Ren's eyes softened. He wanted to ask what she was thinking about, to reach into that small, guarded space of hers but he hesitated. Instead, he held her hand and squeezed gently. She stiffened for a second, then relaxed, letting him guide her across the street. It was an innocent gesture but it was loaded, and he could feel the electricity in the moment.
"I've realised something lately," she began, her voice soft, almost hesitant. "Sometimes people… aren't really who you think they are. You hope for one thing, expect them to be there, and… they're not." She shook her head lightly, forcing a small laugh. "But I guess that's okay. You move on, right?"
Ren's steps slowed and he glanced at her. There was a weight to her words, a quiet sorrow tucked beneath the casual tone. He didn't need her to say more. He could feel it: the trace of someone else lingering in her heart, someone who hadn't been there when she needed him. He didn't resent it, but he wanted to be the one who made her smile, the one who lingered.
"I don't know if I can erase every trace someone else left behind… but I'll do my best to fill them with our happy moments together," he said softly.
Noelle felt a warmth bloom in her chest, a mix of comfort and guilt. She looked up at him and realised she was being silly. She did love Ren. Han had been a trial she couldn't conquer, leaving her unresolved but this…Ren… had always been nice to her, kind, considerate, attentive and generous. He is everything she ever wanted and asked for. It even comes with a beautiful packaging, as Noelle smiled to herself, observing Ren's features.
Ren gave a small, almost imperceptible shrug, as if dismissing it, yet his gaze didn't waver. "Doesn't matter," he said quietly. "I just… I want you to know that I'm the one you'll come back to. That's all that counts."
Noelle felt something tighten in her chest, an overwhelming warmth, a certainty that had been building beneath the surface. Without thinking, she stepped closer, her hand brushing his arm for leverage as she tiptoed and pressed her lips to his.
Ren's eyes widened for a split second, then softened. He leaned in instantly, responding with a deep, tender kiss that spoke of restraint finally letting go, of feelings confessed without a single word. His hand found hers, fingers curling around hers as though letting go was impossible.
When they finally pulled apart, slightly breathless, Noelle rested her forehead against his, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Ren pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, a slow, teasing smile curling at the corners of his lips. "You know," he said softly, his voice low, "I'm not sure you've properly apologized for making me wait this long."
Noelle blinked, cheeks warming, a shy smile tugging at her lips. "Wait… what?"
"You," he said, leaning slightly closer, "and all that nervous fidgeting before you kissed me. You could have saved me the suspense." His thumb brushed lightly over hers, still holding her hand. "I think I might have to make you do it again… just to be sure."
Noelle's heart skipped a beat, equal parts flustered and exhilarated. She laughed softly, a little breathless, but didn't pull away.
By the time they reached her place, the world outside had faded into the background. Noelle didn't let go of his hand. Instead, she nudged open the main door, letting him step inside and paused in the threshold with a shy but determined glance. Ren's eyes widened, surprised at her boldness. It felt like they had crossed into a new, uncharted chapter of their relationship.
Noelle's gaze flicked toward her room and with a quiet breath, she led the way. Ren followed, curiosity and anticipation written across his face, silently wondering what she had planned but trusting her entirely.
Noelle's fingers lingered on his as she stepped through the doorway, her heartbeat quickening with the boldness of the gesture. Ren followed, eyes flicking around the familiar space, sensing the quiet intimacy of her room without stepping too close. The faint scent of her perfume seemed to pull him in.
She paused at the threshold of her room, turning to face him with a mix of nerves and determination in her eyes. "So… this is it," she said, her voice light but trembling ever so slightly. "You made it inside."
Ren's grin was slow, teasing, and just a little protective. "I did," he murmured, tilting his head, "but now I'm wondering… what do you have planned for me?"
Noelle laughed softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face and for a heartbeat, they just looked at each other, caught in the electricity of the moment. Ren could feel the warmth radiating from her, the subtle tension in her posture and the way her fingers itched to stay intertwined with his.
