the new year had been filled with friends, good food, and joy.

the night before, tara and simone had come over. neither of them had believed that caleb was ’just a friend’, but both were too polite to question it.

caleb had been cooking the whole time he’d been staying with you, to nobody’s surprise. he had even made a delicious pork rib soup for your friends.

today you had visited the lantern festival, where the snowy courtyard was bustling with people, holly decorating the stands. you’d both purchased kumquats tied with a red string.

you’d both arrived back home late, having opted to get dinner out and about so that caleb could have a break from cooking.

now you lay on the couch together. caleb still wore the crimson tunic with gold embroidery that he’d donned for the festival.

reaching up, you messed up his hair, leaning against him.

“this is the closest we’ve been all year,” he mused, gaze flicking to your lips. the kiss you’d shared when he’d pretended to lose his memories still lingered in his mind.

“stay still... let me just stay here for a while.”

his voice turned quieter, rougher, his adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

carefully he reached out, covering your eyes. you felt his breath against your lips- any closer and he’d kiss you.

“...when you used to sit beside me before, did you look at me this way, thinking the same thoughts? as ‘a childhood friend?” you murmured back.

his breath hitched, and he was close enough that you could feel it, his hands still over your eyes. the line between childhood friends and lovers was quickly blurring.