Welcome to the Innocent World

Sitting on the couch in Athlea's cozy living room, I took a moment to absorb the details of her home.

Everything was decorated in soft colors, with hints of floral accents and a subtle, sweet fragrance that lingered in the air, adding a warm, homely touch to the space.

A framed photo of Athlea and her husband rested on the side table near the TV—a smiling couple, the picture-perfect duo, but a part of me couldn't help but notice a certain distance in her eyes even in that photograph.

From the kitchen, I heard the gentle clink of cups and plates as she prepared tea.

"Austin," she called, "you look like you haven't eaten! Did you get anything for dinner?"

I met her gaze, deciding to go along with the warmth of the moment. "Not yet… I thought I'd keep some room."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "So you stayed hungry just for my company?"

I laughed, half-deflecting, half admitting, "Maybe. You're good company, after all."

"Well then," she said, glancing back into the kitchen, "I'll make us something light to go with the tea. We can have dinner together."

In no time, she brought over two steaming cups of tea, setting down a plate of sandwiches and fresh salad on the table. I reached for a sandwich, and she mirrored me, settling comfortably into the chair opposite mine.

We sipped tea, chatting easily as the night grew darker. She brought up the game, a playful gleam in her eye.

"So," she teased, "I saw the girls cheering for you quite passionately back there. You must have them lined up, huh?"

I shook my head, laughing. "None, actually. Believe it or not."

She raised a skeptical eyebrow, giving a little chuckle. "Oh, I find that hard to believe." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a mischievous tone. I can see her half of her cleavage and damn those melons are distracting.

"And yet, I could've sworn I heard… some rather enthusiastic sounds coming from your place a few nights ago." Her fingers traced a light path along my arm, her touch warm and teasing. "And if I remember correctly… it wasn't just one girl. It sounded like two."

*Cough* *Cough*

I choked on my tea, coughing as I struggled to regain my composure.

"Uh—yeah," I stammered, grabbing the napkin she handed me, trying to brush it off. "Just… friends, you know, hanging out and all…"

She laughed, her expression full of amusement, clearly enjoying watching me squirm. "Oh, I'm sure. Young, energetic—" she waved her hand in an amused gesture, "you don't have to explain it to me. Consider me a friend, Austin. You can be yourself with me."

I gave her a genuine smile, relieved by her easygoing nature. "Thanks, Athlea. You're… you feel like a friend, too. A really good one."

Her gaze softened, and for a moment, she looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite place. "I'm glad to hear that," she murmured, almost to herself.

We fell into another easy conversation, talking about everything from hobbies to her life. She shared how much she enjoyed small things—gardening, evening walks, reading.

We then sat side by side, with our back resting on the side of the bed, laughing and enjoying the conversation together.

Soon the conversation drifted to her husband and her expression shifted, becoming a bit more guarded.

"He works far away," she explained, twirling the cup in her hands. "He's… quite busy. Works as a manager at some big company. He only comes home a few times a year."

I nodded, but something felt odd about it. How did he get so much time to talk on the phone with her every day, especially with a job like that? But I brushed the thought away, deciding it wasn't my place to question.@@novelbin@@

"Sometimes, it's hard, you know?" she admitted, a faint trace of sadness slipping into her eyes. "I've thought about having a child—maybe then I wouldn't feel so alone. But that… that's complicated, too."

Her voice was quiet, almost vulnerable. Without thinking, I reached over, gently grazing her hair back. "It's alright. I'll come by whenever you want, and we can go out sometimes too. You won't have to feel alone."

"Really?" She looked up at me, surprised, and for a second, our eyes met, her gaze holding mine. I could feel my heartbeat pick up, and I wasn't sure why. But in that moment, it was just us, and the world around seemed to fall away.

"Yes, I mean it." I said.

Her eyes looked a little watery, almost hesitant, as she murmured,

"Thank you, Austin." A blush crept up her cheeks, and we found ourselves just sitting there, close enough to hear each other's breathing.

Before I realized what I was doing, I held her hand gently, the warmth of her skin sending a jolt through me.

We were sitting side by side, close enough that I could feel her warmth radiating against me. She looked up at me, a bit startled, but didn't pull away.

I leaned in, my face inches from hers, and the world went quiet.

Time felt as if it had stopped, my heart hammering in my chest as her eyes closed. My lips brushed against hers in a soft, tentative kiss, and it was like the air around us ignited, the gentle warmth spreading as she kissed me back.

Our lips gently locking each others and smooching.

My hands moved instinctively, one on her shoulder, the other lightly around her waist.

But as I leaned a little closer, pressing into the kiss, she pulled back abruptly, her eyes wide.

"Stop… stop…" she whispered, voice barely above a murmur.

I froze, my hand lingering on her waist as I took in her flushed face and the nervous smile that had replaced her soft gaze.

"Are you… okay?"

She nodded, looking down, her hands twisting slightly in her lap. "I'm sorry, Austin. I… I don't know what came over me. It's just… it's been a while since…" She trailed off, laughing awkwardly and brushing a stray hair behind her ear.

Realization dawned on me, the sudden guilt crashing over me.

"I'm sorry too," I said quickly, pulling back and standing up, giving her a small, apologetic smile. "I didn't mean for things to… you know, to get carried away."

Her lips quirked in a slight smile, a little flustered.

"It's okay, really. I… I felt the same." Her voice was soft, barely audible, as she met my gaze, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Feeling the tension and embarrassment mix in the air, I rubbed the back of my neck.

"I think… maybe I should head out now. Thank you for having me over."

She got up too, her expression a mix of emotions as she stood by the door.

"Sure… it's okay. Don't mind. And… thanks again for tonight."

"Anytime," I said, giving her one last genuine smile before I stepped out. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Austin." Her voice was soft as she closed the door gently, the sound of the lock clicking behind me as I walked away.

As soon as I got home, I fell onto my bed, groaning as I buried my face in my pillow.

"What was that?" I muttered to myself, my face heating up at the memory. "That was so… stupid, Austin," I chided myself, but a part of me couldn't deny the warmth lingering in my chest, the feeling of her soft lips still fresh in my memory.

Hugging the pillow tightly, I let out a sigh, a slight smile tugging at my lips. "Still… she felt good."