<h4>Chapter 736: For whom I’m the first love</h4>


    A few people in the café had noticed the sudden moment between them. Soft cheers and yful ps rose from nearby tables, some customers smiling warmly at the scene they had just witnessed.


    Karmen and Aisha both pulled back slightly, a little embarrassed but clearly happy.


    "Thank you," Aisha said with a shy smile, nodding toward the people who had cheered for them.


    Karmen chuckled nervously and gave a small wave of appreciation before he returned to his seat across from her.


    Once they settled back down, the excitement of the moment still lingered between them.


    Karmen picked up his fork, but his hand trembled slightly. His heart was still racing from the rush of emotions. For a second he simply stared at the slice of cheesecake in front of him, unable to focus.


    Aisha noticed immediately. A small amused smile curved on her lips.


    "Looks like someone’s too excited to even eat," she teased softly.


    Before he could respond, she picked up her spoon, scooped a small bite of cheesecake, and leaned slightly forward across the table.


    "Here," she said gently, holding the spoon toward him. "Eat this."


    Karmen leaned forward and obediently opened his mouth, taking the bite of cheesecake from the spoon she held out. The sweetness barely registered on his tongue because his mind was still overwhelmed by everything that had just happened.


    Aisha didn’t withdraw her hand immediately. Instead, she gently took hold of his other hand.


    "You’re shivering," she said softly, noticing the slight tremor in his fingers. Her eyes held a yful curiosity. "Did my confession affect you that much?"


    Karmen nodded honestly.


    "I thought it would take a long time for you to open your heart to me," he admitted. A smile formed on his lips as he looked at her. "Right now... it still feels like a dream."


    Aisha’s expression softened.


    Karmen finally managed to steady himself enough to continue eating his cheesecake, and Aisha returned to her own dessert. The atmosphere between them felt lighter now, filled with warmth and an unspoken happiness neither of them tried to hide.


    After finishing their food and drinks, they left the café together.


    The streetlights had already begun to glow, casting a soft golden light along the pavement.


    Karmen nced at her and spoke in a gentle tone.


    "I’ll drop you home."


    But Aisha shook her head slightly and looked down the quiet street.


    "Shall we take a small walk?" she suggested. "If you’re not too tired... or if you’re not in a hurry to go home."


    "No, I’m not tired," Karmen replied.


    Without hesitation, he reached for her hand. Aisha let him take it, her fingers naturallycing with his as they began walking down the quiet street together.


    For a few moments, neither of them spoke, simply enjoying the calmness of the night and thefort of each other’s presence.


    Then Karmen broke the silence.


    "The first time I ever noticed you," he said thoughtfully, "we were both sixteen."


    Aisha nced up at him, curious.


    "It was during the yearly house battle championship," he continued. "You won the debatepetition that year."


    A faint smile appeared on his face as the memory resurfaced.


    "You stood on the stage holding the trophy while everyone was pping for you."


    Aisha turned her head toward him, slightly surprised that he remembered it so clearly.


    "That was also the time people said you and Joshua were dating," Karmen added.


    Aisha immediately shook her head.


    "No," she said firmly. "Joshua hadn’t even asked me out at that time."


    Karmen frowned slightly.


    "But the rumors were everywhere. People said the two of you were together."


    Aisha sighed lightly.


    "That wasn’t true," she exined. "Joshua only asked me out after the championship ended. Before that, we were just friends."


    She continued walking beside him as she spoke.


    "He had really good grades in school and used to help me with my studies sometimes."


    Karmen suddenly stopped walking.


    "What?" he said in disbelief.


    Aisha turned to look at him, puzzled by his reaction.


    Karmen stared at her for a moment before letting out a small, helplessugh.


    "Aisha... I never asked you out back then because I thought you and Joshua were already together. I... I thought I wouldn’t even get a chance to talk to you," Karmen said, his voice turning unsteady. "You always seemed surrounded by people, and I convinced myself I had no ce stepping in."


    He swallowed hard before continuing.


    "And when we entered college... you were already with Joshua. After that, I felt like I couldn’t ask you anything anymore."


    His words stumbled over each other as the old regret surfaced.


    "I made a mistake," he added quietly. "If I had just asked you back then—"


    He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes blinked rapidly as if trying to push away the wave of emotion rising inside him.


    Aisha gently squeezed his hand.


    "Karmen," she said softly, "it’s alright. You don’t need to feel bad for me anymore. I don’t like seeing you think that way."


    Karmen shook his head immediately.


    "I’m not feeling bad for you," he whispered. "And I’m sorry if it came across like that."


    They resumed walking slowly along the sidewalk, their hands still linked.


    Aisha looked ahead for a moment before speaking again.


    "We’re together now," she said calmly. Her voice carried a quiet eptance of the past. "Maybe life wanted me to go through that phase," she continued. "Maybe it was something I needed to experience before meeting you."


    Then she smiled at him.


    "Eventually, I met you... the person for whom I’m the first love."


    Karmen nodded slowly, his gaze steady on hers.


    "Yes," he admitted quietly. "You are my first love."


    The words had barely settled between them when Aisha suddenly leaned forward and kissed him.


    The unexpected gesture made Karmen’s breath hitch.


    For a brief moment he stoodpletely still, surprised by her boldness. When she pulled back, her eyes remained fixed on his.


    "We didn’t kiss properly earlier," she murmured softly.


    Karmen felt a small smile tug at his lips.


    "Then we should fix that now," he replied.


    He gently leaned closer, his hand moving to the back of her head as he drew her toward him. This time their kiss was slower and more certain, no longer rushed by excitement or surrounded by curious onlookers.


    His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer as they kissed like there was no tomorrow.


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