They ate slowly, talking about trivial things, like what they'd done over the weekend, small funny incidents from school, the latest memes floating around their classes. Noelle realised with a soft surprise that she'd never felt this comfortable around anyone before. She could laugh without holding back, make awkward jokes without fear and even the tiniest slip of words didn't make her cringe. Ren's presence seemed to erase all the walls she'd built, making her feel light and safe.
"You know," he said, pausing mid-bite, "you are easy to talk to. I don't feel like you have practise or rehearse your conversation before coming or to maintain a certain façade or craft your persona."
Noelle blinked, cheeks flushing. "I… I guess I just… feel comfortable around you. Like I don't have to put on a show."
Ren's grin softened, a flicker of warmth in his dark eyes. "That's exactly what I mean. You're… genuine. And it's nice. Makes hanging out less… awkward, I guess."
As they continued talking, Ren noticed how her eyes lit up when she was engaged, how her smile came easily and how she never made him feel awkward or self-conscious. She was natural, open and somehow magnetic. His thoughts wandered for just a heartbeat to the way her earrings caught the light again. As she speaks, his eyes are locked on her lips and he imagined how she looked if he kissed her and he realised that, slowly, he was utterly smitten by her.
One afternoon, after class, Noelle was walking alongside Ren near the edge of the soccer field, laughing at something he had said.
Without thinking, Ren turned toward her, spreading one arm to shield her while the other went up instinctively to cover his own head. The ball slammed into his shoulder, the impact jarring him slightly. He gritted his teeth, pressing a hand against the sore spot, but kept his stance firm, making sure Noelle was completely out of harm's way.
"Noelle, are you okay?" he called, his voice tight with concern.
"I—I'm fine!" she stammered but her gaze wasn't on herself. It was on him. She hurried closer, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "You're hurt! Let me see."
Ren tried to laugh it off, but the faint wince betrayed him. "It's just a little knock. Nothing serious." He forced a grin, though his shoulder tensed under her gaze.
"No, really," Noelle insisted, reaching out and lightly touching his arm. The warmth of his skin, the accidental closeness and the vulnerability in his expression made her heart skip a beat. "You should sit down."
He shook his head, though the smile faltered. "Nah, I'm fine. But… thanks for the concern." His eyes flicked down to where her hands rested on his arm, and a small, teasing smile tugged at his lips. "Better me than you, I guess? The ball could have hit you."
Her cheeks warmed. She looked away, unsure how to respond. There was a tension in the moment… the closeness, the physical brush of their arms and hands, the faint ache of his injury reflected on his face that made her senses whirl.
Ren noticed her hesitation and the way her attention lingered on him. He took a subtle step closer, careful not to crowd her, yet the effect was unmistakable. "You're awfully quiet," he teased softly.
"R-Ren!" she whispered, forcing her tears back as she's recovering from the shock. Ren got surprised and became concerned about her. "You could have been seriously hurt!" she added.
Meanwhile, the guys shouted their concern for him across the field and he yelled at them for not being careful about where they are kicking the ball.
Ren shook his head, running a hand through his damp hair, still catching his breath. "I'm fine, really," he said, trying to sound casual, though his shoulder throbbed faintly. He glanced at Noelle again, noting how her eyes were wide with worry and felt an unexpected warmth spread through him.
"You're going to make me feel worse than the shoulder ever will," he muttered, a teasing edge in his voice. "Look at you, all worked up."
Noelle's cheeks burned hotter and she looked down at her feet, fidgeting. "I… I just don't like seeing you hurt," she admitted softly.
Ren shook his head, trying to mask the ache in his shoulder. "I'm fine, really," he said but as they started walking, he grimaced slightly and paused. Then, almost reluctantly, he let out a soft sigh. "Actually… mind if I… lean on you for a bit? My shoulder's still throbbing."
Noelle blinked, caught off guard. She raised an eyebrow, a silent glare, clearly aware that he was stretching the truth. Yet, despite the protest written all over her face, she said nothing.
Ren's lips tugged into a mischievous smirk. He shifted just enough to rest lightly against her, letting her feel the warmth of his body. It was brief, casual enough to seem accidental, but deliberate enough to make her pulse flutter.
She kept her expression cool, expression betraying nothing, though inside her thoughts were tumbling. He's taking advantage… but why does it feel like I don't want him to stop?
Ren seemed perfectly at ease, the weight of his arm almost comforting, his presence magnetic. He even let out a quiet, grateful laugh. "Thanks… didn't realise it would help this much."
Noelle didn't respond, though the tiny curve of her lips betrayed the faint amusement and secretly, the thrill she felt.
As they started walking back along the edge of the field, Ren's arm brushed lightly against hers for a fleeting moment but it was enough to send a flutter through her chest. He noticed, of course, and the corner of his mouth tugged upward in a private, knowing smile. Noelle felt her pulse spike and looked away, trying to act normal, though her thoughts were anything but.
The guys in the distance continued shouting and laughing, and Ren called back over his shoulder, "Seriously, you guys need to aim your shots better!"
Noelle laughed, and Ren looked back at her with his signature grin, secretly thanking the guys in his heart.
Noelle guided Ren toward a quieter corner of the field, insisting he sit down by the bench while she stood beside him. "You need to rest," she chided gently, her hands reaching for his bruised shoulder. "And seriously, you have to think about yourself too and not launch yourself in front of danger!"
He sank onto the bench, the height difference striking even in that moment: he was almost as tall sitting down as she was standing. She absentmindedly pressed her fingers into the tense muscle, her touch soft, methodical, yet he couldn't help but notice how close she was. The faint scent of her perfume, the warmth of her body just an inch away… it made him acutely aware of every movement, every brush of her skin against him.
Her voice continued, gentle scolds mingled with teasing. "See? That's why you should—" She paused, pressing a bit more firmly. Her hands moved over his back muscles, tracing the ridges under his shirt almost unconsciously.
Ren tensed further. Every soft pressure of her hands, the warmth so near, the delicate brush of breath against his neck and ear makes it was all suddenly overwhelming. His heart picked up pace. Before he lost control, he reached out, turning her gently but firmly and caught her wrist mid-sentence. This destabilised Noelle and launched closer to Ren as he accidentally pull her closer to him.
"Noelle… wait," he murmured, his voice low, urgent. His face was only inches from hers and he could see the wide-eyed shock mirrored in her expression.
The sudden closeness, the weight of the moment, sent both of them reeling. Instinctively, they dropped their hands, each turning slightly away, cheeks burning. The silence was thick with unspoken tension and for a while, neither spoke.
Ren stammered, struggling for words. "I… uh…"
Noelle cleared her throat, fumbling for composure. "I should… go," she said softly, almost a whisper, and without waiting for a reply, she stood and stepped back, giving him space, her heartbeat racing, thoughts tangled.
As she walked away, she felt the weight of the encounter settle over her. A mixture of embarrassment, fascination and the undeniable pull she felt toward him. Ren remained seated for a long moment, staring after her, mind and body equally stirred, realising just how easy it was for her presence to unbalance him.