Noelle barely made it inside before plopping onto her bed. Her fingers fumbled over her phone as she tried to text Mei Ling, words tumbling out in a jumble of excitement and embarrassment. She hesitated, deleting and rewriting a few times, before finally sending: "Guess what happened today…"
Almost instantly, her phone rang. Mei Ling's impatient, teasing voice came through the speaker. "Noelle! Don't keep me in suspense. Just tell me!"
Noelle laughed nervously, her cheeks warming. "Okay… so, Ren… we… it's official." Her words trailed off as she recounted the small, teasing moments at the cafe, the hand-holding, the playful circles on his thigh and how she'd dashed into her house, mortified yet thrilled.
Mei Ling let out a whoop on the other end, practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh my god! I knew it! You two! Finally! And he didn't make it obvious in front of everyone?"
"Nope," Noelle admitted with a sheepish grin. "I pulled him to a corner before telling him." As Mei Ling squealed at the other end of the call.
The next day, Noelle walked through the school gates, heart fluttering despite her calm expression. She spotted Ren near the courtyard, tossing a ball lightly in one hand. He didn't call out, didn't wave flamboyantly but their eyes met, and he gave her a small, almost secretive smile. It made her chest tighten in a way she couldn't explain.
Classes passed, the usual blur of lessons and chatter but small moments kept tugging at her attention. At lunch, she settled at a table with her friends, but Ren wasn't far off. He was surrounded by teammates, laughing and joking, yet every so often, his gaze flicked toward her, subtle and deliberate. Noelle caught it, her pulse quickening and she realised she returned the look just as deliberately, a private acknowledgment amidst the noise.
Later, between classes, she needed a pencil from the supply cupboard. She entered just as Ren rounded the corner. He paused, slightly startled but then his grin softened. "Hey," he said, leaning casually against the wall. "Need help finding something?"
Noelle blinked, caught off guard, and shook her head. "Uh, just a pencil." She offered a shy smile.
"Of course," he said, tilting his head, eyes scanning the shelves for her. Then, in a move so subtle it was almost unnoticeable, he brushed against her hand as he passed the pencil to her. His touch lingered just long enough to make her fingers tingle before he pulled back.
By mid-afternoon, their paths crossed again in the library. Ren was at a table with a couple of teammates but when he noticed Noelle walking past. He called softly, "Noelle! Over here for a sec." She approached cautiously, aware of the curious eyes of students around but he merely held up a notebook she needed to reference, a small, considerate gesture.
By the end of the day, Noelle realised how effortless it felt to be around him. He never made her self-conscious, never pressured her, yet his presence was commanding in the most natural way. Even in a crowded school, the world seemed to shrink to the small space they shared in fleeting glances and gentle touches.
Ren, for his part, was silently thrilled. Each laugh she offered, each look she returned, was a confirmation that they clicked, that she was as comfortable with him as he was with her. He found himself distracted by the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, by the small earrings glinting in the light, by the tilt of her head when she focused on her books. She was mesmerising without even trying and he had to fight the urge to reach out and brush a stray strand of hair from her face.
By the time the final bell rang, the tension simmered just beneath the surface, a quiet, tantalizing pull that left them both breathless and impatient for the next encounter, the next small, private interaction that no one else would notice.
The corridors erupted with students spilling out into the afternoon sun. Noelle moved toward the gate, trying to keep a casual pace but Ren fell into step beside her, as if drawn by an invisible tether. He didn't call out, didn't make a show of walking with her, just naturally positioned himself at her side, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.
"You heading home?" he asked, voice low enough that it felt private, though the throng of students bustled around them.
"Yeah," she replied, tucking her backpack strap behind her shoulder. "You?"
"Same, should we grab lunch later? I'll meet you at the café we went yesterday." he said, tilting his head to glance at her. For a heartbeat, he considered letting his hand brush hers. Then, deciding he'd take the risk, he subtly let his fingers touch hers, just enough that she would notice.
