INT - GIRLS' DORM
"My Ori, come on! Let me in!" Dhylan pleaded, knocking on the door for what felt like an eternity.
"You were running away from me, right? Then go!"
Only a thin wooden panel separated them.
"Yes, but—please! I brought food!" He pleaded, tone full of guilt.
No response.
"If I leave it here, you won't eat. I know you."
Silence.
"You can punch me all you want—just eat dinner. You've barely had anything since lunch, and you've been chasing me nonstop."
A pause.
"I'm sorry." His voice cracked with sincerity.
That last one came from the tiny crack of the door as it creaked open, just a sliver.
"I'm sorry," came another voice—from behind the slightly opened door.
They both paused.
"It was my fault," they said at the same time, then blinked at each other through the crack.
"I was the one who forced you into that," Oriel murmured, flustered. "It was just…"
"I get it," Dhylan cut in gently. "It's Fyre's reputation."
They both kept their eyes on the tiny sliver of light between them.
"I was guilty too," he added, pulling out his phone. "The picture was too cute. I couldn't resist showing it off."
He turned the screen to her—his wallpaper was of them. Oriel in a white dress, holding his face and kissing him, his eyes wide with shock.
Her cheeks flushed red instantly. She yanked the door open and grabbed him by the collar.
"My Ori, chill!"
From outside, anyone could see Dhylan being dragged into the dorm—still holding a bag of sizzling hot food.
Then came the chaos.
A series of cries followed:
"Ouch!"
"My Ori, I said sorry already—ouch!"
"Didn't you say I could punch you as much as I wanted?" Oriel snapped.
Another ouch.
And then… her soft voice through the door:
"…You better have brought dessert."
INT - GREENHOUSE - LUNCHTIME
DAY 4 of Lunch with Ice
I happily munched on the katsu I shamelessly requested today. Yes, I know—I should be grateful, not demanding. Ice even said that to my face. But come on, I have to cherish this! Who knows how long this rare favor will last?
"Come on, Ice, I'll pay for everything," I said, popping another bite into my mouth. So crispy. So good.
"No."
"We'll watch just one movie. One!" I held up a single finger dramatically—chopsticks still in hand. Yes, I even requested chopsticks. Again, shameless. Ice had pointed that out, too.
He didn't even blink. Just kept eating.
"I wanted to watch it with you," I scooted closer, like a desperate little sister begging to borrow a Nintendo.
"Why don't you ask your friends?"
"You are my friend! Super best friend!" I grinned, eyes fluttering like a cartoon bird.
He looked at me, deadpan. "Yeah, right. Because I cook you food."
He then reached over and stole my bowl.
"Hey! That's mine!" I lunged for it and grabbed it back like my life depended on it. Not my katsu!
He smirked. The audacity.
"Please! I just want to watch it, but it's horror!" I moved in front of him with my most determined expression. "I mean, I can handle horror… I'm just not sure how scary it is."
No response. Just judgmental eyes.
"This is Ace's first horror movie! I want to support him!" Puppy eyes, full power.
Blank face. Unmoved.
"Fine! I'll buy you rare ingredients from Japan!" I leaned in. "And Korea! Promo package!"
How do you blackmail a human iceberg?
He finally shook his head, no hesitation. Ice-cold.
I let out a defeated sigh and pouted. "What can I do to make you say yes?" I sulked and returned to eating. This katsu… is the only thing keeping me emotionally stable.
"Stop bothering me," he said.
"I'm not bothering you!" I glared, stuffing another bite into my mouth.
We ate in silence for maybe five minutes. I pretended to be mad—arms crossed, dramatic chewing—but I cracked fast. I just remembered I needed something from him.
"Icy~"
"What do you want?" He was already packing up the empty containers.
"How do you always know?!"
He didn't reply. Typical.
But I powered through."Okay, okay, listen. Can you help me study for the finals? Like, the written exams?" I turned on my brightest smile again.
He kept packing. Cold, precise, efficient.
"Please!" I clasped my hands together like I was praying. "Miss Murasaki called me to the office!" I faked a tear.
"She said—" I switched to my best Murasaki voice. "You have good laboratory grades, but your written ones are failing."
Ice snorted. That sarcastic hmph again.
"Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking," I pointed at him with a grin, imitating his voice: "'You only got high lab scores because of me.'"
"Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking," I pointed at him with a grin, imitating his voice: "'You only got high lab scores because of me.'"
"I admit it! No shame!" I declared.
I kept talking—because what else can I do? Conversation with Ice is basically a monologue with bonus sarcasm.
"So! My proposal: why don't you be a good super best friend and teach me the technical stuff too?" I gave him two thumbs up, like a salesperson handing out free samples.
He looked mildly amused. Very sarcastically amused. Which, for him, was basically giddy.
"The audacity of you is scary," he muttered, shaking his head.
That's it? After all that speech?
"Please!" I lunged in for a hug—he dodged me like a ninja.
"Hey!" I cried. "That's offensive!"
"I said don't."
"Fine! I'll hug every person in the world if you don't say yes!" It was a desperate, nonsensical threat—but I was running out of options.
He stood up without a word, bag in hand, already walking away. Leaving me. Again.
Ugh, classic Ice.
I groaned and was about to get up when I heard a faint mutter.
"Weekends. When you don't have work."
Door slam.
Wait. Was that a yes?!