Ren didn’t know how long these moments together would last, but he was determined to stretch the night out as long as he could. Time always seemed to slip away too quickly when she was around, as if the universe was conspiring against him. Even now, just standing here with her, he felt the seconds slipping through his fingers like sand. He hated it, how fleeting it all felt.
He had been here before, with her, and it ended with her vanishing. Not just disappearing like she needed space, but intentionally leaving him behind. That hurt. He had tried to find her, often, but when someone wants to be lost, what can you do? He could’ve pushed harder, maybe gone after her in a way that demanded her attention. But he didn’t want to come off as desperate. Even though, deep down, he was.
She probably already knew. Knew how much he craved her attention, her touch, her presence. It was embarrassing, really, how just being near her made him feel alive in a way nothing else did. He could tell himself it wasn’t like that, that he wasn’t some lovesick fool, but the truth was too obvious, even to him.
And yet, despite knowing the risks, the way she could vanish again tomorrow, he couldn’t stop himself. Not tonight.
“Who knows?” she replied, her voice soft but teasing. He knew. He always knew. It would be him, left talking to himself after the beep of a voicemail, a message left on sent. Sometimess it was worse…left on read. That hurt more than anything else.
Thank you for bringing me here." She said it so simply, but to Renlin, the words spilled from her lips in the most beautiful way. He couldn’t help but glance over at her as she spoke, his eyes tracing the curve of her mouth. He liked how her lips lookedsoft, like pillows.
Inside the old house, they had spent countless hours together. Their past lingered in the room, etched into every corner. Some of their candles still lay scattered, their wax nearly melted down to the end, along with a box of matches tossed carelessly on the floor. The furniture was a reminder of better times—an old couch that still held together and a coffee table, but the chair by the fireplace was broken, missing a leg, leaning against the wall.
“I came once at the end of last year,” he admitted quietly, his voice hesitant. “Alone.”
He hadn’t wanted to be alone, not really. But would he ever bring anyone else here? No, never. This place belonged to the two of them, one of their hidden retreats. No one else could share that. He pulled open the drawer of the coffee table, the old wood creaking under his touch. Inside, a flask gleamed. He shook it lightly and smirked as the faint sound of liquid sloshing inside met his ears. Twisting off the cap, he grinned.
“I knew I left this here,” he said, the smirk lingering as he extended the flask toward her. If she wanted the first sip, it was hers to take.
The flask was special to him. It wasn’t just any old thing; it had his family’s crest engraved into the metal, an heirloom passed down through the generations. It had once belonged to his great-grandfather, and Renlin had snatched it from his father’s office in his first year of school. It had felt like a small rebellion at the time.
The last time he had come here, the night he came alone, he had planned to draw. But the emotions of that night had taken over, and soon enough, with alcohol as his companion, he had passed out. He remembered the dreams that night, dark, unsettling ones. Ones that had stayed with him for a while. The explanation for the broken chair was buried in those dreams.
“What would you do if I don’t?” she asked, her voice teasing as her eyes challenged him. Renlin smirked, licking his lips before leaning in slightly. That is a loaded question, babe.
There was a pause between them, the kind that hinted at unspoken words. “But I guess you’re right. What’s life without a little mystery, huh?”
He couldn’t resist pushing the tension a bit further, his brow raised with amusement. “Want to know my favorite mystery?” His voice had that edge, the one he knew would get her attention. He tapped the chair in front of the desk, offering it to her while he leaned casually against the edge of the desk himself, acting as though every move wasn’t already carefully planned.
Quite the gentleman, aren’t you? " she teased, his eyebrow arched.
Only with the right person," he shot back, his voice lower now. He didn’t know how she would take his forwardness, but at this point, what was there to lose? He wanted her to know where he stood. Where he had always stood.
He shifted slightly, watching her reaction as he said, Mostly, some days I think I do." There was something vulnerable there, but he disguised I it with another smile. Sleeping helps, and I actually got some sleep last night… thanks to you." His eyebrow raised meaningfully, and he waited to see her expression change.
She looked like she might want to change the subject, but Renlin wasn’t ready to let go of the moment just yet. "How was your day? How are you feeling?" She asked still.
His made sure his eyes were holding hers as he leaned closer. I’m perfect right now, in the moment," he murmured, the air around them charged. Actually partaking in one of my favorite activities."
The distance between them seemed to vanish as he closed in ever so slightly, a silent dare hanging between them.
Renlin could feel the heat rising between them, the way the air seemed thicker, more charged with each passing second. He wanted to close the distance, to let his hand brush against hers or maybe even pull her closer. His mind raced with the possibilities. Would she lean in if he did? Would she pull away?
He craved it,more than he liked to admit. Every glance, every word from her made him want her more. But he hesitated, just for a beat. There was that flicker of doubt. If he made a move now, would it ruin things? Or was this the moment he had been waiting for?
The temptation gnawed at him. He wanted to kiss her, feel the warmth of her lips against his, taste that unspoken tension they’d danced around for so long. It was right there. just one small move, one step. But the fear of breaking what they had, of pushing her too far, held him back.
His eyes searched hers, looking for a sign, anything that would tell him what she wanted. His hand twitched, ready to reach for her, but instead, he let it rest on the desk, gripping the edge as though grounding himself.
For now, he just smiled, but it was softer, more vulnerable. You know," he said quietly, almost in a whisper, “I could get used to moments like this.”
But deep down, every part of him was screaming to make a move. Would she stop him if he did? Or was she waiting for him to take the leap? His eyes looked to the door for a second and realized he actually closed it for the first time in forever.
@Kristi gf Thalia