The air felt heavier that day. The crisp autumn breeze should've been refreshing, but to Ace, it stung. Maybe it was because Rina's words kept replaying in his mind.
It had taken years of mustering courage to reach that moment. The small park by their old school was quiet, the golden leaves carpeting the ground, crunching beneath their feet as they walked.
Rina had smiled at him, the same smile she'd given him since they were kids. That easy, carefree smile that made him believe the world wasn't so bad. He thought of it as his signal, his green light, and decided today was the day.
He stopped walking, his heart pounding in his chest like a drum.
"Rina," he began, voice trembling just slightly. She turned to him, her head tilted in curiosity, her dark eyes glimmering in the afternoon light.
"What's up, Ace?" she asked, stuffing her hands into her jacket pockets.
