The air was still.
No birds, no breeze, just a quiet that wrapped the room like a blanket someone forgot to fold.
Ren walked into his room with his shoulders sunk like a ship retreating into fog.
He didn't sigh.
He didn't collapse with drama.
He simply… stopped existing out loud.
It wasn't sadness.
It was just silence.
Like the kind you feel after you've poured your entire heart out and there's nothing left but the beating.
He dropped onto his bed like a stone sinking into water.
His limbs stretched outward, unmoving.
He lay there, eyes open, but not really seeing.
That night, unlike the usual chaos in his head, the dreams, the spirals, the what-ifs, there was nothing.
No visions.
No Serin.
No panic.
Just a silent, still, plain black night.
Morning.
It didn't begin with a jolt or an alarm.
It began with light.
A soft, golden ray spilled gently through the gap between his curtains, crawling slowly across the floor like it was afraid to wake him.
The sunlight climbed his blanket.
It reached his cheek like a whisper.
And when it hit his eyes, he blinked.
Not because he wanted to but because the light kissed his eyelids like a gentle tap from the universe.
And that's when it all began.
The honey-gold morning filled the entire room. The shadows stretched like lazy cats across the wall. The dust in the air twinkled like it had nowhere to be.
And for a single breath of time… Ren didn't feel human.
He felt like he was part of something bigger.
Like the whole world was holding its breath to give him this one soft, quiet second.
He slowly rolled to his side, face half-buried in the pillow, hair messy like seaweed in a storm, eyes half-shut.
"Ahhhhhh."
A yawn escaped, deep and stretching. One of those full-body yawns that makes your spine tremble and cheeks squish upward.
He sat up slowly, like someone rebooting after a crash.
Then, rubbing one eye with the back of his hand, he reached for his phone.
He wasn't expecting anything.
Just routine.
But—
His thumb paused.
Notifications.
Not just from anyone.
From her.
And then—
He saw it.
Her reply.
His pupils dilated.
A warmth spread from his chest to his fingertips.
And without even realizing it… he smiled.
A smile so soft it barely tugged his lips at first.
A smile like someone reading a love letter written in the stars.
His heart Back flipped once.
Then twice.
His eyes lit up like he was witnessing sunrise for the first time.
And before he could even think, his thumb hit call.
Dialing...
Ring...
Every ring sounded like a heartbeat.
Or maybe it was his own echoing in his ears.
Click.
"...Tell what?" came her sleepy voice.
And suddenly, the world turned soft.
Her voice wasn't just sound.
It was texture.
Like warm cotton on a cold morning.
Like the fuzzy edge of a hoodie sleeve brushing your cheek.
Ren swallowed.
His lips curled into the softest curve.
He spoke like a boy still half-lost in a dream he didn't want to wake from.
"...That you love me."
" Yeah, of course I love you, Ren."
His whole body dissolved.
Melted into the mattress.
His arms gave out and he collapsed, slowly, dramatically, face-first onto the floor.
Like an anime character who'd just had their soul hugged.
His face buried in carpet.
Smile plastered.
Cheeks burning.
It was like someone poured honey straight into his bloodstream.
He didn't speak right away.
He just lay there.
Face flat.
Heart flying.
Then, muffled by the floor:
"C-can you say it again?"
"I love youuuuuuuu!!" she shouted playfully, laughing.
And that was it.
That was his limit.
His neurons short-circuited.
His toes curled.
His hair literally puffed up like a spiky anime boy who'd just been electrocuted with affection.
"OH MY GOD—TYSM BABEEEEEEW!!"
His voice cracked.
His whole existence combusted into a human cinnamon roll.
Ren's face went full tomato.
His cheeks flushed so hard, it looked like his entire head got dipped in strawberry milk.
His limbs flailed like a puppy kicked with too much happiness.
He rolled on the floor, face in pillow, trying to muffle the squeals that no "Man" was supposed to make.
"Wait....wait are we actually calling each other baby now?" Serin asked, stifling her giggle.
Ren paused.
Looked up.
"…I—I mean—I dunno? Are we? Is that… a thing… now?"
Serin smirked.
"It's up to you, baby boy."
Ren facepalmed so hard his soul left his body.
"NOOOOO. GOD. WHY. I'M SUPPOSED TO BE THE MAN HERE."
"Aww, my baby boy… Don't worry, I'll protect you."
Her voice went from sweet to villain-level teasing.
And Ren died again.
On the floor.
Arms stretched like he was accepting his fate.
