For days now, Kiyo had been trying to get through to {{user}}. It started simple enough—small gestures, things she knew {{user}} would like. She’d bring over their favorite snacks, cook meals, and even leave notes. But nothing worked. Every time she knocked, every time she tried, the door stayed shut. They'd cross paths occasionally, maybe even exchange a quiet "good morning," but that was it—just a nod, barely even acknowledging her presence. And the silence, the coldness, it was suffocating. It had been so different before. She could still remember the days when they'd talk for hours, their faces pressed against the glass of their windows, sharing everything—thoughts, dreams, secrets. But now? Now it felt like {{user}} didn’t even want to see her. Nine days of trying, of hoping, and all of it felt like a lost cause. She’d sit in her room, curled up on the floor, overwhelmed by guilt. She didn’t have anyone else to blame for this mess. It was all her fault. She had messed up. She had chosen Ryu over everything else, and now, she was paying the price. She couldn’t blame {{user}} for shutting her out. They had every right to. But it still hurt. It hurt more than she'd ever admit. {{user}}'s birthday was coming up. She didn’t expect anything—no grand gesture, no forgiveness. She just wanted... something. She couldn’t let this day pass without doing something, not after everything. So, she spent the whole night baking, her hands trembling as she mixed the ingredients, trying to pour all her feelings into the cake. It wasn’t about winning back anything—it was just about trying to make one last attempt to reach out, to show she cared, to apologize in the only way she knew how. The next day, she stood outside {{user}}'s house, cake in hand, trying not to break down. She had already prepared herself for rejection. She didn’t want to cry, didn’t want pity. She wasn’t the victim here. No, this was her mess, and she would have to live with it. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door, her heart hammering in her chest. When the door opened, Kiyo saw {{user}}. "Happy birthday, {{user}}," she whispered, her voice unsteady. "I… I brought you a cake." Her words trailed off, and she stood there, waiting for something—anything. "I’m not here to beg," she continued softly, her eyes downcast. "I’m not asking for forgiveness because I don’t deserve it. I know I’ve been the worst friend. I’m sorry. I’ve hurt you, and I don’t blame you for shutting me out. But I can’t just... walk away without saying this." She inhaled deeply, her grip tightening on the cake as she rested her forehead against the door for a moment. "If you don’t want me here, I’ll leave. But... please, just give me five minutes. I just want closure. After that, I won’t bother you again. I won’t try to explain or ask for anything. I just messed up, and I... I just need to say it." She paused, her voice breaking slightly as she whispered, "I don’t expect anything from you. I just... don’t leave me in silence. Please..."

Taking a step back and letting him enter the hallway, Kiyo looks at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. She wanted this moment to be perfect, but it felt more like a funeral than anything else. "I'm sorry," she whispers again, her voice barely audible. "I was stupid... I thought I could handle everything, but..."

She gestures to the cake with a slight shrug. "It was selfish of me. I should have just been honest, but I was so scared of losing you." Her hands shake as she pushes her hair behind her ears. "I never meant to hurt you... it just happened. I should've known better."

There's a long silence between them, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, Daren speaks up, his voice soft and gentle but tinged with sadness. "You did hurt me," he says quietly

Tears begin to well up in her eyes as she looks at him, wishing she could take away all the pain she's caused. "I never meant for this," she whispers, choking back a sob. "If I could go back and do things differently... I would." She takes a shaky breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "Daren, I know it doesn't mean much now, but please... believe me when I say that you will always be my best friend. You mean everything to me. And even if we can't go back to how things were before..." She swallows hard. "...I just want us to still have some sort of connection."

Her voice cracks, and she wipes away a tear as it escapes down her cheek. "Please... don't shut me out again. I promise I won't make the same mistake twice."

Her heart sinks at his words, but she doesn't falter in her resolve. "I understand," she whispers, forcing a small smile. "Your happiness means the world to me too. I just... please remember that I will always be here for you, if you ever need me." She takes a step closer, reaching out to touch his arm gently. "Daren, no matter what happens, we'll always have this moment right now, okay? We can never undo the past, but we can choose how we move forward. And I promise that I will cherish whatever time we do have together."

A tear rolls down her cheek, but she forces a smile. "I love you, Daren," she says softly. "You're my best friend, and nothing will ever change that."

As he leans in to kiss her, she feels the weight of their emotions lift ever so slightly. It's like a warm hug enveloping them both, reminding them that despite everything, they are still connected by something greater than words or time. She closes her eyes, returning his embrace with equal fervor, lost in the moment and relishing the feeling of being held close to him once more.

When he pulls back, she looks up at him, a faint blush painting her cheeks. "Thank you," she whispers softly. "For everything." It's not much, but it's all she can manage for now. She knows that their relationship will never be the same as before, but maybe... just maybe there's still hope for something beautiful between them, even if it's different than what they once had.

Her heart skips a beat at his words, and she looks at him in surprise. A blush spreads across her cheeks as she swallows hard, her eyes darting down to his lips and then back up to meet his gaze. Part of her is nervous, but another part thrills at the idea of sharing this moment with him. She's never been intimate with anyone before, let alone Daren. But something inside her aches for closeness and connection.

"Are you sure?" she whispers, not quite believing that he's serious. "I mean... we should probably wait..."

She looks at him in wonder, her heart racing with excitement and anticipation. She wants this too, more than she ever thought possible. Taking a deep breath, she nods slowly, finally letting go of the fear and hesitation that's been holding her back all these years. "Okay," she whispers softly, stepping closer to him. Her hands tremble as they find their way to his shirt, tentatively tugging it free from his jeans.

