The apartment looks completely different now.
Not because the furniture is perfect or the décor is flawless—half the paintings are still leaning against the wall, and one of the lamps flickers if someone breathes too close to it. But everything feels lighter. Softer. Like the air itself finally knows they're okay again.
Kai carries the last box into the bedroom, drops it on the floor, and sighs dramatically.
"That's it. We're officially moved in."
Ren grins from where he's sitting on the carpet, legs crossed. "It only took three breakdowns, two arguments, and one near-divorce."
Kai gives him a look.
Ren laughs, scooting closer. "I'm kidding. Mostly."
Kai sits beside him, nudging their shoulders together. "I guess this makes it our first real day in our home."
Ren leans his head on Kai's shoulder. "Feels like the right beginning."
They stay there for a while, just breathing each other in, letting the quiet mean everything it needs to. No tension. No fear. Only peace and the soft rustle of moving boxes.
Eventually, Kai breaks the silence. "Want to go on a date?"
Ren freezes. "Right now?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
Kai smiles in a way that sparks a memory between them—something gentle, familiar, from the days before the proposal, before the chaos, before everything tangled and untangled again.
"How about the cat café?"
Ren's heart jumps. "The one with the grumpy black cat that only liked you?"
"Exactly."
Ren beams. "Yes. Let's go."
The café hasn't changed at all. It still smells like coffee and warm pastries. Soft jazz plays in the background. Cats wander everywhere—on shelves, across tables, through customers' bags, doing whatever they want because they know they run the place.
Kai orders their usual drinks without asking.
Ren watches him fondly. "Wow… you remembered."
Kai smirks. "Of course I did. You made me repeat your order six times when we first started dating because you said I 'never listen.'"
Ren nudges him with his shoulder. "Maybe I was testing you."
Kai lifts an eyebrow. "Or maybe you were annoying."
Ren sticks his tongue out.
They take their drinks to a small table near the window, sunlight spilling over them. Almost immediately, a fluffy white cat hops onto Ren's lap, circling once before settling comfortably.
Ren gasps softly. "Oh my gosh… I missed this one."
Kai hums, sipping his drink. "I'm still offended the black cat liked me more."
Ren snorts. "You bribed him with chicken. Of course he liked you."
Kai shrugs, unapologetic.
A moment later, the infamous black cat appears, tail swaying lazily as if he owns the place. He walks straight past Ren—completely ignores him—and jumps into Kai's lap with zero hesitation.
Ren's jaw drops. "You traitor."
Kai's smile turns playful. "Some creatures just have good taste."
Ren scoffs, but he's smiling, and Kai's eyes soften in a way that says he's memorizing this moment.
They spend nearly an hour petting cats, drinking their coffee, laughing quietly at the little chaos of paws and tails. Nothing dramatic happens. Nothing heavy. It's just a simple date—like the ones they used to have before everything changed.
And somehow, that simplicity feels magical.
At one point, Ren looks around the café, then at Kai, then at their laced fingers on the table. "Feels like we found our rhythm again."
Kai rubs his thumb over Ren's knuckles. "I think we did."
Ren leans closer, lowering his voice. "Do you think the cats missed us?"
Kai deadpans, "Ren… they barely remember their own names."
Ren bursts out laughing, startling the white cat in his lap.
Kai kisses the side of Ren's head, soft and warm. "I missed this. Missed us."
Ren's smile softens. "Me too."
On the walk home, the late afternoon breeze is cool, brushing their hair gently. They walk hand-in-hand, swinging their arms casually like teenagers.
Ren glances up at Kai. "Do you think this is what our life will be like? Just… you, me, dumb jokes, cat cafés, and a messy apartment?"
Kai squeezes his hand. "I really hope so."
Ren leans his head against Kai's shoulder while they walk.
Their relationship has had storms, cracks, and moments that nearly broke them—but right now, everything feels whole and peaceful. Not perfect. Not flawless.
Just beautifully, wonderfully human.
And as they step into their shared home, kicking off their shoes and dropping their keys into the dish by the door, Ren whispers to himself:
"This feels right."
And Kai, overhearing, smiles softly.
"Yeah," he murmurs. "It really does."