Vedh & Tara's Trip
Vedh and Tara parked their rental car and started walking toward the lodge.
The night had settled in quietly.
Cool air.
Dim streetlights.
Everything slower than before.
Tara walked beside him in her heels, glancing at him now and then.
Then—
she subtly straightened,
lifting her chin a little higher,
trying to match his height.
At least close, she thought.
But—
not even close.
Her lips pressed into a small pout.
Without saying a word, she stepped up onto the footpath.
The slight height helped.
A little.
She raised her hand over her head… then subtly over his, comparing.
Still walking.
Still pretending like she wasn't doing anything.
Vedh was just a step ahead.
Close enough.
Enough for her to measure.
Tara tilted her head, adjusting again—
Almost…
With the heels and the footpath—
She finally looked somewhat close to his height.
A small giggle slipped out.
Victory.
She quickly looked away, acting normal again.
Like nothing happened.
Like she hadn't just conducted a full height investigation.
Vedh slowed down slightly.
Didn't turn.
Didn't stop.
But a quiet laugh escaped him.
"You're still shorter than me."
Tara froze.
Her eyes widened. "You saw that?"
Vedh finally glanced at her, one eyebrow raised.
"I didn't have to see." That smug tone.
She scoffed immediately. "I was not checking your height."
"Hmm."
Again.
That hmm. "I just felt bad for you," he added casually. "Thought I should let you have your moment."
Tara stared at him in disbelief. "Excuse me?!"
Vedh smirked, continuing to walk ahead like he hadn't just started a war.
And just like that—
The quiet night filled with something lighter again.
A soft breeze passed.
Then—
A drop.
Tara paused.
Another.
"…No way," she muttered.
Within seconds—
The drizzle didn't last long—it turned into cold, relentless rain.
"Oh my god—RUN!" Tara exclaimed.
Too late.
They were already getting soaked.
"Wait—" Tara quickly bent down, slipping off her heels in a hurry.
Before she could even react—
Vedh held out his shoes.
"Wear these."
"No time—" she started—
"Just do it," he cut in.
She didn't argue.
Quickly sliding into his shoes—
Way too big.
But better than nothing.
Vedh grabbed her heels without a second thought.
"Now run."
And just like that, they ran.
Slipping slightly on the wet road.
Rain pouring down, drenching them completely within seconds.
Tara struggled to keep up in his oversized shoes—
"Vedh—I can't run in these!"
"Okay," he said, slowing down. "Then we'll just get drenched together."
He winked mischievously.
"Shut up," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
They rushed forward, half-running, half-laughing, completely soaked.
By the time the lodge came into view—
They were drenched.
Hair sticking to their faces.
Clothes clinging.`
Breath uneven.
They finally slowed down near the entrance.
Tara bent slightly, catching her breath.
"This is your fault," she said between breaths.
Vedh looked at her—
Then laughed.
"You were the one checking height mid-road."
She glared at him.
And just like that—
They stepped into the lodge.
Soaked.
Breathless.
And somehow—
Neither of them wanted the night to end.
Somewhere nearby, from another room—
soft music drifted through the hallway.
Slow.
Romantic.
Blending with the sound of rain and the cool night breeze.
Vedh ran a hand through his wet hair, glancing at her.
"You're going to catch a cold," he muttered.
Before she could respond—
he had already pulled out his phone.
A few minutes later, hot soup and medicine were on the way—just in case.Tara noticed, but didn't say anything.She just watched him a second longer than she should have.
Both of them stood there—
drenched.
Clothes clinging.
Hair dripping.
The air between them—
strangely warm despite the cold.
Something unspoken lingered.
Quiet.
Soft.
Dangerous.
Tara broke it first.
"I'll just… dry my hair," she said quickly.
And before the moment could stretch any further—
she turned and walked toward the balcony.
The rain was lighter now.
Just a soft drizzle.
She ran her fingers through her damp hair.
a towel in her hands, gently drying her hair.
The breeze was cool… brushing past her, playing with the loose strands of her damp hair.
Inside—
Vedh stood in the hall.
Trying to act normal.
Looking around.
Anywhere but at her.
Because every time his eyes landed on her—
they stayed a second too long.
And he knew it.
She wasn't doing anything special.
Just standing there. Lost in her own world.
And somehow—
that made her look even more beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Vedh exhaled slowly.
Then—
without really thinking—
his feet started moving.
Toward the balcony.
Toward her.
In the background—
the music from the neighboring room grew louder
Soft.
Romantic.
Almost too perfect for the moment.
Tara didn't notice him at first.
Still drying her hair.
Still facing away.
Until—
his presence was right behind her.
Close.
Too close.
She turned—
And before she could fully react—
his hand found hers.
He gently turned her toward him.
Her breath hitched.
For a second—
neither of them spoke.
He lifted her hand slowly—
placing it against his waist.
Not forcing.
Not rushing.
Just… guiding.
His hands rested on her waist—
firm.
But gentle.
His eyes locked onto hers.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
And Tara—
felt her heartbeat spiral out of control.
She was shocked.
Speechless.
This wasn't expected.
But…
she didn't pull away.
Didn't want to.
Her fingers tightened against his shirt, frozen there, like she didn't even realize she hadn't let go.
Vedh's gaze softened—
just a little.
His hand shifted—
brushing a few damp strands of her hair behind her ear.
Slow.
Careful.
Like he was afraid of breaking the moment.
"You have no idea," he murmured, his voice low, "what you've done to me."
Her breath caught.
For a moment, everything else faded.
Just him.
Just her.
He leaned in slowly—
giving her time.
A chance to stop him.
But she didn't.
Tara's eyes fluttered shut.
Nervous.
But not pulling away.
He moved closer.
Close enough to feel her breath.
A pause.
Then—
their lips met.
