Jaina told him what she could. She wanted to tell him everything, but she didn't. She had her reasons, but ultimately, she simply didn't know how.
She kept it simple and relayed the story of a time last year when she took her first roadtrip from Los Angeles to Manhattan with her new friends. How they went on a pub-crawl picking bars at random and having a good time wandering the streets, killing time.
How the mid-air collision happened above them, and how the taxi fell into the restaurant nearby.
Told him how she and her friends ran to the wreckage, and about the woman trapped inside, screaming.
About how she decided to pull the woman out and save her before she burned alive.
...and feeling regret about that decision today.
------
Nivek didn't understand.
To him, she's a hero, and he told her that.
"You don't understand, and we're running out of time." she said sadly.
Jaina stood, leaned across the table, and cupped Nivek's face in her hands.
"I know we've been moving too fast, but you're my best friend." she said to him.
"Do you love me yet?" she asked, holding his gaze.
The directness of her question caught him by surprise. She was right when she said they were moving too fast, he thought to himself, but it didn't surprise him when he said, "Yes."
"Then it's your turn to please trust me."
She leaned in closer to him, the pair touching forehead to forehead.
"Close your eyes." she told him, as she did the same.
"Don't think." she continued, "just blurt out the first number that comes into your head."
"66" he blurted.
"Thank you." she whispered, a tear running down her cheek.
![[Image: WsnUaha.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/WsnUaha.jpg)