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The air of the French classroom was filled with a quiet atmosphere, though with the hidden subtlety of tension that had been carved into the school's culture and hidden behind the facade of innocence.
But, that meant nothing to Jane. Today was like any other school day. Her nose was buried in a book that her friend, Earn, had recommended just days earlier, she finally managed to get her hands on a copy the second it was available in the school library.
Which meant she was too busy to notice Nano approaching her table.
"Jane."
Jane lifted her head, taking her attention away from the paragraph she was reading. Nano was towering over her, arms folded across her chest.
"Nano," Jane beamed, closing her book shut. She smoothed out her uniform with her palms, the apples of her cheeks flushed pink. "Have you finished your work yet?"
Nano hummed, "Mm, what're you reading?" She motioned with her chin towards the book in Jane's hands.
"This? Oh, just a romance novel." Jane turned the book around to reveal the cover. "It's so good," Her eyes glimmered at the opportunity to talk about her book.
"It's about two girls who start off resenting each other, then they form a close friendship when they realize how much they can rely on one another."
Nano tilted her head, intrigued from Jane's summary of the book alone. "Really? Sounds familiar, don't you think?" She trusted Jane would pick up on hint, with the help of the quirk of a brow.
She insinuated to them, given how their relationship once started off rocky, soon evolved into something genuine; a friendship with no limits.
To Jane, Nano was admirable. She was one of the girls who cared about her looks, her appearance, her ability to turn heads whenever she made her entrance. Perhaps Nano was selfish at first- heartless even.
Yet, Jane won her over by showing kindness despite it all, she shows Nano a bubbly smile that she swears is different than the one Jane gives everybody else.
And Nano's delicate heart was protected by the highly guarded, brick walls that Jane only managed to climb over.
Jane pondered for a brief second before shaking her head and delivering a slight pucker of the lips. "No.. sorry." She was stumped trying to think of a possibility on what Nano could be referring to, mind completely blanking. "I wouldn't know it anyway."
Nano's mouth twisted into a frown. Maybe she should've expected that response from Jane, but Nano knew she'd eventually get it.
"Jane," Jane's attention snapped back to Nano towering in front of her. "I need to study for tomorrow's French quiz, can you come over to my house later?" Her brows furrowing at the fact she'd have to give up precious time doing something she didn't really like to do all that well— studying.
"Sure! How about I come over around 4:00?" Jane instantly lit up, like a puppy eager for treats. Her smile was so bright that Nano was nearly blinded by the energy radiating off of her.
Jane was ecstatic to get any opportunity to be with Nano alone. She felt drawn to Nano ever since that night at Nalin's house. Her heart began beating faster whenever Nano was beside her, heart thrumming frantically against her ribcage, the skin of her palms slicked together with sweat.
Jane was a nervous wreck whenever Nano gradually got closer to her, her brain short-circuiting.
Sometimes, Jane would take in Nano's sweet, ambrosial scent, with soft, vanilla notes gracing her sense of smell, her cheeks welling into a rosy pink color. Every time, Nano missed the chance to get a glimpse of what kind of effect she had on Jane.
Nano nodded with a firm bow. "See you then." She turned on her heel and made her way back to her desk, easing down in her seat with grace.
Jane squealed, her chest buzzed with excitement. She treated Nano's invitations like it was the very first time she asked come over to her house. The smile on her face sprouted into a uncontrollable grin.
It was enough for Earn, cast with a skeptical eye, stared at Jane like she was going batshit crazy.
Jane pressed a quiet, modest knock against Nano's door, announcing her entrance. She twisted the knob carefully, mindful with her movements so she wouldn't startle the latter. She opened the door ajar, just enough to stick her head in the room and find where Nano was.
Nano sat with her back against her bed, arms cradling her cat who's interest was more on the toy she was swaying than anything else. Her fingers gently brushed the cat's fleecy, fur coat, the cat responded to Nano's touch with a rhythmic purr.
For a split second, Jane wished she was reborn into a cat that could curl up in Nano's arms while she spoiled her in love and kisses.
