Confession in the Cold

Chapter 13

Restaurant

The F4 gang, except for Bright, found themselves seated at a restaurant, all brought here by Groya.

At a table not far from theirs, Bright sat with his mother across from a poised young woman. And to pursue Bright, Bright mother even ask for help form Nani's mother. That was the reason why Nani's mother was also present. It was clear, this was no casual dinner. Bright's family had set up a matchmaking dinner, one he had already turned down but was unable to escape.

Prim leaned closer to Groya, her voice a whisper but filled with concern. "Groya, does Bright even know we're here?"

Groya didn't answer immediately. Her sharp eyes were glued to Bright's table, her expression unreadable. Finally, she gave a small shake of her head, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Win and Dew, trying to act natural, buried their faces in their menus. But their eyes betrayed them, flickering frequently in Bright's direction. Win, ever the quick-witted observer, leaned slightly towards Dew and muttered, "He looks like he'd rather be anywhere else but there."

Dew nodded, his fingers drumming lightly on the table.

Nani, however, remained the only one acting completely normal. He was calmly talking to the waiter, ordering food, while everyone else seemed too focused on Bright. Even the waiter noticed the odd tension in the air.

The waiter, who had been glancing back and forth at the group, nodded politely but couldn't hide his curiosity. Everyone else at the table was acting strangely stiff, their eyes flickering over to Bright's table, trying to be discreet but failing.

As the waiter walked away, Nani turned back to his friends, his brow raised in mild irritation. "It's not like staring at him like you're all auditioning for spy school is going to help."

Win couldn't help but chuckle at that.

Nani continued, "And the more you keep staring at Bright's table, the weirder you all look to everyone else in this restaurant. So cut it out."

Groya cleared her throat, straightening up a little in her seat, doing her best to look normal, just as Nani had suggested.

When the food arrived, it was as if a spell had been broken. Plates laden with steaming dishes were set down before them, and their attention immediately shifted to the delicious aromas that filled the air.

They began digging in, the tension easing as they enjoyed the meal.

Just as they were starting to enjoy the food, the door opened, and a familiar figure stepped inside. Sky, dressed in a sharp black suit, was led by the waiter to a large table in the far corner of the restaurant.

"Sky?" Prim whispered, her eyes widening in surprise. "What's he doing here?"

The others followed her gaze, and sure enough, it was really Sky.

Nani, who had been acting the most normal out of all of them, suddenly seemed to stiffen. His casual posture faltered, and he set his fork down a little too forcefully.

"Just great. Now we've got Sky and Bright at the same time," Win said with a small laugh, clearly amused by Nani's reaction.

Nani's expression tightened, though he quickly masked it with his usual casual demeanor. "Just focus on Bright. There's nothing to worry about with Sky. He's just here for dinner with his family," he said, his voice a bit sharper than usual.

In truth, Sky had told him he was meeting with his family, but Nani hadn't expected Sky to show up at the same restaurant as Bright. As the conversation continued around him, Nani couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at his stomach even he doesn't know why.

An elderly couple walked in, followed closely by a man who seemed a bit older than Sky and a young woman. They moved with a quiet sense of purpose, and their movements drew the attention of everyone near the door.

Sky, already aware they were there, stood quickly. His face lit up with a joy that seemed almost too natural, too happy. He leaned down to greet the elderly couple, hugging them warmly, his arms wrapped around them as though their presence was the best part of his evening.

But it was when he turned toward the woman standing behind them that things took an unexpected turn. Sky greeted her with a warm hug, pulling her in even tighter, lifting her slightly off the ground. The joy in his expression was so genuine it felt like nothing else in the room existed. The woman laughed, her hands gently patting his back as she returned the embrace.

Nani couldn't tear his eyes away, though he tried his best to act nonchalant.

Win caught the change in Nani's posture and leaned in, whispering with a teasing glint in his eyes, "You sure you're not a little jealous, Nani?"

Nani quickly turned his gaze back to the table, as if snapping out of a trance. "There's nothing to be concerned about with Sky. He's just with his family."

Win smirked, leaning in closer. "Well, you keep saying that he's meeting with his family, but I'm guessing you don't know the woman Sky just hugged." He paused, watching Nani closely. "If you did, you wouldn't be making that face."

"Win, stop bothering me and help Groya with Bright already," Nani snapped, his voice sharp. He shot a glare at Win and stood up abruptly, making his way toward the washroom, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling building inside him.

