The room fell silent except for the faint ticking of a wall clock and the soft rhythm of our breathing. Nyssa's forehead rested gently against mine, and for a moment, everything outside this room ceased to exist. The tension, the world, the weight of the past—it all melted away.
Her green eyes flicked up to meet mine, hesitant but warm, before darting away again. My hand tightened around hers as if to anchor her here with me. This moment, fragile and fleeting, felt like the start of something neither of us could put into words.
And then, naturally, reality came crashing back in with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball.
BOOM!
The sudden explosion of noise shattered the stillness. Nyssa and I jumped apart as if we'd been caught committing a crime. A second later, the door burst open, and my parents charged in like they'd just won the lottery.
"CONGRATULATIONS!" my mom hollered, grinning like she'd just conquered the world. My dad followed close behind, holding what could only be described as a remote control for something horrifyingly expensive.
Before I could ask what they were doing, my dad pressed a button. Outside the window, the night sky lit up in a dazzling display of fireworks.
Fireworks. Actual fireworks.
Red, gold and blue explosions rippled across the sky, showering the world below in a cascade of light.
"Mom! Dad! What the—" I sputtered, barely able to process what was happening.
But that wasn't the end of it. A swarm of drones buzzed into view just outside the window, forming a perfect heart shape against the backdrop of the fireworks.
Nyssa gasped; her green eyes wide as she stared at the spectacle.
"Congratulations, Henry!" my mom beamed, clapping her hands together. "You finally got a girlfriend! This is a historic moment!"
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My brain was struggling to keep up. "You... you prepared fireworks? And drones?!"
"Of course!" my dad said proudly, still fiddling with the remote. "Do you know how long we've waited for this day? Eighteen years, Henry. Eighteen."
My mom, not to be outdone, produced a literal bottle of champagne from behind her back. "And I've already called the caterers!" she announced as if this were the most normal thing in the world.
I buried my face in my hands. "I can't believe this is happening."
"Believe it, sweetheart!" my mom replied, snapping photos of me and Nyssa with her phone like we were the main attraction at a gala.
Meanwhile, Nyssa stood frozen, clutching her notebook as her gaze flitted between my parents and the spectacle outside. She looked like she was caught between awe and sheer panic.
"I-I thought..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, "I thought you might've had a girlfriend before me."
I turned to her, my face still burning. "What? No! Of course not!"
Her eyes softened, her cheeks tinged with pink. "I just... I didn't think I'd be the first."
Her words hit me like a punch to the chest—not in a bad way, but in the kind of way that made me realize just how much this moment meant to her.
"Well," I said awkwardly, scratching the back of my neck, "there's a first time for everything, right?"
She blinked at me, her expression unreadable at first, but then, to my surprise, her lips curled into a small, shy smile. "You mean I'm your first girlfriend?"
I nodded sheepishly. "Yeah. Believe it or not, it's true."
My dad, overhearing, chimed in with a smirk. "They were scared off by your personality."
"Dad!" I groaned, glaring at him.
Nyssa giggled softly, her blush deepening as she glanced at me. "I think it's sweet," she said, her voice quiet but sincere. "Being your first, I mean."
The pride in her voice caught me off guard. I'd expected her to be embarrassed or even doubtful, but instead, she looked... proud.
Before I could respond, another BOOM echoed outside, and I turned to see the drones spelling out:
"CONGRATS HENRY & NYSSA!"
I groaned audibly, dragging a hand down my face. "Please stop."
"Oh, we won't!" my mom chirped, snapping another photo of us. "You two are adorable!"
Nyssa covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a laugh as she glanced at me. "Your parents are... really something."
"They're insane," I muttered, my face burning with embarrassment.
She reached out and gently took my hand, her smile soft. "It's okay," she said quietly, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Really."
Her touch grounded me, and despite the absurdity of it all—the fireworks, the drones, the champagne—I felt a sense of calm settle over me.
"Thanks," I murmured, squeezing her hand. "For putting up with all this."
She shook her head, her green eyes meeting mine. "It's the nice kind of chaotic, Henry."
