I give Cado the OK to open the gates for Revali. Waiting by the front door, I watch Revali pull up the driveway in his car. He parks next to mine, and when he gets out, it dawns on me that this is really happening. Revali is at my house. Maybe Link was right and this is a bit weird. 

I remain standing by the door, calm and casually waving at the approaching sourpuss.

"Hey," I greet him first while he's still taking in the architecture of the building.

"What's up," he says, sounding a bit confused as his eyes still travel the property. "Your house is bigger than I expected."

"Er... Thank you?" I clear my throat uncomfortably. "Would you like to come in?"

With a nod, Revali walks past me into the house, his hands coolly resting in the pockets of his sweatpants. 

I follow him inside. Should we go to my room? Or would the living room be more suitable? It might not be very private. But is privacy what I really want with Revali?

Before I can make up my mind, Father steps into the foyer, startled to find Revali standing next to me. 

"Father," I say, just as startled to run into him at this untimely moment. "I hope you don't mind Revali stopping by to... pick up some books that Link left behind," I lie. 

Father eyes the two of us from head to toe. Revali doesn't seem intimidated. His hands still in the depth of his pockets, he studies Father with the same level of judgment.

"That's fine," Father says, because he knows this is how it's going to be when I live with my friends. Nobody to forbid it. Nobody to supervise. "Just don't enter my office."

"Why would we–" I begin but he cuts in.

"You know exactly why."

Damn you, Impa...

"We won't go near your office," I promise. 

Father stares at Revali until he promises it too. Or at least reassures my father by saying, "I have zero interest in your office."

Father does his best to disregard Revali, though it's evident that his remark was unpleasant to my father's ears. "I have a meeting at the university," he then says, making his way past us toward the door. "I will be late tonight, so go ahead and dine without me."

"Okay, Father."

He exits the room and closes the door behind him, leaving Revali and me in an awkward silence. I gaze at Revali, briefly pondering my next move. 

I should've just met him at the frat house so that he could take the lead in this conversation. I don't feel entirely comfortable being in charge of the situation.

Revali breaks the silence, his impatience evident. "Are we just going to stand here?"

"Of course not. Let's go to the living room," I start walking, then change course. "Actually, let's go to the patio." I change my mind again, "My room would be better."

"Just make up your mind already," he snaps.

"The patio," I decide with a nod, remembering that Malice is in my room. "This way."

I steer toward the backyard. We pass through the living room and the dining area, and when we get to the kitchen Revali can't help but comment, "This place is so big, you'd need a GPS to find the pickles."

I ignore this and all the other remarks that follow until we finally reach the patio, stepping into the dappled shade beneath the pergola. We settle into the lounge that encircles the fire pit and overlooks the lawn, infinity pool, and tennis court.

Revali teases, "What time zone are we in now?" as if we've just completed a tiresome journey across the country.

"In the 'Time-to-Talk-zone," I say but he winces at my pun.  

Instead of talking about Mipha, he asks me, "Why'd you lie to your dad?" 

"I'm not sure why I lied," I say. "There is really no point. It's just an instinct at this point."
"Makes sense."

"Does it?" I question. He shrugs like he doesn't even care. "Let's talk about whatever it is you wanted to talk about." 

"Wait, didn't you say you were babysitting?

"Yes, so?"

"Where's the kid?"

"Upstairs."

Revali raises a brow at me. "You left it alone?"

"So?"

"Shouldn't you be watching it?"

"Well, er... She's a bit grumpy right now. So she's in timeout."

His brow remains arched. "Uh-huh."

"Anyway," I return to the matter at hand. "What did you want to talk about?"

He leans back against the cushions, draping his arms casually over the backrest of the lounge. "How's school?"

I give him a skeptical look, challenging him to address the real reason for our conversation. "That's what you wanted to talk about?"

"I don't know," he responds with a shrug.

"You do know, so stop stalling and just say it."

With a sigh, he finally relents, "Okay, fine..."

Just as he is about to open up to me, the maid interrupts, asking if we'd like some drinks. I order two lemonades and send her on her way, shifting my focus back to Revali.

"So?" I prod. 

"You got your own maid?" He laughs. 

"So what if I do?"

He shrugs again. "Nothing."

"Say it."

"I want one too."

"Then you better work hard in life," I say.

"Or marry rich."

My eyebrows shoot up in mild surprise at Revali's comment. I dismiss it as a joke and remind him of the reason for his visit once more.

"At the bar, you said you needed to tell me something," I begin, "I think you mentioned having some sort of dilemma regarding Mipha?"

Revali's smug grin disappears at the mention of his relationship, and he appears reluctant to delve into that conversation.

"Come on, Revali. I thought you came here to talk about this."

"I did," he murmurs.

"So let's talk about it already," I press on. "That day, right before Kiroh spilled his drink, you were about to tell me something. Something about you and Mipha."