Nani stood in front of the mirror, his hands gripping the edge of the sink. He stared at his reflection, trying to steady his breath. You need to trust Sky, he repeated in his head. He already told you he was having dinner with his family, so there's nothing to worry about.

Just as Nani was about to step out of the washroom, the door swung open, and to his surprise, Sky walked in. His eyes widened in shock as he almost bumped into Nani.

"Nani? What are you doing in here?" Sky

Nani forced a small smile, trying to mask the swirling thoughts in his head. "Bright has a matchmaking dinner here, and all of us got dragged here by Groya," Nani forced a small smile, trying to mask the swirling thoughts in his head.

He didn't want Sky to think he was overreacting—especially over something as simple as a hug. He was being ridiculous, right? But no matter how hard he tried to convince himself, his mind kept drifting back to the way Sky had embraced that woman, so genuine and carefree.

"Since you're already here, come and say hello to my parents." Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Nani's hand, his grip gentle yet insistent, and led him out of the washroom.

"Wait, Sky—" Nani started to protest, but before he could finish, they were already walking toward Sky's table.

At the far corner of the restaurant, the F4 gang, deep in their own conversations, suddenly froze mid-sentence. Their eyes widened in surprise as they watched Sky leading Nani by the hand.

"F*ck, What is he doing?" Win muttered under his breath, leaning slightly forward in his seat for a better view.

"I... don't know." Groya said, blinking in disbelief.

When they reached the table, Sky gently guided Nani to stand in front of him. Without hesitation, Sky placed both hands on Nani's shoulders.  The older couple at the table looked up in surprise, as they took in the scene.

"Mom, Dad," Sky began, his voice carrying a bright, proud tone, "This is Nani. We are..."

"Friends! Sky and I are friends." Nani interjected swiftly, cutting Sky off before he could finish. A polite smile spread across his face as he greeted Sky's parents with a respectful gesture, bowing slightly. "It's my pleasure to meet you both today, Uncle and Aunt."

Sky blinked in surprise, his words swallowed by Nani's quick interruption.

Sky's mother chuckled softly, clearly amused. "Oh, how polite you are, Nani. It's lovely to meet you too. Sky has mentioned you before."

"Has he?" Nani replied, his tone even but his mind racing. He shot a quick glance at Sky, silently pleading for help.

Sky's father smiled warmly, nodding. "Yes, he seems very fond of you. It's nice to finally put a face to the name. No need to be shy."

"P' Sky doesn't usually bring anyone to meet the family, You must be special," the woman sitting nearby said with a knowing grin. Nani now realized she must be Sky's sister, since he could get a better look now that Sky and her have a similar look, they shared the same round eyes and warm, friendly smile, making it obvious they were siblings.

Nani's polite smile faltered just slightly, a pink hue creeping into his cheeks. "It's not like that." he replied, his voice a touch higher than usual. "I just happened to be here, that's all." His usual calm composure seemed to waver under the weight of her teasing and the family's attention.

"Star, stop teasing them already," a calm, steady voice chimed in as a hand gently patted Star's head.

Nani turned to see a young man sitting nearby Star. This was Sun, Sky's eldest brother. While Sky and Star clearly took after their mother with their softer, more cheerful features, Sun took after their father, his sharper angles and composed presence giving him a more serious air.

"Fine, fine." Star said with a playful huff, leaning back in her chair but still eyeing Nani with a smile.

Sky chuckled softly, his hands still resting comfortably on Nani's shoulders. "Ignore her, Nani. She likes to mess with people she finds interesting."

Sky leaned in just enough to speak in a tone low enough for only his family to hear, yet loud enough for them to catch every word. "Nani's being modest. As Star said, he's very important to me."

Nani froze, his face flushing even more, while Sky's family exchanged amused glances, clearly enjoying the moment and the obvious discomfort Nani was trying to hide.

At the F4 table, Prim and Groya were practically buzzing with excitement, their eyes glued to the interaction unfolding at Sky's table.

Dew, ever the quiet observer, sipped his drink, hiding a small smile. "It's rare to see Nani like this."

Prim giggled, nodding in agreement. "He's so flustered, I almost feel bad for him. Almost."

Groya, clearly enjoying the moment completely forgetting about her boyfriend and the matchmaking dinner. Her focus was entirely on the scene with Sky and Nani.

"This is better than any matchmaking drama. I could watch this all day," Win muttered to Dew, his voice low but tinged with amusement.