Jane's face was heating up again.
"I know you're there, Jane," Nano's head snapped towards Jane's direction, startling her. Nano released the feline from her arms, patting at the empty spot beside her. "Come sit, Pailin misses you." The invitation felt more like a request, Nano had grown to enjoy Jane's presence, generally, she found Jane entering her orbit normal than others.
"How did you hear me? I was so quiet." Jane's words were laced with sarcasm.
"You have loud footsteps," Nano placed Pailin onto Jane's lap, the cat let out a small, bewildered mewl. "It's hard to miss when you come up the stairs like that."
Jane scoffed, "Me? Loud? No way. I'm as quiet as as mouse." Her mouth curled into a smug grin whilst raking her hand through the thick patch of fur along Pailin's spine. The cat leaned into the touch, a vibrating purr kittled Jane's skin.
"Debatable." Nano returned Jane's grin with a smirk of her own. She liked going back and forth with Jane, she couldn't do it with any of her other school friends. They all took everything too seriously, with Jane, at least she gave a reaction that Nano could snicker about.
She reached for her school bag, sliding it closer to where she sat and began rummaging for a notebook. "Here," Nano placed the pink notebook in-between them. "Help me memorize these phrases, and their meanings too."
Jane glanced at the book for a second, then back at Nano. "I don't need your notebook," She brought her index finger up to her temple, tapping at her brain. "I have it all remembered right here." Jane flaunted, earning a firm nudge on her head with from the latter.
Nano rolled her eyes. "You're so annoying."
Jane suppressed her laughter, she sat criss-cross whilst Pailin made herself comfortable, her head resting on Jane's thigh. "Okay, turn and face me."
Nano inched herself closer to Jane, hands resting on her lap and her posture rigid than ever.
Through her long lashes, Nano's gaze met Jane's pearly, brown irises. Once they locked eyes, everything in the room phased out of Jane's vision, everything from the quiet whir from a nearby fan faded to a prolonged, heavy silence.
A flush began to appear on Jane's neck, creeping up to her ears. Her ears were on fire, a wave of heat turning the tips of her ears a fiery shade of scarlet. "Uh, Ma-maybe, look at something else."
Jane hastily picked up Pailin with one scoop motion, the feline let out a meow of resistance, as she was just getting comfortable in her spot, and placed her with Nano instead.
Nano scrunched her eyebrows at her friend's indecision, though gladly took Pailin back on her lap.
Jane pondered for a moment, before she perked up with an idea in her head. "Alright, I'm going to say a sentence in French, and you translate exactly what I say back."
Nano nodded, she straightened her back, gluing her attention to Jane and only Jane.
"Je ne comprends pas ." Jane spoke slow and clear, not too quick so Nano could understand her.
Nano took a split second to think. "I don't understand."
Jane clapped her hands, the sound resonated in the air, enough to startle Pailin wide awake from her nap. "Good!" The misty gray cat climbed out of Nano's lap, shooting Jane a vicious glare for disrupting her sleep.
Pailin's jaw unhinged into a big yawn, extending her front paws and sinking her chest down. She allowed a slow ripple to travel down her spine and her back peaked into a high-arch, ending in a tense extension of her hind legs.
"You woke her up." Nano pouted, gathering the small cat back up in her arms.
"Sorry, Pailin." Jane lowered herself to Pailin's level, brushing her thumb across her head. If Jane knew anything about Pailin, she knew that the feline would forgive almost everything as long as she followed up with head scratches.
Jane's gaze trailed up out of habit, and stopping once she met Nano's eyes. She felt like a fly stuck in a spider's web, enamored by Nano's beauty, and this time, their proximity was close… it felt familiar.
All too familiar.
The rhythm of Jane's heart grew frantic, pounding against her ribcage as if it were to burst from her chest at any second.
Jane held their eye-contact for a moment before her brown optics fell to the charming mole on Nano's nose, and finally down to the sharp bow of her pretty, plump lips, wondering if they were soft as they truly looked.
Oh, wait.
Jane could answer that.
