The next day, Ariana found Kian in the art studio, sitting alone at a table. An unfinished sketch lay in front of him.
Her.
"Kian… it's beautiful," she whispered.
He didn't look up.
"I couldn't finish it." 😒
"Why not?"
"Because I didn't know how to draw your eyes without revealing how I feel."
Ariana felt warmth rush through her chest.
"Kian…"
He finally lifted his gaze to hers—soft, emotional, vulnerable.
"I can hide everything else," he said quietly. "But not when I draw you." 🙃
She approached slowly, placing a hand over his sketch.
"You don't have to hide anything."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Everything about you is difficult to hide from."
Ariana leaned slightly closer, heart pounding.
"Then maybe don't hide."
Kian's breath caught.
His hand lifted as if to touch her cheek—then paused, trembling slightly.
She could feel the warmth of his palm even before it touched her.
And then,
softly, carefully;
he placed his hand against her face.
She leaned into it without hesitation.
Kian exhaled shakily.
"I'm terrified of how much I feel," he confessed.
"And I'm terrified of losing it," she whispered.
Their foreheads nearly touched; their breaths intertwined.
It wasn't a kiss;
but it was a promise waiting to happen. 😍