Kiss & Tell ( Asa and Chiquita)

Chapter 15: Letting Go

Asa's POV

The moment we step away from the crowd feels like stepping into a different world. Chiquita's presence fills the space between us, her warmth, her energy, making everything else seem distant and irrelevant.

I've spent my entire life building walls around myself, locking away parts of me I wasn't willing to let anyone see. But with Chiquita, those walls are slowly, inevitably, crumbling.

We find a quiet corner near the back of the venue, tucked away from prying eyes, and I feel the tension in my shoulders ease for the first time in days. Chiquita stands in front of me, eyes twinkling with an energy I can't quite describe. The flirtatious, playful persona she wears so easily is still there, but there's something else — something softer, more vulnerable.

For a moment, we simply stand there, neither of us saying anything, but I can feel the weight of the air between us. There's a thousand unspoken things in this space, and I don't know where to begin.

"I'm glad you came," she says, her voice low and rich, like velvet. Her words seem to hang in the air before they settle around me. "I didn't know what to expect when you texted me this morning, but I'm glad you came."

I swallow, taking in her words. "I didn't know what to expect either," I admit, the truth coming out before I can stop it. "But something about being here with you feels... right."

She steps closer, and for a heartbeat, I think she might kiss me. Her gaze flickers to my lips, and the air around us seems to pulse with something unspoken. But she doesn't. Instead, she just looks at me, as if she's waiting for something, for me to take that final step.

I know what she's waiting for. She's waiting for me to admit what we both already know.

But I'm scared. I'm scared of what will happen when I let go, when I stop fighting this. The walls I've built, the control I've held so tightly, will come crashing down. And with it, everything I've convinced myself I needed to keep in place.

But then she reaches out, her fingers brushing lightly against mine, a touch so soft it almost feels like a question. A plea for me to answer.

"Don't be scared, Asa," she whispers, her eyes locked on mine. "I'm not going anywhere."

The vulnerability in her voice breaks something inside me. Something that's been locked up for so long, I've forgotten what it feels like to let someone in.

I inhale sharply, my fingers brushing over hers, then interlacing. There's a moment of hesitation — a breathless pause where everything hangs on the edge of a decision.

And then, I pull her closer.

The kiss comes quickly, but it's unlike any kiss I've ever had before. It's not fast or frantic, not driven by desire alone, but something deeper. There's tenderness in it, a slow unfolding of emotions I didn't know I was ready to feel.

And for the first time in my life, I feel seen. Not for my success, not for the control I project, but for who I truly am — someone who's been hiding behind walls for far too long.

When we finally pull away, I'm breathless, my heart pounding in a way it never has before. Chiquita smiles at me, and there's a softness in her eyes that makes me feel like she's seeing right through me, all the way to the core.

"That's a good start," she murmurs.

I don't know how to respond, because everything feels too new, too raw. But for the first time in a long time, I don't feel the need to say anything. The silence between us is comfortable, filled with understanding. I don't need to hide anymore. Not with her.

Chiquita's POV

There's a moment, just before Asa kisses me, when I think she's going to pull away. Her body language is tight, controlled — but then her hand touches mine, and the smallest crack in her armor appears. She lets me in, just a little, and I know then that she's ready.

The kiss is everything I've been hoping for — more than just a spark, more than just chemistry. It's a shift. A recognition of what we've both been trying to deny, even to ourselves.

She pulls away first, and I watch her face, searching for any sign of doubt, any hint of retreat. But instead, I see something else. There's this quiet understanding, this peace that settles between us. It's like the air is finally clear, like we've both stopped pretending that this is just a game.

And I realize then — this is real.

I don't know where it will lead, or how it will all unfold. But I know this: we've crossed a line. There's no going back to who we were before. And for the first time in my life, I'm not scared.

When she looks at me with that intensity in her eyes, I see it too — that same quiet certainty. We're in this together.

"Are you ready for this?" I ask softly, my voice steady despite the flurry of emotions I'm trying to keep under control.

She nods, taking a deep breath. "I think so."

Asa's POV

I know what she's asking, and I know what it means. I've spent my entire life keeping everything in line, but Chiquita — she's different. She doesn't care about the walls I've built. She's not asking me to be perfect.

She's asking me to trust her.

And that's what I'm going to do. Because the truth is, I'm tired of hiding. I'm tired of being the person everyone expects me to be.

For the first time in my life, I'm ready to be me — the real me — with her.

"I'm ready," I say, my voice soft, but unwavering.

Her smile is everything. It's not just playful or flirtatious — it's something deeper. Something genuine.

I take her hand in mine, and together, we step out into the unknown. There's no map for where we're going, no guarantees of what comes next. But that's the beauty of it.

For the first time, I'm not afraid.

Chiquita's POV

Tonight, everything changes. And I can't wait to see where we go from here.