Glass Hearts [BL] Chapter 231: You’ll Need Strength After What Went Down Last

They were all gone.

Finally.

I exhaled, turned to Ian, and smiled. "The house is weirdly quiet."

He smirked instantly. "Yeah... which ans we can continue from where we stopped last night. You can scream all you want, no one’s gonna hear you."

"Oh my God," I muttered, shaking my head as I started walking upstairs. "I’m going to shower, freak."

"Aiight," he called after . "When you’re done, let know. If you also need help, I can..."

"No, Ian," I cut in before he could finish, laughing. "I can shower myself, thanks."

"Sure? You seed to like my technique last ti."

I gasped. "IAN!"

"WHAT?" he yelled back, laughing.

I slamd the room door so fast I almost broke the handle.

I grabbed my skincare paper bag, and shut myself in the bathroom before he could say anything else.

Under the warm water, I actually smiled to myself. I hate how giddy I feel around him. I hate that he makes laugh even when he’s being stupid. And I hate that I kinda love it.

While I was rinsing my hair, I heard his voice from outside the room. "I’m heading to the store, Juney! Gonna grab you an outfit and breakfast! Just wear my shirt till I’m back, yeah?"

I smiled at my reflection in the fogged-up mirror like a total loser. "Yeah, okay, boyfriend-of-the-year."

After my shower, I threw on his shirt....it was long but still short enough that my thighs were out.

It also slls like him.

My hair was wet and dripping, and I started towel-drying it while humming when my stomach started growling. I was starving.

Maybe I’ll grab an apple or sothing.

Then I opened the door, and the sll of food hit .

Wait.

Food?

Is Ian back already?

Wait... Ian can’t cook.

I rushed down the stairs barefoot, ready to joke about him burning the kitchen down, but froze halfway when I saw the person at the stove.

It wasn’t Ian.

It was Ren

He turned around, smiling softly. "Hey, June."

My whole body suddenly forgot how to exist. His eyes flicked down my body, just briefly....but long enough for to realize I was still wearing Ian’s shirt and absolutely nothing else under

Aweso. Kill now.

"Oh..." I blinked, trying to process. "Didn’t know you were ho. I thought you left."

He smiled calmly.

"Oh, I’m still here," he said. "Figured I’d eat before heading out."

"Oh cool," I said, pretending to sound chill but my voice ca out weirdly high.

Why are you being weird? He’s just cooking.

"It slls good," I added quickly. "Didn’t know you could cook."

He smiled that calm, Ren smile that could lt anything. "Of course I can. Cooking is... the quiet kind of art that feeds you."

Okay Shakespeare, chill.

"Is Ian around?" he asked casually, glancing toward the stairs.

"Oh...uh, no," I said, biting my lip. "He went to get... Uhmm stuff."

Ren nodded, softly. "So we’re alone."

...Okay, why did he say it like that?

"Yeah..uh technically, yeah," I said, laughing nervously. "But like, not alone-alone, more like... temporarily unsupervised."

He laughed. "Right."

I laughed, awkwardly. "I just ca to grab one of these..." I held up the apple, "so, yeah, I’ll go."

He turned off the stove and chuckled. "No, stay. Have a bite." He started dishing so food into a plate.

"O no, I said too fast. "I should...."

"Please," he said, softly. "You should at least try this before you run off. I insist."

And that tone....ugh. My heart actually lted.

And because I have zero self-control apparently, I stayed.

Why am I getting butterflies from a man handing food? Why do I suddenly forget Ian exists?

I sat down.

He handed the fork. And I took a bite

"Okay wow," I mumbled, surprised. "It’s actually good."

"Actually?" he raised a brow.

"I ant... it’s really good," I corrected quickly. "Is there anything you can’t do?"

I asked, imdiately regretting it the second it left my mouth.

His lips curved just slightly. He leaned a little closer

"Wouldn’t you like to find out?"

I blinked. Oh my god.

I froze.

"Okay, I shouldn’t have asked that," I muttered, shoving another bite in my mouth like that’d sohow erase what just happened.

He laughed quietly, like he knew exactly what he was doing. "Relax, I’m just teasing you," he said, reaching out to pat my still-damp hair.

"Eat up," he added, smiling again. "You’ll need the strength after... what went on last night."

My fork clinked against the plate.

Oh. My. God.

No way he’s talking about—

"What happened last night?" I asked, trying to sound all innocent but my voice literally cracked.

"You know..." he tilted his head, pretending to think. "Your performance."

Performance?

He chuckled softly.

I blinked.

Oh my god, June. He’s definitely talking about it.

"Can everyone quit talking about it already?" I groaned. "Ian and I didn’t even have sex last night!"

And then

Silence.

I froze mid-breath.

He raised his brows.

I slapped my hand over my mouth.

"Noted," he said, laughing quietly. "Wasn’t actually talking about that. Though..." he glanced sideways, smirking, "you kind of kept up all night."

"I what kept you up how?" I asked, voice way too small.

"You don’t have to know," he said, turning back to the stove, grin tugging at his lips. "You just have a really nice voice. I was... imagining things."

I’m sorry, WHAT.

Ian’s gonna murder us

Technically Ren started it, so he’s gonna murder him

Then he suddenly said.

"So, I was actually talking about your performance at Dom’s party. It was beautiful, June. You really should think about the talent show. I heard a scout from Gleewood’s coming to pick up students for scholarships."

My eyes went wide.

I dropped the cup of water ...and gagged.

"You’re joking, right?" I choked out, coughing mid-laugh.

He stepped forward, patting my back. "Hey, chill... you’re gonna drown in your own panic."