Chapter 16: "In the Quiet, We Were Real"
Reese's POV
The sun dipped below the horizon, bleeding orange and purple across the sky, and the poolside grew quieter. Most of the others had retreated inside the villa, their laughter fading behind sliding doors and drawn curtains. Only the cicadas and the faint ripple of water remained.
I sat on one of the lounge chairs, wrapped in a towel, damp hair clinging to my neck. The air was warm but carried a soft breeze that cooled my skin.
Raiden appeared beside me without a word, offering a bottle of water. I took it silently, sipping as he sat on the edge of the same lounge chair, close but not touching. We watched the last of the light flicker across the pool's surface.
"Thanks," I murmured, not sure if I meant the water or the quiet company. Maybe both.
"You're quieter tonight," he said after a while.
"So are you."
He tilted his head, studying me. "You're thinking again."
"I'm always thinking."
"Then tell me what it is, Kitten."
I hesitated. The nickname didn't even annoy me tonight. It felt… warm.
"I think I'm scared," I admitted.
"Of what?"
"That after everything we've been through—fighting Selene, nearly dying—I'm scared this thing between us is just…" I waved my hand in the air, trying to find the word. "Adrenaline. Or convenience. Or worse—fake."
Raiden turned fully to face me now, eyes narrowed slightly. "You think I kissed you because of adrenaline?"
I met his gaze, trying to keep my voice steady. "Didn't you?"
He didn't respond at first. Just looked at me with something that almost hurt—something deep and unshakable.
"No," he said finally. "I kissed you because I wanted to."
Silence.
"I wanted to since the first time you rolled your eyes at me in Chem class."
I blinked. "That long?"
"Yeah." He smiled faintly. "And then you hated me and it became this game. But I never stopped wanting it to be real."
I stared at him, heart pounding in my throat.
"Reese Camila Laurier," he said quietly, seriously, "I like you. Not just because you're strong or sarcastic or scary smart. I like you because you see the world like it's yours to challenge. And even when you're tired, you don't stop trying."
I swallowed. "I thought you were just a cocky pain in the ass."
"Still true," he smirked.
I laughed, breath catching. Then sobered again. "I like you too, Raiden. I don't know when it started. But it's real."
He leaned in, slow and certain. "Then can I finally—"
"Yes," I breathed before he even finished.
And this time, the kiss wasn't part of a deal. It wasn't a dare or a way to avoid someone. It was a confession.
Real. Quiet. Steady.
Just like everything that had been building between us all along.
The stars blinked above us like curious eyes as the kiss faded into the warm silence between our breaths. Raiden didn't move away, not immediately. His forehead rested lightly against mine, the heat of his skin anchoring me to the moment.
Neither of us spoke. There was no need.
Eventually, he pulled back just enough to look at me, a lazy, satisfied kind of smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"You taste like chlorine," he murmured.
I rolled my eyes. "You taste like ego."
"Still want me though."
"Unfortunately."
He laughed softly, then stood and offered a hand. "Come on. Let's not freeze to death out here."
I took his hand and let him pull me to my feet. The towel slipped slightly, and he caught it before I did, draping it back around my shoulders like I was something fragile. That was new.
Inside the villa, most of the lights had dimmed. Yasha had left a night lamp on in the hallway, casting a honey glow over the polished floor. Raiden didn't let go of my hand as we padded quietly toward the guest rooms.
He paused outside mine.
"This is yours," he said, voice low.
"Yeah."
Silence stretched again. His thumb brushed the back of my hand.
"You want me to stay?"
The question wasn't teasing. It was cautious. Respectful. Real.
I hesitated—not because I didn't want to, but because I did. And that terrified me more than the shadows we'd fought last week.
"Not tonight," I whispered. "Just… be here tomorrow."
His gaze softened. "I will."
A pause.
"Goodnight, Kitten."
I smirked faintly. "Goodnight, dumbass."
He chuckled, and I watched him walk down the hall, hands in his pockets, shoulders just a little lighter than before.
Inside my room, I lay on the bed, still damp, heart still racing.
Because this time, it wasn't adrenaline.
It was Real. Genuine. True.
*Scene: Back to School – "The Real Deal"*
The next morning, the sun's rays filtered through the tall windows of the school hall, casting a soft, golden glow on the bustling corridors. It felt like a typical school day—except it wasn't. Not anymore.
I walked beside Raiden, our fingers entwined for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past few months. But today? Today was different.
His grip was firmer than usual, more possessive almost, and I couldn't deny the way my heart did an annoying little flip each time he squeezed my hand.
"Stop staring," he muttered, glancing sideways at me with a smirk. "You're starting to make me nervous."
"I'm not staring," I said, biting back a grin. "I'm just… appreciating the view."
"Yeah, well, I'm the one who should be getting distracted by you."
"Are you calling me distracting?" I raised an eyebrow, leaning in just enough to brush my shoulder against his.
"Absolutely," he replied without missing a beat, his voice dropping low. "You always have been. Too bad I'm not the one who's pretending anymore."
I laughed, a soft, teasing sound that bubbled out before I could stop it. "You know, I thought the whole 'fake lover' thing was getting a little old."
"It was getting old?" He stopped walking, turning to face me fully, and for a moment, his expression was uncharacteristically serious. "What about the real part then?"
The way he said it sent a rush of warmth through me. His eyes weren't filled with his usual cocky swagger; they were softer. More intentional.
"Just… making sure I'm not dreaming," I said, voice quieter than I intended. "Can't trust a guy who likes to mess with my head."