He nods, staring at the fireless fire pit in front of us. "I was going to say that–"

"Anything else?" The maid interrupts again, placing our cold drinks on the little stand next to the lounge.

I interject firmly, "No, thank you. Please don't interrupt us again." With a stiff smile, she acknowledges my request, turns around, and quickly heads back inside. I wait for a few seconds, making sure there won't be any more interruptions before I scoot closer to Revali, determined to address this once and for all. 

"Where were we?" I say.

Revali picks up the lemonade and takes a sip. "Damn, this is good."

He takes another sip.

"Is this homemade?"

"Revali..."

"A bit sour but still really good."

"Stop stalling."

"Seriously, you should try some."

"Revali!" I sigh, trying my best to sound understanding. "I know this may be difficult to talk about, but if you want me to help, you'll need to open up and tell me what's going on." 

And yes, I recognize the irony of this coming from me. 

He sets the glass down, and after a brief pause, he finally admits, "I slept with her."

Revali's confession catches me off guard and I'm not sure how to react. I blurt out, "With Mipha?"

He rolls his eyes, answering sarcastically, "Who else?"

"Right, sorry," I mumble.

Revali leans forward, resting his forehead on his interlocked hands. "The thing is," he says, his voice troubled, "I don't think she was ready."

I want to ask questions but I have to be careful not to upset Revali by overstepping any lines. It's a sensitive topic and I want to assure him that he can talk to me about anything. For now, I'm going to assume it was the first time for both of them. 

"What makes you think she wasn't ready?" I ask, genuinely curious about Revali's perspective.
Revali lifts his head and looks at me. "She just seemed kind of hesitant about it. Maybe a bit uncomfortable too." 

I nod in understanding, offering a reassuring smile. "It's important to communicate in situations like that. Did you ask for consent?"

"Of course I asked for consent!" he responds, somewhat defensively. "I'd never do something she doesn't agree to." He calms his temper with a defeated sigh. "But maybe she just didn't know how to say no."

I can relate to that feeling. It can be a real challenge to find your voice in such situations, but learning to say no is crucial, especially when it comes to intimacy.

"I feel like I pushed her to do something she wasn't ready for and now I feel like I messed up with her... you've been in a secure relationship for a while, so I was kinda hoping you'd have some kind of advice for me on how to fix it."

I think about his situation for a moment, trying to picture me and Link in their place but I need more details if I want to give him helpful advice.  

"If you don't mind sharing, how did it lead to that?" 

Revali hesitates but decides to tell me. "We were on a date, everything went great, she seemed really happy. I took her back to the dorms, her roommate was gone, so she asked if I wanted to watch a movie. Then one thing led to another."

"Just like that?" I ask curiously. "That does seem a bit rushed."

"Obviously it didn't happen just like that!" he barks. "It's really none of your business how it happened."

"You're right, it isn't. And you don't have to tell me. But if you want my perspective on it, then I need to understand the situation and circumstances." 

Revali sighs annoyed. "We were cuddling in her bed for a while and I didn't even think about sleeping with her or anything, but then half way through the movie she started kissing me progressively and eventually I asked if she wanted to do it and she gave me a nod."

"Just a nod?"

"Yes, but I triple checked with her. I asked if she's sure and she said yes."

"And did she hesitate?"

"I don't know? Maybe? Yeah, maybe a little."

"Hm..."

"What is it?" He asks nervously. "What are you thinking?"

"Even though she gave you consent, there are different types of consent. Enthusiastic consent is when both partners are genuinely excited and eager for a sexual encounter. It's a clear and mutual 'yes' without any doubt or reluctance. The other type is when someone agrees hesitantly. They might say 'yes' but with uncertainty or even because they feel pressured."

"So you agree. I pressured her..."

"Maybe she was feeling pressure," I nod. "However, I'm not saying it's for certain. The first time can be a bit uncomfortable even when both parties feel ready to take that step. Talking about it openly could have helped both of you."

"Were you comfortable with Link from the get-go?" 

"No," I chuckle. "It definitely took me some time. But that doesn't mean it's the same for Mipha."

"Well, did you say anything to Link after?" 

"After what?" I ask puzzled.

"After..."

I tilt my head. "After what?"

"After!" He repeats with an impatient gesture and suddenly it clicks! 

Abashedly, I shake my head from side to side. "No," I exclaim, trying to mask my embarrassment.

"You didn't say anything to him?"

"No, because we haven't even done anything," I say. 

"Oh."

"Well, I didn't mean we haven't done 'anything at all'... We've done 'some' stuff. Just not that."

Revali nods, looking smug and a touch bored. "Ah."

"What?" I challenge.

Revali teases, "So maybe you're not the right person to talk to then. Should've talked to Anju."

