In the evening, Ren steps into his apartment after shopping. He places the bags on the table, a mixture of excitement and nervous energy buzzing inside him.
He unpacks the items—clothes, accessories, and the beautiful white gown. His fingers touch the delicate fabric, his heartbeat fastening, imagining the moment when Lina would see it.
Carefully, he hides the Incubi-related things where he usually keeps his costume. He didn't want any trace of his double life to disturb this evening. Not tonight. Tonight is all about Lina.
As the minutes tick by, Ren finds himself anxious, his mind running through different scenarios of how the evening might go.
What if she doesn't like the dress? What if she asks where I got the money? What is she...
His thoughts are interrupted by the sound of the door opening.
Lina.
Ren's stomach does a nervous flip as he strides to the door, seeing her standing there with a tired, yet soft smile.
"Hey," she greets, her voice carrying the subtle warmth he always found comforting.
"Hey," Ren responds, his grin growing. For a second, he just stands there, admiring her before he remembers the plan. His heart quickens.
"Lina, I've something for you. But first…" Ren pauses, closing the door behind him. "You have to close your eyes."
Lina raises an eyebrow in surprise. "What are you up to?" she asks, her lips tugging into a smile, but there's a hint of suspicion in her voice.
"Trust me, you gonna like it." Ren chuckles. "It's a surprise."
With a mock sigh, Lina obliges, covering her eyes. "Alright, but if this is some kind of prank—"
"It's not a prank," he interrupts, shaking his head as he retreats back inside. Ren retrieves the white gown, his hands shaking slightly. He steps back outside with it, feeling his heart hammering in his chest.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now," Ren says softly, barely able to contain his anticipation.
Lina lowers her hands slowly, blinking as her gaze falls on the beautiful white gown. Her eyes widen, the soft sparkle of joy lighting them up, her breath catching in her throat.
She reaches out, almost hesitant, her fingers brushing the fabric. "Ren… It's beautiful," she whispers, awe filling her voice.
Ren beams, the sight of her reaction bringing him more satisfaction than the money itself.
"I thought it would suit you," he says, his voice a little softer now.
Lina remains silent for a moment, simply admiring the gown. But then, her expression falters. The initial sparkle dims, and her brows knit together. Her hand pulls back slightly.
"Wait…" Her tone shifts, concern creeping in. "This… This looks expensive. Ren, where did you get the money for this?"
The question hits him like a wave of cold water, as he feared. But still, He hadn't prepared for this.
Ren swallows hard, momentarily lost for words. He can't tell her the truth. Can't let her know about Incubi, or the powers, or the things he's done.
"I… I've been saving up," he stammers, his voice faltering.
"Saving?" Lina's concern deepens as she crosses her arms, tilting her head.
"Ren, you barely have enough for yourself, barely have for rent. How could you save up for something like this?" Her voice is gentle but firm, worry clearly evident in her eyes.
Ren opens his mouth, struggling for a plausible explanation.
"I just wanted to get you something nice," he says, trying to sound nonchalant, but his voice betrays him. It comes out too hurried, too desperate.
Lina's eyes soften as she steps closer, the concern there.
"Ren, I know things haven't been easy for you. But you didn't… You didn't do anything illegal, did you?" Her words are soft and careful like she's afraid of the answer but needs to know.
"No!" Ren blurts out quickly, too quickly. Panic flickers in his eyes as he waves his hand, trying to brush off her worry.
"No, I didn't. I've just… I've been saving little by little. And I wanted to surprise you. That's all."
Lina's eyes search his face for a moment, as if she's trying to see past the mask he's putting on. Her lips part, and she shakes her head.
"Ren… I know you mean well, but you should have used that money for yourself. You could've bought something you actually needed, like a new bike. You didn't have to spend it on me."
Her voice cracks slightly, and there's a deep sincerity in her words that makes Ren's chest tighten. She looks down at the gown again, almost longingly, but shakes her head once more.
"I don't need anything,"
Immediately, Ren protests, stepping closer to her. His hands tighten around the dress, holding it out to her.
"I got it for you because… because I wanted to see you happy. You deserve a beautiful life."
"Ren," Lina sighs, her eyes filled with conflicted emotions. "I can't accept it. knowing how hard you've been struggling." She looks down, her voice barely above a whisper. "You should've used the money for yourself."
He steps closer, desperation creeping into his tone now. "Lina, please. I bought this for you. You're the one who deserves something nice, not me. I just wanted to do something special for you."
Lina's resolve wavers for a moment, her eyes glistening as she looks at him.
"Ren…" Her voice breaks slightly, and she shakes her head. "I… I care about you. A lot. But I can't accept this, not when I know what you've been through."
Ren's heart skips a beat at her words. She cares about him. His mind spins, trying to find the right words, trying to make her see why this gift is so important to him.
"Lina, I like you. I've liked you for a long time. From the first time I saw you, I have liked you. I wanted to give you this because… I don't know… I just wanted you to see how special you are. To me."
Her breath catches at his confession, her cheeks flushing slightly as she steps closer.
"Ren, I like you too," she whispers, her voice soft, almost fragile. "That's why I can't take this. Knowing how much you've sacrificed…"
Right now, they're standing so close to each other, the air between them thick with emotion, with unspoken words. Ren's heart is hammering in his chest as he is inches away from her, the tension between them growing with every second.
His hand, still holding the gown, brushes against hers, and for a moment, they both freeze, feeling the electricity between them.
Their eyes lock, and without thinking, Ren leans in slightly. The world around them fades as they stare into each other's eyes, inches apart, feeling the heat of their breath. He can hear her breathing, soft and quick, matching his own racing heartbeat.
And then, before he can stop himself, his lips are on hers.
Lina's breath hitches, her eyes fluttering closed as she leans in, kissing him back. Their lips move slowly, hesitant, testing, but soon the kiss deepens, their bodies instinctively pressing closer.
Ren's arm wraps around her waist, pulling her against him as her hands grip his shirt, their lips parting slightly as the kiss grows more intense.
The world seems to melt away, nothing else mattering but the feel of her lips, the warmth of her body against his. His heart races as their tongues brush, the kiss becoming more passionate, more urgent. His mind is a blur, lost in the moment, in the taste of her.
But just as the heat between them is at its peak, a sharp noise breaks the moment.
Ding, Dong, the apartment's bell rings, loud and jarring.
They freeze, both breathing heavily as reality crashes back around them. Ren pulls back slightly, his heart pounding, staring into her eyes.