And just like that, the noise faded. For the first time that night, it was just us again, the weight of everything replaced by the simple warmth of her words.
Of course, the moment didn't last long.
"Alright!" my dad said, clapping his hands. "Time for a toast!"
"Huh?"
But it was too late. The champagne was already popping, and my mom was passing out glasses to the staff who'd mysteriously appeared in the hallway.
I looked at Nyssa, who was trying—and failing—to suppress her laughter.
"Welcome to my life," I said with a resigned smile.
She squeezed my hand again, her grin widening. "I'll gladly welcome myself in."
And for once, despite the chaos, so did I.
The fireworks outside continued to light up the night sky, the drones buzzing as they formed increasingly elaborate patterns—hearts, stars, and even what appeared to be an animated caricature of me giving a thumbs-up.
"This can't still be happening," I muttered under my breath, trying to ignore the drones spelling out "OUR SON IS NO LONGER SINGLE!!!" in neon lights.
Before I could process the absurdity of it all, the sound of chatter and laughter drifted from the hallway. I turned toward the open door just as a flood of people poured into the room.
"Aunt Clara?" I asked, my voice cracking as I spotted her handing out hors d'oeuvres like she was hosting a gala.
"Henry!" she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. "Congratulations, darling! We're so proud of you!"
"Proud?" I echoed, pulling back to stare at her. "For what? This isn't—why are you even here?!"
Before she could answer, my cousin Jeremy clapped me on the back. "The old man called us," he said, grinning. "Told us the big news. We dropped everything and came right over. Had to see it for ourselves."
"See what for yourselves?" I asked, dread pooling in my stomach.
"That you've finally got a girlfriend," Jeremy said, his grin widening. "Honestly, I thought Uncle Victor was joking, but then I saw the drones. Classic."
Classic? I wanted to scream.
"Henry!"
I turned just in time to see my cousin Greg barreling toward me with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball. He was grinning like he'd just found out I'd been crowned king.
"You've got a girlfriend?!" Greg practically shouted, slapping me on the back hard enough to make me stumble. "Finally, man! I thought you'd die single!"
"Thanks, Greg," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Always nice to know you had faith in me."
Before I could escape, another voice called out.
"Henry, you sly dog!" Uncle Bob, the family's self-proclaimed "ladies' man," sauntered over, wagging his eyebrows. "I knew you had it in you! Took you long enough, though."
More family members streamed in—my uncle David, carrying a bottle of vintage wine; my grandma Ethel, who was hugging Nyssa like they'd known each other for years; even my younger cousins, who were darting around the room with sparklers.
I turned to Nyssa, who was standing near the bed, her face a mix of amusement and sheer bewilderment. "Nyssa," I started, but my words faltered. What could I possibly say to make this situation less insane?
"Your family is... very enthusiastic," she said softly, her green eyes wide as she took in the chaos.
"You have no idea," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.
As if on cue, my mom swooped in, dragging Nyssa into a conversation with a group of aunts. "Isn't she lovely?" my mom gushed, her voice carrying over the crowd. "Henry's first girlfriend, and she's perfect!"
I groaned, turning to find my dad, who was leaning casually against the doorframe with a glass of champagne in hand, watching the scene with a smug expression.
"Dad," I hissed, marching over to him. "What the hell is this? Why is the entire family here? How did you even plan this so fast?"
He took a sip of his champagne, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We've been preparing for this day, Henry. For years."
"Years?!"
"Years," he confirmed, patting my shoulder. "Your mom and I always knew the day would come when our son finally... well, you know."
My stomach sank. "What does that mean?"
But before she could elaborate, Dad appeared, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "Come here, son. Let's have a chat."
He steered me toward a quieter corner of the room, away from the throngs of relatives who were currently interrogating Nyssa about how we met.
"What is going on?" I asked, my voice low but urgent. "Fireworks? Drones? A family reunion?"
Dad gave me a knowing look that said he had been waiting for this moment for far too long. "You're a man now, Henry," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of pride and mischief.
I stared at him, thoroughly confused. "Okay? And what's that supposed to mean?"
