Iris tossed and turned for hours, unable to sleep. The knowledge of being in a foreign bed, moreover being right next door to Ben, made her nervous, excited, and generally unable to sleep. Checking her phone for the umpteenth time, she saw that it was only 2am. She groaned mentally, knowing she couldn't possibly sleep like this. Sitting up in bed, she glanced out the window. Thinking for a moment, she got out of bed to touch the window pane. It didn't seem that cold, only a mild chill. She put her thick cardigan back on, slipped her feet into a pair of ballet flats she'd left inside her overnight bag, and opened the door, poking her head out silently. Hearing nothing but the silence of a sleeping household, she tiptoed down the hallway and over to the front door. Unlocking and easing the door open, she tiptoed onto the porch before closing the door behind her.

She walked up to the balcony-like fence on the edge of the porch and leaned her elbows on it, gazing at the scenery. Since it was 2am, whatever scenery there was had a thick blanket of darkness covering it, but she could see the outlines of the trees from the porch lights, as well as the bright full moon and winking stars above her. She turned her face up and took a deep breath, taking in the crisp cool air. It was invigorating, chasing away any remnants of sleep, not that Iris had any sleepiness to begin with. She spent her time enjoying the nighttime air and contemplating the events of the day, a beautiful full moon serving as scenery as she did so. It had been quite a day, one that she never thought she would ever experience. Remembering the nervous 20 year old Iris always finding ways to hang out with Ben in college, she smiled to herself.

"If only 20 year old me could see 25 year old me," she thought, imagining how shocked her younger self would've been. She was a planner, always had been. Something like this was never something she would have done without at least 2 plans, 2 backup plans, 2 escape plans, and 3-5 business days of contemplation. As she thought about how spontaneity might not be a bad thing, she heard the sound of the door opening. Surprised, she turned around. It was Ben. He had changed out of his day clothes and was wearing a very simple navy blue T-shirt with their university name on it, gray jogger pants, and a gray hoodie zipped halfway up.

"Hey, Iris."

"Ben! I'm sorry, did I wake you?" Iris asked, concerned.

"Nah. I was already awake. I thought I heard your door closing, and I couldn't sleep, so I figured you might be out here," Ben replied. "Or did you want to be alone?"

Iris shook her head quickly. "No, I don't want to be alone, you're welcome to join me," she said.

Ben grinned, walking over to her and joining her at the railing. He mirrored her stance and leaned his elbows on the wood, gazing out into the tree line and the starry sky. Iris glanced at him, mesmerized at how the full moon and porch lights lit up his side profile, accentuating his sharp jawline that sported the tiniest hint of scruff. Ben caught her staring, and smiled as he watched her quickly turn her head as if she was looking at something else all along. He also gazed at her, a soft smile on his face as he took in her shy expression, perfectly sculpted full lips, and wide beautiful eyes that glimmered under the moonlight and always distracted him when he saw her.

As Ben stared at her, Iris self-consciously touched her face. "Um, is there something on my face?"

Blinking as though he had been lost in thought, Ben blinked. "Ah, no. Not at all, you look great," he stammered.

Iris nodded, turning her burning face away as she gazed at the moon. Ben cleared his throat.

"So you couldn't sleep? Why's that?" he asked.

"Oh...nothing big, just y'know...one of those nights where my brain just won't shut up," Iris said with a nervous chuckle.

Ben laughed with her. "Yeah, I get that. Same here, I just kept thinkin' about today, or technically yesterday."

Iris looked up in surprise. "Really? What about today kept you up?" she asked, curious and hopeful.

Ben paused, thinking about how to reply. "Well, it was a big day, what with the holiday and all. But I couldn't help thinking about...you," he said shyly.

"Me? Why?" Iris asked softly.

Ben sighed. He had so many things he wanted to tell her, and yet he couldn't seem to figure out how to begin. He thought for a moment and decided to just be upfront. He spotted the porch swing in the corner.

"Wanna sit over there?" he asked clumsily, pointing at the cozy porch swing.

Puzzled at the sudden change in direction, Iris glanced at him. He looked shy, hesitant, and yet somehow also determined. Deciding to just go with it, she nodded. Following him to the bench that was suspended by chains from the ceiling of the front porch, she sat down on the porch swing next to Ben. It was a cozy bench for two, so she found herself unintentionally squeezed in next to him, their sides touching ever so slightly.

