A kiss—little no more than an eleven seconds.
A motion—little to no motion of the lips.
Does snap Neva back to her senses.
Does Rhett feels devastated as she parts their lips.
Her palms press against Rhett's chest, pushing him away with startled force.
She immediately rises.
"You need to leave," she says, avoiding his eyes, afraid he'll see through her all—read everything she's trying to hide.
Rhett opens his mouth. "Neva, I—"
"Go home, Rhett." She cuts him off, words clipped, final.
His gaze searches her face, but her eyes won't meet his. Does she hate him? The thought twists something inside him. His fists tighten at his sides. He needs reassurance. He needs to know she doesn't hate him.
But, he glances at her one last time.
He sighs, and nods. "Goodnight, Neva."
Their eyes meet—and in his, there's no guilt. Just a tranquiled resolve. He had to kiss her. Or he might've died holding it back.
And in her eyes, he sees it too: she doesn't despise him.
Rhett walks out the door, but not before taking a piece of her with him.
Neva rushes to the door and locks it tight. She leans back against it, hand clutching her chest. Her heart feels like it might burst.
.
.
.
All night, lovesick, both of them toss and turn, robbed of dreams, their minds haunted by chaos and longing.
---
Dawn feels delayed. Neva stumbles out of her apartment, disheveled and distracted. The kiss replays in her head, over and over.
Her first.
Could it have been more special—less confusing?
She misses a step.
She gasps—about to fall—until strong arms catch her.
She blinks, panicked, her breath caught in her throat.
Then she sees him.
Rhett. The man behind this beautiful mess. One arm at her waist, the other braced behind her back. She's speechless.
Straightening, she clears her throat awkwardly. "Thank you," she mumbles.
"Heading to university?" Rhett asks with a soft smile.
"Yeah," she replies, eyes pointed anywhere but him.
"Let me drop you off. My bike's right there."
"I'll walk," she says curtly, carefully descending the stairs.
"Angel, your face is red, and you almost fell. Are you sick?" he asks, brows furrowed in worry.
"Whose fault is that?" she mutters. But he's already walking beside her.
"My fault? How is it my fault?" he laughs, genuinely puzzled.
She glances sideways at him. Is he pretending? Can he seriously be this clueless?
"Wait… how did you catch me so fast?"
He scratches the back of his neck. "Uh… I was waiting at the bench. At the end of the stairs."
Her brows draw together. "Why?"
"I wanted to make sure you weren't mad about… the kiss," he says. Nervous. Honest.
"And?" she asks, meeting his gaze.
"I'm glad you're not." He grins. "And glad I could save you from falling on your ass."
"Who said I'm not mad?" she shoots back, suddenly walking faster.
He falls silent. "You're mad?" he asks softly.
"Of course I am! Don't you have a job or something?"
He raises his brows. "I do. But I'm taking a break."
"Tsk! So proud of owning a car service store," she scoffs.
"Hey! Respect my job—I save lives!"
He freezes. Realizes what he just said.
How can he let it slip through his mouth?
Neva stops. What did he mean?
He covers fast. "What did you say?"
But her mind spirals. He saves lives?
She tries to rationalize it. Maybe he means his job prevents accidents. Maybe he's just proud.
Whatever, she tells herself. I don't care. I'm not getting tangled up with him.
Then Rhett asks, "Angel, how did you know I owned a car maintenance store?"
No response.
He smirks. "Wait… I thought I was the stalker. You've been looking me up too, haven't you, gorgeous?"
"Shut up! Me? Stalking you?" she snaps. "Hah! Keep dreaming, Mr Delusional!"
"Then explain how you knew."
"It's just—Emma saw you with me on my first day at university!"
"Really? Wait… so you knew my name before I told you?"
"Wahh~"
"Stupid! Leave me alone!" she yells, jogging ahead, her face burning.
Naturally, Rhett catches up.
No way he's letting his clumsy angel wander off alone. And maybe… he just wants to tease her a little more.
"Say, Angel," he grins, "what else did you find out about me? You are such a stalker."
"Shut up, stupid! I'm not! And you're just a big, big, big playboy!" Neva screams in the middle of the street.
Rhett clutches his chest like she's wounded him. "My heart! I'm a one-woman man, Angel. I've never been with anyone but you! How dare you accuse me?!"
"What? When were we ever together?!"
"You're so maddening, Rhett!!" she screams again.
She shuts her eyes, furious and embarrassed, while strangers pass and stare.
"Well that's my kind of love, Angel!" he laughs, loud and free, electrified with joy.