The laughter and chatter of the afternoon still clung faintly to her as Noelle let herself into her house, shopping bags rustling in her hands. She placed them by the doorway, the glittering earrings she and Mei Ling had bought catching the light as if mocking the heaviness that returned the moment she was alone.
She sank onto the sofa, silence pressing around her and for the first time all day her thoughts wandered back to the night before. Han's face under the porch light, the way his arm had settled so easily around Jessica's shoulders, the warmth in his smile meant for someone else, all came rushing back like a bruise she had been trying to ignore.
A sharp knock pulled Noelle out of her thoughts. She blinked, startled, clutching the cushion tighter before forcing herself to her feet. When she opened the door, her breath caught.
Han stood there, framed by the soft glow of the porch light, hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie. His expression was careful, almost hesitant. "Hey," he said softly, eyes searching hers. "Want to take a walk?"
For a moment, she thought of refusing, of sparing herself whatever ache might follow. But something in his tone, gentle, almost pleading that made her nod. She nodded almost imperceptibly, tugged on her shoes and followed him out into the evening. The streets were calm, lit by streetlamps that cast long shadows.
They walked side by side, their pace unhurried. Noelle's thoughts spun, torn between the sting of seeing him with Jessica and the strange, subtle relief that he was here, talking to her again. The playground appeared up ahead, deserted except for the faint sway of empty swings. Han slowed, gesturing toward it.
"Shall we sit for a bit?" he asked softly.
Noelle nodded again and they settled on the edge of the slide. Neither spoke at first. The silence stretched comfortably, the kind that invited reflection. Han's profile caught the dim light; the line of his jaw, the quiet intensity in his eyes making everything seemed sharper, more deliberate than she remembered.
Finally, Han broke the quiet. "I… ended things with Jessica."
Noelle's stomach fluttered, not from surprise but from the subtle charge in the air between them. She didn't answer immediately, simply letting the words settle, absorbing them slowly.
"I found out some things," he continued, his tone careful, as if weighing every word. "Fiona told me about her… indiscretions. I tried to ignore it at first but I couldn't. It's over. It should've been over a long time ago."
Noelle blinked, caught off guard. She hadn't expected this but the words landed softly, without drama, almost like a statement of fact.
"I see," she said quietly, her gaze fixed on the faint shadows the swings cast on the ground. "I… didn't know."
After a long pause, he spoke, his voice low, uncertain. "I… I don't really have anyone here to talk to," he admitted, eyes not meeting hers.
Noelle felt a pang in her chest as she studied him. His dark eyes, usually so animated, now held a weight that pressed against her own chest. She wanted to say something comforting, but words felt inadequate. All she could do was sit quietly, letting him fill the space with his unspoken hurt.
He ran a hand through his hair, the motion slow and distracted, and after a while he looked at her, a faint, almost embarrassed smile tugging at his lips. "I guess… I just needed to tell someone."
Noelle nodded softly. "I understand," she said quietly, keeping her tone light enough to mask the fluttering in her chest. She didn't reach for him, didn't try to fix the hurt she could see so clearly in his expression.
Noelle shifted slightly on the playground bench, unsure how to fill the quiet. She tugged lightly at the edge of her skirt, her fingers fidgeting as she watched Han stare at the ground.
"I… I don't really know what to say," she murmured, almost to herself, then added softly, "But I'm here."
Han looked up, his eyes meeting hers. For a brief moment, the usual confident spark was replaced by something vulnerable: hurt. He ran a hand through his hair, an unconscious gesture betraying his unease. "I am still trying to process the whole situation," he admitted quietly. "I guess… these few days had been intense. I felt my emotions had been on a rollercoaster."
Noelle hesitated, unsure how to comfort him. She had never been in a relationship before, never had someone rely on her like this. But she shifted slightly closer, her shoulder brushing his just enough for him to feel the presence of another.
"You're not alone," she said gently. "Even if I… I don't know exactly what to say."
Han gave a small, almost sheepish smile. "Thanks. That… actually helps."
She offered him a reassuring nod then reached over to lightly bump her shoulder against his in a subtle, comforting gesture. Han relaxed fractionally, the tension in his posture softening. They sat together in companionable silence and after a few more minutes, Noelle stood, brushing off her skirt. "I should probably head back," she said and Han rose with her. They walked slowly together, side by side, the city lights reflecting softly on the pavements.
Noelle unlocked the door and stepped inside, leaning for a moment against the frame. Her mind replayed the scene with Han, his quiet hurt, the way he had looked at her as if seeking something to hold onto and the small, tentative laughter they had shared. She had never felt such a complicated tangle of sympathy, curiosity, and… something she couldn't name.
