When the perfect view comes with the perfect excuse to get close.
The festival lights twinkled brighter as night fell, lanterns swinging gently above the bustling crowd. Fah and Tawan wandered past game stalls, food vendors, and small crowds laughing at street performers, their hands brushing now and then, sparking little jolts that neither could ignore.
"Okay, last one," Tawan said, pointing at the Ferris wheel looming at the far end of the festival. "We have to ride it. Rules of physics say it's mandatory."
Fah blinked. "Rules of physics? Since when are Ferris wheels subject to Newton?"
"Since today," Tawan replied with a grin. "Hop on, engineer."
They climbed into a bright red gondola, the wheel slowly creaking upward. The city lights stretched out below them, warm and golden, reflecting in the river nearby. Fah felt the familiar tug in his chest—Tawan was close, and the world suddenly seemed smaller, softer.
Halfway up, the gondola jerked slightly. Tawan instinctively reached for the railing—and grabbed Fah's arm instead.
Fah froze. "Uh… thanks?" he said, voice a little too high.
Tawan smirked. "You're welcome. You looked like you might fall."
Fah rolled his eyes but felt the warmth of Tawan's hand lingering longer than necessary. "I'm perfectly fine. Physics has got me."
Tawan leaned closer, elbow brushing Fah's. "Good. Because I've got you."
Fah's heart stuttered. He wanted to respond with a witty retort—but words failed him. Instead, he laughed nervously, cheeks heating.
As the Ferris wheel reached the top, the gondola paused, giving them a full view of the festival below. Lights reflected in Tawan's dark eyes, making them sparkle, and Fah realized he couldn't look away.
"Wow," he murmured.
"Not the view?" Tawan teased.
Fah swallowed, smiling faintly. "The view's… distracting."
Tawan chuckled, leaning just a little closer. "Good. Mission accomplished."
Then the gondola jerked again, just slightly, enough to make Fah flinch. Tawan's hand slipped slightly, and without thinking, Fah grabbed it—holding on tightly. Their fingers intertwined naturally, as if it had been meant to happen all along.
Neither spoke for a moment, just letting the height, the lights, and the closeness do their work.
Finally, Tawan leaned back, smirking like he had a secret. "You know," he said softly, "we might have to do this again. Next time, without you acting like you're about to fall off the edge of the world."
Fah laughed, squeezing Tawan's hand. "Deal. But only if you promise not to tease me the whole way."
Tawan tilted his head, eyes glinting mischievously. "No promises."
As the Ferris wheel descended, Fah realized he didn't want any. The teasing, the closeness, the spark of excitement—it was exactly where he wanted to be. With Tawan, every little mishap felt like part of the adventure, and every touch reminded him that this chaotic, messy, perfect romance was just beginning.