The storeroom was never used.
Broken chairs stacked against one wall.
Old sports equipment covered in dust .
A single flickering tube light that buzzed softly above.
No cameras.
No footsteps.
Exactly why Zia chose it.
Christopher arrived first ,heart racing--not with fear,but anticipation.
When the door opened again and Zia stepped inside ,she locked it quietly behind her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The silence felt heavier here.
Closer.
"I've never done this before, "Zia said finally.
"Me neither, "Christopher replied. "Sneaking around.
She smiled faintly. "This isn't sneaking. It's...choosing quiet."
They stood a few feet apart ,the narrow space making distance impossible to ignore.
"I didn't want people watching, "Zia said.
"Or interpreting .Or deciding things for us ."
Christopher nodded. "I'm tired of being interpreted. "
She laughed Softly at that .
The light flickered again.
"Jason's asking questions, "Zia continued.
"And Sofee's pretending she doesn't already know the answers. "
Christopher's jaw tightened.
"I don't want this to hurt you."
Zia stepped closer.
"I don't want to keep pretending it doesn't matter. "
Their eyes met.
No rush .
No drama .
Just honesty, finally allowed to breathe.
"Whatever this is ,"Christopher said carefully,
"I don't want to rush it.Or hide it forever. "
Zia's voice was barely above a whisper.
"I just want it to be ours first ."
She reached out--not to touch his hand,but his sleeve.
A small thing .
Enough.
Footsteps echoed faintly in the corridor outside.
They froze .
After a few seconds, the sound faded.
Zia exhaled a quiet laugh.
"Guess this really is secret. "
Christopher smiled---soft ,real.
"Yeah."
When they unlocked the door and stepped out separately, minutes apart ,no one noticed.
No whispers.
No rumors.
But something had shifted.
Not publicly.
Not yet.
Just between two people.
Who had finally found a place, where no one else could decide for them .