Kyle wasn't the only one that had been affected by their little disagreement.

Kay, naturally, had been as well.

She was extremely frustrated over the fact that Kyle couldn't compromise even a little bit.

Why could he not understand the need to do so? He's an old soul, so shouldn't a small compromisation be easy for him?

She understood completely the fact that he prioritized his kids, but did that mean he had to be so stubborn about their father?

She missed her bother, damn it.

The fact that he was happily living his normal, carefree life all the way in Country Tz while she was here, all alone, didn't help.

Sure, they agreed that they're supposed to learn to be more independent from each other, but why … why did it feel like he was the one that managed to adapt faster?

Kay bit her lips.

She didn't want to admit it but, a small part of her was deathly worried over the fact that Kyle didn't quite need her.

It was a ridiculous thought, but one which she could not completely banish.

It was her greatest and deepest nightmare.

When they were together, such a thought was suppressed. It never arose.

When he first left, she was still fine.

When he got his girlfriend, though, it started.

It was as if it signified him, having a life, that did not include her.

Of course, they were aiming to learn to be independent of each other.

Yet, why did it feel like such 'independence' meant 'complete isolation'? She didn't think she would be feeling this way.

She felt like she was going crazy, with her thoughts going round-and-round in her head.

She was happy for him, she truly was - even though she still wasn't that keen on Sari.

She knew he wouldn't cast her aside, she really knew that - but why did she feel as if she was?

Kay was so upset over the whole thing - and her reaction to it - that for the first time since entering college, she didn't attend class.

She just didn't feel like she was up to any social interaction. Seeing another human being while she was being this moody would just make her snap.

So, she holed herself up in her room while doing her work. The food would be delivered outside her door and the empty plates are taken away when she was done.

After a couple of weeks, Kay got a visitor.

"Ms. Kay," came her maid voice on the other side, "There's a visitor here for you."

"Huh," Kay mumbled, as she munched through another packet of cookies, "Tell whoever it is that I'm not in."

"But I know you're in," came a voice on the other end.

Kay blinked and scowled.

How dare they let anyone in before asking her? It looks like she needs to set the house rules. Wouldn't something this simple have been ingrained within their training, though?

"Go away, Lance," Kay said, rolling about on her bed, not caring about the cookie crumbs falling.

Even from the other side of the door, Kay could hear him sigh.

"Come on, Kay," he said gently, "Open up. And I'm not just talking about the door. What's wrong with you? Don't you know you're worrying us? Mark can't even eat now."

Kay gulped guiltily.

"You're exaggerating," Kay said nonetheless.

"Kay…" Lance said softly, "I told you we are always here to listen to you. Something is obviously bothering you. Talk to us. To me, at least."

"Why do you even care so much?" Kay mumbled to herself, her heart touched.

Growing up with Kyle, and then the Elite Five, Kay had been used to always being pampered. Pampered in the sense that there was always someone who took care of her, noticed her needs, protected her.

It was the little things that you take for granted, that you miss the most.

Well, it wasn't that she didn't know they were there, or that she didn't appreciate them when they were; but they were such permanent fixtures of her life that one didn't think about it.

Kay sighed.

The separation was meant to make her stronger, not weaker.

Lance, who was outside, waited patiently and true enough, the door slowly opened. A rather unkempt Goddess emerged, and Lance couldn't help but think that no one else in the world can still look so good even though they were 'messy'.

Her hair was a bit out-of-place, her face devoid of any make-up, and she was dressed in loose-fitting T-shirt and shorts.

Kay ran a hand through her hair, smoothening it a bit and said to Lance, "Okay, okay. I got it. Go to the living room and I'll be right down."

Lance's face broke out in a grin and Kay asked, "You're alone? No Mark?"

"Heck, no," Lance said, waving his hands in front of him, "Are you crazy? If I brought that wailing kid, you'd be busy flipping him away most of the time."

"Oh wait," he mused, "Perhaps that would have been better. Give a smile on your face or something."

Kay laughed and waved him off, feeling a lot better somehow.

✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿.

10 minutes later, Kay went down. She saw Lance flipping through the TV channels, looking utterly bored. In front of him, there were some snacks and drinks.

He didn't say a word until Kay sat down. Not even sparing a glance at her, or stopping what he was doing, he said, "Hey."

"Hey yourself," Kay replied, "Nothing to watch, huh?"

"Nope," Lance replied, putting down the remote, then looked at her, "Better to look at you instead."

Kay rolled her eyes, and leaned back on the sofa, bringing her legs up and sitting cross-legged, "Don't you ever worry someone might misunderstand your words?"

Lance shrugged, saying, "I don't say them to people who would misunderstand."

"True," Kay said, "You should say it to Mark instead."