didn't answer.

Instead, he slowly lowered himself onto one knee.

Zyelle's breath caught.

Her eyes dropped to the small box in his hand.

Kael opened it.

The ring gleamed beneath the lights.

He looked up at her.

'Zyelle...'

She stared at him.

'Will you marry me?'

She looked at the ring.

Then at him.

And after everything they had shared, after every laugh, every argument, every quiet moment, every plan they had made without even realizing they were making one...

Zyelle shook her head.

'No.’