RIZA
The quiet hum of the ship surrounded us as Pepper and I walked toward the lift. My bag swung lightly at my side, still filled with the ridiculous prizes from the arcade. I couldn't stop talking, replaying the best moments of the day over and over like a favorite holo-episode.
"And that claw machine? Oh my god, I thought I had that spaceship for sure! But nope, it just had to slip out at the last second," I said, gesturing wildly with my hands to emphasize my frustration. Pepper chuckled, his soft laugh sending a little flutter through my chest.
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He looked distracted, like his mind was somewhere else entirely. He nodded at the right moments, sure, but there was something off. His hands were shoved deep in his pockets, and he was quieter than usual.
What's going on in that head of yours? I thought, my own heart racing for reasons I wasn't ready to admit out loud. Lydia's words from earlier still lingered in my mind. "He's already looking your way. Just be you."
I bit my lip, my pulse quickening. I'd decided—tonight was the night. After everything we'd shared today, I was going to make a move. Subtle, maybe, but I'd put it out there. Pepper was my best friend, sure, but maybe—just maybe—he could be more. And if Lydia was right, I wouldn't have to do much. Just let him know.
We reached the lift, and I pressed the call button, the soft hiss of the doors breaking the silence. "What a day, huh?" I said, trying to keep my voice light as we stepped inside. The doors slid shut behind us, and the lights dimmed, bathing the lift in a soft, intimate glow.
"Yeah," Pepper said, but his tone was strained. I glanced at him, and for a second, I thought I saw him rub his palms on his pants like he was nervous. My brow furrowed. Nervous? Pepper?
The lift gave a small jolt as it started moving, and suddenly, he stumbled forward, reaching out to steady himself against the wall. I moved instinctively to catch him, but instead of pulling away, he leaned closer—much closer.
His lips brushed mine.
The contact was fleeting, light as a whisper, but it might as well have been a lightning strike. My heart stopped, my breath caught in my throat, and my mind went utterly blank. He pulled back almost immediately, his eyes wide, his face mere inches from mine.
"I—sorry, I didn't mean to—" he started, his voice shaky and unsure.
I couldn't speak. Couldn't move. My fingers brushed my lips as if to confirm it had really happened. He'd kissed me. Pepper had kissed me. And it wasn't some accident—not really. I could feel it. I knew it.
But that didn't stop the flood of emotions crashing over me. Embarrassment, shock, and something else—something I wasn't ready to name—all tangled together, leaving me frozen. My face burned, and I was thankful for the dim light that hid how impossibly red I was.
"Y-you okay?" Pepper asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
I managed a shaky nod, the words trapped somewhere between my chest and my throat. "Y-yeah," I finally whispered, barely recognizing my own voice.
He stepped back, his posture tense, his face turned away as if bracing for a reaction I wasn't sure I could give. My mind was still reeling. He kissed me. He kissed me.
All my plans for later that night were obliterated, replaced by the memory of his lips brushing mine and the realization that I'd never been so completely speechless in my life. Pepper had beaten me to it, leaving me standing there, stunned and more embarrassed than I'd ever thought possible.
The lift hummed softly, continuing its descent, but I barely noticed. I was too lost in the moment, replaying it over and over in my head. My heart pounded, and a thought broke through the chaos: I wasn't imagining it. He feels the same way.
But what now? I swallowed hard, trying to regain my composure. My fingers brushed my lips again, the ghost of the kiss still lingering. I had no idea what to do next. All I knew was that this changed everything.
PEPPER
The corridor was quiet, the hum of the ship's systems providing a steady backdrop as Riza and I walked toward the lift. She was chatting animatedly about the day, her voice bright and full of life.
"And that claw machine? Oh my god, I thought for sure I had that stupid spaceship! But noooo, it just had to slip out at the last second," she said, gesturing wildly with her hands as if to reenact her frustration.
I chuckled, my focus half on her and half on the frantic storm brewing in my head. My conversation with Lydia replayed over and over like a broken holo-reel.
"You've already got her attention."
"You don't need to do anything special."
"Just be bold."
Bold. Sure. Easy for Lydia to say when she wasn't standing in my shoes, heart racing, wondering if one wrong move would ruin everything. I stole a glance at Riza. She was grinning now, completely unaware of the internal chaos raging inside me.
My palms felt damp, and I rubbed them on my pants discreetly. Lydia's words were a lifeline and an anchor all at once. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus on Riza's story, but the thought wouldn't leave me.
