Dark Grey

Chapter 24: The City and the Kiss

When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the warmth of Jimmy's body pressed against mine. His arms were wrapped around me, holding me close, as if he was afraid I'd slip away during the night. My heart fluttered, the familiar feeling of comfort and safety washing over me. I let out a soft sigh, nestling deeper into his embrace. This was the kind of morning I had always dreamed of, waking up next to someone who made me feel… loved.

It was Saturday, which meant no school. I could take my time, savor the peace of the morning without the usual rush. The light filtering through the curtains painted the room in a soft, golden hue, and everything felt right. I could feel Jimmy stirring beside me, his hand gently brushing against my arm as he woke up.

"Good morning," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. His eyes opened slowly, a lazy smile spreading across his lips as he looked at me.

"Morning," I whispered back, feeling a smile tug at the corners of my own lips. Being here with him, like this, felt like a dream.

We lay there for a while, neither of us wanting to break the moment. His fingers traced patterns on my arm, sending shivers down my spine. Every touch felt deliberate, like he was trying to memorize the feeling of my skin beneath his fingertips. I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way I did—if his heart was racing just as fast as mine.

Eventually, we both knew we had to get up. Jimmy was the first to move, stretching before pulling me closer for a quick kiss on the forehead. The simple gesture made my cheeks warm, and I couldn’t help but smile as I followed him out of bed.

The morning routine was easy, familiar. We moved around each other in the bathroom, brushing our teeth side by side, our elbows occasionally bumping. Jimmy’s gaze lingered on me, soft and full of something I couldn’t quite name. It was like he was content just being near me, and that thought sent another wave of warmth through my chest.

After breakfast, we decided to head out into the city. It was a beautiful day—bright, sunny, with a cool breeze that carried the scent of blooming flowers. The streets were alive with people, and the energy was contagious. We wandered through the shops, laughing and talking, our hands brushing together more often than not.

At one point, Jimmy took my hand in his, threading our fingers together. My heart skipped a beat, but I didn’t pull away. Instead, I tightened my grip, enjoying the way his hand felt in mine. It felt so natural, so right, to be walking beside him like this. We must have looked like a couple to everyone else, and for a moment, I allowed myself to believe it too.

We stopped for ice cream at a little shop near the park. It was the same park where we had shared our first kiss, and I could feel a blush creeping up my neck as the memory resurfaced. Back then, I had been so overwhelmed, so confused, that I had run away. Now, sitting beside him on the park bench, I felt a different kind of nervousness—a good kind.

As we sat down, I let my gaze wander over the familiar surroundings. The trees, the path, the quiet pond—it was all the same, but everything felt different now. I felt different. Jimmy was talking about something, but I was lost in my thoughts, my heart beating faster with each passing second.

"Jae," Jimmy’s voice brought me back to the present. He was looking at me, concern in his eyes. "You okay?"

I nodded, offering him a small smile. "Yeah, just thinking."

"About what?" He asked, his tone gentle. He reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. The simple touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I had to remind myself to breathe.

"About the first time we were here," I admitted, my cheeks warming. "When we… you know."

He chuckled softly, his eyes softening. "Yeah, I remember. You ran off so fast, I thought I had scared you away."