He exhaled softly, forcing a shrug. "I know. It happens. Doesn't mean anything, really. Just a picture, a little buzz. I've dealt with worse."
Noelle's eyes lingered on him, searching for the honesty behind the words. She wanted to trust him, wanted to believe that the teasing comments, the extra attention from female customers, weren't affecting him, weren't affecting them.
"Right…" she murmured, her voice soft and almost wistful. "I just… wondered if it ever gets exhausting. All the attention, the cafés, girls…"
Ren offered a small, reassuring smile, brushing his hand lightly against hers as they walked. "It's manageable. Honestly, it's nothing compared to school, work and keeping the cafés running smoothly." A teasing edge crept in as his fingers lingered a fraction longer on hers. "Just having you close makes everything worth it."
Ren caught her glance and let out a quiet, almost imperceptible sigh. He had meant to calm her, to ease the tension but he knew the social media attention could only make her questions fester. He wanted to tell her everything: that Seraphina's flirting was a nuisance he barely tolerated, that the attention from others didn't mean anything but some things were harder to explain in passing.
Ren was tidying the counter when Seraphina sidled up behind him, her usual smirk in place. "You're way too proper and controlled, you know," she murmured, leaning just a little too close. Her hand brushed his arm deliberately, fingers curling slightly as she let her body angle toward him.
Her grin widened, mischievous and bold. "Oh, come on… you're working so hard. Don't tell me you don't want a break. I can help you relax, loosen up."
Before he could react further, she leaned in quickly, pressing her lips to his cheek, not a playful peck but a deliberate, provocative move.
Ren froze, heart hammering and gently stepped back, hands raised to keep distance. "Seraphina! Stop. I have a girlfriend. You know this."
But the damage was done. Noelle, who had come in to check on him quietly, had seen everything from the doorway. Her eyes widened in shock and for a moment, she just froze.
Seraphina, oblivious or perhaps daring, laughed softly. "I didn't think that would stop you."
Ren's face tightened. His chest ached with guilt and frustration. "Noelle…" he called, spinning toward the doorway but she was already stepping back, retreating to the edge of the café.
"Noelle, wait!" he said but she didn't. Her face was pale, hurt etched into every line and her hands trembled slightly as she gripped her bag.
Ren's stomach twisted. He wanted nothing more than to explain, to reach her, to make it clear that he had no interest in Seraphina beyond her being an employee. "I didn't—she—Noelle, you have to understand," he murmured to himself but she was already halfway out the door.
He tried to run after her, heart pounding but the crowd of lingering customers and the sudden embarrassment made him hesitate for just a second too long. She was gone before he could even catch up.
Leaning against the counter, head bowed, Ren felt the weight of regret like a stone in his chest. He had let things spiral too far, even as he had tried to maintain boundaries. I have to explain. I have to make her understand. She can't see this and think I'd ever… ever do that to her.
He pulled out his phone, fingers trembling as he drafted a message.
Noelle, please. I need to explain. It wasn't like that. I'm sorry you saw that. Can we meet?
Even as he hit send, he knew words might not be enough. The hurt in her eyes, the shock he had seen from across the café… it had cut deeper than he could have anticipated.
And all he could do was wait, heart pounding, for her reply, hoping he hadn't already pushed the one person who mattered the most away.
Noelle's phone buzzed with Ren's message. She picked it up, her thumb hovering over the screen, staring at the words:
Noelle, please. I need to explain. It wasn't like that. I'm sorry you saw that. Can we meet?
Her chest tightened. Part of her wanted to throw the phone across the room, to run away and pretend this had never happened. Another part of her wanted to reply immediately, to run to him, to hear his voice and feel reassured.
Instead, she took a slow, deliberate breath and typed back:
It's fine. I know you're working. We can meet at my place after you are done for the day.
She didn't add an exclamation mark, a heart or anything that might give away her racing pulse. She had to seem calm. In control. She couldn't let him see just how shaken she truly was.
The image of Seraphina kissing Ren had lodged itself in her mind and she could no longer stand the thought of standing by. A sudden, daring thought struck her. She didn't need to wait to be reassured.
Without hesitation, Noelle decided to take the offensive, determined to do something that would make Ren focus on nothing but her as she headed to the shopping mall.
Later that evening, when Ren dropped by her apartment, Noelle forced her tone to stay casual. "So… you're done for the day, I guess?" she asked lightly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Ren's eyes were dark, serious, guilt etched into every line of his face. "I am now," he said quietly, glancing at her with a mixture of regret and pleading. "Noelle… I swear, that wasn't like that. She's… she's just being bold, reckless. She tried to kiss me and I didn't dodge it in time."
Noelle nodded slowly, forcing a faint smile. "Right… bold and reckless," she murmured, letting the words sound light, casual, like she wasn't replaying Seraphina's deliberate lean, her cheek brushing his, her lips inches from his.
"I… I should've stopped it sooner," Ren continued, voice low, almost hoarse. "I hate that you saw that. You didn't deserve it. I only… I only have eyes for you."
Noelle felt a flicker of warmth at his words, but she swallowed it, pushing down the ache in her chest. "I know. I just… you have to be careful," she said, letting her voice stay steady even as her fingers twitched in the pocket of her bag. "People… can get the wrong idea. Especially with social media."
Ren reached out, brushing her hand gently. "I will. I promise. What can I say to make you feel better?"
She let her hand stay in his, letting the brief contact ground her, even as doubts continued to ripple beneath the surface. She wanted to trust him completely, to believe that his loyalty and affection were only hers but the image of Seraphina and the lingering social media attention made her heart beat unevenly.
"I… okay," she said finally, forcing herself to smile a little brighter, letting the lightness mask the confusion inside. "Just… don't let this happen again."
"I won't," Ren said firmly, gripping her hand a little tighter. "I'll make sure of it. I promise."
Noelle nodded, then asked Ren to grab a drink while she slipped into her room to change. When she reemerged in the soft glow of the evening, he halted mid-step, captivated by the sight before him. She wore a soft, lacy white nightgown, delicate and clinging, revealing just enough to leave little to the imagination, yet framed by the warmth and confidence in her posture.
"Noelle…" Ren breathed, eyes widening, the usual composure cracking. "You… you look…"
She stepped toward him, a small, mischievous smile playing on her lips. "I saw what your staff tried to do today," she said softly, letting her gaze hold his. "And I realised… I don't want anyone else even trying."
Ren's chest tightened as he took a small step toward her. "Noelle…" His voice was husky, a mixture of surprise, admiration and raw desire. He hadn't expected this: her boldness, her confidence but now that she was here, he was completely hooked, completely drawn in, craving every inch of her.
She closed the distance, guiding his hands to rest gently on her bosom, feeling the steady beat of her heart beneath his large palms. "You're mine," she whispered, her voice low and intimate. "And mine only. I want you to remember that."