The school hallways buzzed with the usual Monday chaos, lockers slamming, classmates chattering, sneakers squeaking against the polished floors. Noelle walked in, backpack slung over one shoulder, trying to appear casual, though her heart was doing its own rhythm.
She spotted Ren near the entrance of the soccer field, casually leaning against the fence, scanning the students with that easy, confident grin. The moment his eyes caught hers, something shifted. A faint, private spark ignited just between them.
Ren straightened instantly and jogged over with his usual swagger, though his smile held a subtle softness reserved only for her.
"Morning," he said, voice low enough that only she could hear over the din. "how's your weekend? Surviving okay?"
Noelle laughed quietly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "I survived… barely."
He tilted his head, eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm glad. I was wondering if Monday would be… weird between us."
"No," she said quickly, though her cheeks warmed. "Not weird. Just… normal."
Ren's lips quirked into a teasing smile. "Normal, huh? Good. Because I plan on making it… interesting."
As they walked toward their lockers, he subtly stayed close, his hand brushing hers just often enough to leave no doubt. When a friend waved at Noelle, Ren stepped slightly in front of her, as if to show, quietly but unmistakably, that she was his. He leaned in under the pretense of whispering a joke about the weekend and lightly pressed his hand over hers as they reached the lockers, a small claim without words and Noelle felt her cheeks burn.
By the time they meet for recess, Noelle tried to casually ask about his Sunday. "So… did you do anything yesterday?"
Ren's expression flickered for a brief moment, guarded. "Ah… just a last-minute family thing," he said lightly, letting it drop there. Noelle caught the faint hesitation but didn't press. She sensed it was private and let it go.
The final bell echoed through the halls, releasing a flood of students into the bright afternoon sun. Noelle adjusted her bag and scanned the crowd, her mind still tangled with half-remembered formulas and the promise of freedom. She hadn't expected to see Ren waiting by the front gate.
He was leaning casually against the iron fence, his usual quiet confidence softened by something different today, a real, genuine smile that reached his eyes. It was the kind of smile that made her chest tighten and her cheeks warm.
Ren caught sight of her and straightened up. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and slid his hand into hers.
Noelle's breath caught. His fingers were warm, firm but gentle.
"We're getting ice cream," he said, voice low but playful. "You promised you'd let me pick the flavour."
She blinked, surprised and delighted all at once. "I did?"
He just grinned wider and tugged her gently, pulling her away from the throng of students gathering near the gate.
They walked side by side, hands linked, weaving through the buzz of after-school chatter. A few students turned to watch them, whispering quietly. Some with surprise, others with that unmistakable hint of gossip.
Noelle felt a flush creeping up her neck.
"Everyone's looking," she said softly, glancing over at him.
Ren's smile never faltered. Instead, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"Good," he said. "Let them see. I want everyone to know how lucky I am."
Noelle laughed, the sound light and carefree. She felt a flutter of happiness she hadn't felt in a long time.
They reached the corner ice cream shop and ended the store, its bell tinkling as they pushed open the door.
Ren held the door for her, his smile growing wider.
"What flavour did you pick?" she asked, glancing up at him.
"Mint chocolate chip," he said, pretending to be smug. "Because I know you can't resist it."
Noelle scrunched up her nose. "Ew, mint chocolate chip? Who eats toothpaste-flavoured ice cream?"
Ren laughed, shaking his head. "It's not toothpaste. It's refreshing. Plus, it gives you cool breath."
"No thanks," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm sticking with chocolate fudge. That's actual ice cream."
Before she could react, he leaned in and kissed her: quick and soft. When he pulled back, he grinned.
"See? Mint chocolate chip kisses are way better. Fresh and cool."
Noelle rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile.
"Okay, maybe you have a point," she admitted, nudging him playfully. "But I'm still not eating toothpaste."
They ordered their cones—him with his mint chocolate chip, her with chocolate fudge—and stepped outside, the sun warming their faces.
Hand in hand, they walked away, their laughter mixing with the hum of the afternoon. The warmth of the day lingered and so did the growing buzz around them. A group of boys from Ren's soccer team spotted them from across the sidewalk and guffawed.
"Hey, Ren!" one of them called out, jogging over with a grin. "Didn't know you had a date after practice!"
Another teammate laughed, elbowing the first. "Yeah, man, Now I know why you are so eager to end the practice early."
Noelle's cheeks flushed a deep pink as Ren just smirked, squeezing her hand gently.
"Shut up, guys," Ren said with a playful roll of his eyes. "You're just jealous."
Noelle smiled up at him, feeling a warm flutter in her chest.
Another teammate leaned in closer, grinning. "So, Ren, what's the deal? Mint chocolate chip ice cream and holding hands? This is new."
Ren shrugged, still smiling. "What can I say? Some things are worth changing for."
The group chuckled and waved as they headed off toward the bus stop.
Noelle looked up at Ren, teasing, "Sounds like you've got quite the fan club."
He just smiled, pulling her a little closer.
"Let them talk," he said softly. "I've got everything I need right here."
After the teasing from his teammates faded into the background, Ren looked down at Noelle with a warm, teasing smile.
"Hey, how about we go to that new café down the street? We can do our homework there."
Noelle's eyes widened a little, and she bit her lip shyly. "Oh, uh… okay. That sounds nice," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've been meaning to check it out and I actually have quite a bit of homework to cover."
Ren grinned, squeezing her hand gently. "See? I knew you'd like that."
They walked quietly together to the cozy café, the soft hum of music and the smell of coffee making everything feel calm and peaceful. They found a small booth in the corner and settled in after ordering their drinks, pulling out their textbooks and notebooks.
Noelle was focused on the questions and looked down at her math problems, already feeling comfortable. She liked these quiet moments, just working side by side with Ren.
Ren pretended to concentrate but his eyes kept drifting to her, how focused she looked, the way her brow furrowed just slightly when she thought hard.
After a few minutes, Ren's voice broke the silence. "You're really good at this stuff."
Noelle flushed softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Th-thanks. I… I like it. I guess I'm a bit of a nerd."
Ren laughed, eyes warm. "Me too."
They both smiled shyly, their hands inching closer across the table until they touched.
Ren looked up at her, a slow smile spreading across his face. "You're distracting me."
Noelle's cheeks deepened in colour. "I'm sorry…"
Before she could say more, Ren reached out and gently brushed her hair back from her face. Their eyes met and he leaned in slowly.
Their lips met softly, hesitantly at first, like a question.
Noelle's breath hitched, but she didn't pull away. She rested her hands lightly on his chest, timid but curious.
Ren smiled against her lips, his hand cupping her cheek as the kiss deepened just a little, gentle and sweet.
They pulled apart just enough to catch their breath, foreheads resting together.
"I could get used to this," Ren whispered.
Noelle smiled shyly, her heart fluttering. She brushed her fingers along his jawline, leaning in for another soft kiss.
This time, their lips moved more confidently, exchanging quiet laughter between the gentle touches.
A few more moments passed like that, sprinkled with soft kisses, shy smiles, small touches until Ren whispered again, "Okay, maybe we should try to finish the homework now."
Noelle giggled softly. "Y-yeah… but only if you promise more breaks like this."
Ren chuckled and kissed her once more, slow and sweet, before they turned back to their books, hands still intertwined under the table.