Dew's lips curved into a rare smile as he leaned slightly toward Win. "Agreed. Who knew we'd get front-row seats to Nani losing his cool?" The two shared a quiet laugh.

Dew shakes his head, still chuckling. "Nani couldn't escape from Sky now. Sky's all serious, even introducing Nani to his family. Our playboy probably didn't expect this when he walked in here."

"More like Nani doesn't want to escape." Prim chimed in with a teasing smile, her eyes still on Sky and Nani.

After a while, Sky's family and Nani finished their dinner, lingering to chat and share stories. Nani couldn't help but feel a deep warmth from the way Sky's family welcomed him. Their genuine care and kindness made him feel at ease, as if he had been part of their circle for years.

As he observed their interactions, the playful teasing, the heartfelt laughter, and the unspoken understanding among them, Nani finally understood why Sky is such sunshine-like energy. Growing up in a family so full of warmth and unconditional support clearly shaped him into the person he is. Sky's family didn't just care about him. They cherished him. It was a kind of love Nani quietly admired.

Since it is already late, Sky's parents decided it was time to leave. Sky and Nani walked them out to their car parked in front of the restaurant. The cool night air carried a gentle breeze as they reached the vehicle. Sky hugged everyone goodbye.

Just as everyone was getting into the car, Sky's mother turned back and opened her arms, a clear gesture for Nani to come closer. Nani blinked in surprise, but he managed to compose himself and step forward, leaning in for the hug.

Sky's mother wrapped her arms around him gently, patting his head with a tenderness.

Her voice was soft as she spoke "I can tell that my puppy is falling hard for you, Nani. Please take good care of our family's heart, since Sky was born me and his father would do anything to make Sky happy. And if the day ever comes when you feel you can't stay with him any longer... please, be gentle with him."

Nani froze for a moment, her words sinking deep into his heart. Pulling back slightly, he looked at her with sincerity in his teary eyes and replied, "I can't promise what the future holds, Auntie, but I can promise this. I won't give up on him, no matter what happens."

A small, knowing smile appeared on Sky's mother's face. She nodded and pulled Nani in for a quick hug, whispering, "That's all I needed to hear."

Sky, was in a conversation with his sister through the car window, didn't notice the exchange between his mother and Nani.

As the car disappeared into the distance, Sky turned toward Nani, his usual bright smile playing on his lips. Without hesitation, he reached for Nani's hand, ready to lead him back into the restaurant where their friends were waiting.

But before they could take a step, Nani tightened his grip on Sky's hand, stopping him in his tracks.

"Take a walk home with me," Nani said softly, his tone unusually earnest.

Sky blinked, slightly startled. "What about—"

"Just leave them here. Nobody's going to kidnap them." Nani interrupted, referring to his friends.

Sky hesitated, glancing back at the restaurant. "But—"

"Idiot." Nani muttered, his voice dropping just enough to carry a hint of frustration, though his cheeks were tinged pink. "Can't you understand I'm trying to build a moment with you?"

Sky froze for a heartbeat, the words sinking in. Slowly, his lips curled into a warm smile, his grip on Nani's hand tightening just a little. "so I am gonna get Nani's romantic sense today?"

"Don't push it," Nani grumbled, his gaze shifting away, but his hold on Sky's hand didn't loosen.

"Okay, okay." Sky said with a playful chuckle, tugging Nani's hand as they began walking down the quiet street together.

The cold air wrapped around them, but Sky's warm grip on Nani's hand didn't falter. The soft glow of streetlights bathed everything in a dreamlike haze, making the moment feel almost surreal.

"Nani, can I ask you something?" Sky's voice broke the stillness, gentle but laced with hesitation.

Nani gave a small nod, his gaze fixed ahead as they continued their walk.

"Why did you tell my parents we're just friends?" Sky asked, his tone steady, though his eyes remained focused on the distance, as if bracing for the answer.

Nani slowed to a stop, the question hitting him harder than he expected.

Sky turned to face him, searching Nani's face for an answer. His eyes, usually so bright and playful, now held a quiet vulnerability that made Nani's chest tighten.

"I admit," Nani began, his voice low and uneven, "I didn't know what to do when you dragged me to meet your parents. I was scared—scared they might not approve of......."

Nani trailed off, realizing what Sky truly meant. It wasn't just about the introduction to his family. Sky was asking the unspoken question between them: What are we?

Even they improve a lot and they even met Sky's parent but Nani has never said he loves Sky, not even once.

