As they walked in silence, Ken couldn’t help but feel a mixture of relief and disappointment. He was relieved that Rodney had taken his words well and understood his hesitation. But at the same time, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of regret, as if he had just missed out on a chance to experience something beautiful. The more Ken thought about it, the more conflicted he became. He wondered if he had made the right choice by turning down Rodney’s request. Would it have been so terrible to let go, to allow himself to be vulnerable and dive into the unknown? They had connected in such a short amount of time, it was an exciting bond that Ken was afraid to tarnish.
“Rodney, I want you to know that it’s not because I don’t want to kiss you," Ken said, hardly above a whisper. “I just… I have someone else in my life who’s trying to force a relationship. And… yeah, at first he was great and I wanted him in my life but that this point I… I think I hate him. I just don’t want our connection to be rushed or overshadowed by physical intimacy. I want us to get to know each other on a deeper level, to build a strong foundation before we take that step.” He stopped walking, to see if Rodney would follow suit. He held out his hand, to see if he would take it. He was a little nervous as a slight blush creeped across his ears and cheeks.
Rodney • 
As Vince held Jayda in his arms, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy and exhilaration. Her laughter filled his ears, and her playful words only made him want to hold her tighter. The brief interruption from Jade’s whispered words had momentarily brought him back to reality, but now all he could think about was Jayda.
With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Vince carried her out of the bakery and onto the bustling street. His heart raced as he felt her gaze locked with his, their connection stronger than ever before. Her comment about him being sweet brought a smile to his lips, and he couldn’t resist teasing her in return.
“Well, bellissima(Extremely beautiful), my charm knows no bounds.” he winked with a smile. “I have managed to break through your hardened exterior and reveal the sweetness within,” Vince replied, his tone dripping with playful sarcasm. It was nice to hear their playing banter wasn’t extinguished.
@ChayChay05 • Jayda • wasn’t sure how to write his reply 