But then he smiled, that quiet, lopsided one that always disarmed her. "Lock the door after I go, okay?"
She nodded. "Text me when you're done with your rounds."
He raised an eyebrow. "You're checking up on me now?"
"Someone has to make sure you eat," she said, trying to sound casual but her voice came out softer than she meant it to.
Ren's grin turned gentler. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Yes, ma'am."
She watched him grab his bag, the one he always seemed to carry no matter how light or heavy the day was. He opened the door halfway, hesitated, then glanced back. "Noelle."
Her eyes met his.
He didn't say anything else; just smiled again, smaller now, as though afraid words might make it too real and stepped out.
The door clicked shut behind him.
For a long moment, Noelle sat there, the echo of that sound lingering in the quiet apartment. The faint scent of his cologne still hung in the air, clean and warm and grounding. She drew her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them.
She had seen so many sides of Ren: the confident student, the teasing friend, the boy with secrets he didn't know how to share. But this, the version that left quietly for work with tired eyes and a promise he didn't have to make, was the one that caught her heart off guard.
Through the thin curtain, she saw him outside, sliding into the back seat of a black car. His driver was waiting, as always. It struck her again just how different their worlds were, his measured and managed, hers uncertain and small in comparison.
And yet, as the car pulled away, she realised it didn't matter as much as she once thought.
Because for the first time, Ren hadn't tried to impress her or hide behind anything. He had just been himself.
And that, somehow, felt like the truest version of love she had ever known.
By Monday, the world had quietly resumed its rhythm: lectures, deadlines, chatter in the halls. Noelle and Ren walked side by side again, not quite like before but close enough that their shoulders brushed every now and then.
There was a quiet understanding between them now, something tentative and careful. They didn't cling to each other or make grand declarations. Instead, they moved through their shared spaces like two people relearning the rhythm of being together.
Mei Ling, ever the observer, raised an eyebrow the first time she saw them together again. "So, we're on speaking terms now?" she whispered when Ren was out of earshot.
Noelle only smiled faintly, not confirming or denying. "Something like that."
Classes blurred by. They exchanged glances over shared notes, whispered sarcastic comments about professors and met between lectures for quick coffees that turned into quiet, comfortable silences. It wasn't perfect. There were still small hesitations, moments when Noelle would pull back a little or Ren would fall too quiet but it was something real, and that felt like a start.
By Friday, Ren's week had caught up with him. Between schoolwork and managing his family's outlets, he was running on caffeine and instinct. He stood behind the counter of one of his cafés, sleeves rolled up, checking the new delivery schedule when a voice broke through the background noise.
"Excuse me, you're not usually the one here, are you?"
Ren glanced up. The barista, new and confident, smiled at him with easy familiarity.
Her name tag read "Seraphina." She was striking in a way that didn't try too hard with dark auburn hair tied loosely in a low ponytail, a small silver hoop glinting on one ear and warm, coffee-coloured eyes that seemed to miss very little. There was a kind of casual charm in the way she leaned against the counter, one hand on her hip, apron smudged with faint traces of cocoa.
"Not usually," Ren said, scanning the receipt before setting it aside. "Just helping out for the time being until we find new help."
"Helping out or showing off?" Seraphina teased, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "I heard you're the boss's son."
Ren gave a small, polite smile. "Something like that."
She tilted her head, studying him. "You don't look like one. Most of them walk around in suits, not rolled-up sleeves and coffee stains."
He laughed softly. "Guess I'm not most of them."
Seraphina's grin deepened, eyes glinting. "Good. Makes things more interesting."
Before Ren could answer, his phone buzzed. A message from Noelle. Done with class. You still alive?
His lips curved into a small, genuine smile, the kind that softened his usually composed expression.
Seraphina noticed the change immediately, her teasing faltering for a fraction of a second. "Girlfriend?" she asked, voice casual but edged with curiosity.
Ren pocketed his phone, his tone light but certain. "Something like that."
Seraphina chuckled, though her gaze lingered a moment longer than it needed to. "Lucky girl," she said finally.
Ren just nodded, turning back to his clipboard. "No," he said quietly. "I'm the lucky one."
By the time Ren wrapped up at the café, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon, washing the streets in a gentle haze of gold. He thanked the staff, including Seraphina, who gave him a lingering smile as he left. He didn't notice or maybe he chose not to.
In his hand, he carried a small box from the counter fridge, a slice of chocolate hazelnut cake carefully wrapped. It was technically a leftover but he had asked the barista to pack it with care as if the gesture itself carried meaning.
He told himself it was nothing, just something sweet to bring home after a long day. But the truth sat quietly beneath that thought. A small, unspoken wish to bridge the distance that still lingered between them. The box felt light in his hand, yet it carried something fragile, like hope trying to take shape.