Special Chapter 1 Stay With Me Tonight
The house was quiet.
Too quiet.
Oom Eisaya stood in the middle of her room, staring at absolutely nothing while her brain tried—and failed—to process one very important fact:
Bam Saralee was in her house.
In her room.
Sitting on her bed.
Existing.
Calmly.
“…this is a mistake,” Oom whispered to herself.
Behind her, Bam spoke.
“You’ve said that three times.”
Oom turned slowly.
“…I’ve said it out loud?”
“Yes.”
“…I need to stop doing that.”
Bam tilted her head slightly, watching her with that soft, steady gaze that had become increasingly dangerous over the past few days.
“You’re nervous.”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
“I’m just—aware.”
“Of what?”
“Of everything.”
Bam’s lips curved faintly.
“That’s not helping your case.”
Oom exhaled sharply and dragged a hand through her hair before pacing once—twice—then stopping right in front of her.
“…you being here is different.”
“Different how?”
Oom gestured vaguely.
“This is not campus.”
“No.”
“This is not a club room.”
“No.”
“This is my room.”
“Yes.”
Oom pointed at the bed.
“You are on my bed.”
Bam glanced down briefly, then back at her.
“That’s where you told me to sit.”
“That was before I realized the implications.”
Bam hummed softly, clearly amused.
Oom groaned.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
“That’s evil.”
“That’s honest.”
Oom dropped onto the edge of the bed, keeping a very deliberate distance.
“…okay,” she muttered. “We’re fine. This is fine. Everything is fine.”
Bam didn’t respond immediately.
She just shifted slightly.
Closer.
Not enough to startle.
Just enough to matter.
Oom felt it instantly.
Her entire body went still.
“…you moved,” she said carefully.
“I did.”
“…why.”
Bam looked at her.
Not teasing.
Not playful.
Just—
Honest.
“I wanted to be closer.”
Oom’s breath caught.
Because that—
That was still something she wasn’t used to.
Bam saying things like that.
Openly.
Without hiding.
“…okay,” Oom said quietly.
Neither of them moved for a moment.
The space between them wasn’t large.
But it felt significant.
Charged.
Like something was building there.
Slowly.
Inevitably.
---
“Are you still scared?”
The question came softly.
Carefully.
Oom blinked.
“…yes.”
Bam nodded.
“Me too.”
Oom turned to her.
“…really?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t look scared.”
“I’m better at hiding it.”
“That tracks.”
Bam’s gaze softened slightly.
“But I’m not hiding it from you.”
Oom’s chest tightened.
“…good.”
Silence settled again.
But it wasn’t awkward.
It wasn’t heavy.
It was—
Anticipation.
---
Oom shifted slightly.
Closer.
Without fully realizing it.
Bam noticed.
Of course she did.
Her hand moved.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Resting lightly against Oom’s wrist.
Not grabbing.
Not pulling.
Just—
There.
Oom’s breath hitched.
“…you’re touching me.”
“Yes.”
“…on purpose.”
“Yes.”
“…I’m going to pass out.”
“You won’t.”
“I might.”
Bam’s thumb moved slightly.
A small, absent motion against her skin.
Oom stopped breathing for a second.
“…that’s unfair.”
“What is?”
“That.”
Bam tilted her head.
“I’m just holding your wrist.”
“You’re doing it in a way that feels like a threat.”
Bam let out a soft breath that almost sounded like a laugh.
“You’re dramatic.”
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“That’s fair.”
---
The distance closed slowly.
Naturally.
Like neither of them were forcing it.
Like neither of them needed to.
Oom turned slightly toward her.
Bam mirrored the movement.
Their knees brushed.
Then stayed.
Neither pulling away.
Neither pretending it didn’t happen.
“…we’re really doing this,” Oom whispered.
“Yes.”
“…like, actually.”
“Yes.”
Oom swallowed.
“…okay.”
Bam’s hand slid from her wrist to her hand.
Fingers intertwining.
Warm.
Steady.
Intentional.
Oom looked down at it.
Then back up at her.
“…this still feels unreal.”
“It’s not.”
“I know.”
“Then trust it.”
Oom exhaled slowly.
“…I’m trying.”
“That’s enough.”
---
The first kiss didn’t happen immediately.
And that—
That mattered.
Because this wasn’t rushed.
This wasn’t accidental.
This wasn’t something they were falling into without thinking.
This was—
Chosen.
Oom leaned in first this time.
Slow.
Careful.
Giving Bam time to stop her.
To hesitate.
To change her mind.
But Bam didn’t.
She stayed.
She watched.
And when Oom paused—
Just slightly—
Bam closed the distance.
Their lips met.
Soft.
Warm.
Real.
Oom’s hand tightened instinctively in Bam’s, grounding herself as her heart started racing again.
But this time—
It wasn’t panic.
It was something else.
Something deeper.
Something steadier.
Bam’s other hand lifted.
Resting lightly at Oom’s waist.
Not pulling.
Just holding.
Like she was making sure she stayed.
Like she was choosing to stay.
The kiss deepened slowly.
Not rushed.
Not overwhelming.
Just—
Intentional.
Oom exhaled softly, her free hand moving almost without thinking, resting against Bam’s shoulder.
Then higher.
Fingers brushing lightly against the back of her neck.
Bam’s breath hitched.
Just slightly.
But Oom felt it.
And that—
That made her pause.
Pull back just enough to look at her.
“…are you okay?”
Bam nodded.
“Yes.”
“Too much?”
“No.”
“Tell me if it is.”
“I will.”
Oom studied her for a second longer.
Then nodded.
“…okay.”
---
This time, when they leaned in again—
There was less hesitation.
Less uncertainty.
Bam’s hand at her waist tightened slightly.
Pulling her closer.
Closing the remaining space between them.
Oom shifted instinctively, her body aligning with Bam’s, her heartbeat loud in her ears.
Everything felt—
Closer.
Warmer.
More real.
Her fingers curled slightly at the back of Bam’s neck, holding her there—not forcefully, just enough to say stay.
Bam responded immediately.
Her movements more certain now.
More confident.
But still careful.
Still aware.
Still—
Soft.
When they finally pulled apart again, it wasn’t abrupt.
It was slow.
Reluctant.
Like neither of them wanted to be the first to break it.
Oom rested her forehead against Bam’s.
Her breathing uneven.
“…I’m still scared,” she admitted quietly.
Bam didn’t pull away.
“Me too.”
“But I don’t want to stop.”
Bam’s grip tightened slightly.
“…then we won’t.”
Oom let out a soft breath.
“…okay.”
---
They stayed like that for a while.
Close.
Quiet.
Holding onto each other like this moment—
This space—
Was something fragile and important.
Because it was.
And for the first time—
There was no running.
No hiding.
No pretending.
Just—
Them.
Together.
Choosing it.
---
Later, when Oom shifted slightly, leaning into Bam more comfortably, her head resting lightly against her shoulder, she let out a quiet sigh.
“…so this is what it feels like.”
“What?”
“…not overthinking everything.”
Bam’s hand moved gently against her arm.
“Do you like it?”
Oom smiled faintly.
“…I really do.”
Silence.
Soft.
Peaceful.
Then—
Oom tilted her head slightly, glancing up at her.
“…stay tonight.”
Bam didn’t hesitate.
“…okay.”
And this time—
There were no conditions.
No fear strong enough to stop them.
Just—
A choice.
To stay.