Chapter Text
Emma liked him.
Idiot Emma… liked him.
Not just as a friend, but so much more.
Ray was in disbelief when she confessed to him that night. They had snuck off from their four friends to talk privately at her request. Then, minutes later underneath the moonlight, those three words were said.
“I like you.”
Emma was blushing with a small smile across her face, slightly averting her gaze to the side. She had just confessed to him, romantically. Was there a reason as to why? Throughout all their moments together since the escape, it made sense she would end up taking a liking to the boy closest to her.
Ray’s answer? He didn’t have one. What was he supposed to say? He didn’t even know how he felt at the time. The thought of romance didn’t dare cross his mind once, until she confessed her true feelings.
“It’s okay. You can tell me your answer later.”
Later ended up turning into a few days time.
It took a lot of thinking to figure out his own feelings of a girl so sweet. Maybe he already realized back then, when they first escaped. She slapped him once, due to his reluctance of continuing to live. Then he made a vow to her, promising to care for and protect their family. Not only that, but he hugged her, gently held her wrist when danger was nearby, and gave her headpats.
There was a time where they found a shelter and looked up research material on where to go next, and where they fought off demons together, ate dinner, and slept together while heading to Goldy Pond. There was also a time where he sat on a stool for a week while she was in a coma, put in by a hat demon who stabbed her. When she awoke, he held her hand tenderly with a smile on his lips. On the same day as her awakening, he fed her soup.
Perhaps he did have romantic feelings buried deep inside. He could probably figure it out quickly though, on their current traveling journey in finding mystical artifacts.
Besides their moments, Emma also had a cool personality. She was an energetic, bright girl who loved and cared for everyone she knew, and many more attributes. So many features. They were enough for him to finally know.
“You too.” He answered to her eventually, in the same spot as before. For some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to say the L word that she had spoken the other day.
Emma smiled happily before hugging him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Taken back, he willingly returned the romantic gesture.
She was eleven.
He was twelve.
They kissed.
Ray and Emma both leaned in, sharing a mutual connection. Were they dating? One might say so. Another might disagree. Truthfully, the two lovebirds neither confirmed nor denied. It was all up to their peers to make assumptions about their relationship. Though to Ray and Emma, they were together but not officially dating.
The kiss happened while reading a book about finding the 7 Walls a little too closely. Quick glances were thrown at each other, brushed fingers, and their lips closing the gap between them.
Short, but sweet. An understandable touch of love, their feelings for one another. That kiss wasn’t the only one they would do. More kisses ended up happening on that day, followed by many other days. They couldn’t be any happier.
Emma was twelve.
Ray was thirteen.
Ray loved her.
Stupid Ray… loved her.
Loved her, as in more than just a likable sense.
Ray fell in so deeply with her, something he had never felt before in his whole entire life. He could understand liking someone so attractive and personality-wise, but loving? It was too surreal. Throughout all their recent moments, starting from their talk by the railing to the 7 Walls, he could honestly accept the fact that it was real.
He had never considered the other L word before. There was no reason to. He was going to die when he turned twelve one way or another. The only time it was actually heard throughout his life was Mama and his siblings, mostly said and expressed to each other.
For him to say it now? Unlikely.
Though, he could try.
That’s exactly what he did.
On the night of November 12th, Ray asked her if they could talk in private. Emma agreed, saying that she’s been wanting to talk too. Just like two years old, they went to a secluded area. Emma waited for him to speak first, patiently.
Ray gulped. He wasn’t expecting to get this far, but he made it towards the finish line. It was now or never. Those three important words to determine their relationship, their truest feelings, and their hearts.
Ray opened his mouth to speak, no words came flowing out of gif tongue. The best he managed to get out was an ‘I’ or ‘you’. No L word in sight. Why couldn’t he say it. Was it simply hard for him to do? For not being said the word while growing up? Emma deserved to know. More than him! How pathetic of the dark-haired boy, so he thought.
Feeling arms wrapped around his neck, he took in his girlfriend’s affection and sighed deeply. For what she wanted to say, it didn’t have to be spoken. Her own version of like and love, something he easily understood. Though Ray couldn’t consider those words being said to him out of her touch, because he wanted to be the first one to say it.
So be it.
Hugging her back, Ray let the tears stream down his cheeks. He couldn’t say those three important words. It was fine. He’d be able to say it later on when he’s ready.
In the human world, that’s when he’d do it.
Tell her the longing words, yet to be spoken.
She was thirteen.
And so was he.
Ray was too late.
He never got to say it.
Not when they arrived without her, and not when they all had found her. Emma lost her memories, so what was the point of saying anything? It wasn’t needed. Why waste words when you can save them for another time?
Would they ever date again? He wouldn’t know. He kept on avoiding her. Painful for her, but his choice. What hurt the most was the fact that he’s the best person for Emma to get stories from her past memories. Though, he couldn’t face her. No matter how hard he tried.
Emma liked him then. Ray loved her now.
And it’s too late... to say it back.