[ Rain's POV ]
I sprinted toward the silhouette by the motorbike, my breath hitching when I saw him. Fran looked startled, his eyes widening as I skidded to a halt in front of him.
"Why did you come down?" he asked, his voice low and raspy from the cold. "I told you it was freezing out here. I was just checking on you... I was about to head back."
"Sorry. I only just saw your messages," I panted, hugging my jacket closer. "I fell asleep at the table and didn't notice."
"It's okay. Go back inside now. You're shivering."
"Hmm," I hummed, looking at the empty street. "Since you're already here... should we take a walk?"
A genuine, rare smile broke across Fran's face. He didn't say a word; he just reached out and took my hand. We started walking down the quiet streets, our footsteps echoing in the midnight silence. When we reached a small neighborhood park, we sat side-by-side on the swings.
"Look, Fran. You can see the stars so clearly from here. It makes me feel relaxed." I leaned my head back, watching the shimmering sky. "It feels... nostalgic."
"Hmm," he nodded, his gaze not on the stars, but on me.
"Let's not fight anymore, okay?" I said, turning to meet his eyes. "I want us to always see the stars together, always, like this."
Fran stared back at me with a look so full of affection it made my heart somersault. Suddenly, the world around us blurred. The trees, the streetlamps, the distant hum of cars, everything vanished until there was only him.
He reached out, grabbing the chain of my swing and pulling it toward his until we were inches apart.
"Rain," he whispered.
He slowly moved his face closer. I knew I should have been nervous, but for the first time, I wasn't. I didn't want to turn away. In fact, I wanted... I wanted this. I leaned in, closing the final gap until our lips touched.
Fran froze for a split second, his breath hitching in surprise. Then, he responded. He kissed me slowly, tentatively at first, but with a warmth that spread through my entire body. It was soft, sweet, and full of all the things he couldn't say out loud.
When he finally pulled back, he didn't let me go. He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes darkening with a different kind of intensity.
Suddenly, he stood up, his grip on my wrist firm but not painful. He led me away from the open swings and into the shadows beneath the tall plastic slide.
He didn't give me a chance to settle. He pressed me against the cool surface and kissed me again, but this time, it was different.
The sweetness was gone, replaced by a hungry, desperate energy. His tongue slid against mine, deep and demanding. I didn't know how to respond; I was a total novice, so I simply followed his lead, my body sparking with a heat I'd never felt before.
Then, I felt his hand slide beneath the hem of my shirt.
His palm was hot against the skin of my stomach, moving upward toward my chest while his other hand found the sensitive curve of my neck and back. A small, involuntary moan escaped my lips. That was too much. I pulled back, gasping for air, my face and ears burning a bright, frantic red.
I looked at him, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. Fran was staring at my lips, his pupils blown wide, his breathing just as heavy as mine.
"I want to take you home now," he said, his voice dropping an octave, not turning his gaze away from my lips.
"Fran..." I whispered, my voice trembling.
He suddenly seemed to snap out of it. He blinked, his gaze finally lifting to meet my eyes, and a flash of panic crossed his face. He looked like he'd just realized how far he'd let himself go.
"I... I should take you back to the condo. Now," Fran said, his voice strained.
I could only nod, my heart still racing a mile a minute. As we walked back to the bike, the cold night air didn't feel cold at all.