Sitting down at her desk, Noelle pulled out her sketchbook, hoping that drawing might untangle her thoughts. Her pencil hovered above the page but the lines came slowly; her mind kept drifting back to him. She had watched someone she cared about in pain and while it stirred an ache in her chest, there was also a quiet relief. Relief that he had someone to talk to and relief that she could be there, even in a small, quiet way.
She paused, setting the pencil down. Noelle's gaze drifted to the fairy lights she had strung along her window, their soft glow reflecting in the glass. She let herself imagine that the lights carried a little warmth from the evening, from the small moments of connection she had shared. A smile tugged at her lips, faint but genuine.
The next morning, Noelle was trying to sleep in as long as possible but someone was knocking on her door. She hesitated because she hasn't washed her face and her hair was in a mess. Noelle looked through the peephole and saw Han standing at the doorway.
Han shouted," I can see your shadow under the door. "Wakie wakie! Open up!"
Noelle panicked and jumped away from the door as if she was worried that Han will be able to see her.
Han chuckled and said, "Fine. I just wanted to ask if you would like to go shopping with me today. I would like to get my aunt a Christmas present and I could really use a female opinion."
Noelle blinked, her chest fluttering. He wasn't asking her out in any romantic way but the idea of spending time with him, even as a friend, brought an unexpected warmth.
She murmured "Sure, I can join you."
A few seconds later, he called out. "I can't really hear what you said but I'm gonna take it as a yes. I'll pick you up in 15 mins."
Han leaned casually against the wall outside her door, sunlight catching the sharp angles of his features. Even in the ordinary brightness of the late morning, he looked like he had stepped straight out of a magazine spread. His dark hair, effortlessly tousled, framed a jawline so clean and defined it seemed sculpted, catching the light in subtle highlights. His skin glowed with a healthy warmth, smooth and unassuming, yet striking in its clarity.
His eyes, large and expressive, scanned the quiet street before settling on the door, patient and alert, as if waiting for her presence was the only thing that mattered. The casual tee and well-fitted jeans he wore hinted at lean, strong lines beneath, the sort of subtle, effortless shape that comes from disciplined movement, though he made it seem completely natural.
Noelle was admiring his profile, his fingers tapping lightly on his phone as he typed a message. Even in his quiet focus, there was a aura around him. As Noelle approached, he glanced up, eyes brightening the slightest fraction.
"Hey," he said, offering a small smile. It wasn't his usual confident grin, but it was enough to make her heart flutter.
"Hey," she replied softly. There was a moment of awkward stillness before he spoke again. "Thanks for… coming with me. I don't really feel like doing this alone."
Noelle nodded, trying to think of something light to say. "Well, someone's got to make sure you don't get lost in a sea of sales," she quipped, earning a small chuckle from him.
They walked side by side toward the bus stop, the warm late-morning sun wrapping them in its glow. Noelle tipped her face upward, closing her eyes as though soaking in every ray.
Han's eyes drifted to her, and for a moment he forgot to breathe. She wasn't the same girl he remembered from last year. Her features had softened into something more feminine, her figure filling out the dress she wore with quiet grace. The breeze lifted strands of her hair, sending them dancing around her shoulders, and the sight made his throat tighten. He swallowed hard, unconsciously, before forcing himself to look away. Yet the image lingered, etched sharply in his mind.
Noelle opened her eyes suddenly as they neared the bus stop, blinking against the brightness. The spell of stillness broke and she glanced at Han, half-worried he might have caught her drifting off into her own little moment. He was standing just slightly apart, his expression neutral, almost too carefully so, as if his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Bus is coming," she said softly, more to fill the silence than anything else.
Han nodded, adjusting the collar of his shirt. "Yeah." His voice was calm but there was a subtle roughness there, like something unspoken sat on the edge of his tongue.
They stepped onto the bus together, sliding into seats by the window. The hum of the engine filled the quiet between them, and Noelle rested her gaze outside, watching the city blur past. Still, she was acutely aware of him beside her, his presence a little too close.
Just as Noelle was about to sink into the rhythm of the bus ride, relax and let her mind wander, she felt a sudden warmth engulf her hands. Han's palms covered hers, firm yet gentle. "Your hands are cold," he said softly.
Before she could respond, he blew lightly into her hands, the warmth of his breath sending an unexpected shiver up her arms. Her chest tightened, her senses firing all at once. The hum of the bus, the blur of passing buildings, even the soft clatter of passengers' footsteps faded into nothing.