—Haruki...?
A familiar voice rang out just as my lips were about to meet Ailany's.
I froze, startled, and my eyes darted around to find the source.
To my surprise… there she was. My aunt.
I couldn't believe it. What was she doing here? She was supposed to be with her family, probably enjoying the inheritance my grandfather left behind… Not here. Not now.
I pulled away from Ailany immediately, feeling the air grow cold around me.
Despite the suddenness of it all, I couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of joy at seeing her again.
"Aunt…? What are you doing here?" I asked as I stepped closer, still trying to make sense of the moment.
Her style was completely different from how I remembered it.
She looked modern—casual yet elegant—with a sleeveless light-colored blouse and shorts that contrasted with her long, flowing hair.
There was something in her gaze that threw me off… Not just familiarity, but a new kind of warmth. Something unexpected.
She smiled, a mix of surprise and… was it curiosity?
"Wow, I didn't expect to find you in a place like this… and in such an interesting situation."
I felt the heat rush to my face again.
"It's not what it looks like…" I mumbled awkwardly.
Ailany stood slightly behind me, visibly confused and nervous.
"Who would've thought the shy, introverted boy had a girlfriend now?" my aunt teased gently, standing at the entrance of the ice cream shop.
"But I'm glad, you know?"
My mind went blank.
Everything had happened so fast I could barely process it.
I could feel everyone's eyes on me. The atmosphere shifted, pressure built up in my chest, and I spoke without thinking.
"No... This is a misunderstanding. She's not my girlfriend."
The words slipped out automatically, unfiltered.
The woman behind the counter furrowed her brow.
"So… she wasn't your girlfriend? You two lied?"
"I think I just made a huge mistake..."
That was all I could think as murmurs exploded around us.
—"Did he really make that up just to get ice cream?"
—"Poor girl… I can't imagine how humiliated she must feel."
—"He was about to kiss her and now says they're nothing? What a jerk."
—"There's no way that's his aunt."
—"Of course not! She looks his age. That's obviously his real girlfriend."
—"It's the girl's fault for trusting a Tokyo boy… She's just a country girl."
—"She's cute, but the other one… the other one has that model-like vibe."
Their words were knives. Each one cutting deeper.
I turned to Ailany.
She stood still, like the world had frozen around her. She wasn't looking up. Her hand, still barely touching mine, trembled slightly.
I wanted to say something.
To yell that it wasn't like that. That it had just been a stupid, nervous impulse.
But it was too late.
The next moment, Ailany turned and ran out of the shop.
"Ailany!" I called out, trying to stop her, but it was useless.
As she passed me, everything slowed.
Her face—normally full of energy and sweetness—was now marked by deep disappointment.
Her green eyes, always so lively, were shadowed with pain.
Tears quietly slid down her cheeks.
Something shattered inside me.
It felt like I'd broken something precious—something I couldn't ever fix.
The crowd kept talking, whispering, mocking… but my mind had already left.
I could only think of her. Of her trembling hand. Of her cracked voice.
Of the moment she believed in my words… and how I'd crushed them.
Guilt tightened around my chest.
What have I done…?
Everyone around me now saw me as the villain of the story.
The cruel guy who toyed with a simple girl's feelings.
Their stares cut like blades. The whispers, the ridicule…
And I had no words to defend myself.
Noticing the growing tension, my aunt grabbed my hand firmly.
"I think we should leave, Haruki… before this gets worse," she said with a steady voice, though I caught a hint of concern in her eyes.
I didn't respond. I couldn't.
I just lowered my head and let her pull me away from the shop.
But as we walked, the voices inside me screamed louder than anything around.
"I just withered a small summer flower..."
"I'm such an idiot."
"I wish we'd never met… Then you wouldn't have had to go through this."
My steps felt heavy, like the ground didn't want to support me anymore.
And in my chest, guilt bloomed like a thorned vine, growing wild and painful.
We walked for a long time in silence. I had no idea what to say or where to begin.
The air was warm, but inside me there was only emptiness.
Eventually, we found a bench under the shade of a tree.
We sat without looking at each other, the rustle of leaves above whispering gently.
Still holding my hand, my aunt tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Her voice came soft—almost guilty.
"I think this was my fault… I'm really sorry, Haruki."
I shook my head without lifting my gaze.
"It's not your fault. You don't need to apologize. I was the one who spoke without thinking."
As I said that, I slowly let go of her hand.
Ailany's face flashed in my mind. Her expression… the tears she tried to hide as she ran away…
It hurt to remember.
"If I hadn't said your name… If I'd just stayed quiet, none of this would've happened," my aunt went on with a sigh. Her voice trembled.
"You'd be happy right now… with her."
"Maybe," I muttered, eyes still on the ground.
"But I'm also the one who said something so stupid. Blaming each other won't change anything. What's done is done… So let's not dwell on whose fault it was."
She stayed quiet for a moment, then nodded.
"You're right… But still, I'm sorry."
"I just wanted to see you again. And when I saw you with that girl… I was so surprised. I'm not used to seeing you with someone."
"I thought maybe I was mistaken, that's why I called your name out loud."
"Well… I'm not exactly the social type," I finally said, eyes still down.
"But she changed that. She showed me a warmer side of life… something more alive.
Unfortunately… today it all fell apart.
Or maybe… I just woke up from a short dream."
My aunt looked at me with gentleness, as if trying to understand what even I couldn't explain.
Then, in a soft voice, she tried to console me.
"Don't take it the wrong way, but I think you're being a little dramatic… It's not the end of the world.
Just give her time.
When things calm down, talk to her again.
If you speak from the heart… I'm sure she'll understand."
I said nothing.
I knew she meant well.
She was just trying to cheer me up, ease the weight a little.
But I couldn't help feeling… annoyed.
Did she really think this was just me being dramatic?
That everything would go back to normal with a few words?
I clenched my fists, but swallowed the lump rising in my throat.
I didn't want to hurt her. Not after all this.
So I just lowered my head and let silence speak for me.