About growth.

We went to a park somewhat close to Mila’s house. Or rather, not the park itself, but the parking lot. It had only just gotten dark when we got there.

Mila stopped her car and chuckled. “Sorry. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Do you want to talk?”

“Yeah.” She nodded and sunk on her seat with a tired sigh.

I swallowed, daring to ask what had me worried for a while. “Do you… not get along with your dad?”

Mila turned to me with wide eyes, blinking. “Is that what it looked like?”

“Huh?”

“Okay, I suppose it did.” She smiled wryly. “I get along great with both of my parents, you know? Well, when they’re not yelling at me to clean my room or to do my homework. It’s just… it was the first time that my dad got so seriously mad at me. I didn’t expect it, so it threw me off.” She pursed her lips. “I only bought a thing I saw on the internet, and when my dad saw it, he snapped. It’s not the first time I’ve done it, so…”

“The straw that broke the camel’s back,” I said.

“Apparently.” Mila sighed with a sad frown. She crossed her arms, holding herself. “They’re obviously disappointed in me, and I get it. I’m not smart or talented, and I make stupid decisions all the time.”

Her voice was close to cracking. It was a shock to hear her like that. Mila was always the one to cheer us all up, so for her to be like this was heart wrenching. But it was alright. Of course Mila had her own insecurities, her own problems she didn’t want to show others.

“I don’t think they’re disappointed,” I told her.

Mila looked at me with glittering eyes. “W-What did you and my dad talk about?”

“He told me he’s worried about you. He said they spoiled you too much as you were growing up.”

Mila chuckled weakly. “Yeah. They always got me everything I asked for, even this car.” She bit her lip. “I can understand why my dad would suddenly get mad.”

“I think he’s worried about how you’ll do in the future, worried about how you’ll handle things when you’re on your own.”

“On my own…” She rubbed her face. “Right. We’re seniors already. University comes next, and I don’t even know what I want to do. What will you study, Oliver?”

“Something music related, if possible.”

Mila giggled. “So you already know. It’s no wonder my parents took a liking to you so quickly. I bet that when I get back, they’ll tell me I should be more like you, too. They say the same with Grace and Sarah, that I should be more like them.”

“Is that what you want? To be more like them?”

Mila hugged herself tighter. “Sometimes. They’re amazing, aren’t they? Grace is super smart and Sarah is really persistent. Alice, too. The fact that she can get top marks at school while also working as a mechanic is crazy to me.”

“I agree. They’re amazing,” I said, smiling fondly. “But you’re not them.”

“Right.” Mila looked down. “I’m nowhere near as amazing as them.”

“Not what I meant.” I reached out and held her hand, giving it a loving squeeze. “I think you should be comfortable with who you are and work towards being the person you want to be. Grace wasn’t born smart. She simply thinks a lot about things, questions them and looks for answers. Sarah has her goals and knows no one will hand them to her on a silver platter, so she works hard for them. Alice is in love with what she does. She works with cars like others watch movies.”

“And… what can I do?”

“You’re the most empathic person I’ve ever met.”

“M-Me?”

“Yes. You’re always considerate of what others may feel, you worry about them and always try to cheer them up. I think it’s as valuable a trait as any skill in academics or the like.”

“T-That’s…” Mila’s cheeks reddened. “I don’t think that’s something worth praising.”

“Well, I do. It’s one of the many reasons I love you so much.” She smiled giddily. “I admit, I… sort of agree with your dad in what he said,” I added with a soft laugh. “Things like keeping your room clean and resisting impulse purchases, and taking school a bit more seriously. But, you know… that’s just me.”

Mila began to laugh. She held my face and kissed my lips. She stared into my eyes with a beautiful grin. “It’s so refreshing to have someone tell me these things with some tact. The others would just tell me to stop crying and get my act together.”

I could see that happening, yes.

She pulled me closer into a hug. It was a little awkward, with her being on the driver’s seat and I on the passenger’s, but still. “Thanks, Oliver. I feel better now. I know that my dad’s right, I understand why he got mad, it’s just… hard to break bad habits.”

“I know.”

“But… I want to. I want to be like you. I want to grow, too. I want to become the best version of myself that I can be.” She pecked my lips once, twice. “I want you to have the best ‘Me’ that exists.”

I grinned wryly. “You should do it for yourself.”

“I am, but I’m also doing it for you. I’ll use you as my motivation.”

She kissed me again, this time slipping her tongue inside my mouth. She pulled on my tie to get me closer, and before I knew it, she was undoing the first buttons of my shirt.

I swallowed. “Mila…”

“There’s no one at the park at this hour and my windows are tinted,” she said, kissing my jaw. “Can we? Please? Take me here, Oliver. At a random parking lot, in my car, just because we want it.”

Her words, her husky tone, those intense bedroom eyes, her mischievous smile, the situation that clicked so well with my desires…

How could I ever resist?

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