"To answer your question, I was thinkin' about how much I enjoyed havin' you around," Ben continued. "I'm glad I decided to invite you over. Watching how you charmed my family really made me happy, and I enjoyed every moment you and I spent together, especially the times we were alone, just the two of us chatting, like right now."

Iris felt her face burning again, her heart rate rising with the heat of her face. She was afraid of reading into his words, she knew she shouldn't, and yet here Ben was saying things that set her heart aflutter.

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you liked me," she said half-jokingly, her heart thumping madly as if begging Ben to refute it.

Ben was silent for a moment, looking down at his hands. "That's...what I'm sayin', yes. I do like you, I just didn't want to admit it to myself but I realized that I can't deny it and I won't, not anymore."

Iris' heart soared and she inhaled sharply. She didn't dare look at his face, as she wasn't even sure what her own expression was. She looked at the moon, suddenly unable to sit still. She quickly got up and walked to the railing, her heart a roiling mess of emotion. Ben followed her, concern etched across his face.

"I'm- I'm sorry if I surprised you, and if you don't feel the same, I get it. I just...I wanted to tell you," Ben began to say, his voice tinged with disappointment.

Iris turned sharply to him. He looked somewhat apprehensive and sad. Her heart reached for him even as her mind struggled to form words. She shook her head vehemently.

"No, no I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you think that way. I was just surprised." She reached out and gently touched his hand, clasping it as he looked up in surprise and hope. "I...also feel the same, I have for years," she said shyly, heartbeat rushing in her ears.

Ben blinked slowly, processing her words before he finally broke into a devastating grin. "You...really? You too?"

"Yeah," Iris said breathily, a smile on her own face. "Even back in college."

Ben laughed delightedly, immediately taking Iris in his arms and embracing her tightly. "I can't believe it," he said, his voice muffled by her shoulder.

Iris herself was still not even sure this was real, not until she felt his arms around her. She smiled wider, burrowing her face into his chest to hide her burning cheeks and watery eyes. It had been so long. She had wanted this for so long, and just when she thought that possibility would pass her by, here she was, finding out that her college crush liked her back. She wasn't sure how long they stayed wrapped together, but she felt that it was too short. Pulling away slightly, Ben gazed in her eyes, a soft smile on his face as his arms settled around her waist.

"I'm really, really grateful," he said. "I was worried it was one sided on my part. I couldn't get you outta my mind even after we graduated and lost touch. I tried to move on, but I couldn't. So when I saw you that day in the store, I just couldn't help myself. And I'm glad I did," he said in mild wonder.

Iris laughed softly, her arms resting around his neck. "I also thought it was one sided on my part because you were nice to everyone in college, and I didn't want to overthink it whenever I was near you."

Ben stroked her cheek gently. "Maybe so, but you were the only one I looked forward to seeing every time we had a class together. Even just talking to you took effort to make sure I didn't get tongue-tied," he said sheepishly.

Iris ducked her head into the crook of his neck, overwhelmed by the moment. He tightly embraced her again, their bodies one in the shadow cast by the moonlight. Pulling away every so slightly, they gazed silently at one another, unable to deny the now obvious attraction. As if pulled by invisible magnets, their faces inched closer and closer, angling slightly as their lips met in the softest of kisses. Ben turned his head and deepened the kiss, their lips melding together like they were made for each other. They each smiled through the kiss, eyes closed in bliss as they poured their long-hidden affection into it. When they came up for air, they stared at each other, eyes glittering with joy.

Ben led Iris back toward the porch swing, this time by the hand. Sitting down, he pulled Iris onto his lap, swinging her around so that her legs rested in the space between his legs and the arm of the bench.

"Is this okay?" He asked softly, his face inches from hers.

She nodded, and leaned in to kiss him again. They kissed languidly this time, savoring the moment. Iris' hands came up to tangle in Ben's soft hair as his hands gently roved up and down her back, the warmth of his hands keeping the cool night air at bay.

"I can't believe we missed 5 years," Ben said wistfully after they reluctantly broke apart.

Iris gently kissed his cheek. "True, but at least we're here now." We had another chance." She paused, pensive. "Y'know, this reminds me of a proverb in my language. 'Sɛ wɔ werɛ fi na wɔ san kɔ fa a yenkyi.' It basically translates to 'It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten'. Sounds a little like us, doesn't it?"

Ben looked at her with admiration. "You're right, it does sound like us. Goin' back and remembering the past is what got us here, together at last." He gathered her back into his warm and sure embrace. She laid her head on his shoulder, and he gently laid his head on hers as they enjoyed the moon's glow and the blanket of stars above them.

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