[BONUS Chapter for reaching 1000PS! Thank you all!🤍 ]
PS. If you don't like other POVs just skip them. There's a POV na at the start of every chapter, so you'll know.
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
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[EVE]
With Hyun's winter collection finally deed a resounding success, a weight lifted from my shoulders.
For the first ti in weeks, I allowed myself the luxury of rest—a single, uninterrupted day of sleep to reclaim the energy I so desperately needed.
And now that I was recharged, it was ti to confront the next storm brewing in my life: Sophie.
I reached for my phone, my thumb hovering over the screen before pulling up our class group chat. As promised, Riri had posted pictures of the dress I had gifted her.
Relief flickered through as I read the comnts flooding in—praise for Riri's radiant look in the design, questions about where she'd gotten it. For now, it seed, attention had shifted away from the ugly rumor that I'd pushed Sophie down the stairs.
Still, so of my classmates had the audacity to ssage directly, asking if I could gift them dresses from Hyun's collection. As if I was so kind of personal designer handing out couture for fun.
I ignored the ssages and locked my phone, refusing to engage with the noise. I dressed quickly, my thoughts already spinning on what I needed to say to Sophie to clear my na.
When I stepped out of the room, the aroma of sizzling garlic and butter greeted . I followed the scent to the kitchen and, unsurprisingly, found Cole standing at the stove, his movents casual yet efficient as he flipped sothing in the pan.
Right. I was still living in his private apartnt, my own place compromised by the relentless dia hounding after the incident with Sophie. His space had beco a reluctant sanctuary, though I still wasn't used to the odd dynamic between us.
"Are you developing a hobby for cooking now?" I asked, leaning against the doorfra.
He turned his head slightly, his lips quirking into a smug grin. "I've got to admit," he said, his voice low and steady, "I'm starting to enjoy this. I like cooking for you."
The sincerity in his tone caught off guard, and for a mont, I was unsure how to respond. His usual sharp-edged deanor seed dulled by sothing softer, sothing unsettlingly genuine.
"I won't be here for long," I muttered, brushing off the weight of his words as I moved to sit at the dining table. "I'm heading out to see Sophie today, and clear my na and hopefully get my apartnt back as soon as possible."
Cole turned off the stove and brought the plated food to the table, and sat down beside her. He leaned against the chair, his expression hardening as his gaze locked onto mine. "What's the rush? You could stay here forever if you want."
"No. We're not even married or in a relationship. Staying here isn't good for my image."
I had considered moving to a hotel, and I even checked into one briefly. But the dia found out almost imdiately. Most likely, so hotel staff had tipped off the reporters, and within hours, they were swarming the place.
Cole leaned back in his chair, a sly smirk playing on his lips. "Then be with for good. That would solve all your problems."
I took a slow sip of milk, masking my exasperation, and wrinkled my nose. "Will you stop with this talk again?"
He shrugged as if my words rolled off him effortlessly, his confidence unshaken. "Fine. Then let's talk about sothing else." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his tone softening. "You'll be at our birthday party, right?"
I picked up a slice of salmon, cutting into it carefully. I took my ti chewing, savoring the flavor as I searched for the right response. "I'll have to take a rain check."
His expression didn't falter, but there was a flicker of disappointnt in his eyes. "It would make happy if you ca."
I paused mid-bite, the weight of his words settling over the table like a heavy silence. When I finally looked up, his gaze was locked on mine, steady and piercing. The intensity in his eyes was enough to steal my breath, and for a mont, I forgot how to speak.
Swallowing hard, I broke the connection, setting my fork down with deliberate care. I cleared my throat, forcing composure back into my voice. "I'll . . . think about it," I murmured, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.
But even as I spoke, I could feel the unspoken tension lingering between us, an invisible thread pulling taut with every second that passed.
I didn't know how long I could deny it anymore—the longer we were alone together, the stronger the magnetic pull between us beca. It wasn't just tension; it was sothing deeper, raw and consuming, like a fire quietly building in intensity.
My chest tightened as a cold wave of fear crept in. I was terrified that, one day, I would lose control completely—that I would give in to the storm of emotions and cross a line I couldn't uncross.
This was why I needed to resolve the problem with Sophie as quickly as possible, and get back to my own place. Every mont I lingered here, I felt the fragile grip I had on myself slipping.
At least in my place, I had so semblance of peace. Here, Cole was always upon every day.
Cole's gaze lingered on for a beat too long, heavy with an emotion I didn't dare na. I held my breath, hoping—praying—that he would look away first.
And then, rcifully, he leaned back in his chair, breaking the thick, suffocating air between us. The tension shattered like glass, leaving behind the ghost of its intensity, an echo that still rattled in my chest.
I exhaled shakily, clutching my glass as if it could anchor . He didn't say anything, but the way his eyes flickered over —like he understood everything I was struggling not to say—made my pulse race.
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