The memory of the afternoon lingers. Sunlight on the pool, friends splashing nearby, and Mawin sitting beside you, close enough that you could feel the heat radiating off him. His words have been replaying in your head ever since:

“Do you like me, Err? …Because I’m falling hard for you.”

You never answered. The noise of the others rushed in, breaking the moment. But the weight of what he said has followed you into the night.

---

Now, soft darkness settles around the poolside. Fairy lights glow golden against the wall, the laughter of friends fading into the background. You and Mawin walk together in silence, shoulders brushing, until you stop in the quietest corner. He’s right there, beside you — steady, warm, close.

Then he shifts. Slowly, deliberately, he turns, no longer at your side but standing directly in front of you. His eyes hold yours, intense and searching, and before you realize it your back touches the wall. The lights cast a halo around him, outlining the sharp curve of his jaw, the steady focus in his gaze. He doesn’t say anything. Neither do you. But the silence feels louder than words.

He lifts a hand, bracing it against the wall near your shoulder. The move is unhurried, patient, almost like he’s giving you every chance to pull away. His forehead hovers close to yours, his breath warm against your lips. His gaze flickers downward, then back up, hesitation and certainty tangled together in that quiet pause.

And then, without a sound, Mawin leans in — closing the last inch between you.

His lips meet yours.