"Good morning. Breakfast is ready," I said, my voice barely above a mutter.
It should've been a scene out of a romance drama—me holding a tray of breakfast with a warm smile—but instead, I probably looked like I'd just gotten out of a fight with my own reflection. If anything, I was more annoyed than yesterday.
Fire blinked at me, still in that half-conscious daze, her mind trying to catch up with the world around her. Was she really awake? She didn't even seem to register what I said.
I could see the confusion on her face. I wasn't sure if I felt bad for her or if it just made me more frustrated. She didn't even know what happened last night, and that was probably for the best. I definitely didn't want to be involved with her more than necessary.
"I'll tell you what happened," I thought, my thoughts dripping with annoyance.
It had gotten late last night, so I'd sped up the car to save some time. The streets were mostly empty, and I figured I could just get home quickly, get some rest, and forget about everything. But then… Fire.
She hadn't said a word. Not a single syllable. Just sat there, staring blankly ahead.
What the hell was wrong with her? Why did her silence feel like some kind of punishment?
We were getting close to the neighborhood where she said she'd leave, but then it hit me like a ton of bricks—she never told me the address.
"Hey," I called out, not even glancing in her direction. Silence.
"Hey!" I called louder, but still… nothing. Seriously, what is with this girl?
"Hey!" This time, I turned to look at her, but there she was, peacefully leaning against the window, completely out of it.
Unbelievable.
I stopped the car with a harsh screech. This was ridiculous. I tried waking her up—shaking her, calling her name, but all she did was glance at me with sleepy eyes, turn away, and fall right back to sleep.
"Tell me your exact address before you fall asleep!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice. What the hell do I do with her now?
I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temples in frustration. I'd tried everything. Shaking her, yelling at her, even calling her name like a maniac. Nothing. She just kept drifting off.
"Miss Asfault," I muttered, a bit softer this time, reaching out and gently pinching her cheek. It was ridiculously soft, almost unnatural.
She looked almost… angelic, with the soft moonlight casting a glow on her face. I had to admit, she was stunning, no question about it. Of course, she was—she was one of Asia's most famous models, after all.
But her sleeping face, so serene and goddess-like, was a stark contrast to the disaster of a personality she had. She's a walking disaster, I thought.
I stared at her, and for a moment, something crazy crossed my mind. What if I kissed her?
I actually smirked at the thought, half-amused by my own ridiculousness. But the idea lingered, and I couldn't shake it.
I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down, glancing at the time. Almost 10 p.m. now. I had no idea what to do.
I'd driven through the neighborhood a few times already, but the more I did it, the weirder it felt. I couldn't just keep going around in circles—it would raise suspicions. And asking around? That was out of the question. People might claim they knew her and point me to her condo, but I couldn't risk her safety. I didn't know her well enough to trust anyone else's word.
Before I knew it, I'd ended up in the worst possible scenario I could imagine.
I sat there, watching her. Fire was happily munching on her breakfast, looking like some kid on a school field trip, completely unaware of my growing frustration. It was unbelievable.
I was bracing myself for her to ask all sorts of questions. I knew she would, and I was prepared. I wasn't at fault for what happened last night. I didn't want her to think about anything else. I was confident I could answer any question she threw my way.
"This tastes so good! What is this called?" Fire's voice broke through my thoughts, her eyes bright with amusement as she gave me a thumbs-up.
I bit my lip, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Really? Her innocence, her childlike wonder at something as simple as breakfast—it was starting to get to me. I didn't want to feel this way, but... it shouldn't be like this. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
"Thanks," I muttered, forcing myself to sound nonchalant.
"You're staying in an apartment too, right? Mine was almost this big." She said it so casually, looking around the room as she continued to munch on her sandwich, clearly at ease.
I was waiting for her to ask the question. The one that had been hanging in the air since we'd ended up here. Aren't you going to ask me how you ended up here? I wanted to ask it out loud, but I stopped myself.
Instead, a thought popped into my head—what if this had been my sister? What if she had ended up in the same situation, with some stranger she didn't really know? What if that person wasn't as trustworthy as they seemed? I'd never forgive myself if something happened. I needed to talk to her again. Maybe take that self-defense class I'd been suggesting for months.
But instead, Fire just kept talking.
"Can you teach me how to cook this? And the coffee is great too! Did you brew it?" She turned her attention to the kitchen, curiously eyeing the brewing machine like it was some sort of puzzle she could solve.
I tried to ignore the growing sense of unease, but the question I'd been waiting for finally slipped out, whether I was ready for it or not.
"Aren't you going to ask why you ended up here?" My annoyance slipped through the cracks in my voice.
"I... I fell asleep. Sorry!" She looked up at me, her face filled with guilt as her hands pressed together, like she was praying for forgiveness.
