New life(Rioxcelia)
A New Beginning
The warm glow of the setting sun bathed the quiet village in golden light. Rio stood on the wooden balcony of his home, gazing at the endless fields stretching beyond the horizon. A soft breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, rustling the leaves of the nearby trees. This place—his village—was peaceful, safe, and far removed from the turmoil of the outside world.
From inside the house, laughter rang out, breaking his thoughts.
“Rio, come on!” Latifa’s excited voice called. “You promised to help me make dinner tonight!”
Rio smiled as he turned, stepping into the cozy warmth of his home. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the wooden walls, casting long shadows that danced gently. Near the hearth, Celia stood by the small wooden table, gracefully slicing vegetables with practiced ease. Her silver hair shimmered under the flickering light, and when she looked up, her violet eyes met his.
“You’re late,” she teased, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “I was beginning to think Latifa would have to cook alone.”
Latifa pouted, her fox-like ears twitching. “I can cook just fine!” She crossed her arms but quickly softened, tugging at Rio’s sleeve. “But I still want you to help!”
Rio sighed in playful defeat. “Fine, but no complaints if it turns out terrible.”
Celia chuckled. “As long as you don’t set the kitchen on fire, I think we’ll be fine.”
They worked together, the kitchen filling with the comforting aroma of simmering soup and fresh herbs. Latifa hummed a tune as she stirred the pot, occasionally sneaking bites of the ingredients when she thought Rio wasn’t looking. Celia, ever the perfectionist, corrected Rio’s knife skills, guiding his hands gently when he fumbled with the finer cuts.
Time passed in peaceful harmony, the warmth of family surrounding them.
As the night deepened and dinner was finally served, Latifa eagerly dug in, her tail swaying with delight.
“This is so good!” she exclaimed between bites. “We should do this more often!”
Celia smiled. “Agreed. It’s nice to cook together like this.”
Rio watched them, a quiet contentment settling in his chest. He had spent so long searching for a place to belong, and now, here it was—right in front of him.
Later, after Latifa had dozed off in a chair, her ears twitching as she mumbled in her sleep, Rio and Celia found themselves alone on the balcony once more. The sky stretched above them, painted with countless stars, their light twinkling like scattered diamonds.
Celia leaned against the railing, her arms folded as she gazed at the horizon. “This feels… nice,” she murmured.
Rio turned to her. “It does.”
Silence settled between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that spoke of understanding, of companionship that didn’t need words.
After a moment, Rio hesitated, then gently reached for Celia’s hand. She blinked, surprised, but didn’t pull away. Instead, she laced her fingers through his, her grip warm and steady.
“I never imagined I’d have something like this,” Rio admitted. “A place to call home. People I truly care about.”
Celia turned to face him, her cheeks tinged with a soft pink. “You deserve happiness, Rio. And I…” She bit her lip, gathering her courage. “I want to be part of that happiness.”
Rio felt something inside him shift—an unspoken promise taking root. He gave her hand a small squeeze. “You already are.”
Celia’s eyes widened slightly before a radiant smile spread across her face. She leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes as she listened to the steady Sure! Here’s an extended version with even more romance, deepening Rio and Celia’s emotions as they share a heartfelt moment under the stars.
Later~~~
The evening air was cool, carrying the soft rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. Celia and Rio stood side by side on the balcony, bathed in the silver glow of the moon. The village was quiet now, with Latifa fast asleep inside, leaving only the two of them wrapped in the tranquil embrace of the night.
Celia exhaled softly, gazing up at the sky. “The stars are beautiful tonight,” she murmured.
Rio followed her gaze, but instead of the stars, his eyes lingered on her—on the way her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, on the way her violet eyes reflected the night sky as though holding galaxies within them.
“They are,” he agreed, though he wasn’t looking at the sky at all.
Celia turned slightly, catching his lingering stare. A soft blush dusted her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she smiled, a quiet warmth in her expression. “You always do that,” she said softly.
“Do what?”
“Look at me like that… like I’m something precious.”
Rio hesitated for a moment before answering, his voice steady. “That’s because you are.”
Celia’s breath hitched slightly, her fingers tightening around the wooden railing. The words settled between them, weighty yet comforting, like something that had always been there—unspoken but understood.
For so long, she had been the noble daughter of a high-ranking family, expected to fulfill duties, to marry for political alliances. Her life had never truly been her own. But with Rio… she was simply Celia. She was the girl who had always wanted to be by his side.
Slowly, she turned to face him fully, stepping closer until there was barely any space between them. “Rio,” she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of unspoken feelings.
Rio lifted a hand, hesitating for a brief moment before gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His fingertips lingered against her cheek, and Celia instinctively leaned into his touch, her eyes half-lidded as if savoring the warmth of his palm.
“You’re always putting others before yourself,” Celia continued, her voice barely above a whisper. “But for once, I want to be the one who takes care of you. I want to be the one who makes you smile… the way you make me smile.”
Rio felt his chest tighten at her words. He had spent so long fighting, running, surviving. He had never dared to dream of happiness, not truly. But here she was, offering it to him—offering herself, not out of obligation or expectation, but because she wanted to.
Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force, he leaned down. Celia’s breath hitched, her lips parting slightly in anticipation. Their noses brushed, the warmth of their breaths mingling, hearts pounding in sync.
“Are you sure?” Rio murmured, his voice low and husky.
Celia smiled, her fingers gently curling around the fabric of his shirt as she whispered, “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
That was all the confirmation Rio needed. Closing the last inch between them, he pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was slow, gentle—almost hesitant at first, as if both of them were afraid the moment might shatter like a fragile dream. But as Celia melted into him, her hands sliding up to rest against his chest, Rio deepened the kiss, pouring every unspoken word, every repressed emotion into it.
Celia sighed softly against his lips, her fingers clutching at his shirt as if afraid to let go. Rio’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her close, feeling the warmth of her body against his. In that moment beat of his heart.
And under the endless sky, with the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, a new chapter of their lives quietly began.