They came together like flame to dry leaves; sudden, hungry, inevitable. The air between them was electric, pulsing with a tension that had nowhere else to go. Every movement was raw with urgency, every touch a demand. They didn't speak: there was no space for words, only the sharp intake of breath, the rustle of sheets, the fierce rhythm of need meeting need. The scent in the room was unmistakable: the sharp, metallic trace of sweat, the warmth of skin, and something heavier, evidence of their lovemaking.
The room was thick with it: heat still clinging to the walls, sheets tangled and damp and the unmistakable warm, musky, spent scent of their night. It lingered in the air like a memory that refused to fade.
When it was over, neither moved. The room was still but the heat remained, humming beneath the skin. They lay tangled together, breathing slow and uneven, the fierce heat between them melting into something softer. Their bodies still trembled, caught somewhere between the urgency that had consumed them and the fragile calm settling in its wake. Eyes met in the dim light, silent and searching, holding everything they hadn't said.
Somewhere deep in the night, the shrill buzz of Ren's phone cut through the quiet rhythm of their breathing. Noelle stirred against him, her brow furrowing as she blinked blearily, still tucked into the warmth of his chest.
Ren shifted, fumbling for his phone on the nightstand. "Shh," he murmured softly, brushing his hand along her hair in a soothing gesture. "Go back to sleep, Noelle. It's nothing."
But the tone in his voice wasn't casual…it carried a weight, something that told her this wasn't a call he could ignore.
She blinked up at him, whispering groggily, "Ren…?"
He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her temple, lingering there for a moment as though reluctant to pull away. "I'll have to head out for a while," he admitted quietly, his thumb brushing along her cheek. "Don't worry, okay? Just… stay here, sleep. I'll be back before you know it."
Too drowsy to protest, too trusting in his steady warmth, Noelle let her eyes flutter shut again. She felt the faint rustle of the sheets as he slipped out of bed, the whisper of him dressing quickly in the dark. A final brush of his lips against her hair, a barely-there "Sleep well," and then the soft click of the door.
When Noelle finally stirred the next morning, the sunlight had already slipped past the curtains. She stretched, reaching instinctively for the warmth beside her, only to find the sheets cool, the space empty. Her stomach sank.
Reaching for her phone, she found a message waiting.
Ren:Sorry for slipping out. Had to go. Don't worry. I'll explain later. — R
Her chest tightened as she reread it. Short, careful, vague. The words carried no explanation, only a promise but somehow that made her heart ache more.
The quiet of her room pressed in and she knew she couldn't spend the whole Sunday tangled in the absence of him. Almost on cue, her phone buzzed again, this time Mei Ling.
Mei Ling: Hey, you awake? Let's go out. Whole day, my treat. You need fresh air. And no, you don't get to say no.
Noelle let out a small laugh despite herself. That was Mei Ling. Blunt, bossy, and always knowing when to swoop in. She typed back a simple 'K before she could second-guess it.
By late morning, they were weaving through the Sunday bustle of a shopping district. Mei Ling linked their arms, tugging Noelle into boutique after boutique, holding dresses up to her with mock seriousness.
"You need something cute," Mei Ling declared, thrusting a sundress against Noelle's frame. "Not for me. for your mystery someone."
Noelle's cheeks warmed instantly. "I thought we were shopping for you. There's no mystery someone."
"Uh-huh." Mei Ling arched a brow. "And that glow on your face? You think I don't notice? Or is it not a mystery anymore?"
Noelle ducked into the changing room just to escape her knowing grin.
Lunch was at a cozy café tucked into a side street. Between bites of pasta, Mei Ling kept the conversation light with stories from class, funny gossip, her mom's over-the-top weekend shopping sprees. Noelle found herself laughing, really laughing, for the first time that day.
Still, every so often, her phone sat heavy in her hand, the unanswered questions about Ren lingering like shadows at the edge of her thoughts. She kept quiet about it, though, not ready to explain what even she didn't fully understand.
The two girls lingered at the café long after their plates were cleared, sipping slowly at iced teas while the Sunday chatter swirled around them. Noelle shifted uncomfortably in her seat, a warmth stealing across her cheeks as she adjusted her posture. The faint soreness in her body was a constant reminder of the night before, of how close, how overwhelming, how real everything with Ren had suddenly become.
Her fingers toyed with the rim of her glass. She wanted to say something, anything but the words stuck in her throat. How could she even begin to explain it?
Mei Ling was watching her, chin propped on her hand, eyes sharp despite her relaxed smile. "You've been smiling to yourself all day. And blushing. Spill, Noelle. What's going on?"
Noelle froze, caught mid-thought. "It's… nothing. Just tired."
"Uh huh, sure," Mei Ling teased, poking her arm. "With those dark circles? What have you been doing at night?"
Noelle's blush deepened and Mei Ling's eyes went wide as realisation hit. "No way. No way. Don't tell me it's homework, because I'll slap you."
Noelle ducked her head, laughing nervously. "It's not homework."
"Then what?"
Noelle hesitated, lips parting as if to speak, then closing again. She thought of Ren's hands holding her steady, the way his voice had dropped when he whispered against her skin, the dizzying rush of wanting and being wanted. Her chest tightened, heat blooming all over again.
Mei Ling leaned in, her voice dropping into a conspiratorial whisper. "Oh. My. God. Are you… doing someone?" She slapped the table lightly, eyes sparkling. "Tell me or I'm going to scream right now."
Noelle stiffened, which was all the confirmation Mei Ling needed. She gasped and grabbed Noelle's wrist. "You are! Noelle! Don't play with me—was it Ren? It was him, wasn't it? Oh my god!"
Mei Ling was already spiralling into girly hysteria, lowering her voice only enough to keep from drawing stares. "Okay, but tell me—was he gentle, or was it like—" she made a vague, scandalous gesture with her hands, "—you know, wild?"
"Mei Ling!"
Her best friend grinned wickedly, undeterred. "Fine, fine, don't tell me. I'll just assume he has ridiculous stamina from all those sports. Like, hours, right? I can totally see it. And he probably knows how to use those strong arms of his—"
"Stop!" Noelle buried her face in her hands, mortified.
"Oh my god, you're not denying it." Mei Ling slapped the table lightly, laughing so hard she nearly toppled her drink. "Noelle, you lucky girl! I knew he'd be the type—sweet outside, total fire inside."
Noelle peeked at her from between her fingers, her face flaming. "You're impossible."
"And you," Mei Ling declared dramatically, pointing her straw at her, "are glowing. Absolutely glowing. Don't think I don't notice."
Noelle tried to scowl but ended up laughing instead, her chest warm despite the embarrassment. She hadn't given Mei Ling a single detail, but somehow her friend had already painted the picture all on her own.
Noelle covered her face with her hands, muffling her voice. "It's not like that—well… it is, but…"
Mei Ling leaned back, straw between her lips, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know," she said casually, "maybe I should test Ren's stamina myself. You know… in PE class. Make him run laps until he collapses, see if he's as good at endurance as you're pretending he isn't."
Noelle nearly dropped her glass. "You will not!" she hissed, face flaming.
Mei Ling grinned like a cat with cream. "Look at you, so defensive. That confirms it." She wagged her brows, clearly enjoying every second.