Chapter 10: The First Kiss

Ethan's heart skipped a beat as Ava leaned closer to him, their faces mere inches apart. The proximity sent a rush of heat through his body, and he could feel the warmth of her breath brushing against his skin.

Her voice, soft and slow, carried an unmistakable affection that made his heart pound harder with every passing second.

His breathing grew heavier, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to maintain composure. The way her voice wrapped around his name, spoken with such genuine tenderness and love, sent a shiver down his spine.

In that moment, the weight of their emotions hung heavily in the air, unspoken yet palpable

 [She took a shaky breath, her heart pounding so loudly she was certain he could hear it. Her hand, trembling as it rested on his shoulder, tightened slightly as if to ground herself] "Do you know… how hard it is to watch you like this? Carrying everything, trying to protect everyone, like you're alone in this? You don't have to do it by yourself, Ethan."

Her voice wavered, but her words carried an earnestness that pierced through the heavy silence between them. It was as though she was baring a part of herself, she had long kept hidden, hoping he would understand.

 [Her voice dropped to a whisper, trembling with raw emotion.] "I'm here for you. Not just for this… fight, or whatever comes next. I'm here for you. And not because I'm supposed to be, but because I want to be."

Her words hung in the air, delicate yet powerful, as if they carried the weight of every unspoken feeling she had held back until now. Her gaze searched his, her vulnerability laid bare, hoping he could see the depth of her sincerity.

Ethan's breath hitched, her words crashing into him like a tidal wave. He blinked at her, stunned, his mind scrambling to process what she had just said.

He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out, his voice caught in his throat.

Ava's gaze softened, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips. She could see the whirlwind of emotions in his eyes—confusion, disbelief, and something deeper, something that made her heart ache.

Gently, she placed her free hand on his shoulder, her touch warm and steady.

 "I know," [She continued, her voice barely above a whisper now.] "I'm… not like you. I've lived in a world of flashing cameras and fake smiles. But when I'm with you, Ethan, none of those matters. You make me feel … like myself."

 [Her voice wavered slightly as she went on.] "Remember when we first danced together at WINGS HOTEL? I talked to you so freely that night, opening up in a way I never had before. It's because… I've never felt genuine affection like that before. I've never opened up to anyone or shared my secrets—not until you."

 [She hesitated, her voice growing softer.] "But when I'm with you, I feel… protected and… and…" [Her words faltered, catching in her throat. She stopped, unable to form the next sentence. Their faces were mere inches apart, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions.]

Their gazes locked, and it felt as if time itself had stopped. Her genuine confession lingered in the air, heavy yet fragile, carrying the weight of emotions she had never shared before.

Her heart raced so fast it felt like it might burst, each beat echoing in her chest.

Ethan felt the same—his pulse pounding in rhythm with hers, his breath shallow and uneven. The intensity of the moment was almost overwhelming, as if the world around them had faded, leaving only the two of them suspended in the fragile stillness.

She was so close to his face that she could feel the warmth of his breath. Her blue eyes were filled with genuine affection. One could easily get lost just by gazing into them.Her gaze flickered to his lips, noticing them parted slightly in stunned silence, before she shifted her eyes back to meet his.

Ethan's chest tightened as an overwhelming mix of emotions surged through him. He didn't know what to do, what to say. Ava Stanford—the Ava Stanford—was confessing her feelings to him.

A simple, ordinary boy who had no place in her world. Yet her words felt so genuine, so raw, that for the first time, he didn't feel like just a shadow in the background.

 "A-Ava…" [He stammered, his voice trembling.] "I don't – why me? I mean, you could –"

 "Because it's you," [She cut him off gently, her eyes shining with unshed tears.] "The moment I felt with you, the moment I shared with you… I choose you than the other men, Ethan. It's always been you"

And before he could think, before his mind could catch up with his heart, Ava leaned in and pressed her lips softly against his.

Ethan froze, his eyes wide in shock. But the warmth of her lips, the gentle pressure, melted the tension in his body. Slowly, hesitantly, he kissed her back. It was awkward at first – tentative, unsure – but it didn't matter.

For that moment, the world outside ceased to exist.

