Ren blinked at her, half-relieved, half-amused. "Probation, huh?"
"Mm-hmm." Noelle's tone was calm but her eyes glimmered with mischief. "You'll have to earn your full privileges back."
He chuckled softly, brushing a thumb over her knuckles. "Then I'd better be on my best behaviour."
The next morning, their routine fell back into place... or at least, mostly. They met at the gate as usual. Ren carried her bag while Noelle teased him about his too-serious expression and the familiar rhythm of their school day eased them both.
But it was after class that things changed. Instead of waiting openly by the pick-up point, they began slipping around the corner, where the tall hedges hid them from sight. The driver would idle a minute or two longer, none the wiser.
Ren would lean against the car, eyes softening as Noelle came close. "We've got a minute," he'd murmur, voice low and playful.
"That's all you ever need," she whispered back, already tugging lightly at his collar. Tucked around a quiet corner, the world seemed to fall away as Noelle stood on her tiptoes, trying to meet Ren's gaze. He smiled, a soft, teasing look in his eyes, before bending down, his hand resting at the back of her neck, gently guiding her closer as he brought their lips together in a kiss.
They'd steal their moments there: quick kisses that started sweet and turned deeper, the kind that left both of them a little breathless, pretending afterward that nothing had happened.
By the time they finally climbed into the back seat, Noelle's cheeks were faintly flushed and Ren's hair a little tousled. They exchanged knowing glances, their secret pressed between them like a shared heartbeat, a quiet reminder that love could find a way, even between lessons, routines and rules.
Over the next few days, the little ritual became their secret sanctuary.
It started innocently at first, with a shared smile as they slipped away from the crowd, the thrill of knowing no one else had any idea. The first few times, they barely kissed, just brushed fingers and whispered nonsense, their laughter hushed but warm. But by midweek, the stolen minutes turned into something more, something that made both their hearts race a little faster.
Ren would glance around, then tilt his head toward the hidden spot behind the hedges. "Come on," he'd say softly, that teasing glint in his eyes impossible to refuse.
Noelle would pretend to protest, "We'll get caught one day" but her voice always softened by the time he laced their fingers together.
In those moments, time seemed to slow. He'd pull her close, his thumb tracing lazy circles along her back, while she leaned into him like she belonged there. The world beyond that corner faded, with no classmates, no obligations, just the quiet hum of their uneven breaths mingling.
Sometimes they'd talk about school, about how exhausted he looked, about her next test. Other times, words fell away, replaced by the simple comfort of closeness: her head resting on his shoulder, his hand absently threading through her hair.
And every time they finally walked out to meet the waiting car, they'd exchange that same look: that shared, guilty spark of tenderness that said, I'll see you here again tomorrow.
Ren would whisper, "You're going to get me addicted to this," and Noelle would grin, whispering back, "Too late."
When Ren mentioned that he wanted her to come home with him to meet his parents, Noelle froze mid-bite over lunch.
"Your parents?" she echoed, blinking.
He chuckled. "Yeah. They've been asking why I keep disappearing every weekend. I think it's time they met the reason."
Her cheeks flushed instantly. "Ren!"
"What?" He grinned, utterly unrepentant. "You're my girlfriend, aren't you? I'm just making it official."
She tried to glare, but it dissolved into a small laugh. "If I'm meeting your parents, I need to look decent. You're coming with me to pick something out."
Ren groaned, but the glint in his eyes betrayed how much he enjoyed it. "Shopping? That's my punishment, isn't it?"
"It's your duty," she said primly, rising from the couch and tugging him up by the hand.
A few hours later, they were in the women's section of a quiet mall, weaving through racks of dresses and blouses. Noelle held up one outfit after another, from floral, pastel to soft neutrals while Ren lounged nearby, pretending to be deeply invested but mostly watching her.
When she emerged from the fitting room in a simple chiffon cream dress, his easy smirk faltered. The fabric caught the light, softening her in a way that made his chest ache. The cream colour clung just enough to her figure and in the soft glow of the room, it almost looked like she wasn't wearing anything at all. His mind instantly went into overdrive: how the hell was he supposed to sit through dinner with his parents when that was all he could think about?
He swallowed hard, trying to shift his gaze elsewhere but it kept snapping back to her.
"Well?" she asked, turning slightly, her expression a careful mix of confidence and uncertainty. "What do you think? Is it... appropriate for your mom?"
Ren blinked a few times, his mouth going dry as his smirk faded into something a little more intense. He let out a low whistle, trying and failing to make it sound casual. "You expect me to form words when you look like that?" he teased, stepping closer, his voice dropping a few notches. "I mean, sure, it's 'appropriate' for my mom but I'm not sure it's survivable for me. The whole time I'm sitting across from my parents, all I'll be thinking about is how that dress is practically the same colour as your skin."
He grinned wickedly. "And you know what that does to a guy, right?" He leaned in a little, lowering his voice even further. "You're gonna have me fighting to keep my... composure while we eat. And I'm gonna be real distracted especially when you keep twisting like that."
Noelle raised an eyebrow, though the heat in her cheeks betrayed the effect his words had on her. She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't hide the smile tugging at her lips. "I'm asking if it's appropriate for your mom, not for you, perv."
Ren laughed, looking her up and down as if he was trying to assess her more seriously now, though the teasing edge never left his tone. "Appropriate? Yeah. But survivable for me?" He stepped back, giving her a dramatic once-over, clearly letting his thoughts wander. "That's a different question entirely."
She swatted at him with the hanger but he caught her wrist and pulled her close, his voice dipping to a murmur only she could hear. "You're perfect. My mom's going to love you."
For a moment, she didn't move, just let herself sink into the quiet reassurance of his words, the way his hand lingered at the small of her back. Then she smiled softly. "You think so?"
"I know so."
And just like that, the nerves in her stomach eased. The rest of the day passed in laughter with Ren carrying her bags, stealing glances when he thought she wasn't looking and Noelle pretending not to notice while secretly enjoying the glow in his eyes every time she smiled.
By the time Sunday arrived, Noelle's nerves were an invisible hum beneath her calm exterior. She'd straightened her hair twice, changed earrings three times, and checked her reflection so often that Ren finally took her hand, laughing.
"Relax," he said, brushing his thumb across her knuckles. "You're going to be fine. My dad's a big softie, and my mom—" he hesitated, lips twitching "—well, she just takes a while to warm up. Think of her as… tough love."
"Tough love?" Noelle raised an eyebrow. "That sounds like a polite way of saying terrifying."
Ren grinned. "Only if you give her a reason to be. Don't worry, she'll love you."
Noelle exhaled, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. "You keep saying that. I hope you're right."
He squeezed her hand. "I usually am."