Noelle felt a small pang of guilt. She cared for Ren deeply, she really did. But the encounter with Han that morning had reminded her of how complicated the heart could be. And Ren, with all his ease and confidence, had no way of knowing the storm of past feelings she was still untangling.
Later that day, Noelle couldn't shake the lingering thought of Han. She remembered their brief encounter that morning: the easy smile, the familiar warmth that tugged at something old inside her. And then, almost unconsciously, she had given him her number when he asked.
It had felt… surreal. Funny, even. She laughed quietly to herself; the irony not lost on her. For months she had longed for Han to reach out, to notice her, to ask for her number. But he never had. And now, just as she was finally with Ren, he'd suddenly remembered…or decided…to make the effort.
Her phone buzzed lightly later that afternoon with a new message from Han: "Hey, do you want to grab that coffee sometime this week?"
Noelle's chest tightened, a mix of excitement and guilt twisting together. She hadn't expected this. She hadn't expected to still feel this pull, even after all she and Ren had shared. Her thumb hovered over the keyboard, the words forming and dissolving again. She knew she had to be careful but part of her couldn't help the flutter of anticipation.
When Ren arrived later to meet her, he noticed her distracted expression immediately. "Everything okay?" he asked casually, though his eyes narrowed slightly, a faint suspicion tugging at the edges of his gaze.
Noelle looked up, forcing a smile. "Yeah, just… thinking about some errands I need to do later." She didn't mention Han, not yet.
Ren didn't press further, at least not aloud, though a small, subtle crease appeared between his brows. He reached for her hand, his touch grounding her. "It's been a very different version of you lately," he said softly. "I don't like it when you're so distracted. Is everything alright?"
She felt the warmth of his hand, the ease of his presence, and a pang of guilt cut through the pull of her thoughts about Han. She knew she had to tread carefully. Her heart had room for complications but her loyalty and desire for Ren were real, undeniable.
As they walked together, Noelle laughed softly at herself again, marvelling at life's twisted sense of timing. The one person she had wanted to notice her for so long hadn't and the moment she finally found someone who did, Han suddenly reappeared.
Ren squeezed her hand lightly, unaware of the storm inside her. And in that moment, Noelle realised just how complicated the heart could be and how one could be torn between old longings and present warmth, between memories and moments that were only just beginning.
A few days later, despite the gnawing conflict inside her, Noelle found herself agreeing to meet Han for coffee. She told herself it was just casual, a friendly catch-up with an old neighbour. Yet, her pulse quickened the moment she saw him waiting at the café he had suggested, the same easy smile lighting up his face as it always had.
They settled into a corner table, the clatter of cups and soft hum of conversation surrounding them. At first, the conversation was light, nostalgic: memories of their last meeting, pranks that Han shared about that he played on some of the neighbours, the quirks of neighbours' past. But gradually, it flowed naturally into more personal territory. They laughed easily, finishing each other's sentences, teasing like they had all the time in the world.
Noelle felt it in every glance, every subtle brush of his hand against hers, the way he tilted his head as he listened. She realised with a pang that she still clicked with him; still understood his rhythm, his humour, the little inflections that made him uniquely Han. It was intoxicating, familiar and completely at odds with the life she had with Ren.
She excused herself for a moment to look out the window, hands trembling slightly. Her heart ached with guilt. Ren had been patient, attentive, completely devoted. And yet, here she was, laughing with someone else, feeling the sparks of something she hadn't felt in months, maybe years.
When she returned to the table, Han noticed the shift immediately. "Everything okay?" he asked, concern softening his features.
"Yeah," she said, voice small and uncertain. "I'm… just thinking." She didn't tell him that she was thinking about Ren, about how her chest tightened when she imagined him, about how unfair life felt for letting her feel two things at once.
Han smiled gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Noelle… I've missed this," he said softly. "Being able to just… talk, you know?"
Her heart ached. The connection was undeniable, and in that moment, she realised she wasn't just missing him: she was still caught in the gravity of what they had shared, even if it was from long ago.
The rest of the coffee passed in a blur. By the time they parted, Noelle felt simultaneously exhilarated and tormented. She had enjoyed every second with Han but each smile, each shared memory, made the weight of her choices with Ren heavier. As she walked home, hugging her jacket tighter against the cool autumn breeze, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
It was Han.
"I really enjoyed today. Hope we can do this again soon."
Her stomach fluttered uncomfortably. Moments later, another notification appeared: Ren. She stared at his name, knowing that responding would pull her back into the reality of the relationship she had built with him.
Her steps slowed, the city around her seeming both vivid and distant. She had to navigate the tangled threads of her heart, these lingering nostalgia for Han and the deepening, intimate bond she shared with Ren.
The walk home from school felt unusually quiet. Normally, Ren would tease her relentlessly, making her laugh until she gasped for air or point out some absurd detail about their classmates. Today, though, Noelle's steps were slower, her eyes focused somewhere beyond the passing streets, her smile faint and distracted.
Ren glanced at her, a subtle frown tugging at his lips. "You're awfully far away today. Mind if I come along?" he asked, his tone gentle, teasing just enough to coax her out of herself.
Noelle gave a small, almost guilty laugh and shook her head. "I'm… fine," she said softly, but her voice lacked its usual brightness.
He reached over, brushing her hand lightly with his as they walked side by side. The small contact should have been comforting, grounding but she seemed even more distant now. Ren felt it in his chest, that strange tug of unease. He knew something had shifted.