Noelle's pulse jumped but she didn't pull away. She found herself stealing glances at his profile, the way his jaw caught the sunlight, the sharp line of his nose, the dark waves of hair falling just so across his forehead. He smelled faintly of the gym, of clean perfume and something subtly masculine that made her stomach flutter as she nodded.
As Noelle pushed open the café door an hour later, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked pastries wrapping around her like a warm hug. Ren was already there, sitting on the bench by the window with that effortless grin she'd come to adore. He wore a simple white t-shirt and jeans, the kind of casual outfit that somehow made him look both relaxed and impossibly put-together. A jacket lie strewn beside him.
"Hey," he said, his voice low, just for her. "Glad you could make it so fast."
Noelle slid onto the bench beside him, careful not to crowd him but close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his side. The sun spilled in through the window, catching the subtle highlights in his hair and for a moment, she was admiring how impossible good looking he really is.
Ren made a little joke about her choosing the chocolate croissant, pretending to swoon dramatically. Noelle laughed, the sound lighter than she expected, and he caught it, his grin widening.
When their food arrived, Ren subtly adjusted so their arms brushed lightly as they reached for their drinks. It was an innocent touch but it sent a small jolt through her that she couldn't ignore. She caught herself fiddling with her straw, pretending to be distracted but she couldn't hide the way her pulse picked up whenever he glanced at her.
"You know," Ren said, leaning just slightly closer so that the words were private, "I've been looking forward to this… hanging out with you."
Noelle's cheeks warmed. "Really? Even though I'm terrible at football?"
"Even though," he replied with a small laugh. "You don't know anything about offside."
Noelle glanced at him, curious. "Ren… why football? I mean, you're tall, so I'd assume basketball or something."
Ren laughed softly, a low, easy sound that made her smile. "People say that a lot," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But I just… like football. The stamina, the strategy, the passion everyone pours into it. There's something about the chaos of the game that's addictive."
He shrugged casually, though his eyes twinkled. "I've tried basketball. I'm… not terrible but I'm not a natural. Taller doesn't mean better, you know? Football just clicked for me."
Noelle nodded, impressed despite herself. "I guess people always assume things about tall guys."
Ren grinned, nudging her lightly with his shoulder. "Yeah, as if all tall guys must be naturally good at basketball. Truth is, I'm just… me. And football makes me feel alive."
Ren's eyes lit up and he subtly reached out, letting their hands brush as he picked up his iced tea. When their fingers met, he let his thumb trace small circles across her knuckles, a quiet, teasing gesture that sent tingles up her arm.
Noelle swallowed hard, a small laugh escaping despite herself. "Stop… teasing me," she whispered, though her hand stayed where it was, not wanting to break the contact.
"I'm not teasing," Ren replied smoothly, his eyes warm as they met hers. "Just… noticing things." He glanced down at her, then back up, the smallest hint of mischief in his gaze. "Like those cute earrings. They suit you."
Her heart jumped. She hadn't even realised she'd put them on today and it made her happy that he noticed the little things about her.
They ate slowly, the conversation meandering from school gossip to favourite snacks, to the little quirks of their classmates. Every so often, their arms brushed, and every time, the connection lingered a little longer than necessary. Noelle felt herself leaning just slightly toward him, drawn in by his calm confidence and the easy warmth he exuded without even trying.
When the lunch was over, Ren slid out of the booth with a quiet, "Shall we?" extending his hand. Noelle hesitated for a heartbeat, then let him guide her out.
They left the café just as the sky darkened, a faint drizzle beginning to fall. Ren cursed softly under his breath, pulling off his jacket in one smooth motion and holding it over both their heads.
"Seriously? Didn't we just talk about umbrellas the other day?" he teased, angling the jacket so it shielded them both.
Noelle laughed but her laughter faltered when their shoulders brushed under the makeshift canopy. The streetlamps cast a warm glow through the mist and the world around them seemed to have applied a soft filter as they stood in soft rain.