My Turn [𝐙𝐄𝐄𝐍𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐖 FF]

ᴛᴡᴇʟᴠᴇ

Nunew accepted the bouquet, bringing it closer to smell its sweet fragrance. A smile spread across his face, a genuine one that he couldn't hold back. He looked up at Zee, who was now gazing at him with a soft expression.

Nunew's smile shifted into a playful glare, his curiosity piqued.

"You have such a beautiful smile. You should show it to me more often rather than always giving me that glare." Zee remarked, his tone playful yet sincere.

"What's this for?" he asked, still holding the flowers. "You don't have to do this Zee, This is not part of the plan."

"It's not a real date if there are no flowers," Zee replied with a wink.

"You know? You should enjoy things too." He added.

'How can I enjoy this if I know that your just doing this for her.' Nunew thought as he looked at the flowers in his hands.

As they started eating, a warm, comfortable silence settled between them. Zee smiled, observing the adorable boy savoring his food. The boy's enjoyment was so evident that it made the food seem even more appetizing.

Nunew looked at Zee, puzzled, while still chewing.

"Is there something on my face?" he asked, prompting Zee to chuckle warmly.

At one point, Zee reached across the table to wipe a bit of sauce from the corner of Nunew's mouth. Nunew felt a flutter in his chest at the unexpected gesture and had to remind himself to stay calm.

"There, all clean," Zee said, his fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.

Nunew blushed, looking down at his plate to hide his smile. "Thanks," he muttered.

"No problem," Zee replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Throughout the meal, Zee continued to find small ways to make Nunew laugh, whether through silly jokes or little anecdotes about his day. Nunew, despite his initial apprehension, felt himself relaxing and enjoying Zee's company more and more. He kept reminding himself that this was just an act, but it was getting harder to believe it.

After a particularly funny story, Nunew couldn't help but laugh out loud. Zee watched him, his expression softening. "You know, I really like seeing you like this," he said quietly.

Nunew looked up, caught off guard by the sincerity in Zee's voice. "Like what?" he asked, his heart beating a little faster.

"Happy," Zee replied simply.

Nunew's smile widened, and for the first time in a long while, he felt genuinely happy. But he quickly reminded himself to stay grounded. As they finished their meal, he couldn't shake the feeling that this might be the start of something special, even if he wasn't quite ready to admit it to himself yet.

---

Since the meal, Nunew couldn't shake the warm, comforting feeling that lingered from Zee's genuine words. Walking back to Zee's car, a sense of ease washed over him, prompting him to open up in a way he rarely did.

"You know," Nunew began tentatively, meeting Zee's gaze, "you're the only one who's treated me like this."

Zee glanced at him, catching the gravity in Nunew's tone. "Like what?" he asked softly, urging Nunew to elaborate.

Nunew paused, gathering his thoughts before admitting, "Like I matter. Like my happiness actually means something."

Zee's features softened with understanding, his eyes reflecting sincerity. "You do matter, Nhu. Your happiness matters," Zee reassured him gently. "I'm glad if I can make you feel that way."