Penned Sea Hearts
Chapter 12

Kai and Ramos hadn’t had a chance to talk since that uncomfortable development last night, and Kai really didn’t like it. There was a tension between them that was bothering him horribly, but they both had their hands full with the signing.

It was about to start, and they hadn’t managed to get a single moment to themselves, so they could talk.

Kai would have let it go—he had no problem accepting that Ramos simply didn’t like him like that. But it was clear something was bothering Rami. And Kai was sure a single conversation would fix it.

Except he couldn’t seem to get a word in, especially now that even though the preparations were nearly done, his fans had arrived.

Gods below, was he not in the mood for chitchat with his fans. He would do his best, of course—he didn’t want to disappoint them—but, man, was he annoyed. Unfortunately for him, though, a book signing was at least fifty percent chitchat.

But he’d manage easier if he could get at least a few words in with Rami. But this might be his last chance before the signing happened. If only he knew where Ramos was. The purple-tailed merman had been flitting from one corner of the library to the other, busying himself with things that Kai wasn’t sure were that important to the point where it started to seem as though Ramos was avoiding him.

But Kai wouldn’t let that stop him. He has never given in and read into things before and he wouldn’t start now.

Quickly dodging a few of his fans with a promise of soon returning to talk to them, Kai swam to the front desk, frowning when Ramos wasn’t there. Turning around, Kai moved among the large bookcases, trying to find him despite the library being so full. There were dozens of people around, making the library feel so much less like its usual cozy self. Kai sincerely hoped everyone would donate.

Kai was about to give up his search and swim back to his desk, knowing that the signing was supposed to begin any moment now, but at last, he found Ramos who was organizing a shelf in a particularly dark corner of the library.

“Rami!” he cried, relieved to find him, quickly closing the distance between them. Ramos flinched, looking at him in surprise, his eyes wide behind his glasses.

“Kai? Is something wrong?”

Kai nodded, sighing. “Look, I know I could have waited until the signing is over, but we need to talk about what happened.”

“There is nothing to talk about,” Ramos immediately shot him down before Kai could even finish his whole thought.

And Kai wasn’t enough of an idiot to miss the pain just barely visible in Rami’s eyes. Clearly, there was a lot to talk about, but he was being difficult for some reason.

Kai wished he knew why so badly.

“I know it’s sort of awkward. But I meant it when I said it’s okay that you don’t like me that way. I don’t want you to think I’m mad at you, or something.”

Ramos opens his mouth, more than likely to tell Kai to leave it be, when a loud ringing is heard, coming from the corner of the library where Kai’s signing table is set up. Rami’s supervisor must have been trying to get Kai to do what he was here for.

“Good,” Ramos said finally, sighing, his downturned gaze fixed on the nearest row of books. “I am glad you aren’t angry with me. Was that all you wanted to talk about?”

Kai wanted to press the issue because clearly Rami was bothered by something still, and was no doubt torturing himself in his head, but then the sound of whatever bell the supervisor was ringing filled the whole library again, making Kai sigh.

He really should go back, as much as he didn’t want to. He wanted to give his fans a good experience, if just to give them a good impression of Rami’s library.

“Look, we’ll talk after the signing. Okay?”

Ramos said nothing, simply giving a nod before continuing to sort the books. Kai grimaced. They really, really needed to talk. Maybe with Ara’s help, too, because Kai was at his wit’s end.

How was he supposed to get Ramos to talk?

But he just had no time right now. And so he swam back as fast as he could, waving at everyone as he passed them, seating himself in the chair prepared for him.

“Sorry about that, got distracted,” he explained, giving everyone a smirk, which he knew would work like a charm. And sure enough, the few people in line that seemed a bit annoyed were now relaxed and excited. Great.

“Now, let’s get this started,” Kai said, giving Ramos’ supervisor a look to make sure he could. She nodded, floating up as if to watch the situation from above. Kai shrugged, turning to the first person in line, a woman of about thirty, cradling an older book of his to her chest, which she then handed him.

Kai noted the frayed edges of it, smirking. Clearly, this book was well-loved. Looking up at the woman with his best charming smile, he opens the book so he can sign it. “Okay, and who do I make this to?”

By the time the last person was getting his signature, it was almost evening. Kai had underestimated how many people had shown up. But it was over now, and he could go find Ramos.

Or so he thought until he was about to swim up from his chair, only for someone new to barge in and talk to him.

“Mister Kailin Ar’kis?” the merman asked, rummaging around in the large satchel hanging from his shoulder.

“Yeah?” Kai raised an eyebrow, only to blink as the other merman produced a letter. Oh, this was a postman. That made a lot of sense. Though it was a wonder how he’d found Kai here. He’d specifically asked to have all his mail left at his house.

“Letter for you. Your hands only. I was told it’s of the utmost importance.”

The envelope did have a red edge, the telltale sign of it being priority mail, though Kai still wasn’t sure how this postman had managed to track him down.

Kai took the letter, the protective magic making sure only he could open it running through his fingertips. “Okay, thanks.”

He wanted to say more, but then he paused, his eyes going wide with horror when he noticed who the letter was from. The capital’s hospital.

Oh no, this couldn’t be good.

Kai quickly ripped the envelope open, not even noticing that the mailman had left already, pulling the letter out of the envelope and reading it as quickly as possible, his heart clenching, his insides twisted painfully.

And then he read those words. The most horrible words there could be.

Due to your mother’s condition suddenly worsening rapidly, she has been hospitalized—

Kai swallowed thickly, his eyes stinging with tears as he looked at the date at the top of the letter, horrified to see that it had been written four days ago.

Not thinking about it at all, he immediately bolted, rushing out of the library. He needed to get to the hospital. Immediately. For all he knew his mom was dead already, and the news just hadn’t arrived yet.

Kai wanted to cry at that thought, but he shook his head, trying to get rid of thoughts like this as he swam as fast as he could. This wasn’t helping.

He just needed to get to the capital, and not think until he saw his mom again.

She would be fine. She had to be. She just had to. Or Kai didn’t know what he would do.

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