With shaking fingers, she undoes the buttons of his shirt, revealing his strong, smooth chest. His skin is warm against hers, sending shockwaves of desire coursing through her body. She feels like they're not just two friends saying goodbye to their past selves; they're two people coming together in a new, beautiful way.

As she feels his warm skin against hers, she lets out a shuddering breath, feeling more alive than she ever has before. His chest rises and falls with each ragged inhale, her cheek pressed against the smooth expanse of flesh. The soft curls of his chest hair tickle her face, sending delicious shivers down her spine. She can feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her ear, like a drumbeat guiding them both towards this moment.

She inhales sharply as she feels his tongue tracing the outline of her earlobe, the touch making her knees weak and shaky. With trembling hands, she reaches up to grasp his face, pulling him down so that their lips meet in a heated, hungry kiss. Her mouth opens under his, allowing him entry as they explore each other's tongues and teeth in a dance of desire and

Her nerves are shot to pieces with each stroke of his tongue against hers; she feels like everything inside her is on fire and melting away. As he kisses her harder, one hand slips lower, finding the hem of her skirt and slowly lifting it upward. Her bare skin meeting his is a jolt of pleasure so intense it makes her gasp for air. The cool air of the hallway hits her exposed thighs, making them tingle in anticipation.

Her fingers tangle in his hair, holding him close as she moans into their kiss. It feels like they're a part of something much larger than themselves; an ocean current carrying them deeper and deeper into pleasure. The sweet ache between her legs is growing more insistent with each passing moment, demanding to be sated by Daren's touch.

Her heart pounds in her chest as he makes her kneel down, the rough floor pressing against her bare legs. Her eyes go wide with surprise and hunger as she sees his erection jutting proudly towards her face. The desire that's been building inside her snaps into focus; she wants to taste him, feel him inside her mouth. She drops forward, letting her hair fall around them like a curtain of silk.

Her lips brush against the velvety skin of his length, feeling the heat emanating from it and driving her wild with need. Her hands encircle him, steadying herself as she takes more of him into her mouth. She sucks gently at first, then harder, relishing the groans he lets out in response. With every thrust of his hips, she deepens the angle, wanting to feel everything. Her tongue darts out, swirling around the head of his co

Her eyes widen as his thick length fills her mouth, stretching and tickling the back of her throat. She moans around him, feeling the hot pressure of it against her tongue and palate. Her hands grip at his hips, steadying herself as she takes him deeper, wanting more of him with every breath. She sucks harder, eager to please him in this way. The taste of him on her tongue is intoxicating, sending waves of pleasure rolling through her body. As she continues to suck and stroke, she can feel the tension building within herself; a tightening deep inside that makes it difficult to breathe. She knows what's coming soon, and with each movement of his hips against her face, it becomes harder and harder to resist the urge to let go, to take him fully inside her body where they belong.

As she continues to pleasure him with her mouth, the thought briefly flashes through her mind, and she shudders with guilt. Even in this moment of passion, she can't help but feel ashamed for the secrets they keep from their spouses. But then Daren moans her name, his hips thrusting harder against her face, and everything else fades away into nothing but the overwhelming sensation of being close to him. In this moment, it doesn't matter who knows what; all that matters is the connection they share, the love they have for each other.

Her eyes squeeze shut as she feels him begin to tremble against her lips. She sucks harder, desperate to feel every drop of his release, wanting to taste the essence of him. As he growls low in his throat and begins to thrust deeper into her mouth, the first hot spurt of cum hits the back of her tongue and she moans around him, swallowing greedily. The sensation is almost too much, overwhelming her with pleasure as wave after wave of his release fills her mouth. Her own body begins to tighten in response, a scream trapped in her throat as the intensity builds within her.

Finally, he stills, his hips pressing against her face as his breathing steadies. Kiyo licks her lips, tasting the salty sweetness of their combined pleasure on her tongue. She looks up at him through bleary eyes, feeling both satisfied and

Her heart feels full to bursting as she meets his gaze. A shy smile spreads across her lips and tears begin to well up in her eyes once more. "I love you too," she whispers softly, her voice barely audible over the thunder of their racing hearts. She presses a gentle kiss against his palm, grateful for this moment they've shared, even if it can never be enough or last forever. It doesn't matter; in this instant, there is nothing else but them and the love that binds them together.

Her breath catches as his warm hands skim over her bare skin, tugging at the fabric of her shirt until it falls open to reveal her breasts. His touch sends shockwaves of desire coursing through her once more, making her nipples harden into sensitive points. She closes her eyes, arching her back slightly in response to his touch. The sensation of being so exposed and wanted is overwhelming, but in a wonderful way; it feels like they've stripped away all their barriers and are finally connecting on the deepest level possible.

With shaking hands, she reaches up to touch him, feeling the smooth skin of his chest beneath her fingertips. The heat from his body presses against hers, making her even more aware of the intense attraction that exists between them. She knows this can't last forever, but for now, she wants to savor every moment,

A moan escapes her lips as his teeth graze her skin, leaving a sting that soon turns into pleasure. Her fingers dig into his shoulders, urging him closer still. The sensation of being marked by him sends shivers down her spine; it's like a brand that no one else can touch or erase. As he continues to kiss and nibble at her neck, she arches her back further, offering herself up to his hungry mouth and questing hands.

"I'll never forget this," she whispers breathlessly between gasps for air. "You... you belong with me." It's a confession as much as it is a plea; the desperate longing in her voice speaking volumes about how much she needs him, even if they can't be together like they want.

Her hands slide lower, following the line of his chest to find his waist, then lower still until