He stepped just a fraction closer, enough for her to notice the shift without breaking the delicate space she'd carved. "You know," he said, voice low, "I don't mind being patient… but it's hard when you keep looking like that." His eyes roamed over her expression, taking in the blush that had risen to her cheeks and the way she bit her lip unconsciously.
Noelle's breath hitched, both flustered and emboldened. "Like how?" she asked, trying to sound casual, though her hands trembled slightly as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt.
"Like this," Ren said, and his thumb brushed over hers again, slow and deliberate, sending a shiver up her arm. "Like you're daring me to cross the line but not giving me permission to yet."
She swallowed hard, leaning just slightly toward him as if to close the space without actually doing so. "I—" she began, then laughed softly to mask the nervous flutter in her chest. "I don't even know what I'm doing."
"Good," he whispered, almost to himself, "because neither do I… and I guess this makes us even."
Noelle led Ren into her bedroom, the lights still off. Darkness pressed around them and she felt a rush of heat climb into her cheeks. She was conscious of every inch of her body, of the silence between them, of the closeness she had invited. Her fingers trembled slightly as she guided him to sit on the edge of her bed.
Behind him, he heard the soft rustle of fabric. A moment later, the mattress dipped as she slipped beneath the sheets. Hidden there, her breath caught as she tried to summon courage.
Ren shifted uncertainly, trying to orient himself in the unfamiliar darkness. He felt the weight of expectation, the nervous energy buzzing in his chest. Then, suddenly, gentle arms slid around his shoulders. She turned him toward her and before he could speak, her lips found his.
The kiss startled him at first, soft, hesitant but in an instant, something inside him surged. He returned it with hunger, his own passion igniting, yet he kept himself aware of her. As he tried to draw her closer, his hands brushed against her bare skin. The realisation sent a jolt through him: She had stripped herself of every stitch, standing before him, baring herself to him. She shivered beneath his touch and in that small tremor, he felt the depth of her vulnerability.
Noelle wanted to shed all thoughts of Han. She doesn't want Han to take up any more space in her heart and mind. She felt that it would be unfair to Ren to contine doing so. These past weeks, Ren had only been sweet to her. By giving herself to Ren, she can finally get rid of Han's claim on her.
Ren's heartbeat quickened as he leaned into her warmth. With sight taken from him, every brush of her skin felt magnified and electric. His fingertips traced the curve of her arm, hesitant at first, then bolder as she didn't pull away. Her shiver wasn't rejection but an invitation, a trembling acknowledgment that she was just as nervous as he was.
The darkness sharpened everything from the warmth of her skin, the faint scent of her hair to the way her breath quivered between kisses. He couldn't see her but he didn't need to. Every sense told him she was there, opening herself to him, letting him in.
Noelle clutched at the sheets with one hand, her other still holding his shoulder as if to steady herself. The darkness was both a shield and a comfort for it hid her insecurities yet made her more aware of every inch of closeness between them. She could feel his breath against her lips, quick and uneven and the thought that he wanted her, truly wanted her, sent warmth blooming through her chest.
Their mouths met again, deeper this time, lips parting in a rhythm that grew hungrier with each heartbeat. Ren's hands, guided by instinct rather than sight, explored carefully, trying to memorise her with touch, as though the darkness was drawing him to know her in a way sight never could. The soft brush of her hair against his face, the subtle arch of her body under the sheets, the sound of her small, unsteady breaths: all of it etched into him.
Noelle pressed closer, seeking his warmth, her body trembling with both fear and longing. When his arms finally wrapped around her, enclosing her in the safety of his embrace, her tension eased just a little. In that cocoon of shadows, they clung to each other, letting the night carry them deeper into the unspoken language of touch.
Ren broke the kiss only long enough to tug at the hem of his shirt. The fabric slid over his head and he cast it aside with a quiet urgency. As Noelle heard the loosing of his belt buckle and his jeans fall to the floor, she felt the shift of the mattress as he moved closer. The heat of his bare chest pressed against her and a shiver ran down her spine, not from the cold but from the raw closeness of it.