After unpacking, they walked to the lake's edge. The world was quiet except for the soft ripple of water and distant calls of night birds.
The night air near the lake was cooler than Est expected.
A soft breeze moved across the water, carrying the scent of pine trees and damp earth.
Est walked slowly toward the wooden dock that stretched out over the water.
The lake was perfectly still, reflecting the stars so clearly it almost looked like another sky beneath them.
"William," Est said quietly.
William stepped up beside him. "Yeah?"
Est pointed toward the water. "It looks unreal."
William smiled faintly. "That's why I picked this place."
They walked down the dock together, their footsteps echoing softly against the wooden boards.
At the end, Est sat down first, letting his legs dangle over the edge.
The water rippled slightly beneath his shoes.
William sat beside him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
It was peaceful.
Est leaned back on his hands and looked up at the sky. "You can actually see the Milky Way out here."
William glanced up. "City lights ruin everything."
Est laughed softly. "True."
He shifted slightly so their shoulders touched. "Honestly… I forgot what quiet felt like."
William nodded slowly. "Same."
Est looked at him. "You've been stressed lately."
William raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"You do that thing."
"What thing?"
Est mimicked him dramatically, furrowing his brow. "That serious CEO face."
William chuckled. "That's not a thing."
"It absolutely is."
Est nudged him lightly with his shoulder. "You're doing it less tonight though."
William looked out over the water. "That's because you're here."
Est blinked. "…that was smooth."
William shrugged casually. "I try."
Est dipped his foot into the lake water.
Immediately he winced. "Oh— that's cold!"
William laughed. "What did you expect?"
Est pulled his foot back up dramatically. "Not ice water!"
William leaned forward and touched the surface with his fingers. "Okay yeah… that's cold."
Est smirked. "See?"
William shook his head, smiling. "You're dramatic."
Est crossed his arms. "I'm expressive."
William glanced at him. "That's a polite way to say dramatic."
Est kicked his foot lightly in William's direction. "You're lucky I like you."
William grinned. "Very lucky."
They sat quietly again for a moment.
Then William spoke. "Do you remember the first day we met?"
Est laughed. "How could I forget?"
"You glared at me."
"I did not!"
William nodded confidently. "You absolutely did."
Est shook his head. "That's because you walked in like you owned the entire room."
William smirked. "I did own the room."
Est rolled his eyes. "Arrogant."
"But you still talked to me."
Est looked down at the water. "…yeah."
William nudged him gently. "What changed?"
Est smiled faintly. "You were nicer than I expected."
William raised an eyebrow. "Low standards."
Est laughed.
The wind picked up slightly, rustling the trees along the shore.
Est shivered a little.
William noticed immediately. "Cold?"
"A little."
Without thinking, William slid his arm around Est's shoulders and pulled him closer.
Est leaned into him naturally.
Their bodies fit together comfortably.
Est rested his head lightly against William's shoulder. "This is nice."
William's voice was quiet. "Yeah."
The stars reflected on the lake like scattered diamonds.
Est watched them silently. Then he said softly, "You really went through all this trouble for me?"
William didn't hesitate. "Of course."
Est looked up at him. "Why?"
William met his gaze. "Because you deserve to feel normal sometimes."
Est's expression softened. "William…"
William brushed a loose strand of hair away from Est's face. "You work hard. You deal with fans, interviews, rumors…"
His thumb lingered briefly against Est's cheek. "…I just wanted to give you something peaceful."
Est's heart fluttered slightly. "You're going to make me emotional."
William smiled. "That would be new."
Est scoffed. "I'm very emotional."
William laughed quietly.
The moment stretched.
Their faces were closer now.
Close enough that Est could feel William's breath.
Est looked up at him. "Thank you."
William's voice dropped slightly. "You've already said that."
"I know." Est smiled softly. "But I meant it more this time."
William chuckled. "You're impossible."
Est tilted his head. "But you like me anyway."
William looked at him carefully. "…yeah."
The wind rippled across the lake again.
The quiet night wrapped around them like a blanket.
Just two people sitting under a sky full of stars.
Together.
The walk back to the cabin was slow.
Neither of them seemed in a hurry to leave the peaceful lake behind.
The gravel path crunched softly under their shoes while the cabin lights glowed warmly through the trees.
Est wrapped his arms around himself. "Okay… now it's actually cold."
William chuckled. "I told you to bring a jacket."
"You said it was a surprise trip! How was I supposed to pack properly?"