Nano caught on quick, showing the barest of a smile. Her hand was idly stroking Pailin's fur, and the longer she stared at Jane with adoration, the greater her motions slowed until they reached a complete stop. Nano couldn't help her smile from reaching near to the apples of her cheeks,
"Jane," Nano was the first to break the deafening silence. "Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Jane blinked a few times, realization dawned on her face once she saw how close she had been to Nano. She quickly reeled herself back, her skin flushed pink, heat returning back to her cheeks like it never left. "Yeah- no, I'm good." She wasn't.
"Where were we..?" Jane's mind was now in a complete disarray, and now, she completely avoided Nano's eyes in fear of getting caught for staring for too long like a complete nutcase.
In reality, Nano found Jane too adorable for her own being. She reminded Nano of a golden retriever, occasionally clumsy and clueless, but her intentions are almost always pure in the end.
Months ago, Nano would squint and stare at Jane like she was actually unhinged. But now, with how much they've grown into each other's spaces, Nano finds herself staring at Jane for a second long enough to make her heart flutter even at littlest, most quietest of interactions between them.
Their study session continued without any flaws, Jane quizzed Nano and she would respond with the correct answer each and everytime without missing a beat. Jane was surprised, and impressed, she didn't pin someone like Nano to actually listen in French class.
"You know your stuff," Jane nodded, fully convinced that Nano knew more than she realized. "Let's try something harder then, how about something that's not on our quiz..?"
"Give me your best." Nano responded with a teasing smirk, while Pailin seemed less interested than ever, as she scrambled her way out of Nano's arms to explore the confines of her room.
Jane paused to think. She could do something foolish and embarrassing, but what other way would she confess to Nano that wasn't direct? She couldn't find the courage to tell her directly, so why not take her chances and confess while they were studying French?
"" Jane's breath hitched in her throat, the words spilt from her mouth so quick she nearly stumbled over her own words. "" Jane's shoulder sank, it dragged her collarbones down as the tension bled from her body, making her body look much smaller.
Jane couldn't bear it anymore, whether or not Nano truly understood what she was saying or not, she couldn't stand the weight of not telling Nano how she felt. It was suffocating her.
Those light brushes, the sneaky glimpses they snuck towards each other in class, they drove Jane mad by the day- then Jane's reminded of their passionate kiss at Nalin's house, it was a never-ending cycle.
Nano looked stunned, she froze in place and for a split second, Jane questioned every life-choice that she made up until this moment.
"You're fallling for me?" Nano's mouth suddenly widens into the most infectious grin Jane has ever seen. "Really?"
Jane felt her heart drop to the pit of her stomach.
Nano seemed to thrive in the growing tension that settled onto them like a shroud. She suddenly leaned forward, crawling on her hands and knees until her legs made contact with Jane's skin, brushing every so lightly against her.
Jane's brain short-circuited, unable to speak, she froze in place, mouth slightly parted open.
"Jane," Nano's voice was barely above a whisper, the space between them was practically non-existent at that point. Her hands caged Jane on both sides, she was close enough for the latter to take in her intoxicating scent again. "You're really cute, you know that?"
"M-me? Cute?" Jane pointed a finger at herself.
Nano hummed, "Yes, silly." She reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Jane's ear. Her eyes never leaving Jane's face, she carried a sense of adoration in her gaze. It was all too much for Jane to handle, but too gripping to avert her eyes somewhere else.
They sat there for what felt like hours by then, understanding each other behind their hued irises. Their reflections, though difficult to perceive, showed a glimpse of how they appeared towards each other.
Everything they did together led them to this moment, it was the physical manifestation of their feelings that they harbored in themselves, and now here they were, in Nano's room, with their faces mere inches apart.
Jane was the first to lean in for the kiss,
…and Nano met her half-way with her eyelids fluttering shut.
Jane's hand came to cup Nano's face delicately, thumb grazing her smooth jaw— and their mouths met with a pleasant softness. The whole world went quiet, Jane exhaled a sigh of relief as heat began to spread across her chest.
