Chapter 26 Oom Chooses Her
Oom Eisaya did not sleep.
Not because she couldn’t.
But because her brain had decided to replay the last twelve hours like it was a cinematic masterpiece she needed to analyze frame by frame.
“…she kissed me.”
She stared at the ceiling.
“…she kissed me.”
She turned to her side.
“…while fully conscious.”
She buried her face into her pillow.
“…I am going to pass away.”
Across the room, Yada groaned.
“Can you pass away quietly?”
Oom sat up abruptly.
“I am experiencing a life-altering moment.”
“You’ve been whisper-screaming for two hours.”
“This is important!”
“It’s three in the morning.”
“Love doesn’t follow time.”
“Sleep does.”
Oom flopped back dramatically.
“I think I’m in a relationship.”
Yada didn’t even open her eyes.
“Congratulations.”
“What do I do?”
“Sleep.”
“I can’t.”
“Try harder.”
Oom stared at the ceiling again.
“…she said she’s scared.”
Yada sighed, finally sitting up, her hair a mess, her expression one part annoyance, one part reluctant concern.
“Okay, that part is actually important.”
Oom turned to her immediately.
“Right?”
“Yeah.”
Yada leaned back against the wall.
“So what are you going to do about it?”
Oom blinked.
“…I don’t know.”
“Wrong answer.”
“What do you mean wrong answer?”
“You don’t not know,” Yada said, pointing at her. “You’re just avoiding saying it out loud.”
Oom frowned.
“…what do I know?”
Yada rolled her eyes.
“You’re going to choose her.”
Oom froze.
Because—
That sounded right.
Too right.
“…I already did,” she admitted quietly.
Yada smirked.
“Yeah. That’s the problem.”
---
The next morning felt unreal.
Oom walked to campus like she was floating slightly above the ground, her mind still catching up to the fact that something had shifted.
Something big.
Something irreversible.
“…I kissed her back,” she muttered under her breath.
“You did more than kiss her back,” Yada said, sipping her coffee like she hadn’t been personally victimized by Oom’s emotional crisis the entire night.
“I don’t remember the details clearly.”
“You were too busy dying.”
“I was overwhelmed.”
“You were weak.”
“I was emotionally vulnerable!”
“You were gone.”
Oom glared at her.
“I hate you.”
“You love me.”
“Unfortunately.”
They entered the building together, and immediately—
Oom felt it.
The shift.
The tension.
Because for the first time in days—
She wasn’t avoiding Bam.
And Bam—
Wasn’t avoiding her.
Not anymore.
---
The club room was already half-full.
Tantan stood near the window, casually observing the room like she always did.
She noticed them immediately.
Of course she did.
Her gaze lingered on Oom for a second longer than usual.
Then—
A subtle smile.
“…she knows,” Oom whispered.
“She always knows,” Yada replied.
“That’s terrifying.”
“That’s attractive.”
“You’re hopeless.”
“I know.”
Oom took a breath.
Then stepped inside.
---
Bam was there.
Of course she was.
Sitting at her usual spot.
Calm.
Composed.
But—
Different.
Subtly.
Her posture wasn’t as rigid.
Her expression wasn’t as closed off.
And when her gaze lifted—
It landed on Oom.
Immediately.
No hesitation.
No avoidance.
Just—
Recognition.
Oom’s heart skipped.
“…oh.”
Yada nudged her.
“Go.”
“I can’t just go.”
“You absolutely can.”
“I need a plan.”
“You don’t have time for a plan.”
“I need emotional preparation.”
“You had three days of suffering. That was your preparation.”
Oom inhaled sharply.
“…okay.”
Then—
She walked forward.
---
Bam didn’t look away.
Didn’t retreat.
Didn’t shut down.
She just watched Oom approach.
And when Oom stopped in front of her—
There was no awkward silence this time.
No distance.
No pretending.
“…hi,” Oom said softly.
Bam’s lips curved slightly.
“Hi.”
Oom blinked.
“…you’re smiling.”
“Am I not allowed to?”
“You are. I just—haven’t seen it directed at me before.”
