ASTHERIEN'S POV :-
I woke up feeling… off.
Not just physically messy, not just the sheets twisted around me or my hair falling into my face—but something deeper. Like I had woken up in the middle of something unfinished.
The bed felt different.
Empty.
I turned my head slightly, half-expecting to see him there. Maybe still asleep. Maybe pretending to be.
But he wasn't.
For a few seconds, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the quiet sink in. Maybe he went out with his dad. A morning walk, something routine, something normal.
Something I still wasn't used to being a part of.
Slowly, I sat up, my shirt slipping off one shoulder without me noticing. Sunlight streamed through the wide glass window, spreading across the floor in soft, golden lines.
It felt calm.
Too calm.
But not heavy.
Not suffocating.
Just… quiet.
And for once, the silence didn't feel like something I had to escape from.
It just stayed.
And I let it.
When I stepped out of the room, the house was exactly what I expected- still, silent, almost untouched.
No voices.
No movement.
Just space.
I paused for a moment, listening, like something might change if I waited long enough.
It didn't.
Today's the date.
Our date.
The thought came slowly, settling somewhere in my chest.
I didn't know where we were going. I didn't know what he had planned. There was no structure, no clarity.
Just… him.
And somehow, that felt like enough.
I took my time getting ready.
The water ran warm over my skin, grounding me, slowing my thoughts down. I didn't rush. I didn't feel the need to.
For once, I wasn't preparing to impress anyone.
I was just… showing up.
Minimal makeup.
Nothing too precise.
Nothing too perfect.
Just enough to feel like myself.
My fingers paused when I reached for the necklace he gave me. I touched it lightly before wearing it, like I always do. Not out of habit.
More like… reassurance.
Like it meant something I didn't say out loud.
I exhaled quietly and let it rest against my skin.
Then I chose my dress.
Red.
A soft middy dress- simple, effortless.
Not too much.
Just me.
----------------------------------------
When I stepped out-
He was there.
Standing near the door, removing his shoes, his dad beside him.
I greeted his dad softly, and he smiled back in that easy, familiar way that didn't feel forced anymore. It didn't feel like I was trying to belong.
It just… felt natural.
Then-
He looked up.
And stopped.
Completely.
His eyes locked onto me like everything else had faded away. He didn't look away. Didn't even blink.
His ears turned red first.
Then his cheeks.
And I just stood there, watching him notice me.
Really notice me.
For a moment, it felt like time slowed down just for that.
Until-
I remembered his dad was standing right there.
Reality hit too fast.
I looked away immediately, heat rising to my face as I grabbed the bottle from his hand and walked toward the table like I had something important to do.
I didn't.
I just needed to escape that moment.
That was embarrassing.
More than I wanted to admit.
He went straight to the room.
His dad stepped a little closer to me, lowering his voice.
"He's blushing."
I let out a soft laugh before I could stop it.
"I know."
We shared a small smile, like it was a quiet little secret.
And somehow, it felt… easy.
"Go," he said gently. "He's waiting."
I nodded, even though my heartbeat had already started picking up again.
---------------------------------------
The room was quiet when I entered.
Empty.
I glanced toward the bathroom door.
Closed.
I stepped closer, lifting my hand to knock-
But before I could-
The door opened.
And I froze.
My eyes lifted slowly.
And there he was.
His hair was wet, droplets trailing down his neck, disappearing beneath his collarbone. His curls rested messily on his forehead, softer than usual.
For a second, I forgot how to move.
"Why are you so handsome?" I said before I could stop myself.
He smiled.
Tilted his head slightly.
"Only when you're this close."
My heart stumbled.
His gaze dropped to my lips.
Then slowly back to my eyes.
And I didn't know why I couldn't look away.
That's when I noticed.
He wasn't wearing a shirt.
And suddenly-
Everything felt louder.
I stepped back quickly. "Uh- sorry."
I turned, ready to leave before I made it worse.
But his hand caught my waist.
Firm.
Warm.
He pulled me back before I could take another step, and suddenly there was no space left between us.
I could feel him.
His warmth.
His breath.