Nano's pulse began to hammer in her throat as she deliberately pressed her mouth against Jane's. It was all gentle at first, more a question rather an answer, then it began to deepen far like a secret passed from lips to lips. Jane kissed in away that felt strangely familiar, like this wasn't their first time.
Jane began to move with the hunger of a starved woman, with her fingers sliding to Nano's nape, entangling her digits in dark, brown hairs behind her head. "Nano.." She managed to breathe in between kisses.
Their tongues met in a tangling dance, deepening their passion into a intimate breathless exploration.
Nano, on the other hand, was completely in a love-filled haze. She pulled away from Jane temporarily, she hopped up and bracketed her legs over Jane's thighs, her arms wrapped around the latter's neck, holding her close as their bodies pressed against each other.
Jane let out a sigh, she wrapped her arms around Nano's neck. Her chin rested on Nano's chest, the wittiest, brightest smile shining the apples of her cheeks to a fuzzy, peach tint.
"Wait," Nano murmured. "I remember now." The memory jolted through the haze in Nano's head. The foggy pieces from that night suddenly fell in place.
Jane pulled back from Nano's chest, meeting her eyes with a tinge of confusion bleeding into her voice. "Huh? Remembered what?"
"What happened Nalin's house." Nano said calmly.
Jane's eyes just about popped out of her head. "You- you remember it now?" She sputtered, embarrassment taking over her features before Nano began leaning in close.
"I do," Nano exhaled softly, dipping her head down to press her nose against Jane's. "You're a good kisser."
Jane's entire face was burning a beet red.
Nano's greed revealed itself as she connected their lips together for another kiss. At this point, she was the one taking the lead, claiming Jane's mouth with an insatiable desire.
She nipped Jane's lower lip with her teeth, smoothing the stinging pain with her tongue.
"Jane, Jane, Jane…" Nano cooed as she caressed Jane's feather-like skin. She chanted her name like a mantra. Nano could speak of Jane's name over and over and could never get sick of it.
Jane tightened her hold around Nano as a reminder of how desperate she was to keep her close.
Was Jane nervous? Naturally, there wouldn’t be a world where Jane wouldn’t be nervous.
However, here, with Jane having Nano in her arms, staring at her like she held the a sea of stars in her eyes, was far, far much better than Jane could ever imagine.
"You like me a lot, right?" Nano asked cheekily, the answer was written in the flush of Jane's face already, but she wanted to get it from Jane herself.
"Yeah—" Jane answered, it almost sounded like a breathy sigh, barely a syllable.
"How much do you like me?" Nano pressed on, voice dropping to a tease.
"Looking at you, makes my heart beat in a way I can't explain," Jane began, her eyes diverted to somewhere else in the room. If she looked at Nano while speaking, she wouldn't be able to conjure up a proper thought. "I can't go about my day without thinking about you at least once."
"I never understood those feelings as much as I did, not until that night." Jane continued, catching the thin material of Nano's shirt in-between her fingers to fidget with.
"I like you, Nano. I like you so much."
Now, Jane was speaking confidently. Her hesitation dissipated entirely, and instead replaced with the absolute truth.
Nano didn't answer, instead, she pulled Jane into a tight embrace, letting her entire weight rested against her chest. She buried her nose in the crook of Jane's neck, from there, she heard first hand how Jane's heartbeat came to a steady, slow beat that thudded in her chest.
Jane melted in the hug her entire body felt like jelly, her frame was supported from Nano keeping her up right.
"I like you too, Jane." Nano muttered, her words were muffled from being submerged where Jane's neck met her shoulder, but they carried the weight of Jane's entire world, and that's all that mattered.
They remained in each other's arms, locked in each other's space while listening to the soft inhale and exhales that they released as their breathing fell to a perfect shared sync.
Pailin, who had grown tired of roaming Nano's room, now desired human attention. She sauntered over, tail flowing in a delicate curve and sat in front of Jane and Nano.
"Mrrrrow!" She let out a sound of frustration, as she no longer had the opportunity to sit in either one of their laps.