Walls crumbling, slowly

Kamsi glanced nervously toward her door, her heart pounding. "Then I'll have to push you back to your side."

"Go ahead. Try," he challenged, crossing his arms, a devilish gleam in his eyes.

With a frustrated huff, she shoved at his chest, but he barely budged. Instead, his hand shot out, wrapping around her wrist and pulling her into him. The unexpected movement left her breathless, and she froze as he hugged her tightly, his chin resting lightly on the top of her head.

[Music recommendation: Falling by Harry styles]

"Stay like this," he murmured, his voice suddenly quieter, vulnerable. "Just for a moment."

Kamsi's heart skipped. She tried to summon her usual irritation, but it faltered in the face of the warmth radiating from him.

"I have to go to the empowerment talk tomorrow," he said after a moment. His tone was low, laced with frustration. "My dad's going to be there. I feel… furious just thinking about it. But also nervous."

She stiffened slightly in his arms, glancing up at him. His jaw was tight, and for the first time, she noticed the raw emotion flickering in his eyes.

"What should I do?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.

Her chest ached at the vulnerability in his question. She hesitated, then said softly, "Why don't you give him a chance?"

Xavier pulled back slightly, his brow furrowing as he looked down at her.

"For your own sake," she continued, meeting his gaze. "At least he's trying. My dad…" She trailed off, her lips pressing together as she hesitated to continue.

"What about your dad?" Xavier asked, his voice gentler now.

Kamsi exhaled, her eyes flickering to the railing as if searching for answers in the night. "I don't know him. My mom was still in secondary school when she got pregnant, and her boyfriend—my dad—denied it. It's always been just us and her family."

Xavier's expression softened, surprise giving way to something deeper.

"Do you hate him?" he asked carefully.

Her lips trembled. "I don't know. Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, I just… want to understand why he never looked for me. I feel hate, resentment, and longing all at once. It's exhausting."

He studied her in silence, his hand still loosely holding her wrist. The moonlight illuminated the faint sheen of tears in her eyes, and something inside him shifted.

"Please," she said quietly, her voice trembling but firm. "Give your dad a chance. For me."

For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze locked on hers. Then, a slow, gentle smile spread across his face.

"Well," he drawled, his tone returning to its teasing edge, "don't you think I deserve something in return?"

She pulled back completely, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "You're impossible," she muttered. "Just go back to your side, Xavier."

Instead of moving, he strolled into her room, plucking a book off her desk as if he owned the place.

"Why are you touching my things?!" she exclaimed, exasperated.

"Good thing I didn't ask for permission," he said with a shrug, flipping through the pages.

Her jaw tightened as she marched over to snatch the book back, but when she turned, she saw him sprawled on her bed, his hands tucked behind his head, the picture of smug defiance.

"Xavier!" she hissed. "Get up! You're going to get me in trouble!"

"Relax," he said, his voice almost a purr.

She stormed over to drag him off, but he caught her by the waist, pulling her down onto the bed between his legs. Her breath hitched as his arms wrapped around her, holding her still.

"Just a little longer," he murmured, his voice a low rumble in her ear.

Her resolve crumbled, and she let him hold her, even as her mind raced with conflicted thoughts. She shouldn't be this close to him. It was dangerous—confusing.

"Are you coming to the event tomorrow?" he asked suddenly.

"Yes," she managed, her voice unsteady.

His lips quirked up as he looked down at her. "Good. I'll need the moral support."

She turned her head to look at him, her face inches from his. His gaze softened, a rare vulnerability breaking through his usual cocky facade.

"Come with me," he said softly, his voice almost a plea.

For a moment, her walls wavered. Then, she nodded.

A slow smile spread across his face, and he pulled her tighter, resting his chin on her shoulder. In the silence that followed, the faint hum of the crickets returned, the world outside their bubble feeling miles away.

Xavier leaned against the railing, his smirk teasing but his eyes soft as they rested on her. The moonlight outlined his sharp features, casting shadows that only added to his magnetic presence. "Goodnight, Pug," he said, his voice dipping low, the words rolling off his tongue like a challenge. He turned, one foot already on the railing, ready to climb back to his side of the balcony.

Kamsi's heart hammered in her chest as she watched him. She clenched her hands at her sides, nerves waging war with a sudden surge of courage. Do it, just do it, she thought. If she didn't act now, the moment would slip away, and she didn't know if she'd ever find this boldness again.

"Wait," she blurted, her voice soft but clear in the quiet night.

Xavier paused, glancing back over his shoulder. His brow arched, the smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Something else on your mind, Pug?"

The teasing edge in his voice made her pulse quicken. Ignoring the heat rushing to her cheeks, she stepped closer, her fingers brushing against his wrist to stop him. The contact was fleeting, but it sent a spark through both of them.

He turned fully, his gaze narrowing slightly, studying her. His expression held a mixture of curiosity and amusement, but something in his eyes softened when he saw her flushed face and trembling hands. "What's up?" he asked, the teasing giving way to something gentler.

She swallowed hard, her voice caught somewhere between her courage and the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat. "I… I just…" The words refused to come, so instead, she let her actions speak.

Rising onto her toes, she leaned forward, her lips brushing his in a kiss so light it felt like a whisper against the cool night air. It was quick, uncertain, but packed with every ounce of bravery she could muster.

Xavier went utterly still, his usual cocky confidence shattered in an instant. His lips tingled from the fleeting touch, and his breath hitched as the realization of what had just happened sank in.

Kamsi's cheeks burned as she pulled back, her wide eyes darting everywhere but his. "Goodnight," she mumbled, her voice barely audible, before spinning on her heel and scurrying back toward her room.

Xavier remained frozen, his hand still resting on the railing, his lips parted slightly as if to speak, though no words came. Slowly, the shock gave way to a grin—soft, genuine, and so unlike his usual smirks. He raised a hand, absentmindedly brushing his fingers across his lips, the warmth of her kiss lingering like a brand.

She kissed me.

He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is a first," he murmured to himself, leaning against the railing for support. This is the first time she's ever initiated anything. Physical contact, no less.

And it wasn't just the kiss—it was the vulnerability behind it, the courage it must have taken her. The thought filled him with a hope he hadn't felt in a long time, a hope that perhaps her walls were slowly coming down.

As he climbed back over to his side, he glanced once more at her closed door, his smile growing softer. "Goodnight, Pug," he whispered to the night, his chest lighter than it had been in years.