"I'm going to do it."
The decision hit me like a jolt. My heart pounded in my chest as we reached the lift, and Riza hit the call button. The doors slid open, revealing the softly lit interior, and we stepped inside together.
"What a day, huh?" she said, leaning against the wall as the doors closed. The lights dimmed slightly, the ship's attempt at conserving energy in the later hours.
"Yeah," I said, my voice a little strained. I tried to act casual, but my hands were clammy, my chest tight. The lift gave a faint jolt as it began to descend, and in that moment, I let myself stumble just slightly—right into her.
It wasn't planned. Well, not entirely. But somehow, as I reached out to steady myself, my face ended up closer to hers than I anticipated. Too close. My lips brushed hers, soft and fleeting, but unmistakable.
The world stopped.
My heart slammed against my ribcage as I pulled back slightly, my hand still braced against the wall behind her. "I—sorry, I didn't mean to—"
She didn't say a word. I couldn't see her face clearly in the dim light, but I knew she was frozen, speechless. My stomach dropped.
The lift continued its descent, but everything else felt suspended in that moment. I took a step back, my face burning, thankful for the shadows that hid how red I knew I was. "Uh, you okay?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded slowly, her hand brushing her lips as if confirming what had just happened. "Y-yeah," she finally said, her voice small and uncertain.
The silence stretched between us, heavy and charged. I forced myself to look forward, swallowing hard as I mentally braced for whatever would come next. That wasn't bold—that was dumb, I thought. But somewhere in the back of my mind, another thought lingered, quiet but persistent.
It happened. And she didn't pull away.
The lift slowed to a stop, the soft chime signaling our arrival at the 7th Deck. I took a shaky breath, my heart still pounding from what had just happened. My lips tingled, and my mind raced, replaying that fleeting moment over and over. I couldn't even glance at Riza; I could feel her presence beside me, radiating warmth and tension in the small space.
The doors slid open with a quiet hiss, and we stepped out into the brightly lit corridor. The cool air felt like a slap to the face, a stark contrast to the heat still burning in my cheeks. My hands stayed shoved deep in my pockets, and I focused on the sound of our footsteps echoing softly as we walked.
I was trying—desperately trying—not to think about the kiss. About the way her lips felt against mine. About whether she was thinking about it too. I could barely breathe, let alone figure out what to say.
Then, I felt it. A soft, hesitant tap against my hand.
I glanced down, startled, and saw Riza's fingers brushing lightly against mine. My heart skipped a beat. For a second, I thought it might've been an accident, but then she did it again. Her fingers lingered this time, tapping nervously, as if testing the waters.
What is she…?
My mind blanked, but my body reacted on its own. I tapped her hand back, mimicking her motion, and her fingers froze against mine. She hesitated for what felt like an eternity before she slid her hand into mine. Her grip was tentative at first, like a child reaching for their parent's hand. My heart slammed against my ribcage, but I didn't pull away. I couldn't.
Her fingers tightened around mine, and I squeezed back instinctively. Then, in one swift motion, she rotated her hand and interlocked her fingers with mine. My breath hitched. My entire body tensed as the realization hit me: she wasn't letting go.
Neither was I.
She immediately looked away, her face burning so red I could see it out of the corner of my eye, even in the fluorescent lighting of the corridor. My own face wasn't faring any better; I could feel the heat crawling up my neck and spreading to my ears.
We kept walking, side by side, our hands clasped tightly together. Neither of us said a word. I couldn't. My throat felt like it was tied in knots, and my heart was pounding so hard I was sure she could hear it.
Her grip was warm, her fingers slightly trembling, but she held on. I swallowed hard, stealing a glance at her. She still wasn't looking at me, her gaze firmly fixed on some invisible spot ahead. Her lips were pressed into a tight line, her expression unreadable except for the redness of her cheeks.
I looked forward again, trying to process what had just happened. The corridor stretched ahead, empty and quiet except for the sound of our footsteps. My hand in hers felt like an anchor, grounding me amidst the chaos swirling in my mind.
What does this mean? Did she… is she—?
My thoughts spiraled, but the feel of her hand intertwined with mine kept pulling me back to one simple truth: she hadn't let go.
Neither had I.
As we continued walking, our faces burning and our hearts racing, I couldn't help but think that this was the most terrifying, confusing, and wonderful moment of my life.