"I've never messed with your head." His voice was rougher now, the playful tone replaced by something deeper, something more vulnerable. "I just… like making you smile."
A flush crept up my neck. I was about to say something, but then the sound of footsteps broke the moment.
"Oy, lovebirds!" came a loud voice from behind us.
We both turned to see Ophira, Yasha, and Gaia approaching. Ophira flashed us a grin, leaning against the lockers, arms crossed.
"Finally real, huh?" she teased. "About time you two stopped pretending. We were getting tired of the fake flirting."
I rolled my eyes. "We weren't pretending," I shot back. "But now you've ruined the moment, so thanks."
Yasha chuckled, giving Raiden a playful nudge. "Let me guess, Raiden's the one who's been all over her, huh?"
"Excuse you," Raiden shot back, giving her a deadpan look, but I could see the faint blush creeping up his neck. "I've always been a gentleman."
"Sure, a gentleman," Yasha said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But don't think I didn't catch that little kiss in the hallway last week. The fake kiss, remember?"
I shot her a playful glare, but the heat in my cheeks betrayed me. "Not everything was fake, okay?"
Raiden wrapped his arm around my shoulders casually, pulling me closer. "Yeah, you heard her. Get with the program."
Gaia smirked. "You know what, I think I'm just happy you two finally sorted out the 'fake' part. Now the real fun starts."
I looked up at Raiden, and for the first time in a while, I felt something deep inside shift. This wasn't a game anymore.
"This isn't just fun, though," I said, my voice quieter. "It's… real."
Raiden's expression softened, and before I could stop him, he leaned down, brushing his lips against my temple. "Yeah. Real."
Yasha made a gagging sound, but Ophira shot her a look. "Let them have their moment, sis. They're finally getting it right."
I smiled up at Raiden. "Yeah, finally."
As the bell rang, signaling the start of the day, we walked into the classroom side by side, hand in hand, and for once, I didn't care about the stares or the whispers. Because this time, everything felt real.
*Scene: Class Banter – "The Real Deal in Chemistry"*
Raiden and I sat at our usual spot in the back of Chemistry, the same seats we'd shared for months. The desks were arranged in pairs, and I was pretty sure we were the only ones who still didn't sit with anyone else. It used to be for the sake of the 'fake lovers' act, but now? I wasn't so sure.
As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, I dropped my bag on the desk and pulled out my notebook, half-paying attention to the lecture already starting. Raiden slouched in his chair beside me, arms crossed, looking like he could nap through the whole lesson.
I shot him a glance. "You look like you should've stayed home."
"Hmm, maybe I should've," he replied, smirking as he leaned back further in his chair, crossing his legs. "But then I wouldn't get to see you in your natural habitat: half-paying attention, half-daydreaming."
"Please," I scoffed, trying to hide my grin. "Like you're any better. If I recall, you just pulled out a paperclip and tried to turn it into a weapon five minutes ago."
"Guilty as charged." He grinned, completely unapologetic. "But seriously, how am I supposed to focus when you're sitting next to me, looking all…" He paused, like he was thinking of a word.
"Looking all what?" I raised an eyebrow.
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to that low, teasing tone I knew all too well. "Looking all distracting in that oversized sweater, like you're too cool for this place. You've got the 'I'm too smart for school' vibe, but I'm not fooled."
"Yeah, well, you're not the only one who knows how to be distracting," I shot back, turning to the board as the teacher began writing on the whiteboard. "Besides, I'm way more focused than you."
"Yeah? Then explain this," he said, snapping his fingers in front of my face. "You're staring at the professor's hairline like it's the most interesting thing in the room."
I blinked. "What? I am not!"
"Uh-huh. You're just trying to distract me now." He flashed me a mischievous grin. "It's working."
I shot him an exasperated look. "You are impossible."
"Impossible?" He leaned closer, his voice barely a whisper. "Is that a challenge?"
I shoved his shoulder lightly, leaning back in my chair. "You're lucky I'm already busy trying to survive chemistry class. Otherwise, I'd make you regret that."
"Is that so?" He arched an eyebrow, clearly entertained. "You know, I could make your day a lot more interesting in here."
"Please, do enlighten me, Raiden," I said dryly, not taking my eyes off the board.
"Oh, you'll see," he murmured with that cocky smirk that made my stomach flip. "You know, we could always make chemistry more interesting."
I turned to face him fully, narrowing my eyes. "Please don't even think about it."
"Too late." He winked and casually started scribbling something on his notebook.
I glanced over. "What the hell is that?"
"A chemistry equation, of course," he said innocently, holding up the page. "Let me break it down for you. You + me = trouble. But then we add some fire and we get—" He paused for effect. "chaos."
"Are you always this ridiculous in class?" I muttered, shaking my head.
"Only when I'm distracted by a beautiful girl sitting right next to me," he said with an exaggerated sigh. "You know, this whole 'real' thing is way more complicated than I thought."
"I'm not complaining," I replied with a grin, turning back to the lecture as the professor finally began talking. "But let's focus. I'm trying to pass this class."
"You're already passing," he teased, leaning in a little closer. "But if you want to really pass, we could always study together after school… just to make sure you don't get distracted too much."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. "Maybe I'll take you up on that. You know, for academic reasons."
"Of course," he said with a chuckle. "Purely for academic reasons."
And just like that, with a few words and a lot of shared glances, everything felt right. Despite the teasing, despite the jokes, I realized—maybe this was how we were always meant to be. A little chaotic. A lot of banter.
"Turns out, the only thing we faked was how much we didn't care."