"I'm really okay, promise!" I said, sitting on the bus near the window, raising my left hand like I was swearing on a witness stand. The sky was getting darker little by little, the streets buzzing with people rushing home.
The paper bag with my maid uniform peeked out from the floor, while I adjusted awkwardly on the bus seat. Phone pressed to my ear, I tugged my scarf into place.
"I told Manja I was just tired! Why did she have to drag you into this?" I pouted, glaring out at the beautiful scene of alpine mountains and glowing houses passing by.
On the other end, Ace didn't stop worrying. Aigoo.
Persistent, gentle, and always checking up on me—he was like a kind older brother. Meanwhile, Ice felt more like… a terrifying dad. Just thinking about it made me shake my head.
"Flamemy," Ace said, drawing out the word in that familiar tone. Uh oh. He wasn't buying my excuses.
My reflection in the bus window caught my eye. My hair was shorter now—it still felt strange.
"Okay, okay. I'll tell you what happened."
By the time I finished recounting everything, I was already in front of my apartment, fumbling through my bag for my keys.
"That's it!" I said with a proud grin as I twisted the doorknob. "Totally fine, not a scratch!" A little white lie. Okay, maybe a big white lie.
"Open the camera."
His voice was soft, but there was a thread of betrayal in it. My chest twisted.
I should've told him. I always tell him everything. But this time…
"Let's just do that tomorrow. I'm a little tired now," I laughed awkwardly, switching on the lights and stepping inside.
"Flamemy, please." His voice was so gentle, it melted my resistance.
How could I refuse him?
I took a deep breath, turned on the camera, and flashed my brightest smile.
"Ta-da! Surprise—hairstyle change!" I twirled the ends of my hair like I was in a shampoo commercial.
On his side, the background was bright. He looked like he was a bus studio for shooting, make-up artists bustling around him, but his eyes were only on me.
"Flamemy, you said you were fine," he murmured, leaning closer to the screen.
"I am!" I plopped down on my couch, dropping my bags.
"You wouldn't cut your hair unless it was for a project."
I was about to defend myself with another excuse, but he shook his head gently.
"Please don't lie."
His eyes held such quiet sadness it made guilt stab right through me. Ice would've just glared and growled 'You're not fooling me', but Ace… Ace was soft. Soft enough that it hurt.
Somewhat I'm thankful Ace can't see the scratches on face on camera.
"I won't do it again, promise!" I pouted, raising my free hand like a kid swearing honesty.
"Flamemy, don't provoke them. You know they're already angry with you." He was talking about me mouthing off to Sia.
"I know, I know! It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing. I'll behave next time!"
"Please don't tell me to stay away from Ice. I've already got Oriel nagging me, and if Manja finds out, she'll just gang up on me too!"
My puppy eyes went on full power mode.
Ace chuckled. "Fine, fine. You wouldn't listen anyway."
"Hey! How can you say that so surely?" I didn't like how that sounded!
"Because you like him so much." His grin tilted, charming and teasing.
My jaw dropped. "Ace! You make it sound like I have a crush on Ice!"
A stylist appeared behind him, fixing his hair with sprays and brushes. He looked unfairly handsome even while being pampered.
"I didn't say anything, my Flamemy," he teased again, emphasizing that my.
"Aceeesu!" I puffed my cheeks and glared, but he only laughed.
"You're too cute. Okay, I have to work now. Call me whenever." He waved goodbye, leaving me staring at the ceiling.
And for the first time, I realized… Maybe I didn't have to hide what happened anymore. Because Ice seemed determined to push me out of his life anyway.
Next Chapter:
How could she be so stupid?
Talking to the very person who betrayed her—like it was just another normal day.
He managed to ignore it the first time. But the second he heard that man's name, his body moved before his brain could stop it. And now he hated himself for it.
Not even his own body listened to him anymore.
Why was she so good at making him do things he didn't want to? …Or worse, making him feel things he swore he never would?
That dark, suffocating swirl in his chest tightened with every word she gave her perfect ex-boyfriend. And all it took was a single "hello."