The silence after their first real kiss wasn't awkward.
It wasn't panicked.
It wasn't rushed.
It was warm.
Soft.
Different.
Her forehead was still lightly resting against his when she whispered, almost breathless, "We should probably move away from the door."
He huffed a quiet laugh. "Yeah. Probably."
Neither of them moved.
Not immediately.
Her hands were still resting against his chest.
His hands were still at her waist.
Not tight.
Not possessive.
Just steady.
She looked up at him.
He was already looking at her.
There was something new in his expression.
Not fear.
Not uncertainty.
Just happiness.
The kind you try not to show too openly because it feels too big.
"So…" he said softly.
"So…" she echoed.
They both smiled at the same time.
He hesitated.
Then brushed his thumb gently against her side, a small nervous gesture.
"Can I—?" he started.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Again?"
Her cheeks warmed instantly.
"You're asking again?" she teased quietly.
He smiled faintly. "Always."
Her heart flipped.
"Yes," she whispered.
This time, it wasn't nervous.
It wasn't fragile.
It was deliberate.
He leaned in slowly, giving her time.
She didn't hesitate.
Their lips met again—
Softer.
More certain.
No slipping.
No falling.
Just them.
The world outside didn't exist.
The dust in the air, the stacked boxes, the tiny window—none of it mattered.
His hand shifted slightly at her waist, careful, gentle.
Her fingers curled lightly into his shirt.
It wasn't dramatic.
It wasn't intense.
It was steady.
Comfortable.
Like they had both been waiting for this exact moment without realizing it.
And then—
BANG.
The door flew open so hard it hit the wall.
Light flooded the room.
"WE KNEW IT!"
The scream echoed off every surface.
They jumped apart instantly.
Her eyes went wide.
His head snapped toward the doorway.
And there they were.
All of them.
Both friend groups.
Stacked in the doorway like an audience that had just witnessed the final scene of a drama.
Friend #6 clutched her chest dramatically. "I TOLD YOU."
One of the boys pointed aggressively. "I SAW IT. I SAW IT."
The girl gasped and immediately covered her face with both hands.
"Oh my god," she groaned.
Her entire face felt like it was on fire.
He, on the other hand—
Stared at their friends.
Then looked at her.
Then back at them.
And did something unexpected.
He laughed.
Not embarrassed.
Not awkward.
Just genuinely amused.
"You guys are unbelievable," he said.
Friend #1 squealed. "THEY WERE KISSING!"
Friend #3 pretended to faint against the wall. "Three hours well spent."
Friend #2 clapped loudly. "Our work here is DONE."
The girl peeked through her fingers.
"You were listening?!" she shrieked.
"Only the last ten seconds!" one of the boys defended.
"Which were the important ones," another added.
She made a strangled noise and turned away completely, hiding her face against his shoulder.
He stiffened for half a second—
Then relaxed.
One of his friends gasped dramatically. "SHE HID IN HIS SHOULDER."
Friend #6 screamed. "PROGRESS."
He gently placed a hand at her back, protective but subtle.
"Okay," he said calmly, though his grin betrayed him. "You've had your moment."
"Our moment?" Friend #5 said. "This is a historical event."
Friend #4 wiped imaginary tears. "Love wins."
The girl groaned into his shoulder. "I hate all of you."
"No, you don't," they all sang in unison.
He couldn't stop smiling.
"You locked us in a storeroom," he reminded them.
"And look at the results!" the tallest boy replied proudly.
Friend #3 pointed dramatically at them. "Official confirmation?"
The girl froze.
He looked down at her.
She slowly lowered her hands from her face.
Her cheeks were still bright red.
But she nodded.
Softly.
"Yes."
The reaction was explosive.
Screaming.
Clapping.
Whistling.
Someone actually started chanting his name.
"STOP!" she cried, covering her face again.
He laughed openly now.
"Relax," he said gently to her.
"Relax?!" she whispered furiously. "They're going to tell the entire school!"
"Oh, we are," Friend #2 confirmed cheerfully.
He shot them a look. "No, you're not."
They froze.
He rarely used that tone.
The serious one.
The protective one.
Friend #6 raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. We won't broadcast it."
"Yet," one of the boys muttered.
She gasped dramatically.
He squeezed her hand lightly.
She blinked.
Looked down.
Realized their hands were now intertwined.
Her blush deepened.
But this time—
She didn't pull away.
Friend #1 noticed immediately.
"THE HAND HOLDING."
"SHUT UP," she said weakly.
One of the boys nudged him. "Bro looks different."
"Yeah," another agreed. "He's glowing."
He rolled his eyes but couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"You're all insane," he said.
"And you're welcome," Friend #3 replied.
The girl finally lifted her head from his shoulder.
Still red.
Still embarrassed.
But smiling.
"You planned this way too well," she accused.
Friend #6 bowed slightly. "Thank you."
"We almost gave up at hour two," one of the boys admitted.
"What?!" she exclaimed.
"Relax," he said quickly. "We were committed."
"You were eavesdropping for three hours?" she said in disbelief.
Friend #5 shrugged. "We rotated shifts."
He burst out laughing again.
She stared at him.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little," he admitted.
She shook her head, but she was smiling too.
The chaos slowly softened into chatter.
Celebratory teasing.
High-fives between friend groups.
Back pats.
Proud nods.
It felt less like embarrassment—
And more like being surrounded by people who genuinely wanted them happy.
Friend #4 stepped closer.
"Okay, serious question," she said. "Are we allowed to tease you forever now?"
"Yes," he said immediately.
"No!" she objected.
Too late.
They all cheered.
Friend #6 pointed at them dramatically. "You two are officially banned from dramatic misunderstandings ever again."
"Agreed," one of the boys said.
The girl finally took a deep breath.
Then glanced up at him.
He was still smiling.
But softer now.
Calmer.
She nudged him lightly. "You're way too calm."
"I'm relieved," he admitted.
Her expression softened.
"Me too."
The noise around them faded slightly.
Just for a second.
He squeezed her hand gently.
"You ready?" he asked.
"For what?"
"To leave."
She glanced at the doorway.
At their friends.
At the world outside that was about to know.
Then back at him.
Her heart didn't feel panicked anymore.
It felt steady.
"With you?" she asked quietly.
He smiled.
"Always."
Her stomach fluttered.
"Okay," she said.
They stepped forward together.
Still holding hands.
Their friends parted dramatically like they were royalty exiting a grand hall.
Friend #1 pretended to wipe tears again. "They grow up so fast."
Friend #3 saluted them. "Mission successful."
As they walked past, someone whispered loudly, "Three hours. Impressive."
She groaned.
He chuckled.
But neither let go.
They stepped out into the hallway.
Sunlight streaming in through the windows.
Students passing by.
Normal life resuming.
But nothing felt the same.
Not because it was chaotic.
Not because it was dramatic.
But because it was real.
She looked at their hands again.
Then up at him.
"You know," she said softly, "we could've just talked."
"Yeah," he agreed.
"But then we wouldn't have this story."
She smiled.
"That's true."
Behind them, their friends were still whispering loudly.
Still celebrating.
Still proud.
But for the first time—
The noise didn't matter.
Because they weren't almost anymore.
They weren't confused.
They weren't scared.
They were together.
And as they walked down the hallway—
Side by side.
Fingers intertwined.
Smiling without trying to hide it—
It didn't feel like they were being pushed anymore.
It felt like they were choosing.