When they reached the corner near her apartment, he leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Noelle… you're miles away and I don't know why." His hand found hers properly this time, interlacing fingers. "Talk to me."
Noelle's gaze flickered to his and she felt that familiar warmth, the undeniable pull she always felt when he looked at her. Yet the words stuck in her throat. How could she explain that she had met Han that morning, that he had seemed so easy to talk to, that her heart still bore traces of a long-standing crush? She squeezed Ren's hand back, silently acknowledging him without breaking the truth.
Ren leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. "Whatever it is… I'm here for you," he murmured. He wanted to press further, to reassure himself and her that they were together, that nothing else mattered but he sensed her hesitation and held back.
They lingered at her doorway, fingers still intertwined. Noelle finally whispered, "Thanks for walking me home." Her voice was soft but it carried the weight of unspoken thoughts.
Ren nodded, a small, bittersweet smile on his face. "Anytime," he said, brushing his thumb over hers. He let go only reluctantly as she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. He stood there for a moment, the evening breeze on his face, thinking of how beautiful she looked even in her conflicted state and wondering how to bring her back fully into his world.
Later, Noelle reread Han's message again: "I really enjoyed meeting you today. Hope we can do it again soon." A smile tugged at her lips, though it was mixed with guilt. She hadn't replied yet as her thoughts were tangled, her heart conflicted. She put the phone down and let herself sink onto her bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of two people she cared about in very different ways.
That evening, Noelle's phone buzzed softly on her nightstand. She hesitated for a moment, then picked it up to see Ren's name glowing on the screen.
Hey… I know you've got a lot on your mind, but I just wanted to check in. Are we okay?
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, uncertain. She wanted to tell him everything, about Han, about the coffee, about the confusing tug in her heart but the words felt too sharp to speak aloud. Instead, she typed cautiously.
Yes, yes. I'm fine. Just thinking.
Almost immediately, a reply came.
Thinking about what? Because I feel like you're a million miles away from me right now.
Noelle sighed, leaning back against her pillows. She knew he was right. He always knew. Even when she tried to hide it, Ren had a way of reading her like an open book. And right now, her thoughts were tangled, her heart pulled in two directions.
I… just have a lot in my mind… to sort out, she typed slowly.
Ren's response was almost instant, gentle but insistent.
Then let's sort it out together. I don't want to lose you to distance. Not even the kind in your head.
Her chest tightened at the words, a mix of relief and guilt. She wanted to reach for him, to confess and cling to the comfort he always offered but she couldn't stop the flash of a smile at Han's messages, the memory of that easy connection.
I know… I just…
Hey, Ren interrupted, almost teasingly, though his tone was soft. No matter what's going on in there, I'm still here. You don't have to do this alone. I miss you…
Noelle stared at the message, her fingers curling around the phone. The jealousy she felt toward the thought of Han was subtle, almost embarrassing. She didn't want him to know. Yet at the same time, the warmth from Ren's words, the sense of being wanted and seen, pulled her back irresistibly.
Okay, she typed finally, short and hesitant. Thanks…
Ren's reply came moments later:
I'll come see you tomorrow.
Her heart fluttered, part guilty, part exhilarated. She knew this was going to be complicated. Han had reopened old wounds she hadn't fully acknowledged and yet Ren was steady, patient and impossibly present in ways Han never had been.
As she set her phone down, she realised something important: while her mind was conflicted, her heart had already started leaning toward the boy who always seemed to know her best.
Monday morning arrived and the school corridors were bustling as usual. Noelle tried to focus on her books, on the chatter around her but every time she glanced up, she caught sight of Ren moving through the crowd with that effortless presence. He seemed normal, as if nothing had shifted but she could feel the weight of his gaze, scanning for her, noticing the tiniest change in her expression.
By the time lunch rolled around, she was already on edge, acutely aware of the small space between them as they walked toward the cafeteria. Ren slid into the bench beside her, not saying anything at first, just letting their shoulders brush, letting her feel the quiet insistence of his presence.
"You've been… distant," he said finally, his voice low, not accusatory but careful, almost tender. His hand found hers under the table, a small squeeze that was meant to anchor her.
Noelle forced a smile, trying to meet his gaze evenly, though inside she was scrambling. She wanted to reassure him, to bridge the gap he had sensed but every attempt felt mechanical, like she was performing the motions of affection without the full conviction.
Ren didn't comment. He only held her hand, his thumb brushing over her knuckles in that way he always did. It was a subtle gesture but it carried weight and he could feel her hesitation, the little falters in her responses, the tension in the way she leaned slightly away even as her hand remained in his.
He let out a quiet sigh, one that she almost missed. "I know something's going on, Noelle. And I get it… you've got a lot on your mind."
Her stomach clenched. She wanted to explain, but the truth was too sharp, too raw to voice. Instead, she gave a small, distracted nod, trying to maintain the illusion of normalcy.
Ren's thumb continued its steady motion across her hand. "Just… know that I feel you, even when you're not fully here. You don't have to force anything."
Something in the weight of his words, the intimacy of the small gestures, the way his presence claimed the space beside her, made her heart ache. She realised then that her half-hearted responses weren't fooling him. He could feel the distance, even when she tried to mask it.
Noelle's cheeks warmed as she tried to adjust her grip on his hand, squeezing back in a way that was genuine yet hesitant. Ren leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping just enough to tease, to soothe: "I'm not going anywhere. Not for anyone. You just… don't shut me out."
She swallowed, heat rising in her chest, unshed tears rising in her eyes. The longing, the desire to bridge the gap, to show him she still cared, began to outweigh the guilt tugging at her heart. She let herself lean in just a fraction, letting their shoulders press closer, letting the unspoken tension build.
Ren's eyes softened but there was that familiar spark, the teasing glint that always made her pulse quicken. "That's better," he murmured, almost under his breath, before letting his hand fall gently over hers, thumb still stroking lightly, guiding, grounding.
When Noelle got home that night, she read Han's message for the umpteenth time. "Hey, I really enjoyed our coffee earlier. Hope we can do it again soon."
Her thumb hovered over the screen, heart tightening. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to leave the conversation unopened. But another part, a stubborn, nostalgic piece of her, wanted to respond. She typed back carefully, agreeing to meet him later in the week, reminding herself that it didn't change anything with Ren. Or so she told herself.