“Antwon.” Her voice was sweet—eyes sincere. “I would never hurt you. I couldn’t.”

  I sighed because it wasn’t fair of me to ask her to end my life. It wasn’t fair of me to keep secrets.

  “Christine, I have something to tell you.” She looked on with despondent eyes, her head bowed.

  I reached over and lifted her chin. I wanted her to look me in the eyes when I told her the truth.

  She grabbed my hand with both of hers, and shame filled me.

  “Christine… I’m not Antwon.”

  Confusion interrupted her thoughts and caused her eyes to widen.

  “Who… of course you are. Who else would you be?”

  I thought about it, and there aren’t many people who look like me in Kokiri—I have to remind myself of what I look like.

  “Okay, you’re right. This is Antwon’s body… but not his soul.”

  I looked down because it sounded wild, no matter how I said it.

  “This is so hard.”

  “Bro… did I sm you that hard?” She was still holding my hand, so I guided her to the bed, and we sat down.

  “Look.” I took a deep breath. “My real name is Knox Cross, and I’m not a cute boy—I’m a forty-year-old enforcer who worked for the Vanzetti family, doing whatever was needed.” I took a deep breath, “I come from a world where men were in charge of everything.”

  “Are families like cns?”

  “Yes, but let me continue—I’m on a roll here.”

  I breathed deeply once more. “I was assigned to guard my boss's son, who pulled some shady crap—even amongst scum. He stole and sold some stuff from the Giannetti family.”

  “So… two cns?”

  “You got it.” I looked up.

  The look on her face was contemptive, so I knew she was listening.

  “Anyway, I decided he should lie low, but he wanted to check out the stuff he stole at one of his warehouses. But it was a setup—he used me to fake his own death. I died, and now I’m here.”

  “So, you were part of a criminal family in the States—is that why your dad left your mom?”

  “No, that was my life long before I became Antwon.”

  I fell back on the bed, letting out a massive sigh of relief—arms stretched, hair all over. “It feels so good to get that off my chest.”

  “What did women do if men were in charge?”

  I stared at the ceiling, trying to find an answer. “Women did… what men do now.”

  “Antwon, sorry if I have trouble believing you, but that’s a lot to take in.”

  I closed my eyes—finally free from my burden—free to see if she’d like me the same now that—

  “So… you died to be with me?”

  “In a way… yes.”

  “Stay with me, Antwon—whoever you are. You can be who you want with me.”

  She y her head on my chest and listened to the sound of my heart, steadily increasing.

  “So… you believe me?”

  “Sure… whatever your name is. You’re still mine.”

  “And I get it—the death of your parents—Ryo’s bullying—the pressure to adjust to Kokiri. I’d want to be someone else, too.”

  I ran my hand through her soft hair—my danger didn’t fade—my emotions shifted. The warmth of the yellow shard flowed through my body.

  We did it, Antwon, we—

  Pink flushed through me.

  “Antwon, are you?!”

  I struggled to sit up, knowing what this body had done to me.

  “Christine—I’m sorry—I don’t know what—”

  She climbed over me… gently, cautiously—pushing me down.

  “Antwon, you really do like me. And I… love you.” Her voice trembled with joy and disbelief at my current state.

  “Christine… I love… You too.” But did she love Knox or Antwon? It isn’t uncommon for hurt people to love uncontrolbly.

  Her eyes were sweet as she poured over me, satisfied with her answer.

  She leaned in, daring me to meet her halfway.

  Her lips hovered… expectant.

  I can’t let my uncertainty—my past—strip me of everything.

  I met her challenge. I met her halfway. I rubbed my lips against hers, gently learning them. She felt my beckoning—gently—yet with a tenderness that dominated mine.

  We stabilized each other—not ignited, not combusted; her lips were softer than the bnk spaces between my textbook.

  She’s my choice—my second chance at life. I’ll live it for her.

  After she released me, she held me with her eyes before she kissed my forehead, cheek, neck, and touched—

  “Christine… not yet. We can’t do that!”

  “You’re totally right… Junpei… leave.”

  “Right away, ma’am. So much like her mother,” he said in a pyful tone.

  She grumbled in defiance.

  His shadow emerged from beyond the veil and toed toward the door.

  He was still here… he heard everything… but!?

  “Junpei, don’t go!” I need a catalyst… why am I thinking about css stuff now?

  “But you’re so excited; I thought you liked me.”

  She had an emptiness to her voice that gently caressed my person. I wrapped my arms around her, bringing her close.

  “I love you.” I nestled my nose into her hair, breathing pieces of her in. “But let’s wait until we’re eighteen, okay?”

  A sudden inhale—not mine, not Christine’s.

  Junpei bowed. “Why, hello, ma’am.”

  I turned—

  And the world went mute.

  Sakura stood there, her eyes locked on mine, wide with the kind of hurt you don’t rehearse. Her lips trembled. She didn’t speak.

  Not yet.

  But I did.

  “Sakura.”