The next morning, the sky looked even more beautiful than usual, like it was blushing along with me.
I was way too happy and giddy, controlling my little dance moves as I skipped into the living room, settling at the end corner of the couch.
I stared at the floor, butterflies filling my stomach, completely aware of Brother Nadrien's gaze from the other end of the couch. He rested his face on his palm, comfortably staring at me now without even trying to hide it.
Nayel, sitting between us, had the most dramatic, disbelief-filled expression, coughing on his juice as he peeked at both me and his brother every few seconds. "Seriously, the air is too hot and flowery for me. Can you both stop?" he groaned, crossing his arms. "Oh my god, I was right. The air between you two is different! It's my birthday, but I swear you two are the ones getting the best gifts!" He shot a pointed look at me and Nadrien, who immediately looked away, glaring at Nayel.
Nayel, realizing the glare, quickly covered his mouth to stifle a laugh. "Oh my god, you two really are a great match. I thought only Alvin's imagination went over the roof, but your imaginations aren't any less, brother!" he whispered, only to be cut off when Nadrien flung a pillow at him, effectively shutting him up.
Nayel just giggled devilishly, clearly enjoying his little chaos.
Meanwhile, Nadrien and I shared a soft, lingering eye contact, smiles gently mirroring each other. For a moment, the whole world disappeared, leaving just the two of us in our own little bubble.
I couldn't stop sneaking glances at Nadrien, my cheeks warming with every second he looked my way. I tried to act casual, swirling my juice slowly, but my mind was loud. I knew he could hear it—he always could.
Oh gosh, he's staring again. Please don't blush, oh no, why am I thinking that out loud? Nadrien's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly, and a small, amused smirk played on his lips.
"You're unusually quiet this morning," he said softly, but his eyes sparkled with teasing.
I choked on my juice. Unusually quiet? Me? Are you kidding?
I'm screaming internally!
"I-I'm just, enjoying the...uh morning?" I stammered, hoping my face wasn't bright red.
"Sure you are," he murmured, leaning back comfortably but still keeping his gaze locked on me.
"Quiet for now." I felt my stomach flip.
Quiet? For now?
He knows me too well, he hears me too well! Nayel, meanwhile, was practically vibrating standing in the middle of the couch.
"Ohhhhhh! I know what's happening! Alvin, your brain is going insane thinking about my brother again! Admit it!" I shot him a glare, but he just laughed, clearly enjoying my flustered state.
"Maybe you should stop overthinking," Nadrien said, voice calm but carrying that hint of amusement I couldn't resist. "Or maybe, you shouldn't."
My brain short-circuited. Shouldn't? Does he mean I shouldn't stop thinking about him?
Oh god he's enjoying this, isn't he?! I looked down, tugging at my sleeve like a shy mess, but Nadrien leaned just a little closer. His warm presence was so close I could feel the heat radiating from him. "You know," he continued softly, "I don't mind hearing your thoughts. Really. Just maybe try not to make them too distracting."
I froze, wide-eyed. "Distracting? Me? Never! I'm, totally under control, yes."
He raised an eyebrow, smirk tugging at his lips. "Sure you are, Alvin. Totally under control."
I groaned silently, clutching my juice, while Nayel rolled on the couch laughing so hard he nearly spilled his drink.
Nadrien, completely unfazed by the chaos, just shook his head, faint blush on his ears, and smiled. That smile—gentle, knowing, teasing—sent my heart into overdrive.
Okay, focus.
Don't think about him.
Don't think about him. Don't. But this feels so unreal... am I daydreaming?
Are we really dating?
What if I wake up and it's all fake... the thought made my heart skip a painful beat.
"Alvin." Nadrien's voice cut through my spiral.
My ears perked up immediately.
"Stop overthinking. Just look at me."
I lifted my eyes slowly, meeting his gaze. His hand casually brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, and my heart nearly stopped.
"Better?" he asked softly, eyes warm but still teasing.
