Chapter 104: A confession?
Sunnie smiled as he said the name. "Maren... That’s a pretty name..." She said, also holding onto the little fingers of the baby. "And it sounds closely related to the sea, which makes it even more pretty," she observed.
Azure hesitated and then nodded. "Yes. It does sound like the sea."
The baby smiled and giggled even more loudly, as if she understood that she already had a name now. And while she smiled, Sunnie said, "It suits her so well." She stared at him. "So why did you pick the name? Any reason?"
She watched him hesitate. His expression wasn’t stable, as though he was contemplating whether to speak or not.
Sunnie could sense the struggle as she said with a smile, "You don’t have to say if you don’t want to..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Azure spoke up. "Yes, I do," he said with a smile. "It’s the name of my mother."
As soon as he said that, there was silence among them for a while. Only the baby made some inaudible sounds while smiling. The atmosphere was quiet as Sunnie stared into his face, watching him force a smile while he looked at the baby.
"Maren..." He said. "That was the name of my mum."
Sunnie hesitated, thinking through his last words. "That was...?" She was confused for a while. "Does that mean...?"
He smiled with a nod as he said, "Yes. My mum is already dead. She died a long time ago, while I was still very young."
Sunnie was quiet. She thought as much. She didn’t even know what to say but managed, "I’m so sorry about that... it must have been terrible..."
"Don’t worry about it. I was still very young back then. I don’t even properly remember what her face looks like anymore," he smiled. "It’s been so long..."
Sunnie slowly nodded as she said, "Then why are you naming her that? Aren’t you scared that she’ll remind you of her?"
Azure smiled. "I guess that’s why I want to. I don’t want to forget Mum. So I’d be happy if she reminded me of her."
Sunnie listened attentively. She guessed Azure was comfortable enough with her to open up.
"Mum was the only person who loved me," Azure said. "She was the only one who believed I was normal even when others called me a monster. She was the only person who was willing to believe and love me... Even when Dad wanted me sent out as soon as possible, she fought for me."
Sunnie listened quietly.
"Mum would always take me to the seashore and tell me stories about everything I knew. She always had something to say... and I was always willing to listen."
Sunnie asked, "How did she..." She didn’t know how to finish the sentence, but she was certain he understood what she meant.
Azure hesitated.
"It’s okay if you don’t want to say... I understand. You can take your time with it."
But Azure spoke up anyway. "She died in the hands of my clan people, all because of me. Mum was trying to protect me from them, but died in the process. It was all my fault... I lost her because of me."
[Ding!]
[Congratulations Host!]
[Mer Husband trusts you enough to open up to you on such a sensitive topic. That’s impressive progress!]
Sunnie could see a teardrop at the edge of his eyes—blue and glittering. She slowly leaned closer and wiped off the tears even before they could fall.
Sunnie smiled warmly as she said, "Don’t say that. It’s not your fault. None of it happened because of you. Your mum must be happy to have done so to protect you. It was a choice she was happy to make. And I’m sure that she’s even happier knowing that you’re happy and doing better now."
Azure stared up at Sunnie. Their eyes met as she flashed him a bright smile. "Okay? So don’t worry about that at all... Just know that wherever she is, she is happy and proud of you. Okay?"
He hesitated, staring down at her as he smiled. A part of him felt comforted and more at ease now. Her words sounded like the words of her mother—something she would say. And it brought him peace instantly.
Azure couldn’t take his eyes off her. He stared firmly at her while Sunnie smiled back at him.
"So..." Sunnie stared back at the baby. "From now henceforth, her name will be Maren."
Azure stared at her, watching Sunnie gaze at their baby. His heart fluttered at the moment, and he found himself speaking without thinking twice, as though he had no filters anymore.
"Can I kiss you?"
Sunnie paused. She thought she had misheard something as she looked up to meet Azure’s eyes. "Huh? What did you say...?"
But before she could even finish her sentence, Azure leaned closer almost immediately and pressed his lips hard against hers.
Their lips met in a kiss—a passionate one, with Azure cupping her cheeks in his hands, pressing in deeper.
They stayed like that for a while, Sunnie’s mouth covered by Azure as his tongue made its way into hers.
The kiss lasted for a minute before Azure pulled back. Sunnie still had her eyes closed, her heart fluttering. And when she opened them, she met his eyes on her.
"I..." Azure hesitated, his voice shuddering for a while before he proceeded. "Sunnie..."
For the first time, Sunnie heard her name from his mouth. And it sounded romantic in every way possible. "That’s what the little rabbit calls you..."
He inhaled and then said, "But that’s by the way..." He stared into her eyes, silence filling the atmosphere as he brought himself to say, "I think I’ve fallen for you... I think... I like you... not in a casual way... but... I think I really, really, really like you now... a lot."
Sunnie blinked as he continued. "I don’t know how it happened... but I think it started after that night you taught me..." He gasped, biting his lower lip. "I don’t think it matters, but I... I really like you, Sunnie."