Morning sunlight shone into the room. Gwen opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling, dazed for a few seconds.
She hadn't gone out last night.
She had planned to stake out the road her dad took to work, but Peter sent a message saying he had hacked into several black market forums and found no signs of Rhino's activity for the time being. Plus, George's schedule for today had changed—there was a last-minute meeting, so he wouldn't be taking that secluded route.
So, she decided to take a night off.
Being on edge for several days in a row had left her genuinely tired.
Gwen rolled over and reached for her phone to take a look.
There was a message from Peter, sent at one in the morning:
"There's a meteor shower tomorrow night. Want to go watch it together?"
Gwen paused for a moment, then smiled.
This guy, not sleeping in the middle of the night, and he was studying astronomy?
She replied with one word:
"Okay."
It was almost an instant reply.
"Really?! Then I'll pick a spot!"
Gwen looked at the exclamation mark and laughed out loud.
She could imagine what Peter looked like when he received the reply—he must have jumped out of bed, then blushed, and tried hard to pretend he was calm.
"Are you up so early?"
"I've been awake the whole time."
Gwen paused.
"You didn't sleep?"
There was a two-second silence on the other end.
"Uh... I was researching the best viewing spot for the meteor shower."
Gwen looked at the message, a surge of warmth filling her heart.
This guy, he'd stayed up all night for a date.
"Then get some sleep early tonight."
"Not sleeping tonight, I have to watch the meteor shower."
Gwen: "..."
Alright, she couldn't argue with him.
Six in the evening, Central Park.
Gwen was wearing a mint green long cardigan over a white dress, paired with light-colored flats. Her blonde hair hung loose, a few strands blowing in the evening breeze.
Peter was already waiting at the agreed-upon spot.
He was wearing a dark blue hoodie and black casual pants today, looking much more energetic than usual. He was carrying a large bag, though it was unclear what was inside.
Seeing Gwen walk over, his eyes lit up.
"You're here."
Gwen nodded and looked at the bag in his hand.
"What's this?"
Peter smiled mysteriously.
"I'll tell you in a bit."
The two of them walked along the park path.
The evening at Central Park was beautiful. The sunset dyed the entire sky orange-red, the lake surface shimmering, with ducks swimming on it. Groups of visitors were taking walks, and occasionally, runners passed by.
The spot Peter chose was a small hill with open terrain and a great view. He opened the bag he had brought, and only then did Gwen see what was inside—a picnic mat, a pile of snacks, two bottles of water, and a small telescope.
"You're really well-prepared." Gwen smiled.
Peter scratched his head.
"It's our first official date watching the stars, so of course, I had to prepare carefully."
Gwen looked at his serious expression, feeling warm inside.
The two spread out the picnic mat and sat down side by side.
Night gradually fell, and the stars began to light up one by one.
Peter pointed out the constellations to her—the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, Cygnus. Gwen didn't quite understand, but she loved listening to him talk about them.
When he talked about these things, his eyes would shine.
"That brightest one is Vega," Peter pointed to the zenith. "The four small ones next to it form a parallelogram, that's Lyra."
Gwen followed his finger.
"You're amazing for being able to distinguish these constellations."
Peter smiled sheepishly.
"I've just looked at them a lot, that's all."
Gwen leaned on his shoulder.
"Peter."
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for bringing me here."
Peter's body stiffened slightly, then relaxed.
"And thank you for being willing to come."
The two leaned against each other, watching the night sky.
When the meteor shower began, Gwen was dozing off.
Peter gently nudged her.
"Gwen, look!"
Gwen opened her eyes just in time to see a meteor streak across the sky. Immediately after, a second, a third—countless rays of light streaked across the sky, like a silent firework display.
"So beautiful..." Gwen murmured.
Peter didn't speak.
He just looked at her.
The light of the meteors reflected in her eyes, making those blue-gray pupils look incredibly brilliant.
Gwen felt his gaze and turned her head.
Their gazes met in the night.
In that moment, everything around them went quiet.