I nodded, almost breathless. "Much better." He smiled again, and for the first time that morning, I felt like the butterflies in my stomach weren't screaming—they were dancing together.
The evening air was cool, the kind that made every breath feel soft and slow. The backyard lights glowed like scattered fireflies, and I sat there wrapped in a blanket, pretending to read a book but actually replaying every single thing Nadrien said that morning. For the tenth time. Maybe twentieth. Who's counting.
I heard footsteps before I saw him. Of course it was him. Who else walked like the universe itself moved aside to make space?
"You're outside again," he said, voice low, calm, dangerous for my heartbeat. "Didn't think the stars needed competition tonight."
My head snapped up. "What?"
He smiled, lazy and sure. "You're glowing too much. Might make them jealous."
Oh. Okay. So, that's how we're playing tonight. I buried half my face in the blanket. "You're just saying that."
He sat beside me anyway, so close the air between us buzzed. "Maybe. Or maybe I mean it." His gaze lingered like he was memorizing my every expression. "You overthink compliments too?"
"I don't overthink everything," I said defensively, which—let's be honest—was a lie.
He leaned in just a little. "You're doing it right now."
I swore my heart forgot its job. "I'm not."
"You are." His smile widened, voice soft like a secret. "It's cute, though."
That single word—cute—burned through me like electricity. "You can't just say things like that," I muttered, looking anywhere but him.
"Why not?" he asked, and before I could answer, his hand brushed against mine, slow, deliberate, like he was waiting for me to pull away. I didn't. Couldn't.
The stars blurred somewhere behind him as he whispered, "You think too much. You feel too much. But I like that about you, Alvin."
My throat tightened. "You really shouldn't say things like that if you want me to stay calm."
"Who said I wanted you calm?"
Those words made me froze, cheeks all red and heart beating crazily.
Just as the silence between us turned soft and electric, like the air right before a storm, the glass door slid open with a loud squeak.
"Wow," Nayel's voice carried out before his face even appeared. "You two really can't stop having your little cinematic moments, huh?"
I froze mid-breath, instantly yanking my hand away from Nadrien's like it had been caught doing a crime. "I—I was just… getting some fresh air!"
"Right," Nayel said, eyes narrowing in obvious disbelief. "Because people always hold hands when they're suffocating." He stepped out with a bowl of popcorn, looking too smug for his own good. "Carry on. Pretend I'm not here."
"You're literally here, Nayel," Nadrien said, voice calm but laced with brotherly threat.
"I said pretend!" Nayel chirped, sitting on the garden swing with his popcorn like it was a live drama. "I even brought snacks. You're welcome."
I wanted to sink into the ground. "You're unbelievable."
He threw a popcorn kernel in my direction. "And you're blushing. Again. My god, it's like watching a romantic K-drama except I actually know both leads!"
Nadrien sighed deeply, leaning back against the bench, his patience visibly thinning. "Nayel, go inside before I—"
Before he could finish, Nayel cut in with a mock gasp. "Before you what? Kiss him in front of me? Scandalous!"
That did it. Nadrien stood up in one swift, calm motion, eyes locked on his brother. Nayel squeaked, nearly spilling his popcorn. "I'm going, I'm going! Chill, lovebirds!" He bolted back inside, still laughing.
The door closed, and the night went silent again—except for the faint hum of crickets and my own heartbeat doing the equivalent of a drum solo.
I peeked at Nadrien, who was now staring at me with that same maddening calmness, his lips curved into a barely-there smirk. "You were saying?"
"I—uh—forgot."
He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice until it brushed against my skin like warmth. "Then maybe I should remind you."
And for one heart-stopping moment, I thought he might actually do it.
He didn't—of course he didn't. He just smiled, the kind of smile that promised way too much. "Next time, we'll make sure there's no audience."
I didn't trust my voice, so I just nodded, heart racing like I'd just been caught in a dream.