"Ren?" Noelle's voice snapped him back to reality, her brow raised as she studied him with a smirk. "You seem a little distracted. What's on your mind?"
He cleared his throat, forcing a smile that he hoped wasn't too strained. "Just thinking about how to improve my chopstick skills." He picked up the pair of sticks again, this time with slightly more precision, though it was clear he was still more focused on her than the food.
When dessert arrived, Noelle glanced toward the window, where the sky had darkened fully, the reflections turning softer, dreamlike. "You didn't have to do all this," she said quietly.
Ren reached across the table, brushing his thumb lightly over her fingers. "I wanted to," he said. "After everything… I just wanted to remind you that you're it for me. Always."
Noelle's lips parted, to tease him, to argue, to say something but no words came. Instead, she let her hand turn in his, fingers curling around his like it was the most natural thing in the world.
They sat like that for a while, no grand gestures, no promises in words, just two people who had weathered enough to understand that sometimes love wasn't loud. It was steady, patient and right there, glowing quietly beneath the city lights.
As the last course was cleared, the waiter poured a final glass of champagne before discreetly leaving them alone. The private room felt softer now, bathed in the gold and indigo hues from the Marina Bay lights outside.
Noelle walked towards the glass and leaned back slightly, her gaze drawn to the shimmering reflection on the glass. "It's beautiful," she murmured. "Almost feels unreal."
Ren was right behind her, his expression unreadable but gentle. "It's real," he said quietly. "You're unreal."
She turned to look at him with the sincerity in his tone catching her off guard. There was something raw in his eyes, something that made her heartbeat stumble.
He reached over again, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. His fingers lingered a moment too long. "You have no idea how good it feels… just to be here with you like this."
Noelle's lips curved faintly. "That's rare for you…no pretending?" she teased softly.
Ren huffed a quiet laugh. "You make it hard to keep my guard up."
For a moment, a comfortable silence stretched between them. It was the kind that settled between two people who knew each other's breaths, where every glance felt heavier than words.
The waiter returned briefly to clear the glasses, leaving a small plate of petit fours and two spoons. Noelle reached for one, brushing against Ren's hand as she did. Her fingers paused, her breath catching just slightly at the touch.
Ren didn't pull his hand away either. Instead, he held her gaze, his thumb brushing over her skin, as if savouring the moment.
"You're killing me, you know that?" Ren's voice dropped, low but steady, the words carrying more weight than she expected. "You look so beautiful tonight."
Noelle felt the heat rise to her cheeks at the sudden intensity in his tone. "You've said that many times tonight," she murmured, trying to play it off.
"I'll say it again," he said, a hint of a smile curving his lips but there was something more in his eyes now. "Every time, I mean it."
There was something in his tone that made her chest tighten. The quiet sincerity in his words was more than just a compliment. It felt like a promise, like something deeper. Noelle looked down, tracing the rim of her glass, trying to steady herself, trying to push away the unexpected fluttering in her chest. "You're getting good at this," she said lightly, though her voice wavered just slightly.
Ren leaned in, his body coming closer across the table, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered, "Only with you."
Even with heels on, Noelle found herself dwarfed by Ren's towering 1.85-meter frame. As he leaned down to kiss her, his hand cradled the back of her head, gently pulling her closer as their lips met. The soft moonlight streamed through the Marina Bay Sands backdrop, casting a silvery glow over them, heightening the intimacy of the moment. The contrast of their heights only added to the magic, his presence overwhelming yet tender, as if time itself had slowed.
Her pulse skipped and the world outside seemed to fade away, the soft hum of the restaurant turning into background noise. The private room, tucked away from the rest of the diners, felt like an intimate cocoon, just the two of them. No one else could see her like this. No one else could feast their eyes on her the way he could and that thought made him feel possessive in the best way.
He didn't mind admitting it; that the knowledge that she was his to look at, to enjoy, to admire in every way and the idea of anyone else taking in the sight of her made something tighten in his chest.
"You're lucky we're in here," Ren muttered, his voice just above a whisper. "If anyone else saw you, I'd lose my mind."
Noelle turned to face him fully now, her gaze searching his. "You don't have to worry about that," she said softly, though the teasing edge in her tone softened the intimacy of her words. She was well aware of the effect she was having on him and a small, knowing smile curved her lips.
Ren leaned closer, his lips just a breath away from her ear. "Believe me, I'm glad we're in here. I don't need anyone else in the world looking at you like I do." He paused, his eyes darkening slightly as his hand slid a little closer to hers. "You're mine, Noelle. I don't want to share that."
She looked up at him, her chest tightening as she met his eyes and for a moment, they simply held each other's gaze. The world outside seemed to disappear entirely. The quiet room, the soft lighting and the gentle rhythm of their breathing were all that mattered now.
Noelle felt the warmth of his hand on her cheek as he cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing the soft skin of her jaw. She closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, the tenderness in it filling her with love and adore.
Ren's lips brushed softly against hers, a featherlight kiss that was everything but rushed. His kiss was slow, tender, like he was savouring the feel of her, tasting the moment, allowing himself to get lost in it. The pressure of his lips was gentle but it was enough to send a wave of warmth through her body.
She responded, her lips parting slightly as her hand slid to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath his shirt. As their kiss deepened, Ren's other hand moved to her waist, pulling her closer, his touch warm and comforting as he traced the curve of her back beneath the delicate fabric of her dress.
She could feel the care in every movement he made, the way his fingers gently caressed her skin, like he was exploring not just her body but the essence of who she was. His touch was full of intention, not driven by urgency but by a deep need to be close to her, to show her how much she meant to him.
Ren pulled back just slightly, his forehead resting against hers, his breath warm and steady. "You're everything to me, Noelle," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. "I don't think you realise how much you've changed my world."
Her chest tightened, the weight of his words settling in her heart. She could feel the love in his touch, the care in every caress. Noelle reached up, her fingers gently tracing his jaw, brushing over his flawless skin. "You changed my world too, Ren," she whispered back, her voice thick with emotion. "And you're everything to me too."
There was a softness in the way he kissed her again, a tenderness that spoke volumes. It was as though, in that moment, the rest of the world had disappeared, leaving only the two of them in their own little universe.