After a while, Steven stopped and gently set Maya down on a bench covered in a thin layer of snow. He sat beside her, their shoulders touching. "Do you ever think about the future?" Steven asked, looking out at the snowy landscape.
"Sometimes," Maya admitted, her breath visible in the cold air. "But it's hard to picture anything clearly. What about you?"
"I cannot even see that, Maya." He stopped for second, "I cannot even see my future without you." His gaze was on her, she smiled softly but didn't say anything.
"And you're worth every bit of effort, Maya. So I am going to pursue you until you are ready to give me an answer." Steven added, his eyes locking with hers.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few more minutes, just enjoying each other's company. Then, without warning, Steven scooped up a handful of snow and playfully tossed it at Maya. She shrieked in surprise, laughing as she brushed the snow off her coat.
"Hey!" Maya protested, grabbing her own handful of snow. "You're gonna regret that!"
"Oh, bring it on!" Steven challenged, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
They spent the next few minutes engaged in a playful snowball fight, their laughter echoing through the crisp winter air. By the time they were done, both were out of breath and covered in snow, but their spirits were high.
"Truce?" Steven asked, holding up his hands in surrender.
"Truce," Maya agreed, giggling as she shook the snow out of her hair.
They made their way back to the hotel, the warmth and light from the building a welcoming sight. Inside, the others were still preparing for the barbecue party, the smell of grilling meat and the sound of chatter filling the air.
"Looks like we missed a lot," Steven said, glancing around.
"But we had our own fun," Maya replied, giving him a playful nudge.
As they joined the others, it felt like the perfect end to their camping trip. Surrounded by friends, warmth, and laughter, Steven and Maya knew they had made memories that would last a lifetime. The barbecue party was in full swing, everyone enjoying the delicious food and the company. Steven and Maya found themselves a cozy spot by the fire, their plates piled high with food.
"This is nice," Maya said, taking a bite of her burger.
"Yeah, it really is," Steven agreed, smiling at her. "I wouldn't trade this for anything."
They ate in contented silence, the fire crackling softly beside them. It felt like all the worries and tensions of the past few days had melted away, leaving only happiness and warmth in their place.
"Hey, Steven?" Maya said after a while, her voice thoughtful.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for everything today. For being there for me."
"Always, Maya," Steven replied, his tone earnest. "Always."
And with that, they settled into a comfortable silence once more, the fire casting a warm glow over them as the night continued to unfold around them. It was a moment of pure contentment, a moment that felt like the beginning of something wonderful.
. . .
Days later, Maya fell asleep on the couch after working late at night. It was the weekend, and Steven was still sleeping in his room until 11 a.m. When he finally came out, he found her sprawled out in a mess. Her pajama bottoms were rolled up to her knees, and her T-shirt was bunched up around her chest. This was the first time Steven had seen Maya in such a state, despite living together for months.
Steven heaved a big sigh as he watched her, not wanting to go near. But when he noticed her sweating in the cold December air, he muttered, "Was the heater on or something?" He went to check and found the temperature higher than usual. He glanced back at Maya and sighed again.
"Ugh," he muttered. He didn't want to wake her up, nor did he want to fix her clothes or leave her like that.
"I should just stay out of it," he retorted, coming towards the table in front of Maya to clean the mess she made the night before. He kept glancing at her and her unfortunate situation. His gaze lingered on her lips, slightly parted as she slept, and then trailed down to her waist.
"Maya Larson," he couldn't help but yell.
Maya groaned in a morning voice, instantly responding. She saw Steven gazing at her coldly, confused as she just woke up.
"Morning," she said, rubbing her eyes.
"Tch, I told you not to trust men and be comfortable around them, didn't I?" Steven retorted in a low voice, kneeling next to the couch. His blue eyes, framed by white hair that reached his forehead, locked onto hers.
"Huh? What are you blabbering about in the morning?" she asked, still groggy.
