Chapter 7: Sunny Days and Surprises
Noah woke to sunlight streaming through his window, signaling a bright, sunny day. After texting Kai a quick "good morning," he made his way downstairs, where his grandma was busy preparing breakfast. He joined her, helping with the cooking, and they ate together before he set off for school.
At school, Noah noticed Kai surrounded by his friends, laughing and chatting. When Kai spotted him, a smile spread across his face as he waved Noah over. Introductions were swift—Alex, Kai's best friend, greeted him with a firm handshake, while Ren and Zhou offered a casual "hello." None of them knew about Noah and Kai's relationship; to them, Noah was just another friend.
As they talked, the topic of a water park trip came up. The group planned to go tomorrow, Sunday. Noah declined, explaining he had to help his grandma at her shop. Without hesitation, Kai also passed on the trip, mentioning he had "work." Before they could chat further, the bell rang, and they separated for their classes—Noah heading to the second floor and Kai to the third.
During class, Noah's phone buzzed: "Want to meet after school?" Kai had texted. Noah replied that he couldn't; his grandma needed help at the shop. "Alright," Kai texted back.
After school, Noah went straight to the shop to assist his grandma. As evening settled in, he was surprised when Kai appeared at the door, grinning at Noah's shocked expression. Kai greeted his grandma, who smiled warmly and handed him a snack. Kai waited patiently as Noah worked, and once the shop closed, he invited Noah to a nearby art exhibition. Noah hesitated but asked his grandma for permission, and she agreed as long as they returned before it got too late.
At the exhibition, Noah admired the artwork with wide-eyed curiosity. Deep down, he longed to see his own paintings hanging on the walls, admired by strangers. As he observed a piece, he felt Kai's arm wrap around his waist. Startled, Noah blushed at the sudden contact. He was happy but also anxious about showing physical affection in public; he didn't say anything to Kai, keeping his thoughts to himself.
When they returned from the exhibition, Kai asked, "Can I come help at the shop tomorrow?" Noah reminded him that he had work, but Kai only grinned in response. Noah realized what Kai meant but wanted to hear it from him directly. So, he pretended to misunderstand.
"Why do you think I denied my friends?" Kai said with a playful smile. "Of course, I want to spend more time with you." Noah's heart skipped a beat, feeling both exhilarated and nervous. Before he could respond, Kai leaned in and planted a light kiss on Noah's lips. Stunned and speechless, Noah watched as Kai flashed him a mischievous smile and walked away before he could even respond.
On his way home, Noah's heart raced as he touched his lips, remembering the softness of Kai's. A smile spread across his face at the thought of their kiss. By the time he reached home, he felt elated at the prospect of spending the whole day with Kai tomorrow.
After going to bed, both Noah and Kai sighed, reflecting on what a wonderful day it had been.
--