William opened the cabin door for him. "Excuses."
Est stepped inside and immediately sighed. "Oh wow."
The cabin was cozy—wooden walls, warm lighting, and a large stone fireplace in the corner. A soft couch sat near the window, and beyond it the lake could still be seen under the moonlight.
Est walked further in, turning slowly. "This place is amazing."
William set the keys on the small table. "I hoped you'd like it."
Est ran his hand across the wooden counter. "You booked this for just us?"
"Yeah."
Est shook his head with a smile. "You're full of surprises."
William moved to the fireplace and crouched down.
Within minutes a small fire crackled to life, filling the room with soft orange light.
Est dropped onto the couch, stretching his legs out. "This is exactly what I needed."
William walked over and handed him a mug of hot chocolate he'd found in the kitchen supplies.
Est blinked. "You even thought of this?"
William shrugged. "I tried to be prepared."
Est took a sip and sighed happily. "You're dangerously perfect right now."
William sat beside him. "Don't get used to it."
Est leaned back against the couch cushions. "Too late."
They sat quietly for a moment, listening to the fire crackle.
The room felt warm and calm compared to the cool night outside.
Est glanced at William. "You know what's weird?"
"What?"
"This is the longest we've been alone together without work interruptions."
William thought about it. "…you're right."
Est tilted his head. "No managers, no cameras, no fans watching."
William smirked slightly. "Just you and me."
Est's cheeks warmed slightly. "…yeah."
The firelight flickered across the room.
William leaned back on the couch, stretching his arm along the backrest behind Est.
Est noticed.
But he didn't move away.
Instead he shifted slightly closer.
William glanced down at him. "You're getting comfortable."
Est shrugged. "You're warm."
William laughed quietly. "That's the excuse?"
Est smirked. "Do you want me to move?"
William's voice softened. "…no."
The room felt suddenly quieter.
Est set his mug down on the table.
Their shoulders were touching now.
William looked at him. "You're staring."
Est blinked. "No I'm not."
"You are."
Est hesitated, then admitted quietly, "…maybe."
William tilted his head. "Why?"
Est studied his face for a moment. The firelight reflected in William's eyes.
"You look different here."
"How?"
"Relaxed."
William smiled faintly. "That's because you dragged me out of my serious CEO mode earlier."
Est laughed softly. "Good. That version of you is intimidating."
William leaned slightly closer. "You're not intimidated."
Est's voice dropped a little. "…maybe a little."
The distance between them had grown smaller.
William reached out slowly and brushed his fingers against Est's wrist.
"Can I ask you something?"
Est nodded. "Yeah."
William hesitated. "Back then… when you said you liked me."
Est looked down shyly. "…yeah?"
"Did you mean it?"
Est lifted his gaze again.
His expression was soft but certain. "I did."
William's chest tightened slightly.
Est smiled gently. "I wouldn't say something like that as a joke."
William exhaled slowly. "Good."
Est tilted his head. "Why?"
William moved a little closer. "Because I meant it too."
Est's heart skipped.
The firelight flickered again.
Their faces were only inches apart now.
Est's voice was barely above a whisper. "William…"
William's thumb gently brushed against Est's hand. "Yeah?"
Est hesitated. "You're looking at me like you're about to do something."
William smiled softly. "Maybe I am."
Est's breath caught slightly. "…what?"
William leaned closer. "Something I've wanted to do for a while."
Est didn't move away.
Instead his hand slid lightly into William's.
Their fingers intertwined naturally. "Then why haven't you?"
William's voice was quiet. "I didn't want to rush you."
Est smiled softly. "You're not rushing me."
The space between them disappeared.
William lifted his hand gently to Est's cheek.
Est leaned into the touch instinctively.
The fire crackled softly behind them.
William paused just before their lips touched.
Giving Est one last chance to pull away.
Est didn't.
Instead he whispered, "William…"
And closed the distance.
Their kiss was soft.
Slow.
The kind of kiss that felt like a promise more than a moment.
Est's hand slid into William's hair while William wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him closer.
The warmth of the fire and the quiet cabin made the moment feel unreal.
When they finally pulled apart, both of them were smiling slightly.
Est rested his forehead against William's. "…okay."
William chuckled softly. "Okay?"
Est nodded. "That was worth the wait."
William brushed his thumb across Est's cheek again. "Good."
Est smiled warmly. "Best trip ever."
Outside the cabin, the lake reflected the stars.
Inside, the night was just beginning.