The Chapter Where Kissing Happens, Feelings Get Real, and Everyone Figures It Out Anyway

Ash closed the door behind them, and before he could even turn, Layla grabbed him by the collar and kissed him. It was fierce, deliberate, and left no room for doubt about how she felt. He didn’t hesitate, pulling her closer, his hands steady on her waist.

When they finally broke apart, her breathless voice filled the room. “So much for taking it slow.”

“Didn’t hear you complaining.”

“Not planning to. Just surprised you’re not making some pragmatic excuse about why we shouldn’t.”

“I’ve run out of excuses. Besides, this makes sense.”

“Oh, so it’s logical now?”

“Completely.”

Layla rolled her eyes but smiled, stepping back and leaning against the kitchen counter. Ash’s apartment was dimly lit, the warm glow of the city outside spilling in through the large windows. The faint hum of traffic and the occasional flash of a holo-billboard added to the urban stillness.

“Fine, Mr. Logic. What’s next on your ‘makes sense’ agenda?”

“We tell the others. No secrets.”

“Just like that? You think they won’t make a big deal out of it?”

“They will. But better to get it over with. I’m not in the mood to give them ammo for guessing games.”

Layla crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as she studied him. “You’re serious about this.”

“I am.”

“You really think they don’t already know?”

“They might suspect, but it’s different when we confirm it.”

“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Luke’s going to make jokes for weeks. Mark too, but his will be worse because they’ll be subtle, and you won’t see them coming.”

Ash smirked, stepping closer again. “I can handle them. Can you?”

“Please. I’m ready for anything.”

The next morning, they walked into the café together. It was one of their regular spots, nestled in a quieter part of the city, where the hum of the shield above was barely noticeable. The smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, and the soft chatter of other patrons made it feel cozy.

Mark and Luke were already seated, their cups half-empty, animatedly debating something that seemed utterly trivial.

“...I’m telling you, it’s not the same without the original cast.”

“That’s nostalgia talking. The new one has better pacing and...”

Luke stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Ash and Layla. His eyes immediately dropped to their intertwined hands. A slow grin spread across his face.

“Well, well. Look who decided to finally stop lying to themselves.”

Mark turned, raising an eyebrow before letting out a low chuckle. “Took you long enough.”

Ash sighed as they sat down. “I take it this isn’t a surprise to either of you.”

Luke leaned back, arms crossed. “Oh, come on. You think we didn’t notice the ‘friendly’ tension? The late nights, the disappearing acts? Please.”

Layla raised an eyebrow at Ash, smirking. “Told you they already knew.”

“We suspected,” Mark added, swirling his coffee. “But confirmation is nice. Makes it easier to place bets on how long it took you to admit it.”

“There were bets?”

Luke smiled. “There are always bets.”

Ash shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You’re both ridiculous.”

“And you’re predictable,” Mark said. “But honestly, good for you two. It’s about time you figured it out.”

“Thanks, I think,” Ash replied.

“So,” Luke said, leaning forward with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Who made the first move?”

Layla immediately pointed at Ash. “Him.”

Ash blinked. “Wait, what? That’s not, That’s not...”

“Oh, it absolutely was. You kissed me first.”

“Only because you kept staring at me like you were waiting for it.”

“And you’re saying you didn’t want to?”

Ash opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it. Mark and Luke exchanged a look and burst out laughing.

“This is going to be fun,” Luke said, shaking his head.

Back at Ash’s apartment later that evening, the two of them settled onto the couch. The holo-console flickered to life, but neither of them seemed particularly invested in the game.

“You know,” Ash said after a moment, “they took it better than I expected.”

“Honestly? I think they’re just happy we admitted it. They probably got tired of watching us dance around each other.”

“Maybe. But they’re going to milk this for all it’s worth.”

“Oh, absolutely. Luke’s probably already planning some big joke for the next team meeting.”

Ash leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. “Why do we even put up with them?”

“Because they’re our friends. And because they’re right most of the time, even when we hate admitting it.”

“Fair point.”

The silence stretched between them, comfortable and easy. Layla reached for Ash’s hand, threading her fingers through his.

“You know,” she said softly, “I’m glad we stopped pretending.”

“Me too.”

“What do you think happens now?”

Ash turned to her, his expression unreadable. “Whatever we want. No games, no secrets. Just us.”

Layla smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder. For the first time in a long time, everything felt exactly as it should be.

Mark and Luke were still talking about the announcement later that night. They’d moved to a bench in the park, the city lights glinting off the shield overhead.

“I still can’t believe it took them this long,” Luke said, shaking his head.

“Some people take time,” Mark replied. “Besides, they’re stubborn. You know that.”

“Yeah, but come on. They were practically glued at the hip for months.”

Mark smirked. “Doesn’t matter now. They figured it out.”

Luke stretched, looking up at the faint glow of the stars beyond the shield. “Think it’ll last?”

“If they don’t kill each other first, maybe.”

“Fair enough. But I’m still betting on at least one major fight before the end of the month.”

Mark smiled. “You’re on.”

Luke leaned back on the bench, watching the faint glow of the city lights. “You notice Neon wasn’t around today?”

Mark nodded. “Yeah. She said she had plans with someone over the phone earlier.”

Luke frowned. “Simon?”

“Who else?” Mark crossed his arms. “Still weird, though. She barely gave any details. Just said she couldn’t make it and that she’d be ‘occupied.’”

Luke shook his head. “You don’t find that suspicious? She meets this guy out of nowhere, and now she’s too busy for us?”

“Yeah, it’s odd,” Mark admitted. “She’s not exactly the type to cancel on us without a good reason.”

“But who even is he? All we know is his name, and that he somehow convinced Neon to work with him. That’s it.”

Mark stayed quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed. “You think she’s in over her head?”

“Could be. Or maybe he’s legit. But until I know more, I don’t trust the guy.” Luke leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Neon doesn’t trust people easily. For her to vouch for him... It’s either really good, or really bad.”

“Let’s keep an eye out. If this Simon guy’s trouble, we’ll deal with it.”

“Always the optimist, huh? Let’s hope she’s not walking into something we can’t pull her out of.”

They sat in silence for a moment longer, the weight of the unknown hanging between them. Whatever Neon was involved in, it was only a matter of time before the truth came out.