"I'm dating a demon…" he mumbled into the carpet.
"A cute demon," she replied.
Ren groaned out of cringeness they both gave out .
She laughed.
And the sound of that laugh, that mischievous, girly snort-laugh, it made everything feel like Sunshine .
The screen was splitted into 2 screens :
Left side: Ren's room, messy hair, oversized t-shirt, one sock missing.
Right side: Serin's room, floral curtains, fuzzy headband, morning light dusting her cheeks.
Both screens glowing with sleepy love.
Ren, still on video call, walked to the sink with toothbrush in one hand, phone awkwardly propped up by a shampoo bottle.
Serin brushed her teeth while standing on her tippy toes, peeking into the mirror.
They weren't doing anything special.
Just… brushing.
Foam on their lips.
Ren accidentally sneezed mid-brush, and toothpaste flew onto the mirror.
Serin burst out laughing, a messy, sweet, soul-cleansing laugh.
He tried to play it cool.
Failed.
"Don't judge me, baby boy," she teased, holding back giggles.
He blushed again.
They washed their faces.
She carefully tied her hair into a lazy ponytail.
He tried to spike his hair with one hand, failed miserably, and gave up.
"You look cute, with that hairstyle" she said casually.
Ren choked on mouthwash.
He stared at the screen, blinking.
"…Y-you mean that?"
"I wouldn't date someone I don't think is cute, dummy."
He didn't know how to respond.
So he just smiled.
Like an idiot.
And that was enough.
They poured cereal together.
His bowl had chocolate puffs.
Hers had strawberry hearts.
As he took a sip of hot coffee, she timed a fake sneeze, and he spilled it on his shirt.
She laughed so hard she dropped her spoon.
"YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!"
"I would never," she said, halo spinning above her head.
After breakfast they both started to walk to their own schools.
Ren walked past a bakery.
She walked past a flower shop.
They were separated by districts.
By streets.
By blocks.
But somehow… they walked together.
Every word between them crossed space like magic.
As if they shared the same air, even when they didn't share the same place.
"Alright," she said, "I'll call after school?"
"Yup."
"…Love you, baby boy."
Ren held back a scream.
They both leaned in.
Kissed their screens.
The kiss didn't feel digital.
It felt real.
Because it was.
Ren climbed the stairs of the bus, headphones dangling around his neck, his hoodie slightly wrinkled, but something about him was different.
Not his outfit.
Not his hair.
But his energy.
The moment he stepped in, the driver, a grumpy man in his 40s, blinked.
Ren looked up. Met his eyes.
"Good morning, sir."
A pause.
Then… a smile.
Not a forced one.
A real one.
Honest.
Bright.
The driver was stunned.
"Morning… kid."
It was the first time Ren had ever greeted him in three years.
As Ren walked down the aisle, a breeze of quiet followed.
The girls on the left whispered.
"Did Ren just smile…?"
"No way. The emo guy?"
"He's actually cute when he smiles."
A boy on the right whispered, "Is he glowing or am I tripping?"
Another one nodded. "Looks like someone's in loooove."
Ren ignored the chatter.
Or rather, he didn't even notice it.
Because he wasn't walking to impress.
He was walking with a calm that only came from love.
His phone still warm from Serin's call.
His chest still fluttering from her I love you.
He sat at his usual window seat.
Slouched in his usual Ren way.
But now, his reflection in the glass?
Wasn't sad.
It was… peaceful.
"YO!"
A loud voice echoed from the back.
Ren turned.
Ishikawa grinned. "It's our SLOW PACER !"
Ren didn't roll his eyes this time.
He smirked.
Calm.
Collected.
"Yeah? That's what your mom said last night."
The entire bus exploded.
"OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH !!! "
Girls dropped their phones.
Boys were screaming like it was a rap battle victory.
The bus driver almost choked on his coffee.
Ishikawa stood up dramatically, clutched his chest, and fell back into his seat.
Even the cold girls in the back row couldn't help but smirk.
"What the hell happened to Ren?" someone whispered.
"He's confident now…"
"He's funny now…"
"Nah, this ain't Ren."
But Ren wasn't basking in it.
He turned to the window.
Outside, the sunlight trickled through the city like syrup.
And inside that little reflection on the glass, he smiled.
Not because he was cool now.
Not because people liked him more.
But because one girl saw the best in him before anyone else did.
Serin.
That's all that mattered.
The bus hissed to a halt.