Dad's expression shifted into something more conspiratorial, and he leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "The walls, Henry. Your bedroom walls—they weren't soundproof."
My brain stopped. My jaw dropped. "Excuse me?!"
He clapped me on the back with a chuckle. "Don't worry! They will be from now on. I've already scheduled the renovation. Should've done it sooner, honestly."
Oh. My. God.
Dad's grin widened. "I'm proud of you, Henry. Really. It's about time you—" He paused, searching for the right words. "Hit that milestone. But let's just say... the rest of the house didn't need to know you'd already hit it."
My face went beet red as the implication sunk in. "Dad!"
I wanted to die. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear forever. "Dad, no," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. "Stop. Please stop."
"But," he continued, ignoring my protests, "we also wanted to spare Nyssa any embarrassment. She's a lovely girl, Henry. You're lucky to have her."
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "This is the worst day of my life."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," he said with a chuckle. "It's a celebration! Enjoy it. And remember, soundproofing is expensive, so try to keep it down until the renovations are done."
I looked up at him, my face burning with a mixture of embarrassment and disbelief. "I'm never talking to you again."
He laughed, patting my shoulder one last time before rejoining the party.
When I turned back to the room, I saw Nyssa surrounded by my aunts, her cheeks still pink but her smile genuine. Despite everything, she seemed... happy.
Her gaze met mine, and she gave me a small, reassuring wave.
Somehow, seeing her smile made the humiliation a little more bearable.
"Just one step at a time," I muttered to myself, taking a deep breath before walking back into the chaos.
The crowd in the living room was getting louder, and the bursts of fireworks outside seemed to echo the energy of the gathering. The noise was becoming too much, and I could feel Nyssa shifting uncomfortably beside me, clutching her notebook like it was a shield.
"Come on," I murmured, leaning closer to her so only she could hear. "Let's get out of here for a bit."
She blinked up at me, her green eyes wide. "Are you s-sure? I mean, this is your—"
"They'll be fine without me," I said with a weak smile, nodding toward the room filled with family. "Trust me, they won't even notice we're gone."
That was a lie, of course. My parents noticed everything.
We slipped out quietly, weaving through the clusters of relatives and heading toward the back of the house. My parents had always insisted on a sprawling estate—"fit for hosting," they said—but right now, I was grateful for the quiet corners it offered.
I led Nyssa to the den, a cozy space lined with bookshelves and lit by the soft glow of a floor lamp. The faint hum of the party was still audible in the distance, but here, it felt like we'd entered a different world—one that was quieter, more intimate.
As I shut the door behind us, I let out a sigh of relief, rubbing the back of my neck. "Sorry about all that," I said, gesturing vaguely toward the chaos we'd left behind. "They're... a bit much."
Nyssa shook her head, her orange hair catching the light in soft waves. "It's o-okay," she said, her voice gentle. But there was something in her tone that made my chest tighten.
I sat down on the couch, patting the spot next to me. She hesitated for a moment before joining me, her notebook still clutched tightly in her hands.
"They mean well," I said, trying to sound casual, though the guilt in my chest was making it hard to breathe. "But you shouldn't have to deal with this kind of noise. It's not fair to you."
Nyssa's brows furrowed, and she turned to look at me, her green eyes searching mine. "Henry..."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I mean it," I said, my voice quieter now. "You're dealing with so much already—school, me, everything. And now you have to put up with this circus because my family doesn't know how to tone it down."
Nyssa's lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but she hesitated. The silence stretched between us for a moment before she finally spoke.
"I-I... actually like it," she said softly, her voice steady despite the faint stutter.
I blinked at her, caught off guard. "You... like it?"
She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's l-lively. Warm. I'm not... used to it."
I tilted my head, watching her carefully. "What do you mean?"
She glanced down at her hands, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her notebook. "My parents..." She hesitated, then took a deep breath. "They live far away. I-I stay in a dorm most of the time. It's... quiet there. Really quiet."
Her words hit me harder than I expected. I hadn't realized.
