The air felt different today, Sam thought as he stood in front of the familiar café. His hand rested on the door handle, the nervous energy in his chest a steady hum. It had been a few days since he last saw Mahiru, and the kiss she had left on his cheek was still etched in his mind. That soft, fleeting touch. The way it made him feel like the world had stopped for a second. The way she had rushed off, blushing, leaving him standing there, unable to fully process it.
Sam had replayed that moment over and over in his mind. How her lips had barely grazed his skin, but the warmth lingered long after. The way she had looked at him before hurrying onto the train, the unspoken emotions swirling between them. It was a feeling that still made his heart race.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside. The familiar hum of conversation and the comforting scent of coffee immediately enveloped him, but it was the sight of Mahiru sitting by the window that made everything else fade away.
She looked so effortlessly at ease, like she belonged there. Her fingers absentmindedly ran over the edge of the book she was reading, but her gaze was distant, like she was lost in her thoughts. Sam took a deep breath, wondering if she could feel the same flutter in her chest, the same weight in the air that he felt whenever they were near each other.
As he walked toward her, every step felt like it mattered. Was she thinking about the kiss? Did it mean as much to her as it did to him? He felt a mixture of hope and uncertainty—the same familiar nervousness creeping back in.
"Hey," Sam greeted softly as he slid into the chair across from her.
Mahiru's face lit up at the sight of him, and Sam's heart skipped a beat. She put her book down, her smile warm but with that little playful spark in her eyes.
"Hey," she said, her voice light but with an undertone of something more. Something he couldn't quite place, but something that felt real.
There was a pause between them, the kind where words seemed too inadequate for what they were both feeling. Sam didn't know whether to bring it up or not, but he couldn't ignore the way his thoughts kept circling around that kiss.
He finally let out a breath, leaning forward slightly. "I've been thinking about… last time," he said, his voice unsteady but genuine. "The kiss. It's been on my mind a lot."
Mahiru's expression softened, and for a split second, she looked almost shy. She lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously tapping the edge of her cup. Sam could feel his pulse quicken.
"I've been thinking about it too," she admitted, her voice quiet, almost hesitant. Her eyes flicked up to meet his, and in that brief moment, everything else faded away. It was just the two of them, caught in this shared space of uncertainty and something more—something that neither of them could quite define, but both of them could feel.
Sam's heart thudded louder in his chest. He swallowed, struggling to keep his voice steady. "I don't know what it means. But it felt... special, you know? Like something that's been a long time coming."
Her smile was soft, her eyes full of understanding. She leaned forward, the small gesture making Sam's breath catch. "It did feel special," Mahiru said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't think it's something we need to rush into figuring out. Let's just see where this goes... together."
Her words wrapped around him like a warm embrace, and all the nerves, all the doubt he had been holding onto, started to melt away. They didn't need to rush. Not when everything felt so right in this moment.
For a second, neither of them said anything. The air was thick with the understanding that there was more to explore between them, more to feel, more to discover. Neither of them wanted to ruin it by rushing, and for once, Sam was okay with that. He was finally learning how to just enjoy being with her, without needing everything to be perfect, without overthinking it.
"So…" Mahiru broke the silence, her voice playful again. "Are we just going to sit here and stare at each other all day, or are you going to actually talk to me?"
Sam chuckled, his heart still racing, but now with a sense of calm. "I think I've said enough for now."
He reached for his coffee, his fingers brushing lightly against hers, sending a small spark of electricity between them. She didn't pull away, her fingers lingering for just a moment before both of them withdrew, almost reluctantly.
Mahiru smiled, that same teasing glint returning to her eyes. "I'm glad you finally showed up," she said, her voice softening again. "I've been waiting."
Sam's breath caught in his throat, his heart swelling at her words. He had been waiting for this too—waiting for this moment to feel real, for something more to finally begin. They sat there for a few more minutes, their conversation flowing effortlessly, but with a tension between them that neither of them wanted to break.
The kiss was still there, an unspoken promise, lingering in the quiet moments between their words. But this time, Sam didn't feel the need to ask any questions. He didn't need to know exactly what was happening. All he knew was that it felt right.
And sometimes, that's all that mattered.
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