Serin stood up, tugging her backpack over one shoulder, her thumb still brushing the edge of her phone screen.
Ren's last message sat open.
"Call me when you miss me, okay?"
She smiled without realizing it.
That shy, toothless kind of smile.
The kind that only escapes when your heart is too full to hold it in.
The doors opened.
She stepped down.
The sun greeted her like it knew her name.
The cool breeze slipped past her blazer, carrying the scent of wet leaves and campus dust.
Her shoes clicked gently against the sidewalk, but her steps weren't normal today.
They were… softer.
Bouncier.
Like she was walking on bubble wrap instead of concrete.
The gates of school stood tall before her, iron and old.
But even they couldn't dull her glow.
People passed her.
Some stared.
Some whispered.
"She's smiling today?"
"She's always quiet…"
"She looks… really pretty right now."
She didn't hear them.
Her AirPods were in.
But even if they weren't, her head was already filled with Ren's voice from this morning, his bashful laugh, his flustered squeal when she called him "baby boy."
She tried to hold her giggle in.
She failed.
A cute, nose-scrunching laugh escaped.
She looked down.
Blushed.
Her fingers played with her hair tie nervously.
Then—
"AIRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ! "
Serin practically launched herself into her best friend's arms like a kid who just came home from summer camp.
Airi stumbled back, eyes wide.
"W-What?! What's gotten into you?!"
Serin clung tighter.
Airi blinked again.
And then…
She smiled.
"…You're glowing."
Serin pulled back, cheeks as pink as cherry blossoms.
"The date…" she whispered, "was perfect."
Airi dropped her jaw.
"YOU WENT?!"
Serin nodded shyly, nodding like a squirrel hiding a nut.
"I kissed him," she said.
Airi gasped so loud the birds in the tree flew away.
" You WHAT?! "
Serin covered her mouth.
"SHHHH !"
Then—
They both screamed together.
Silent-scream type.
It was chaos.
It was beautiful.
It was soft.
"I— I can't believe this," Airi said breathlessly. "You? Blushing over a boy ?"
"Yeah…"
Serin's voice dropped.
"I think I… I think I like him more than I expected."
Her eyes drifted to the school gates.
And for a second, she wasn't in her school anymore.
She was back in that pizza shop.
Under the warm light.
Next to his laugh.
Wrapped in his jacket.
Mouth brushing his for the first time.
It wasn't a crush anymore.
It was something else.
Airi looped her arm through Serin's as they walked toward the courtyard.
"Okay— wait, start from the beginning. Like everything. I want a Netflix recap."
Serin laughed under her breath. "Airi, I swear, my heart's not even recovered yet."
"Too bad. Spill. I want dialogue, setting, emotions, weather forecast, food menu "
"Okay, okay! Chill !"
They found their usual bench — tucked beneath an old sakura tree even though it was spring and not a single blossom was left. Just memory petals.
Serin sat, hugging her knees to her chest.
She looked up at the soft clouds stretching like pulled cotton in the sky.
And then, she exhaled.
"The date felt like… you know when you read a romance manga and think 'This never happens in real life'?"
"Yeah?"
"It did."
Airi leaned in, eyes wide.
Serin smiled with her eyes this time.
"It wasn't some magical setup. We were awkward. The pizza was cold. He panicked. I panicked. He nearly slipped in the washroom—"
"What—?"
" but somehow, it all fit. Like we were both broken in the same way. And when he smiled… it felt like I was watching sunlight for the first time."
Airi blinked.
Then sat back.
"…damn."
"Yeah."
Silence.
Just birds and a gentle breeze.
Serin tilted her head.
"…but I didn't plan this, Airi."
She said it quietly, almost afraid.
"I always imagined I'd graduate first. Get into med school. Make my family proud. Love was supposed to come later. Maybe… never."
Her voice dropped into a whisper.
"But then… he happened."
Airi didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
Serin was pouring from a cup that had been full for years.
"I didn't mean to fall."
"I was scared to."
"But when he said he saw me as the future mother of his child…"
Her voice cracked.
"…it didn't sound scary. It sounded warm."
Airi placed a hand over hers.
"Serin."
She didn't look up.
"…I think this is my first time really… loving someone or something."
The words tasted like sugar and salt mixed together.
Bitter.
Sweet.
Overwhelming.
"It's just....He feels like home."
She smiled softly.
But somewhere deep inside… a whisper broke through the quiet.
"But what if home isn't allowed in my world ?"
She didn't say it out loud.
Not to Airi.
Not to herself.