Rion watched him for a moment before speaking. Adrian was still looking at him.
Like if he looked away, everything would disappear again.
"You remember what you said last night?" Rion asked quietly.
Adrian hesitated. "…Yes."
Rion nodded once. "Good."
Silence settled between them. Not heavy this time. Just… real.
Rion leaned back slightly in his chair, studying him. "Then say it again."
Adrian blinked. "What?"
"Sober this time."
That made Adrian still completely.
Rion didn't look away. Didn't soften it. Just waited.
Adrian swallowed. "You want me to..."
"Say it," Rion said simply. "Properly."
A long pause.
Then Adrian nodded slowly.
"Okay."
He took a breath. Then another.
"I like you," he said.
Rion didn't interrupt.
So Adrian continued, voice growing steadier.
"I mean… I really like you. Not in a confusing, back-and-forth way like before. I like you in a way I can't just ignore anymore."
His fingers tightened slightly against the table.
"And I know I messed up. I know I should've said it sooner. But I was scared. Of losing you, or making things weird, or..." He exhaled sharply. "But I can't pretend anymore."
He looked up at Rion, more honest now.
"I think about you too much for it to mean nothing."
Silence.
Rion stood up.
Adrian stopped talking immediately.
"Rion?"
Rion walked closer. Step by step.
Until he was right in front of him.
Adrian's breath caught.
"Finish it," Rion said.
Adrian frowned slightly. "Finish what?"
"What you were going to say."
"I..." Adrian hesitated, then shook his head. "I don't think I can."
Rion studied him for a moment.
Then, without warning. He pulled Adrian closer. And kissed him. Hard. Immediate.
No hesitation.
Adrian froze for half a second, pure shock before his hands instinctively moved, pulling Rion closer as he kissed him back just as intensely.
All the tension from the past days collapsed into that moment. No confusion. No running.
Just them.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathing unevenly.
Adrian stared at him.
"…so does this mean..." he started.
Rion cut him off, calm but certain.
"Yes."
Adrian blinked. "Yes what?"
"I like you back.".That landed quietly. Deeply.
Adrian let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"And," Rion added, a little softer now, "you don't have to worry about that date."
Adrian frowned. "What? Why?"
"My dad set it up and he's kinda strict so.... and I told her I liked someone" Rion said.
A pause.
"Oh."
Rion huffed lightly at his reaction.
Adrian leaned in again. This kiss was softer at first. Slower. Then deeper. More certain.
Rion responded immediately.
And somewhere in the middle of it.
A plate shifted slightly on the table. Then slipped. CRASH. They both froze. Looked down. Then at each other. And laughed.
Adrian shook his head, forehead resting briefly against Rion's. "We're terrible at this."
Rion hummed. "You're terrible at this."
"Excuse me?"
"You kissed too hard."
Adrian scoffed. "You started it."
A pause.
Then Rion kissed him again. Quieter this time. Like a decision they were both finally allowed to make.