“That’s not true.”
Oom’s chest tightened.
“…it wasn’t like this.”
Bam didn’t deny it.
Instead—
She gestured slightly to the seat beside her.
“Sit.”
Oom obeyed immediately.
Because of course she did.
And for a moment—
They just sat there.
Close.
Not touching.
But close enough for it to matter.
“…how are you,” Bam asked.
Oom blinked.
“…you’re asking me that.”
“Yes.”
“That’s new.”
“I’m trying.”
Oom’s chest softened.
“…I’m okay.”
“Just okay?”
“I didn’t sleep.”
“That’s my fault.”
Oom hesitated.
“…not entirely.”
Bam glanced at her.
“…but partially?”
“Significantly.”
Bam huffed a quiet laugh.
And that—
That was new too.
---
“Are you still scared?” Oom asked after a moment.
Bam didn’t answer immediately.
She looked ahead.
Then—
“…yes.”
Oom nodded.
“Okay.”
Bam glanced at her.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
“You’re not going to argue?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Oom shrugged slightly.
“Because I already decided something.”
Bam’s gaze sharpened slightly.
“…what.”
Oom turned to her.
Fully.
Completely.
No hesitation this time.
“I’m choosing you.”
Silence.
Not empty.
Not awkward.
But heavy.
Important.
“…both versions,” Oom added.
Bam’s breath caught.
“…there aren’t two versions anymore.”
Oom smiled faintly.
“I know.”
“Then why say it like that.”
“Because I want you to understand something.”
Bam watched her carefully.
“What.”
Oom leaned in slightly.
Her voice softer now.
“I’m not here for just the easy parts.”
Bam’s chest tightened.
“I’m here for all of it.”
Silence.
“I’m here when you’re calm,” Oom continued. “And I’m here when you’re overwhelmed.”
Her voice steadied.
“I’m here when you’re in control.”
And then—
She reached out.
Her fingers brushing lightly against Bam’s hand.
“And I’m here when you’re not.”
Bam’s breath shook slightly.
Because that—
That was everything she was afraid of.
Everything she had tried to avoid.
Everything she thought would push people away.
And yet—
Oom was still here.
Still choosing.
Still—
Staying.
“…you don’t know what you’re signing up for,” Bam said quietly.
Oom smiled.
“I have a general idea.”
“It’s not easy.”
“I didn’t ask for easy.”
“I might overwhelm you.”
“I’ll tell you if you do.”
“You might leave.”
Oom’s grip tightened slightly.
“I won’t.”
Bam searched her face.
Looking for doubt.
For hesitation.
For anything that suggested this wouldn’t last.
But there was nothing.
Just—
Certainty.
“…why,” Bam asked again, softer this time.
Oom didn’t hesitate.
“Because I love you.”
Silence.
Absolute.
Complete.
Because that—
That was new.
That hadn’t been said before.
Not like this.
Not out loud.
Bam’s breath caught.
“…you shouldn’t say that so easily.”
“It’s not easy.”
“It sounded easy.”
“I’ve been holding it in for days.”
“That’s not long.”
“It felt like years.”
Bam let out a quiet breath.
“…you’re serious.”
“I am.”
Silence.
Then—
Bam’s hand turned.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Intertwining their fingers.
Warm.
Steady.
Real.
“…I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted.
Oom squeezed her hand gently.
“…we figure it out.”
“Together?”
“Together.”
Bam nodded slowly.
“…okay.”
---
Across the room—
Yada leaned against Tantan, whispering loudly.
“They’re holding hands.”
“I can see that.”
“This is progress.”
“It is.”
“I feel like a proud parent.”
“You’re not their parent.”
“I’m emotionally invested.”
“That’s concerning.”
Yada grinned.
“You like it.”
Tantan’s lips curved slightly.
“I do.”
---
Back at the table—
Oom and Bam sat closer now.
Still quiet.
Still figuring things out.
But—
No longer distant.
No longer separate.
Just—
Together.
And for the first time—
That felt real.
Not temporary.
Not fragile.
Not conditional.
Just—
Real.