As they untangled, Noelle walked over to her phone to read the message.
Mei Ling: Ethan and I had a fight today… He's been picking on me, saying that I'm not gentle enough, I'm not this, I'm not that. Now he won't answer my calls or reply to my messages. What should I do? Is he going to break up with me?
Noelle's stomach twisted. Her fingers tightened around the phone.
Is he trying to force Mei Ling to break up with him?
She clenched her jaw. He is such a jerk.
The apartment, normally a safe haven, felt like a trap. Every creak, every passing car sounded like a threat. Shadows stretched longer than they should have and the silence pressed down until it felt hard to breathe.
Ren sat across the room, elbows on his knees, watching her with quiet concern. He'd stopped by after sensing something was wrong but she hadn't told him everything. Not yet.
"Noelle," he said softly, his voice steady. "You've been staring at that door for ten minutes."
She blinked, realising he was right. Her pulse jumped again at another distant sound from the hallway. "It's nothing," she said automatically, though her voice wavered.
Ren didn't move closer, not yet. "You don't believe that," he said quietly.
Her hands tightened around the edge of her t-shirt. She hated how small her voice sounded when she spoke again. "I don't want to stay here tonight."
He nodded, like he'd already been expecting her to say it. "Then don't."
Her eyes flicked up to him. "What do you mean?"
"Come stay with me," he said simply. "You'll sleep better there."
The thought made her chest tighten with relief, guilt and something warmer she didn't want to name. "I don't want to be a bother."
Ren stood then, closing the distance between them. "You won't be. You never are."
For a moment, she just looked at him, trying to decide if she could really admit how much she needed that. Then she nodded, almost whispering, "Okay."
His expression softened, and he reached out, brushing his thumb along her arm in quiet reassurance. "Go grab your things. I'll wait by the door."
When she finally stepped outside, Ren was already there, holding her coat, waiting. The tension in her chest loosened a little at the sight of him.
He didn't say much on the way out, just offered a small, steady smile as they walked toward his car. But when his hand found hers halfway down the stairs, she didn't let go.
Noelle felt a flicker of comfort she hadn't felt in days. Her shoulders relaxed just slightly, though the tremor in her hands remained.
When they got to his place, Ren smiled, spreading his arms to gesture his abode. "You can stay as long as you need," he said simply.
Noelle stepped inside, letting the door close softly behind her. For a moment, she just stood there, unsure what to do with the jumble of fear and relief in her chest. Without thinking, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around Ren. His warmth and steady heartbeat pressed against her and for the first time in hours, she felt a little safe.
Ren stiffened slightly at first, surprised, but didn't pull away. Instead, he rested a hand gently on her back. "Hey… you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice calm, unaware of the full reason she was there.
Noelle shook her head, burying her face against his shoulder. "I… I just needed to… be near you," she admitted softly, words trembling.
She pulled back slightly, meeting his eyes, and her stomach knotted. How can I tell him? she thought. What if he gets angry… possessive… tries to take control?
Ren gave her a small, reassuring smile. "You're here now," he said simply. "That's what matters."
Noelle nodded, letting herself relax a fraction. Even if she couldn't tell him everything, even if he didn't know what was really scaring her, just being near him, feeling the steadiness of his presence, was enough, for now.
Ren took a slow step closer. "Do you wanna talk about it?"
She shook her head, eyes on the floor. "Not yet."
"Alright," he said, and that was that. He didn't press. Instead, he just reached for the blanker draped over the back the couch and handed it to her.
She took it, fingers brushing his. "Sit with me." he said, quietly, nodding to the couch.
She did as he said, tucking her legs beneath her, blankets gather tight around her shoulders. Ren sat beside her, not too close, but close enough to feel his warmth beside her.
Her phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at it. A message from an unknown number. She froze, heart hammering.
Unknown: Are you alone tonight?
Noelle's fingers trembled. No. I'm not alone… she thought, glancing at Ren, who was calmly watching her. But she couldn't show him the screen. Not yet.
She quickly locked the phone and slipped it into her bag, forcing herself to breathe. Ren noticed her sudden stillness and reached for her hand, squeezing gently.
"Everything okay?" he asked, frowning slightly.
"Yes," she said, voice tight but firm, forcing a smile. "Just… a little tired, that's all."
Ren nodded, still smiling but his eyes held quiet concern. He didn't press, trusting her words but the tension in her shoulders told him something was off.
Noelle let herself lean into him again, feeling the steadiness of his presence, but inside, fear gnawed at her. Ethan knowing where she was staying could change everything. She had to be careful. She couldn't let Ren know, at least not yet anyway. Not until she figured out what to do.
Her chest ached with the longing to confide, to be completely honest but the thought of him reacting, protective, angry, possessive made her hesitate. For now, she'd cling to this moment of safety, even if it was fragile, even if it was temporary.
Noelle pressed her face into Ren's shoulder, letting herself feel secure, while her mind raced with possibilities and dangers she couldn't yet share. Ren noticed immediately. His brows knitted slightly, concern flickering in his eyes.
Noelle's fingers clutching the edge of the couch. "No… don't leave me alone tonight. Please," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
Ren froze for a moment, sensing the urgency in her tone. Concern deepened in his eyes, but he didn't ask questions. He didn't want to push her. Instead, he moved a little closer, letting her lean against him. "Alright," he said softly. "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
Noelle let out a shaky sigh, resting her head on his shoulder. The closeness calmed her racing thoughts but a flicker of guilt passed through her, for being so needy, for leaning on him without telling him why.
Ren's hand rested lightly on her back, warm and steady. He could feel her tension, the subtle tremor beneath her calm facade. But he didn't ask. He just stayed, letting her draw comfort from his presence, hoping that being there would be enough for now.
Eventually, her breathing slowed. The rhythm of it evened out, soft and steady against his chest. Ren looked down and realised she had drifted off, her hand still loosely gripping his sleeve.
He sat there for a long moment, just watching her. The weight of whatever she wasn't saying hung between them. Carefully, Ren slipped one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her shoulders, lifting her as if she were made of glass. She stirred faintly but didn't wake, her head finding the curve of his neck as he carried her down the short hallway.
In his room, he lowered her gently onto the bed and drew the blanket over her. For a moment, he just stood there, watching the way the faint light touched her hair, the small crease between her brows that hadn't quite faded, even in sleep.
Ren hesitated, watching her for a moment longer. Then, quietly, he moved around to the other side and lay down beside her.
He kept a careful distance, close enough that she could sense his warmth, far enough to let her rest. When she shifted in her sleep, instinctively curling closer, fingers curling lightly against his arm. He exhaled, tension slowly leaving his body as the quiet settled around them.
"Sleep," he whispered, though she already had. "You're safe here."
And for the first time that night, Ren let himself drift too, the steady rhythm of her breathing lulling him into a rare, unguarded peace.