"And when I'm at home," she continued, her voice soft but steady, "it's just... not like this. Not full of life. So... this? Your family? It's... nice."
I stared at her, unsure of what to say.
She turned to me, her green eyes meeting mine. "I-I know it's a lot, but... it's also kind of amazing. The way they love you. The way they're so... present. It's something I don't have."
"Nyssa..." I began, but she shook her head, cutting me off gently.
"Back then," she said, her cheeks flushing, "when you used to ask me questions about lectures you didn't understand... it made me feel... important."
I blinked, taken aback. "Important?"
She nodded, her hands clutching her notebook tighter. "I was always afraid people thought I was boring," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "That they'd see me as just... the girl with the notes. But when you came to me when you... noticed me... it made me feel like maybe my intelligence mattered. Like I mattered."
Her words were like a punch to the gut—in the best way. I hadn't realized how much those little moments had meant to her.
"Nyssa," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "you've always mattered. To me. Even if I didn't realize it back then... I do now. You're... you're mine."
Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked away, a shy smile playing on her lips. "Th-thank you," she murmured.
For a moment, we just sat there, the weight of her words settling between us. I reached out hesitantly, my fingers brushing against hers. She didn't pull away.
The noise from the party drifted in faintly, but it felt distant, like it belonged to another world. Here, in this quiet corner of the house, it was just us.
And for the first time all night, I felt like maybe—just maybe—I was doing something right.
I leaned a little closer, my heart pounding in my chest as I looked at Nyssa. The silence between us felt charged, almost electric, and I wanted nothing more than to close the distance and press my lips to hers. But just as I moved, her eyes widened, and she raised her hand to gently stop me.
"Henry, wait," she said softly, her cheeks turning a rosy shade. "I-I think... maybe we should slow down a bit. Besides you-w-we might overdo it again."
I pulled back, my heart dropping slightly. "Oh, sorry," I said quickly, trying to cover the embarrassment with a nervous laugh. "I didn't mean to—"
"No, it's not that," she interrupted, reaching out to touch my arm. Her touch was warm, and grounding. "It's just... I don't want things to feel... escalated again." While showing that the hickeys I left of her were covered by her dress.
Relief washed over me, mingled with a touch of guilt. "Of course. I understand. We can take it slow, this time. One step at a time, right?"
She nodded, her smile growing a little more confident. "Exactly. And, um... maybe a hug would be better?" I let out a small, genuine laugh, the tension in the room easing. "A hug sounds perfect."
I opened my arms, and she moved into them, her head resting against my chest as I wrapped my arms around her. The warmth of her body seeped into me, calming the nervous energy that had been buzzing in my veins. We stood there in the quiet of the den, the party's raucousness still audibles in the background, but it felt like we were in our world.
"I think... this is good," she whispered, a hint of a smile in her voice.
"Me too," I said, pressing my cheek against her hair. "And, Nyssa... about the future. I want to talk to your family. I know my parents are... a lot. But I want to make sure they know how serious I am about us."
She pulled back slightly, looking up at me with wide eyes. "You want to talk to my parents?"
I nodded, my expression serious. "Yeah. I want them to know that you're not just some girl I'm dating. You're... you're everything, and I want them to understand that. It's important to me."
Her eyes softened, glistening with what I hoped was happiness. "I'll be happy with that Henry."
I squeezed her hands, feeling a surge of determination. "We will. One step at a time. And as for my parents... well, I think they'll get used to the idea of you being in my life. You're already stealing the show tonight, so... who knows?"
She laughed softly, the sound light and pure. "I guess I'll just have to get used to this kind of craziness."
"Good," I said, grinning. "Because it's only going to get better. And if it ever gets too much, just say so ok?"
She nodded, her smile turning shy but warm. "I w-will."
The moment felt like a promise, something solid and lasting. And for the first time, I felt hope blossoming in my chest, pushing aside the doubts and fears. Whatever came next, I knew we'd face it as a team.
"Now," I said, pulling back a little and winking at her, "how about we see if I can survive the rest of this party without running away?"
She giggled, the sound lighting up the room. "Be a survivor, it is"