Nani's chest ached as he met Sky's gaze, filled with quiet yearning and unspoken questions. He knew he wasn't the best at expressing himself, but tonight, for this boy, this sunshine in human form, he had to try.

With determination, Nani reached up, gripping Sky's collar and pulling him closer. The sudden movement made Sky's breath hitch, his wide eyes fixed on Nani.

"I'm not good at expressing my feelings, so listen carefully," Nani said, his voice trembling slightly. "I'm only saying this once."

He took a deep breath, steadying himself, and began.

"I've been falling for you since the start. Your presence makes me feel warm, like I finally have someone who understands me. And it scares me—scares me how much I've gotten used to having you by my side. When you're not around, I get pissed off without even knowing why. I start to wonder... have you gotten bored of me already? But when you're back, I feel relieved, like I can finally breathe again."

Sky's eyes softened, his lips parting slightly, but he didn't interrupt.

"I've built walls around myself because I was afraid," Nani continued, his voice cracking. "Afraid you were just messing around with me, and I'd get hurt again like I did in the past. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop myself from falling for you. I don't want you messing around with anyone else beside me. And I hate how much it hurts me when you're upset, and I hate myself even more when I'm the one who causes that hurt."

Tears began streaming down Nani's face, but he didn't stop.

"I know I don't deserve someone as pure as you, but I want you to know... I'm willing to change for you. I know it's selfish, but I can't let you go. I love you too much, Sky. To the point where I can't imagine living without you anymore."

The last words came out as a whisper, choked with emotion. Nani dropped his face, burying in Sky's shoulder, his body trembling as tears continued to fall.

Sky stood frozen for a moment, his mind reeling from the confession. Without realizing, his tear start to rolling as Nani's confession hit him. Slowly, he gently wrapped his arms around Nani, holding him tightly.

"I am sorry for making you feel that way." Sky said as he tighten his hug.

" Stop doubting me already, idiot." Nani said, wrapping his arms around Sky in return.

"I wasn't doubting you." Sky whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I just... needed to hear it."

They stayed like that  under the soft glow of the streetlights, as the cold air swirled around them, unnoticed. the unspoken feelings between them had finally found their voice.

Sky finally pulled back slightly, just enough to look into Nani's eyes. His face was flushed, his tears glistening under the dim streetlights.

"You're such a mess, you know that?" Sky teased, his voice soft and trembling.

"Look who's talking." Nani shot back, though his own voice cracked as he tried to hold back more tears.

Sky laughed, the sound light. He reached up, brushing away the stray tears on Nani's cheeks with his thumbs. "Thank you. For saying all that."

"Don't make me say it again." Nani shrugged.

Sky let out a small laugh, his joy bubbling over as he impulsively wrapped his arms around Nani and lifted him off the ground. He spun them in playful circles, the crisp night air whirling around them.

"Sky! Put me down!" Nani protested, though his laughter betrayed him, spilling out amidst his still-falling tears.

"Not a chance!" Sky teased, spinning a little faster. "I want this moment to last forever."

Nani, unable to hold back his own grin, clung to Sky's shoulders. "You're going to make us both dizzy, idiot!"

Sky finally slowed to a stop, gently lowering Nani back to the ground but keeping his arms securely around him. They were both laughing now, their breaths visible in the cold air, their cheeks flushed with warmth.

Nani looked at Sky for a moment, his chest tightening again. But this time, it wasn't from fear or uncertainty. It was from the overwhelming realization of how much this puppy in front of him truly meant to him.

Sky reached for Nani's hand again, their fingers intertwining naturally. As his fingers brushed against Nani's, he noticed how cold Nani's hand felt against his own. Without a second thought, Sky gently pulled Nani's hand closer and slipped it into the pocket of his suit as they start to walk.

Nani looked at him, slightly startled by the gesture, before a soft chuckle escaped his lips. "You're ridiculous," he murmured, but his voice was warm, his eyes filled with something unspoken.

"Maybe." Sky replied, grinning. "But I take care of what's mine."

Nani's cheeks flushed, and he turned his head away slightly to hide the smile threatening to break across his face. He didn't respond, but his grip on Sky's hand tightened just a little.

Together, their steps falling into an easy rhythm. The chill of the night seemed to fade, replaced by the quiet warmth that flowed between them.  Soft laughter and fleeting glances passed like gentle notes in a melody only they could hear, connection, comfort, and something far deeper than words could ever express.