Iram stepped out of the bedroom quietly, trying not to make noise. The house felt calmer in the morning, sunlight pouring through the wide windows and lighting up the marble floors. A faint smell of freshly cooked food drifted through the air, guiding her toward the dining area almost without thinking.
She stopped near the entrance of the kitchen.
Alex stood by the counter, sleeves slightly rolled up, placing food onto plates like it was the most normal thing in the world. The scene felt strangely domestic — something she never expected to witness from him.
Iram hesitated, but her stomach betrayed her with a soft growl.
Alex didn't turn around. "You can come in," he said casually. "I know you're there."
She frowned but walked in anyway, trying to keep her expression neutral. On the table sat a simple but warm breakfast — toast, eggs, fruit, and tea.
"I didn't ask for this," she muttered.
"I know," Alex replied, finally looking at her. "But you were starving last night. Figured you'd wake up hungry."
Iram didn't respond. She sat down slowly, telling herself she would only eat a little before leaving. But once she started, she realized just how hungry she actually was. The food disappeared faster than she intended, and she avoided looking at Alex, who was clearly pretending not to notice.
He leaned back in his chair, watching quietly, a faint amused expression on his face.
When she finally finished, she wiped her hands and stood up quickly, regaining her guarded attitude.
"Thanks," she said shortly, already turning toward the exit. "Now I'm leaving."
Before she could take more than a step, Alex's voice stopped her.
"You know," he said lightly, "you look kind of cute when you're drunk."
Iram froze.
Slowly, she turned back, eyes narrowing. "Excuse me?"
Alex smiled innocently, clearly enjoying himself. "Just an observation."
Her irritation flared instantly. "You really enjoy annoying people, don't you?"
"Only you," he replied without hesitation.
She scoffed and turned again, determined not to give him another reaction. But just as she reached the hallway, his voice followed her once more.
"Are you sure," Alex asked casually, "you don't want to know what stupid things you were doing last night?"
She stopped walking.
Silence stretched between them.
Against her better judgment, curiosity pulled her back. She turned halfway, glaring at him. "I wasn't doing anything."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because from what I remember, you were having full conversations with imaginary arguments… and," he added slowly, teasingly, "you were talking a lot while you were in my bed."
Her eyes widened instantly. "What?!"
He lifted his hands in mock innocence. "Relax. You were asleep."
Iram's face flushed with embarrassment and anger at the same time. "Stop making things up."
"I'm not," Alex said, his smirk returning. "You kept mumbling things. Complaints, threats… and a few secrets you probably wouldn't say while awake."
Her heartbeat quickened. "I didn't say anything important."
Alex tilted his head slightly, watching her reaction carefully. "That's what makes it interesting."
She clenched her fists, unsure whether she was more angry at him or at herself for feeling unsettled.
"You're impossible," she muttered.
"And yet," Alex replied calmly, "you stayed."
The words caught her off guard again.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them felt charged — not exactly hostile, but far from peaceful.
Iram looked away first, trying to hide the confusion in her expression. Without another word, she headed toward the door again, this time faster.
Behind her, Alex watched with a quiet smile, as if the chaos she brought into his perfectly controlled world was something he didn't mind at all.
And Iram couldn't shake the strange feeling that every conversation with him pulled her deeper into something she didn't fully understand.