Noelle was strolling through the local park, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the paths when she heard a familiar voice calling her name.
"Noelle?"
She froze. Turning, she saw him. Han. Standing by the edge of the fountain, casual and relaxed, backpack slung over one shoulder, hair slightly tousled from the breeze. Her chest tightened. Memories she'd tucked away so neatly; late-night chats, the way he used to make her laugh, the flutter in her stomach whenever he smiled, all came flooding back in an instant.
"Han… you're back?" she managed, a mix of surprise and something else she couldn't quite name threading through her voice.
He grinned, walking toward her with that familiar, effortless ease. "Yeah. Summer break. Just got back from Perth. Didn't think I'd see you here first, though. Feels like forever."
Noelle felt her heartbeat quicken. She wasn't ready to admit it, but seeing him again stirred a strange, nostalgic ache, a reminder of what once was before everything changed with Ren.
"I… didn't expect to see you, especially since your aunt moved away" she said softly, forcing a smile.
Han shrugged, though the glint in his eyes suggested more than casual indifference. "Family stuff got sorted last minute. I figured I'd drop by and see some familiar faces. Especially one familiar face." His gaze lingered on her, teasing and warm at the same time, pulling her into that old orbit she hadn't realised she still revolved around.
For a moment, they walked side by side along the winding park path, letting the quiet buzz of summer surround them. Noelle tried to focus on the present but her thoughts kept flickering to Ren, to the evenings they'd spent together, to the warmth of his hand in hers.
Han chuckled softly, breaking the silence. "You've changed. I mean, grown up. Still the same spark, though."
Noelle blushed, looking down at her shoes. "I… I've been busy," she said softly.
"Busy, huh?" Han's smile softened. "I guess we'll have a lot to catch up on. Coffee tomorrow? I want to hear everything—school, life, all of it."
Noelle nodded, her heart caught between past and present, between what she felt for Ren and the nostalgia Han had suddenly stirred. "Sure," she murmured.
As Han waved goodbye and melted into the park's golden light, Noelle lingered on the path, torn between two worlds. She loved Ren, she truly did, but Han's unexpected return had reopened a door she thought she'd firmly closed. And for the first time in weeks, she realised that some feelings never entirely fade.
Noelle sat on the edge of the park bench, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her water bottle. The memory of Han's smile lingered, warm and infuriatingly familiar. She could still feel the way his eyes had studied her, soft but attentive, making her feel seen in a way that stirred both the heart and the ache of old longing. He had been gone so long and now he was back for the summer, walking into her life just as she was finally letting herself fall for Ren.
It should have been ordinary, peaceful but the sight of Han strolling across the park path, carrying his backpack casually over one shoulder, made her pulse quicken. She hadn't noticed but just being near him, the tilt of his head, the easy way he moved brought a nostalgic ache.
Noelle forced herself to take a deep breath, shifting her gaze to the ground. She had chosen Ren. She wanted Ren. And yet, the pull of the past, the memories of a crush that had been sweet and tender and painfully unspoken, tugged at her chest.
Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from Ren: "Hey, just checking in. Can't wait to see you later." Her chest warmed at the thought of him, and she typed back a quick smiley before tucking the phone into her bag. Ren's easy confidence, his thoughtfulness, the way he made her feel safe and desired. It was different from Han, different from anything she had ever felt.
But Han's presence lingered, a whisper of "what if" she couldn't ignore. Noelle tried to focus on the present, to remind herself that summer would be short and Ren was here, right now, and had been steadfast through all her uncertainties.
Han looked up and for a brief second, their eyes met. A spark of recognition, a half-smile, and then he nodded politely before continuing on his path. Noelle's heart both soared and sank. It was just a fleeting encounter, yet it left her stomach twisting in ways she hadn't felt for months.
She exhaled slowly and whispered to herself, "I chose Ren. I love Ren." Yet even as she said it, the memory of Han's presence lingered, a shadow of longing that she knew she had to reconcile.
The rest of the walk was quiet. Noelle's thoughts bounced between the past and the present, between the memory of a familiar crush and the reality of the boy who had already claimed her heart. By the time she reached the small café where she and Ren had agreed to meet, she had made a silent vow: summer would be hers to navigate and her heart would have to decide which of the two boys truly belonged there.
Noelle pushed open the café door, the cool air inside a welcome contrast to the heat of the sun outside. Ren was already there, sitting in their usual corner with that easy grin, as if he hadn't noticed the slight tension in her step.
"Hey," he said warmly, standing to pull out her chair. "You made it."
She smiled politely, sliding into the seat but feeling a small knot in her stomach. Ren didn't notice her distraction; he chatted casually about the match he'd played earlier in the week, the way he always could fill the air with his energy, making it easy to forget everything else.
Halfway through the conversation, Ren reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear, leaning just slightly closer. "You've been a little quiet today," he observed softly. "Everything okay?"
Noelle's heart skipped, her mind flickering back to Han, the unexpected pang of seeing him earlier that morning. She realised she couldn't give herself entirely to Ren's warmth just yet, not without first sorting out the tangled feelings she hadn't expected to surface.
"I… I'm fine," she said quickly, pulling back gently. The faint hesitation in her voice didn't go unnoticed. Ren's brow furrowed slightly, a subtle frown forming.
"Are you sure?" he pressed, leaning a little closer again. She could feel the heat of him, the closeness of his body and the familiar scent that always made her heart race.
"I'm sure," she repeated, firmer this time, gently moving his hand away when he reached for hers. "I'm just thinking about my homework and the upcoming assignment."
Ren blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Oh… okay," he said, sitting back and forcing a small, confused smile. His usual confidence seemed muted and for a brief moment, the boy who always seemed unshakable looked uncertain.
They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and revising their homework but there was a subtle distance that hadn't existed before. Noelle couldn't help but glance at him, admiring the way he carried himself, the strength and calm in his features but she was careful not to let her thoughts betray the memories of Han.
Ren noticed, though he couldn't place exactly why her mood felt different. Something had shifted and it left him puzzled, his hand lingering near hers on the table for a second too long before he finally withdrew it.
By the time they left the café, the sky had fallen dark. Ren walked beside her, a little quieter than usual, glancing at her from time to time as if trying to read the space between her words and her silence.