The steady rise of his chest.
"Dad's here," I said, my voice softer than I meant it to be.
"I know."
Too calm.
"The door's closed."
My breath caught.
Why would he say that?
"We're getting late…"
"We don't have an appointment."
His hand shifted slightly, holding me there, not letting me move away.
"Look at me."
I hesitated.
But I still did.
Slowly.
His face was right there.
Closer than before.
Close enough to make everything feel sharper.
He leaned down slightly, matching my height.
And then-
He bit his lip.
And something in me tightened.
"Can I kiss you?"
My mind went blank.
I couldn't speak.
I didn't move away either.
He leaned closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The distance shrinking, breath by breath.
I could feel it now.
Just a little more.
And then-
A knock.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Real.
Everything broke.
I pulled back immediately, my heart racing, the moment slipping away before I could even hold onto it.
He didn't move right away.
Didn't let it go as fast as I did.
"Continue later?" he murmured.
I hit his shoulder lightly. "Just go."
My face was burning.
And I hated how much I didn't want that moment to end like that.
He opened the door.
His dad stood there.
They spoke quietly, voices low, words slipping past me before I could catch them.
I stayed where I was, trying to steady myself.
Trying to act like nothing just happened.
But something about the way they whispered felt… off.
I pushed the thought away.
Not now.
When he came back, I looked at him. "What happened?"
"Nothing. We're getting late."
Nothing.
It didn't feel like nothing.
But before I could ask again, he turned and went to get dressed.
And just like that-
The moment was gone.
Not completely.
Just… unfinished.
And somehow, that made it harder to ignore.
When he came back, I blinked.
Casual.
Just a shirt and pants.
Simple.
I had never seen him like that outside.
"You look good," I said.
"With you," he replied instantly.
"Stop," I muttered, pushing him lightly as I walked out.
I could hear him laugh behind me.
----------------------------------------
In the car, I opened my phone.
Twenty-six messages.
Kevin.
I locked it immediately.
Not today.
He doesn't know.
He doesn't know I met Kevin.
He doesn't know that I know.
Then why didn't he ask?
Why was he acting like everything was normal?
I shook the thought away.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nothing," I said, forcing a small smile.
"Where are we going?"
"Secret."
"And what did dad say?"
"Secret."
He sighed. "Ugh."
The car stopped in front of a restaurant.
Vintage.
Warm brown tones.
Something about it felt familiar.
Too familiar.
Inside-
Empty.
Just us.
On the table-
Peonies.
My favorite.
I picked one up, bringing it closer, the soft scent making me smile without realizing.
He watched me.
Chuckled softly.
"Is this your secret?"
"Let's see."
Why does everything he says feel like it means more?
The food arrived.
Sushi.
I hesitated for a second.
"Try it," he said.
I did.
And,
Oh.
That's actually good.
I closed my eyes for a second, just taking it in.
When I opened them-
He was already watching me.
And for some reason-
That made me nervous.
----------------------------------------
Outside, I stopped suddenly.
"Wait."
A photo booth.
I looked at him. "Please?"
He smiled slightly.
"Okay… darling."
That word again.
We stepped inside, sitting closer than necessary. The camera flashed once, then again.
We laughed.
And then-
On the last one..
I leaned in.
And kissed him.
Quick.
Soft.
Without thinking.
The click captured it.
He froze.
Just for a second.
----------------------------------------
Back in the car, the silence felt different.
Quieter.
Heavier.
"Have we been there before?" I asked.
He paused.
"Yeah. We used to go there."
Used to.
That's why it felt familiar.
"Then we'll go again," I said.
He glanced at me.
"Okay… darling."
Again.
That word again.
"Can I call you something too?" I asked.
"What?"
I hesitated for just a second.
"Love."
The word slipped out before I could stop it.
He looked away.
His ears turning red again.
He was smiling.
"Yeah… you can," he said softly.
A pause.
Then-
"Love."
Barely a whisper.
And just like that-
We kept driving.
But something had shifted.
Not completely.
Just enough to leave everything unfinished.
And maybe-
that's what made it matter more.