The meteors were still streaking by, but they could no longer see them.
Peter's breathing became slightly shallow. He moved closer slowly, his movements so light as if he were afraid of disturbing something.
Gwen didn't dodge.
She just watched him, watching those eyes getting closer and closer, watching her own reflection in them.
Peter leaned down slightly, one hand gently wrapping around her waist, pulling her closer. His other hand supported the back of her neck, his fingertips gently stroking her delicate skin.
Gwen tilted her head up slightly, raised her hand to wrap around his neck, and took the initiative to meet him.
The moment their lips touched, it was gentle yet scorching.
His kiss was soft yet passionate, carrying the clumsiness and devotion unique to a young man. Her response was soft and sincere, pressing tightly against him, as if she wanted to knead all the tenderness and heart-fluttering of this moment into the kiss.
Time seemed to stand still.
Don't know how long it had been, until their breathing was slightly ragged, did the two slowly separate.
Their foreheads rested gently against each other, nose tips rubbing against nose tips.
Peter looked at her, his eyes filled with an unbreakable tenderness and a smile.
Gwen looked at him too.
The meteors kept streaking by, but they could no longer compare to the light in the eyes of the person before her.
"Gwen." He whispered her name.
"Hmm?"
"I like you."
Gwen smiled.
"I know."
Peter smiled too.
The two just leaned against each other like that, watching the night sky.
The meteor shower continued.
But they no longer cared.
Having each other by their side was better than anything else.
Don't know how long it had been, a muffled sound came from the distance.
Gwen's Spider-Sense stirred slightly—not danger, but something was there.
She raised her head and looked in that direction.
"What's wrong?" Peter asked.
Gwen shook her head.
"Nothing. Maybe a meteorite landed."
Peter nodded, not paying it any mind.
The two continued to watch the night sky.
But what they didn't know was that just a few hundred meters away in the grass, a meteorite was cracking open.
Black liquid slowly flowed out from the crack, like it had a life of its own, wriggling on the ground.
It smelled something.
Following the scent, it moved forward.
The scent came from the two people on the hillside.
More accurately, it came from the girl.
It approached quietly, hiding in the grass.
It saw the girl stand up, pack things with the boy, and get ready to leave.
It saw her pick up that white bag.
That was the one.
It crawled over silently, climbed onto the bottom of the bag, and stuck tightly to it.
No one noticed.
Gwen carried the bag on her back and, holding hands with Peter, left the park.
The black liquid clung quietly to the bag, not moving at all.
It was waiting.
Waiting for the right opportunity.
By the time they got home, it was already late at night.
Gwen and Peter said goodbye at the door.
"Goodnight." Peter gently pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Gwen smiled.
"Goodnight."
She pushed the door open and went in, finding the living room lights were already off. Mom and Dad must have been asleep.
She tiptoed upstairs and returned to her room.
Closing the door, she put the bag on the table, changed into pajamas, and lay down on the bed.
Everything tonight was so wonderful.
The meteor shower, Peter's kiss, and the things he said.
Gwen rolled over, burying her face in the pillow, a smile still on her lips.
Moonlight shone in from the window, spilling quietly onto the floor.
The white bag lay quietly on the table.
No one noticed that a blob of black liquid was slowly flowing out from the bottom of the bag.
It slid down the table leg to the floor, moving silently.
It was searching.
Searching for what?
It raised its head—if it had a head—and looked toward the wardrobe.
Inside there, was what it wanted.
It slowly crawled over and slipped through the crack in the door.
Hanging in the wardrobe was that white and pink suit.
Moonlight shone in through the crack, plating the suit with a silver edge.
It looked at the suit, as if admiring a work of art.
Then it crawled up and merged into it.
The surface of the white and pink suit rippled slightly, then returned to calm.
As if nothing had ever happened.
Gwen rolled over and fell asleep, dazed.
She didn't know that her suit had already gained a "passenger."
An extraterrestrial symbiote.
Something called "Venom."
Outside the window, the last meteor streaked across the sky and disappeared into the darkness.