The hill wasn't far from town, but it felt like another world entirely. The noise and bustle below softened into a distant hum, leaving only the quiet rustle of the winter wind. Frost clung to the grass, crunching under their steps, and their breaths rose in pale clouds with every exhale.
From where they stood, the rooftops glittered under strings of festive lights, the streets alive with tiny bursts of fireworks and laughter carried faintly on the air. Yet up here, everything felt hushed, suspended, like the world had slowed just for them.
"This is…" Eli let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his lips curling into a small smile. "Really pretty."
Kai nodded, though his gaze wasn't on the town. It was fixed on Eli—quiet, steady, almost reverent. His dark eyes lingered, as if memorizing every detail: the way Eli's cheeks flushed red from the cold, the way his scarf nearly swallowed his chin, the soft glow of fireworks reflecting in his wide eyes.
Eli noticed and turned away quickly, his ears burning. "Wh-Why are you looking at me like that?"
Kai chuckled under his breath, the sound low and warm. "Because I wanted to."
Before Eli could stammer out a reply, a thunderous crack tore through the sky. Golden sparks blossomed overhead, spilling into red and violet streams that rained down in a dazzling display. Eli tilted his head back to watch, eyes wide with wonder. The flickering light painted his face in shifting colors, and for a moment, Kai couldn't breathe.
When the explosions faded into a lull, the silence between bursts seemed heavier than before. Kai's voice broke it, quiet but steady.
"Eli."
Eli lowered his gaze, startled by the weight in Kai's tone.
"I don't want to pretend anymore."
Eli's chest tightened. "…Pretend?"
"That we're just friends." Kai's breath came out in the cold air like a vow. His eyes didn't waver. "I like you. More than that, I… I think I've always liked you. Even before now."
A firework burst into silver above them, scattering light across his expression—raw, unguarded, filled with something Eli had never seen so openly before.
Eli's heart pounded. He had thought about this moment, dreaded and longed for it in equal measure. Hearing it aloud, hearing Kai say it with such certainty, tilted the world beneath his feet.
"I know I told you I'd wait," Kai continued, his voice steady but softer now. "And I meant it. But tonight, at the start of a new year, I just wanted you to know. No matter what you decide… I'll keep waiting. Because being by your side is enough for me."
The sincerity in his words wrapped around Eli like the winter air, sharp and overwhelming. His throat tightened, emotions tangling together—fear, relief, and a warmth he couldn't push away anymore.
Finally, his voice broke out in a whisper, fragile but true. "…I like you too, Kai."
Kai blinked, stunned. "What?"
Eli forced himself to meet his gaze, his cheeks flushed, his eyes shimmering in the glow of fireworks. "I said I like you too. I've been trying to ignore it, but… I can't anymore."
For a heartbeat, Kai just stared, frozen. Then slowly, so slowly, his expression melted into a smile—soft and real, reaching all the way to his eyes.
And in the next instant, he moved.
He stepped closer, closing the space between them. His gloved hand lifted hesitantly, brushing against Eli's scarf as if asking permission. Eli didn't pull away. His breath hitched, his body tense but unmoving, waiting.
The world around them erupted in color as midnight struck. Fireworks thundered, painting the sky with gold and crimson, but Eli barely noticed. All he felt was Kai's presence—warm despite the cold, steady despite the storm in Eli's chest.
Kai leaned in, giving Eli every chance to turn away. Instead, Eli tilted forward, their foreheads brushing, breaths mingling in the frigid air.
Then, finally, their lips met.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't perfect. It was soft, tentative—like a promise whispered against the winter night. Eli's eyes fluttered shut, his heart soaring as sparks lit the sky above them. The kiss was gentle, but it carried everything they hadn't said, everything they had been holding back for so long.
When they pulled apart, the world was still bright with fireworks, but neither of them looked up. Kai's forehead rested lightly against Eli's, his breath unsteady, his smile small but radiant.
"Happy New Year, Eli," he murmured.
Eli's chest swelled, his lips curving into a shy, breathless smile. "Happy New Year, Kai."
And for the first time, the year ahead didn't feel daunting—it felt like the beginning of something they had both been waiting for.