Mayu stood outside Kyle's apartment, nervously fiddling with the edge of her sweater. Today was the day they would play *Jumble*, the board game Kyle had mentioned during their last hangout. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door, her heart racing with excitement and anticipation.
"Hey, Mayu!" Kyle greeted her with a wide smile as he opened the door. "Come on in!"
As she entered, Mayu felt the familiar warmth of his presence wash over her. The room was cozy, filled with the scent of snacks and a hint of something sweet, and Kyle had already set up the game on his desk.
"Ready to lose?" he teased, grinning as he gestured toward the game.
"In your dreams!" Mayu shot back, laughing as she took a seat across from him.
They spent the next hour engaged in friendly competition, tossing words back and forth, playfully teasing each other as they scrambled to find the right letters. The laughter echoed around the room, creating a comfortable atmosphere. But as time went on, Mayu found herself getting increasingly frustrated.
"Ugh! This is impossible!" she exclaimed, tossing her hands up in exasperation as she stared at the jumble of letters. "How do you keep winning?"
Kyle chuckled, enjoying her determination. "Maybe you just need to focus a bit more."
"Focus? I can barely even see the letters!" she shot back, her irritation bubbling to the surface. In a moment of impulsiveness, she leaned back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, letting out a sigh of frustration.
"Mayu?" Kyle looked at her, surprised by her sudden change in demeanor. "Are you okay?"
"Just give me a minute," she mumbled, closing her eyes for a moment. The softness of the bed beneath her was comforting, and she didn't want to think about losing anymore.
Kyle stood up, planning to grab some water to help clear his mind and perhaps calm Mayu down. But as he turned to leave, Mayu suddenly shot up, catching him off guard. Without thinking, she grabbed his arm and pulled him back toward her.
Before either of them realized what was happening, Kyle stumbled forward, landing right on top of Mayu. Their faces were mere inches apart, their breaths mingling in the charged air between them. Mayu's heart raced, and she could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks as she locked eyes with him.
"Kyle…" she whispered, the moment hanging in the air like a fragile bubble, ready to burst.
Kyle's mind raced. He could feel the warmth radiating from Mayu, and he couldn't help but lean in slightly, preparing for a kiss. Everything felt perfect—the closeness, the tension, the undeniable chemistry.
Just as he was about to close the gap, the door swung open with a loud creak, and Kyle's mother barged in. "Kyle, honey, I—"
Both Mayu and Kyle froze, their eyes wide as they turned to see Kyle's mother standing in the doorway, her eyes darting between them in shock.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, quickly retreating and shutting the door behind her. "I didn't mean to interrupt!"
Mayu's heart raced with embarrassment, her face burning. She looked up at Kyle, who was still hovering above her, and they both burst into laughter, the tension instantly breaking.
"Wow, that was awkward," Kyle said, trying to catch his breath as he rolled off her and sat beside her on the bed, still chuckling.
"Awkward? You think?" Mayu giggled, her heart still racing from the close call. "I thought I was going to die from embarrassment!"
Kyle leaned back on his hands, grinning at her. "You know, I almost kissed you just now."
Mayu's heart skipped a beat at his admission, and she turned to look at him, wide-eyed. "You… you were going to?"
"Maybe," he said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "But then my mom decided to make a grand entrance."
They shared a playful look, and Mayu felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. The moment had been stolen, but it only fueled her desire to be closer to him.
"Let's just forget that ever happened," she said, playfully nudging him. "Back to *Jumble*? I need my revenge."
"Alright, but just know I'll be ready next time!" he replied, laughter in his voice as they returned to the game, both secretly wondering what could have been