Soft.
Careful.
Like neither of them wanted to rush it.
Tara's breath hitched slightly.
Her fingers tightened hard around his shirt this time.
Vedh didn't move much—
Letting the moment settle.
Letting it feel real.
A second longer—
then another.
Then, out of nowhere, a loud crack of thunder echoed through the sky.
Tara flinched slightly at the sudden sound, her fingers instinctively tightening. Without even thinking, she moved a little closer to him.
And that small moment—
that sudden closeness—
only pulled them deeper into the kiss.
It wasn't careful anymore.
It wasn't hesitant anymore.
They could feel each other's warmth, the cold from the rain slowly fading between them.
For a few seconds, nothing else existed.
Just them.
Just that moment.
Until—
a knock on the door.
"Room service, sir."
The voice broke through the silence.
And just like that—
they both froze.
Still close.
Too close.
Reality hit almost instantly.
Tara pulled back first, her eyes widening slightly as she looked away.
Vedh stood there for a second, processing what just happened.
"What… are we doing?" the thought hit both of them at the same time.
A quiet awkwardness filled the space.
Vedh cleared his throat, running a hand through his damp hair.
"I'll get it," he said, a little too quickly.
And without waiting—
he turned and walked toward the door.
Vedh opened the door, took the tray quietly, and thanked the staff before closing it.
For a second—
he just stood there.
Then he turned.
Tara was behind him.
Not wanting to just stand there awkwardly—
she stepped forward to help.
She picked up a few items from the tray, placing them carefully on the table.
Keeping herself busy.
Keeping her eyes away from him.
Vedh walked in too, setting the rest down.
Both of them avoiding each other completely.
Not a single glance.
Not a word.
Just silence.
He reached for one of the bowls.
At the same time—
Tara reached for it too.
And—
thud.
Their heads bumped lightly.
"Ah—"
They both stepped back instantly.
"Sorry," they said at the same time.
A pause.
Still not looking at each other.
Tara tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to act normal.
Vedh rubbed the back of his neck, letting out a small, awkward breath.
"Careful," he muttered.
"Yeah… you too," she replied quickly.
Another pause.
Vedh rubbed the back of his neck, still not looking at her.
"Uh… I'll just go to my room," he muttered.
Tara nodded quickly. "Okay… but take your food—"
He didn't listen.
He was already halfway to the door.
"Vedh—"
Too late.
He opened it and walked out fast.
"Shit… shit… shit—" he mumbled under his breath.
Then louder—
"Shittt."
The door shut behind him.
Tara stood there for a second.
Then—
facepalmed.
Hard.
"Oh my god… Tara, WHAT was that?!" she whisper-yelled, pacing a step back. "You just— you just— kissed him?? Like THAT??"
She covered her face.
"No no no no— what is wrong with you?!"
A frustrated groan escaped her.
"Ahhh—"
She lightly smacked her own forehead.
Then again.
"Stop it. Stop thinking."
She turned in a small circle—
then marched straight to the mirror.
Stopped.
Looked at herself.
And froze.
Messy hair.
Wet strands clinging to her face.
Cheeks completely flushed.
Lips still slightly parted.
"…oh."
A pause.
Then—
"Oh."
Her eyes widened.
"OH."
She immediately covered her mouth.
"Why do I look like that??"
She leaned closer to the mirror, squinting at herself.
Then quickly fixed her hair, pushing it back, tucking strands behind her ear—
then stopped mid-way.
"…wait."
She tilted her head slightly.
"…I actually look good."
A tiny smile slipped out.
She tried to suppress it.
Failed.
"Okay… calm down," she muttered, pressing her lips together.
Didn't work.
The smile came back.
Bigger.
She grabbed a pillow from the bed—
hugging it tightly.
Squeezing it.
Hard.
Then buried her face into it.
"Mmmmm—"
A muffled, embarrassed scream.
She flopped back onto the bed dramatically—
still clutching the pillow like her life depended on it.
Kicking her feet slightly.
Then after a second—
she peeked out.
Face still red.
Eyes soft.
Smile still there.
And yeah—
still blushing.
Meanwhile—Vedh shut the door behind him—
and for one second—
he stood still.
Then—
he snapped.
"Oh no—"
He ran a hand through his hair.
"Oh no no no—"
He started pacing.
Fast.
"What just happened—what just—"
He stopped in the middle of the room.
Turned.
"IT HAPPENED."
He dragged both hands down his face.
"Shit—"
Then suddenly—
he pulled his shirt off.
Like it was personally responsible.
"Why did that happen?!" he muttered, throwing it aside.
He grabbed a towel, roughly drying his hair—messing it up as he replayed everything that had just happened.
then just…
stopped.
"…I kissed her."
Silence.
A beat.
Then—
he let out a disbelieving laugh.
"I actually kissed her."
He looked around the empty room like someone was going to confirm it.
No one.
Of course.
Then—
he pointed at absolutely nothing.
"She didn't stop me."
That thought hit him hard.
He froze.
Then slowly—
a grin spread across his face.
"wait…she actually didn't stop me for real." And yeah—thanks to the perfectly timed thunder.
"AHHHHH—"He ran a hand through his hair, laughing in disbelief.
And that was it.
He's Gone.
Completely gone.
Vedh grabbed the towel, threw it over his shoulder—
then spun it once in his hand like an idiot.
"Okay—okay—calm down," he told himself.
Didn't work.
He started pacing again.
Then randomly—
did a small, stupid step.
Then another.
"wohooo—"
Another step.
He ran both hands through his hair again, laughing under his breath.
"Unbelievable."
He shook his head—
still smiling.
Still processing.
Still completely gone. And somehow—he knew nothing was going to feel the same after this.
And maybe that was the problem—it was their last night…and things had just started to feel different.