My Star || Delta x Dante fanfic

☆ Chapter 47 - Hints

Dante's POV

The drive back felt different.

Maybe it was because the sky had started turning shades of orange and gold, sunlight spilling across the ocean like someone had painted liquid fire over the water. Maybe it was because everyone was exhausted after spending half the day wandering around the mall. Or maybe- my brain was just being weird again.

The groups ended up exactly the same as before. Arman drove one car with Taka, Ichika, and Fumiya. Delta drove the other with me, Pheng, and Gwyn.

The moment I climbed into the passenger seat, I noticed it. The sunglasses. He was still wearing them. My sunglasses.

Okay, technically they weren't mine anymore. I'd given them to him. They belonged to him now. But still.

He was wearing them. The entire drive.

The stupid thing was that every time I glanced over and saw them sitting on his face, my chest did this weird little flip. Which became a problem because I kept looking. Not intentionally. Mostly. Maybe a little intentionally.

The sunglasses suited him. Of course they did. Everything suited Delta.

The black frames sat perfectly against his face while the golden evening sunlight reflected faintly off the lenses. One hand rested casually on the steering wheel while the other drummed lightly against it whenever a song he liked came on. He looked relaxed. Comfortable. Like he'd been wearing them for years.

The thought made something warm settle in my chest. Because he could've taken them off. Hours ago. But he hadn't.

"...You're smiling."

I nearly launched myself through the roof. "What?"

Pheng was staring at me from the backseat. The idiot had the most dangerous smirk imaginable.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm literally not."

"You have been for the last ten minutes."

"...The weather is nice."

"We're inside a moving car."

"The scenery is nice."

"The scenery has been the same ocean for twenty minutes."

I crossed my arms. "...I like oceans."

Pheng's smirk widened. "...Sure."

I immediately looked away. Behind him, Gwyn quietly observed the exchange over the edge of his notebook. Then, without saying a word, he lowered his gaze and continued writing.

Traitor. Absolute traitor.

The worst part? Neither of them were wrong. I could feel the smile pulling at the corner of my mouth.

Fortunately, Pheng didn't push further.

And as the car continued down the coastal road, golden sunlight fading into the approaching evening, I found myself smiling again. Not because of the ocean. Not because of the weather. Not because of the scenery.

But because every time I looked over, Delta was still wearing the sunglasses I'd given him. And for some reason, that made me happier than it probably should have.

Eventually the beach house came into view, warm lights glowing against the darkness surrounding it. The moment everyone stepped out of the cars, collective exhaustion hit the group like a truck.

The ocean stretched endlessly behind the house, silver moonlight dancing across dark waves while the distant sound of water filled the night air. Cool sea breeze drifted across the property.