The Unexpected

Chapter 10: The Way He Stayed

Naia's Point of View

The day had been long but beautiful. The kind that stays with you long after it ends. Neo had finally quieted in the backseat, his head resting on Flynn's chest, the starfish toy still clutched tightly in his small hand. Naia watched from the front seat, heart caught between exhaustion and something soft she could not quite name.

Flynn had one arm wrapped securely around Neo and the other hand resting on his own knee, relaxed. Every now and then, he would glance down at the boy, and a smile would flicker across his lips. A real, unguarded smile. Naia could not stop staring at him.

When they reached home, Naia's mother met them by the door. She gave Flynn a kind smile, eyes warm with approval. Flynn gently set Neo down in Naia's arms and then took a respectful step forward.

"Good evening po, tita," he said carefully, and bowed his head as he reached for her hand. "Mano po."

Naia's mom laughed softly, clearly touched by the gesture.

"You're a good one," she said in Filipino. "Naia, this one's different."

Naia rolled her eyes but her chest felt like it had been filled with sunlight. She carried Neo upstairs to his room, but Flynn followed quietly behind her, as if he knew he still had something left to do.

Once inside, he sat by Neo's bedside and fixed the blankets around the boy with a care Naia had only ever shown herself. He took the starfish toy and tucked it next to Neo's pillow. Then, without being asked, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Neo's forehead.

Naia stood by the doorway, still as stone. Her throat felt tight.

"You're good at that," she whispered.

Flynn looked up. "He's easy to love."

She swallowed hard. "He is."

They stepped out into the night, the house settling behind them. On the balcony, the air was cool and still. A light breeze moved through the trees. Above them, the stars glimmered, quiet witnesses to everything unsaid.

Flynn sat beside her on the swing, close enough to touch but giving her the space to move if she needed it. He had always known how to read her silence.

"That was a really good day," he said softly.

Naia nodded. "It was," she said to herself.

He looked over at her. "Thank you for letting me in."

Naia leaned back against the swing, her eyes fixed on the stars. "I'm still trying to understand why you would want to be here."

Flynn tilted his head. "Where else would I be?"

"I'm a lot to handle," she murmured.

"So am I," he said with a crooked smile. "But I want to be here, Naia. With you. And Neo. Even when it's hard. Especially then."

She turned to him, her expression unreadable. "I'm still scared."

"I know. I don't blame you."

"You should," she said. "I keep trying not to feel anything. I keep stopping myself."

Flynn reached out and gently took her hand.

"You do not have to run anymore," he said. "Not from me."

She stared at their fingers intertwined. Her voice shook. "You make it hard not to hope again."

"I hope you do," he said. "Because I'm not going anywhere."

They sat in silence for a while, the kind of silence that says everything. Flynn eventually leaned closer.

"Can I kiss you?"

Naia did not answer. She just closed the space between them.

The kiss was soft, unhurried. There was no desperation, only warmth. Her hands found his shirt. His fingers brushed against her cheek. It was not fire. It was shelter. When they pulled away, Naia exhaled like she had been holding her breath her whole life.

They went to bed just before midnight. Neo stirred once in his sleep but never woke up. Flynn stayed behind Naia, his arms wrapped around her waist, his face buried in her hair. He did not try to say anything else. He just held her like she was something sacred.

And sometime in the middle of the night, just before drifting off, Naia whispered something.

"I love you," she murmured, barely audible.

Flynn's eyes opened.

"What's that again?" he asked, his voice barely louder than hers.

But Naia had already slipped into sleep. All he heard was a sleepy hum in response.

Flynn smiled to himself. He did not say anything more. He only held her tighter and let the moment settle in his heart like something he would never forget.

—

Naia's Point of View

The next morning, sunlight filled the room. Naia woke slowly, her body warm and relaxed. Flynn was already up, sitting beside her with a mug of coffee in one hand and a smirk playing on his lips.

"Good morning," he said.

She stretched. "What time is it?"

"Almost nine."

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Neo?"

"With your mom," he said. "They're making pancakes."

"Oh," she mumbled, still drowsy. "Okay."

There was a pause. Then Flynn added, too casually, "You said something interesting last night."

Naia blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Something right before you fell asleep," he said.

Her eyes widened. "What?"

He grinned. "You told me you loved me."

Naia froze. "I what?"

He laughed. "Clear as day. I love you. Right into my chest."

She covered her face with her hands. "No. I didn't. I did not say that."

"You did."

"Oh my God," she groaned. "That was a dream. I didn't mean to."

Flynn set the mug down and leaned forward, his voice soft again. "Even if it was unintentional, I will take it."

Naia peeked through her fingers, cheeks burning. "I cannot believe my unconscious betrayed me."

He kissed her forehead. "Your unconscious just told me the truth."

She sighed dramatically and fell back on the pillows, still hiding her face. Flynn only laughed, then pulled her back into his arms.

"Don't worry," he said. "I'll say it back when you're fully awake."

She buried her face in his shoulder. "I hate you."

He smiled into her hair. "You love me."

And maybe, just maybe, she did.