Chapter 8 — Under the Moonlight, We Found Each Other
We walked back to the same coast from before.
I kept my gaze lowered, still embarrassed and unsettled, when Belle quietly held out a handkerchief to me.
I hesitated. I already wiped my tears… I thought. But then her words froze me.
"There's… a lipstick mark on your lips," she said softly.
I blinked, stunned.
"Use this…" she added.
"Thanks," I muttered, taking the handkerchief. I began scrubbing at my lips, convinced the mark was gone.
"No! You have to wipe it cleaner," Belle instructed.
I scrubbed harder, determined.
Finally, I handed the handkerchief back to her.
She looked at me for a moment and then tossed it gently into the sea.
Sitting down beside me, she asked, "What happened?"
I hesitated. "…I got kissed."
Her eyes widened, and she started to speak—but I cut her off.
"That's why you—" she began.
"I pushed her away and ran," I said quickly.
"That's it?" she asked, skeptical.
"THAT'S IT!" I exclaimed, voice rising in frustration. "To be kissed by that kind of woman—"
Belle leaned closer, forcing me to look aside.
"I understand. You wiped off the lipstick?" she asked.
I nodded, looking back at her. "Yeah… but… it feels like it won't ever be completely clean, no matter how much I wipe."
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Babo! Then I'll disinfect it for you!"
Before I could react, her lips pressed gently against mine.
Shivers ran through me, a tremble spreading through my entire body.
Carefully, I kissed her back, slowly, feeling the warmth and tenderness in the moment.
Her hands found the back of my neck, playing gently with the ends of my hair. A smile grew on my face—it tickled in a way that made my heart race.
Finally, we pulled apart. The world seemed to go quiet, the only sound the gentle crash of waves against the shore.
Belle looked straight at me, brave and unflinching.
"Do you like me?" she asked.
I stared into her eyes, cupping her cheek as it turned faintly red.
A soft smile appeared on my lips before I leaned forward and kissed her again.
"I like you, Belle," I whispered.
One kiss was all it took. All the hesitation, all the doubts, melted away.
I finally had the courage to do what my heart had wanted from the very beginning.
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