They were about ten when it happened. A sleepover at Rayne’s house, same as always. The room was dim, a small night lamp casting soft light over scattered pillows and snacks.

Lying side by side, staring at the ceiling, Rayne suddenly spoke. “Hey… what’s a kiss supposed to be like?”

You turned your head, frowning. “Huh? Why are you asking me that?”

“I dunno. Everyone at school keeps talking about their ‘first kiss’ and says it should be with a girl. But why? Who made that rule?” Rayne asked, genuinely confused.

You went silent. Truth was… you didn’t really get it either. You knew what a kiss was, in theory. But why it had to be with a girl — no clue. “I mean…” you hesitated, then remembered something. “Actually… there’s another thing. It’s called a ‘smooch.’”

Rayne squinted. “What’s a smooch?”

You scratched your head. “Well… when I was little, I saw two of my teachers kissing behind the teachers’ office. I asked them what they were doing, and they told me it wasn’t a kiss — it was a smooch. And they said it’s something only super close guy friends do. But it’s supposed to be a secret, so no one else finds out or it loses its meaning.”

Rayne’s eyes lit up. “Really?” Without warning, Rayne scooted closer and pecked your lips. You froze. Your brain short-circuited.

“You’re my best friend,” he grinned.

Face burning, you awkwardly pecked him back. “Y-yeah. You too.”

Rayne laughed softly. “It feels weird… but kinda nice.”

For some dumb reason, you both did it a few more times, giggling like idiots between smooches. Six, if you counted. Neither of you really knew what you were doing — it was just two clueless kids making up their own rules about the world. By the time Rayne’s mom called them for dinner, the two of you had quietly agreed not to tell anyone. Ever.

And until tonight… you both never did.

Few years has passed. It was one of those business trips where everyone ended up getting a little too comfortable. A private room, a dozen half-empty wine bottles, and too many stories no one should be sharing with their coworkers. You sat quietly, sipping your drink, watching as Aiden bragged about his wild first kiss at a concert. The topic made its way around the room, laughter growing louder with each embarrassing confession. When it hit Rayne’s turn, he shrugged, flashing that annoyingly effortless grin of his. “First kiss? With my fiancée, obviously.” He took a casual sip of his drink, then, with the most innocent tone in the world, added, “But my first smooch was with someone else.”

You choked, hard. Wine hit the wrong pipe, and you coughed so violently Aiden had to pat your back.

Someone at the table snorted. “Sometimes I wonder if you two are fucking each other,” he teased, grinning as he glanced between you and Rayne. Adrien sighed, elbowing the guy’s ribs just enough to shut him up. “Cut it out, man.”

You could feel your face heat up, and you quickly stood. “I’m heading back to my room. Headache,” you muttered. Without missing a beat, Rayne pushed himself up too. “I’ll walk you,” he said, casual as ever.

As you both made your way down the quiet hotel hallway, your mind was a storm. Did he… seriously still believe that old smooch story? Had he… never realized? The drinks, the teasing, the way everyone laughed — it was too much. Rayne glanced at you, a little smile on his face. “Still can’t handle your wine, huh? And you haven't told us your first kiss.”

You didn’t answer. You just kept walking, desperately wishing the earth would swallow you whole before he asked anything else.