The kissed was so deepen that Ethan mind started to swirl around. He felt her soft lips against his own. her fingers that tighten his shoulder, he could feel every ounce of her emotions through that kiss.

When they pulled apart, Ava's cheeks were flushed, her breathing unsteady. Ethan, too, breathed heavily as his eyes met hers. Her blue eyes were filled with raw emotions, feelings for him that he could barely comprehend. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions.

 "I –" [He began, his voice hoarse, but she shook her head with a soft smile]

 "You don't have to say anything." [She whispered.] "I just wanted you to know –"

 [But Ethan shook his head cutting her words, his eyes clouded with worry.] "No, Ava, I… I can't do this."

 [Ava blinked, her expression falling as she tighten her grip on Ethan's shoulder.] "What do you mean?"

 [Ethan leaned backward slightly from her, moving her hands from his shoulder and look down at the floor as his chest heaved with the weight of his emotions.] "You're Ava Stanford. You're a star – a world-famous celebrity. You belonged to a world I'll never understand. And with everything that's happening… the danger of the monster… I can't – I might not able to protect anyone."

 [He stopped for a moment, his eyes welling up with tears. He continued.] "I don't even know if I can protect myself or my family from this upcoming outbreak."

 [His voice cracked, frustration and fear breaking through.] "If something happens to you because of me, I wouldn't forgive myself. And if this outbreak spreads, I –" [He stopped unable to finish the thought.]

Ava watched him in silence, her chest tightening at his confession. When she met his gaze, she noticed unshed tears welling up in his eyes. Seeing him vulnerable and filled with fear, Ava's heart skipped a beat, her heart twisting at the vulnerability in his voice.

She leaned forward and reached out, gently placing her hands on his cheeks, cupping them to stop his restless movements.

 "Ethan" [She said softly, her voice steady despite the ache in her heart.] "You don't have to protect me, or anyone else, alone. You're stronger than you think, and you don't have to carry all this on your own. I'm here because I choose to be here. For you."

 [Ethan met her gaze, her deep blue eyes are filled with honesty, sincerity, and devotion. Her sincerity breaking through the storm of doubt in his mind.] "Ava, I don't know if I can keep anyone safe. I'm not sure if I even deserve…" [His words trailed off, his throat tightening.]

 "You deserve more than move realize." [She said, her voice trembling with emotions.]

Without waiting for him to respond, she leaned in and captured his lips with her own. Ethan, initially startled, steadied himself and leaned in, returning the kiss with all his heart.

Ava closed her eyes to feel his lips, sensing his love, his emotions—everything. Her hands slid to his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart. Ethan, too, felt the softness of her lips against his, moving his hands to her back.

The kiss was gentle but firm, a quiet reassurance that cut through the chaos in his heart. The warmth of her kiss seeped into him, and the tension in his body melted away.

The world—time, everything—seemed to stop as the kiss deepened.

Ava felt Ethan's hand on her back and pulled herself closer, their bodies now touching. Both of them melted into the kiss so completely that they forgot about the impending outbreak, forgetting about the world outside them.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them panting heavily to catch their breath, Ava looked at him with eyes full of love and devotion.

Her blue eyes, as beautiful as always, sparkled with a newfound joy and emotion. She rested her head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

She hugged him tightly, sensing a kind of protection from him, as if no matter what happened, he would always protect her and his loved ones. A soft smile appeared on her face as she whispered,

 "I don't need you to be perfect, Ethan. I just need you to be you." [Her lips brushed slightly against his chest. Ava held him tighter, her eyes closing as she listened to his steady heartbeat.]

 "A-Ava, I… I don't know –" [Ethan's grip tightened ever so slightly, the weight of her words settling in his chest.]

 "Shh." [Ava interrupted him, pulling herself back from his embrace and placed her finger on his lips to stop him from further talking.] "We'll figure it out together. Just… let me be here for you."

She captured his lips once again. Her eyes fluttered closed, feeling the emotions that had built up between them.

Ethan's hand found its way to Ava's waist, pulling her closer. They both melted into each other's embrace once more.

Ava gently pushed him onto the soft bedsheet as the kiss deepened. Their tongues tangled, savoring the taste of each other's mouth. Ethan's hand roamed around Ava's back as she deepened the kiss further. They were completely lost in each other's embrace.