"Hey!" I smack his arm. "Just because I haven't slept with anyone doesn't mean I'm clueless about it. Link and I have still been dating for much longer than you and Mipha."

"Calm down, Princess," he laughs. "What's your advice then if you're so much more experienced?"

I lean back into the lounge, thinking about his question in a collected and diplomatic manner. He can be such a brat but he's still my friend and I'm determined to offer helpful advice.

"Have you talked to Mipha about it?" I ask him.

He shakes his head. "She didn't say anything afterwards and I didn't want to make her more uncomfortable by bringing it up." His fists clench, his muscles tense. "Zelda, I can't mess this up! I can't lose her!"

"You're not losing her," I roll my eyes. "You just need to talk to her, be honest about your feelings, and make sure she's comfortable with how things went."

"And if she isn't comfortable with it?"

I pick up my glass and sip on my lemonade. "Mh!" My eyes widen, "Delicious!"

"Zelda!" he groans impatiently.

"You were right, it is a tad sour."

"Zelda, stop stalling!" he growls. "What if Mipha isn't comfortable with how things went?"

"If she's not comfortable with it," I say, putting the glass down. "Then you respect her feelings and boundaries, Revali. Then you figure out how to make it more comfortable next time. If Mipha cares about you as much as you do about her, she'll appreciate your honesty and willingness to discuss this together."

"But..."

"Think of this as a chance for your relationship to grow stronger."

I look at Revali, who still seems to doubt my words. I didn't know there was someone out there who overthinks just as much as me. It's a good thing I've gone through all these emotions already and can offer some insight.

"You can work through this," I say. "Communication is key, and it's never too late to have that conversation."

"It's definitely too late. It's been weeks."

"So?" I shrug. "You were able to talk to me, why would it be any different with Mipha?"

"Because I don't have anything to lose with you."

I give him a glare of friendly fire.

"And also," he adds with a sly smile, glancing at me from the corner of his eye, "you still owe me for helping you out last Christmas."

"I didn't know I owed you for that night," I laugh, acting shocked. "How can we make it even? Want me to share my bed with you this time?"

"After that awful night back in December with all the drama, nothing could make me share a bed with you again," he says with a haughty smirk.

"What about an apartment?" I casually cut in, leaving him momentarily bewildered as he searches for the punchline that never comes.

"Wait, what?" he asks, his brow furrowing.

"Would you consider sharing an apartment with me?"

He stares at me for a few seconds, then shakes his head. "I don't get it."

"It's not a joke."

"I still don't get it."

"You said you don't like living at the frat house," I explain.

"Doesn't mean I want to live with you of all people."

"Okay, ouch."

"Oh grow a pair."

"Come on, Revali, it could be fun," I suggest, trying to win him over. "Link would be there too!"

"If you're trying to sell the idea to me, you're doing it all wrong."

"What if Mipha lived with us too?"

"Now you're getting it."

"Would you consider it then?"

"Are you serious right now?"

I nod calmly. "I'm serious. I'm moving out and I'm looking for roommates."

"Dude," he sighs, rubbing his neck, "I don't know." He at least seems to be thinking it over, which is a good start. "Living with Mipha sounds nice but I don't even know if we're going to work things out."

"Of course you guys are going to work things out! You just have to talk to her."

"About that... I don't know if I can."

"Oh, grow a pair," I mock him with his own words. "Just talk to her instead of whining about your relationship."

"Okay, ouch," he mocks me right back.

"It's called tough-love," I say, sticking out my tongue. "You and Mipha love each other and the only way to mess things up is by running from your problems. Go talk to her and make up already. Seriously, what scares you more, talking to her or losing her? Hm? You're always so confident but when it comes to Mipha you're like a baby bird fresh out of the egg. It's time to grow up and face your problems head on." I lean closer, fixing him with a determined look. "Revali, trust me, love isn't always smooth sailing. You have to navigate through the rough waters together. It's worth it in the end."

"Yeah yeah, okay. Maybe you're right."

"Maybe?" I arch both brows, my mouth agape in a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "Of course I'm right! And once you two sort things out, you can thank me by moving in with me and Link."

Revali's usual cocky demeanor returns. "You really want to be roomies badly, don't you?"

"It would reduce rent tremendously."

"Daddy's not paying for your rent?" he smirks. "So you're just using me for the money then?"

"And you're using me for your relationship,"  I admit with a shameless smirk.

He shakes his head, "You're something else, Princess."

"One of a kind, Ravioli."

We continue chatting about trivial things until the sun sets and night arrives. Revali seems much calmer and happier by the time we're drinking our fourth glasses of lemonade. He stays for dinner, and afterwards keeps chatting with me on the patio. We light the fire and just stare at the dancing flames while we talk about everything and nothing. 

The prospect of us living together becomes more realistic with each passing hour and by the time he leaves, I'm confident that there is only one more person left to convince.