Ren had never been the type to hesitate. On the field, decisions were split-second from pass to shoot to tackle. Even off the field, people always said he carried himself like someone who knew what he wanted. But the moment he saw Noelle, all of that certainty faltered.
It was instant. She was different.
The afternoon sun beat down on the soccer field as practice wrapped up. Sweat still clung to his neck as he slung his bag over his shoulder and jogged toward the bleachers. A cluster of girls waved from the fence, their laughter high and sharp, each pitch perfect in its attempt to catch his attention. Ren gave them a polite nod but his gaze slid past them, drawn to the library steps across the courtyard.
And then he saw her.
Noelle, laughing at something one of her classmates had said, completely unaware of him. In that moment, the world seemed to slow. The hum of voices, the rustle of footsteps, the sun spilling over the courtyard, all of it faded to the background. She wasn't loud or showy, not trying to be noticed, no heavy makeup, no flashy accessories, none of the theatrics that usually made him roll his eyes. She was natural, light, effortless but she was beautiful. Her lips part slightly as she focuses on the conversation her friends were talking about.
And for Ren, it was love at first sight.
Ren couldn't stop staring. Every small movement she made, tilting her head while listening, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear, shifting her weight on the step, felt like it was carved into his memory. His chest tightened, a mix of awe and something he couldn't quite name. It was disorienting, the way her presence seemed to bend the air around him.
He rubbed the back of his neck, muttering under his breath. "What is happening to me?" He had always been calm under pressure, whether on the soccer field or facing the toughest opponents. But this… this was different. This was uncharted.
He tried to rationalize it. She wasn't dazzling in a conventional way, not like the girls who threw themselves at him with rehearsed lines and practiced smiles. Noelle soft, gentle and quietly beautiful. And yet, Ren was helplessly drawn to her.
Ren replayed the scene in his mind, the slow-motion moment of her laugh, the sunlight catching the gentle curve of her profile. It was like the universe had pressed pause just for her. He could feel his heartbeat in his ears, each thump echoing in a way that made him dizzy.
He leaned back on the bleacher, the soccer bag heavy on his shoulder. "Ren… you can't just sit here forever," he muttered. "She's not going to notice you if you don't do something."
The thought of someone else stepping in, someone who might laugh at her jokes or catch her eye, made his stomach tighten. Ren knew he couldn't let that happen. Not because he wanted to possess her but because he couldn't stand the idea of losing the chance to know her, truly, to see the way she moved through the world so effortlessly. He was naturally a hunter, driven by instinct and he had set his sights on her. Every glance, every fleeting smile she threw his way felt like a spark he couldn't ignore. He had to act, to carve out his place in her life before someone else did, even if it meant confronting feelings he hadn't anticipated, even if it meant risking the careful balance of his own composure.
For the first time in a long while, Ren felt the uncertainty he usually avoided. He didn't know the right words, didn't know if he even deserved to approach her. But he did know one thing: he had to try. He had to speak to her, even if it was just to see her smile up close, even if his knees felt like they might give out.
He straightened, took a deep breath, and whispered to himself, "Okay, Ren. Time to stop overthinking. Just… talk to her."
And as he crossed the courtyard, each step seemed to carry both a question and an answer. Ren rubbed a hand over his face, exhaling. "Man, you're in deep," he muttered to himself.
On the surface, he knew what everyone else saw. The soccer captain, popular, approachable, the guy who could charm his way out of anything. But with Noelle, he wasn't sure of anything. It rattled him more than he cared to admit.
He remembered the time in the cafeteria when he'd offered to carry her tray. To anyone else, it might have seemed like a casual gesture, part of his easygoing nature. But he remembered the way her fingers brushed his when she passed it to him, how his pulse kicked just a little too fast. He'd joked to cover it, but the memory stuck.
It wasn't just her smile or her laugh. It was the way she made space feel… different. When she was near, noise softened, distractions blurred. She grounded him in a way he didn't know he needed.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes still on her. For someone who never hesitated, he was hesitating now. He could almost hear his teammates teasing him if they knew. Ren, the guy who'd coolly rejected more confessions than he could count, sitting here like some lovesick fool.
Still, this was different.
He straightened, tightening his grip on the strap of his bag. Noelle was walking away from the library now, her figure small but steady as she blended into the crowd. Ren's chest tightened again.
Ren replayed the moment over and over in his head: her laugh when he suggested grabbing ice cream after practice, the faint flush that crept across her cheeks when she said yes. It was such a small thing, so mundane, yet it made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't control. He had imagined this scenario countless times but now that it was happening, it felt unreal and his happiness was indescribable.
As they stepped out into the sunlit street, Ren couldn't help but notice the way the late-morning light caught her hair, softening her profile. She looked effortless, serene and for a heartbeat he almost forgot the world existed beyond the narrow strip of pavement in front of them.
When a lull in the traffic came, he reached out instinctively, letting his large hand cover hers. The warmth of her palm beneath his felt electric, a small but powerful confirmation that he wanted her to belong with him. Her fingers twitched slightly at first and he held on just a fraction longer than necessary, trying not to let the moment slip away.
The lights changed and he knew he had to let go as they reach the other side of traffic. Reluctantly, he released her hand, watching as she adjusted her pace beside him. Even the brief contact had sent a shockwave through him, a mixture of anticipation and frustration. He wondered if she had noticed how quickly his pulse had raced, how much he had wanted to linger just a moment longer.
He then tried to shake off his nervousness by cracking a joke about making it across safely. Noelle seemed startled by the interaction and he blamed himself for rushing into things and forcing his attention on her.
The sky had darkened without warning, clouds rolling in like a wall. By the time Noelle and Ren tried to walk to the bus stop, the first drops of rain were spattering against the pavement. She squealed, spinning around to dodge a puddle and laughed as Ren held his jacket out.
"Here, take this," he said, draping his jacket over her shoulders. The warmth of the fabric seeped into her, but the breeze carried a chill that made her shiver. Ren stepped closer, and she realized just how tall he was. He adjusted the jacket, spreading it so it covered both of them, his broad shoulders forming a protective barrier against the rain.
Noelle looked up at him, eyes catching the soft lines of his jaw and the way the droplets clung to his dark hair. Even with the jacket over them, she could feel the strength of his arms brushing lightly against hers, the subtle warmth of his body shielding her from the drizzle. The height difference made her feel small, safe in a way that sent an unexpected flutter through her chest.
He glanced down at her, a small, easy smile tugging at his lips. Ren's eyes softened, watching her in the rain, droplets clinging to her lashes. For a long moment, neither spoke. Then, almost in a whisper, his voice low and steady, he said, "Noelle… I've been wanting to tell you something for a while."