This wasn't how I'd imagined this conversation would go. I wanted to clear the air, make sure she didn't get the wrong idea about everything that happened. I hated when my actions were misinterpreted. It was just... frustrating.
"I was so tired yesterday, but not from the baking!" she hurried to clarify, her voice panicked. "I had a shoot that morning and only slept for an hour. When I have work weeks like that, my body just collapses. But I know it's not an excuse! Sorry!" She bowed her head in apology, her eyes wide with genuine regret.
I blinked.
Now, I felt guilty. The anger and irritation that had been bubbling inside me fizzled out, replaced by a sudden weight in my chest. I hadn't expected this level of honesty, or for her to apologize so earnestly.
"That's fine," I said quickly, unsure if I was even giving the right response. My words felt flat, but I didn't know how to reassure her.
"Thank you so much for taking care of me!" Fire bowed again, and I couldn't help but think—was this a cultural thing? She did seem genuinely appreciative, even if it felt a little over the top.
"Just don't do that again," I said, my voice firm, slipping into big brother mode without even realizing it. "That's not safe. Especially with guys you barely know."
She flashed me a bright, unbothered smile. "I know, I know. But it's you, Ice! I know I'm safe."
I wanted to argue. I really did. But the way she was looking at me with that bright, unshakable confidence... It made me hesitate. She didn't get it, but it wasn't worth pushing the issue further.
Annoyed, I stood up, trying to walk away from the situation before I said something I'd regret. "I'll just hit the shower. Then we'll head to class."
"Aye aye, sir!" Fire saluted me with exaggerated enthusiasm, and I couldn't help the eye-roll that followed. Childish.
The cold water from the shower did its job. It washed away the last of my frustration. As I stood there, letting the water run over me, I let my thoughts drift back to Fire.
I couldn't help but wonder what she was doing now. Had she broken anything? I hated when people touched or messed around with things in my place. It wasn't even about the mess; it was about the principle.
I sighed, hoping nothing was out of place when I got out.
I want to kick her outta here so bad. The thought burned through my mind, frustration simmering just beneath the surface.
A loud scream shattered my peaceful moment, slicing through the air like a blade. It came from outside the bathroom—my room. And the voice? It belonged to Fire.
Did she break something? Damn it.
With the fastest speed I could muster, I tied the knot of my bathrobe, still soaked from the shower, and ran toward the sound.
"What's happening?" I asked, my voice sharp with irritation, but she didn't seem to hear me. She was focused on something on the wall, her back turned to me. She was slowly backing up, her eyes wide with fear, and I could see the panic on her face.
"Hey, stop!" I called out, confusion clouding my thoughts. One thing was for sure—if she kept walking like this, she was going to fall.
"Hey, Fire, stop!" I raised my voice, trying to get her attention, but she didn't listen.
And then, it happened. A loud thud rang through the room as she collapsed onto the floor, falling off the bed. Thankfully, she landed in a relatively safe spot, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I rushed over to her, kneeling down. She was still lying on the floor, clutching her legs in pain. I could tell by the way she moved that it wasn't anything serious.
"Ice-su!" She whined, her voice cracking as she rubbed at her legs and ankle, a soft wince escaping her lips. "Why didn't you catch me?" She shot a tearful, accusatory glance in my direction.
I didn't move, didn't react. My face remained as cold and impassive as ever, staring at her with a silent judgment that felt almost palpable. She expected me to answer, to explain myself. But I wasn't going to.
Are you really that foolish? The thought crossed my mind, and I couldn't stop the wave of irritation that followed it. I could see it in her wide, vulnerable eyes, the raw innocence in her expression, and yet... I couldn't find the words to reassure her.
It wasn't that I didn't care—though I was good at making it seem that way.
"There was a lizard on the wall! It was chasing me!" She complained, sounding like a five-year-old.
What is she, five? I glanced down at her, clearly unimpressed. "Are you just gonna lie there, or are you actually gonna get up?"
"Can you at least chase the lizard away?!" She asked, her voice trembling with fear.
I raised an eyebrow, annoyed. "What lizard? That one?" I said, pointing vaguely in the direction near her, not even bothering to look.
She followed my gaze with wide eyes, waiting for a response.
I smirked. This is ridiculous...
Next chapter teaser:
Fire faces the intense pressure of a crucial cooking test, where every move counts. With Ice by their side, a cold yet talented partner, Fire struggles to keep up in both the preparation and the emotional intensity of the competition. As they navigate the stressful environment, the results of their efforts begin to unfold, revealing more than just the grades they've earned. But just when Fire thinks the tension might ease, a harsh confrontation with Ice threatens to unravel everything. Amid the chaos, the weight of expectations becomes overwhelming. What's really at stake in this high-pressure test—and will Fire manage to find their place alongside Ice without everything falling apart?