"Fix your clothes," he said, getting up.
Maya looked at her situation and jumped up in realization as Steven turned his back. Her cheeks flushed bright red. She hastily pulled her T-shirt down and straightened her pajama bottoms.
Steven was almost done washing the dishes when Maya stood in front of him, embarrassed. She looked at him, her sharp jaw tense, her silk hair falling over her shoulders. He looked at her and then focused back on his task.
"You're not like others," Maya said, her voice soft.
Steven glanced at her, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
"You just said not to trust men, but you're not like others," Maya retorted, her voice a bit louder, closing her eyes shut as if bracing for impact.
The next thing Maya knew, Steven was over her, his hand on her waist, his face an inch away. Maya gulped, feeling his breath on her skin, her heart racing. His blue eyes bore into hers, his gaze dropping to her lips. He leaned in closer, their lips almost brushing. Her breath hitched, feeling the tension thicken between them.
"I'm a man too, Maya," Steven retorted coldly, his lips almost brushing against hers as he spoke. Maya's body tingled with anticipation, every nerve on edge. She closed her eyes, her thoughts swirling with confusion and desire.
Seconds passed, and Maya opened her eyes to find Steven staring at her, his eyebrows furrowed. A strand of her hair had fallen over her face, and he gently tucked it behind her ear, his fingers lingering on her skin. The touch sent shivers down her spine.
"Were you hoping for a kiss?" he teased, his voice a low whisper, his breath warm against her face.
Maya's blood rushed to her cheeks, hotter than ever. She unlocked herself from Steven's grasp and ran to her room, shutting the door behind her.
What the hell was I doing? Shit, she thought, banging her forehead against the door.
Steven was smiling, finding her reaction both endearing and cute. He felt a warm breeze coming from an open window in the cold morning. His thoughts lingered on the moment, the closeness they had shared.
Maya, can I have hope now? he wondered, his heart fluttering at the possibility. The memory of her body against his, her scent, her warmth, left him yearning for more.
. . .
Meanwhile, Shonn was standing in front of Sara's house, waiting for their date. He had been standing there for a few minutes, noticing girls passing by and whispering about him. It wasn't new to him, but it still felt awkward, especially with older women, Sara's neighbors, peeking at him.
"Are you Sara's boyfriend?" an old woman approached him.
"Yes," he nodded awkwardly.
"That's sad. I've been seeing you come and go for a while. I thought about introducing you to my granddaughter," the old woman retorted.
Shonn just smiled awkwardly, unsure of how to respond.
"Why are you telling him this when you see he's taken already?" Sara stormed out from the gate, earning a hush gesture from Shonn. She just looked at him, giving him a cold shoulder. Shonn was visibly scared.
"Granny, you don't need to find a boyfriend for your granddaughter. If you don't have anything else to do, join the older community right there," Sara said, pointing to a building across the street. "You'll find friends your age to chat with." Sara was a volunteer there and knew the place well.
The old lady raised her eyebrows at Sara. "Oh, I feel sorry for the boy. No wonder you're bossing him around."
"She is not, granny. I'd appreciate it if you don't talk to her that way," Shonn intervened, stopping the conversation.
The old lady scanned them for a moment until Shonn gave her a small nod signing to leave, holding Sara's hand and turning away.
"Ooooooohhhhh, Shonn. My heart is about to pop out," Sara exclaimed when they found an empty spot. Shonn turned to her and placed her hand on his chest.
"Can you feel it? It's like this every time I see you. You're giving me a hard time, Sara," he said earnestly.
Sara didn't even smile at this point. She just looked at him, feeling his intense gaze on her. Their eyes locked for moments until Shonn broke the silence with a kiss on her lips. Sara wasn't shocked; she had seen this coming. As Shonn pulled away from the kiss, Sara went in for a longer one. She tiptoed to reach his height and kissed him again. Shonn felt the intensity and kissed her back.