We walked side by side, the buzz of the earlier cooking session still hanging in the air.
"So," Lina said, tone annoyingly casual, "you gonna tell me why you were acting like a high school girl who just walked into the boys' locker room?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
She turned her head toward me with a dramatic sigh. "Don't play dumb. You barely said two words in there. Avoided eye contact with him like it was contagious. You were acting weird. I thought you were gonna pass out when he asked if the food was okay."
I felt heat rise up my neck. Shit. Did I make it that obvious?
"I was just… shy," I replied quickly, trying to sound casual. "I get little awkward, that is all."
"Oh, I see," she grinned. "Is that why you kept fiddling with your hands and staring at the counter the whole time, lost in some wonderland?"
"I wasn't—" I started, but she raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it.
"Hm," she tapped her chin. "I'm starting to think there's something you're not telling me. A little neighborhood secret? Maybe a tiny crush?"
"Lina!" I gave her a wide-eyed look. "Stop it. Don't say weird things like that."
She burst out laughing. "Oh my god, look at your face! You're actually blushing. This is gold."
"I'm not blushing."
"Right. And I'm a nun." She smirked. "I mean… I did think you two had a bit of a vibe. Nothing big. Just—something."
"There's no vibe," I muttered.
She grinned and gave a sly tilt of her head. "Suuure."
I sighed and looked away. "You're being ridiculous."
"Maybe. Or maybe I've just got good eyes." She leaned in a little. "Anyway, I didn't know you had that side. Kinda cute, honestly."
I gave her a weak glare. "Seriously, cut it out."
She chuckled, clearly enjoying herself far too much. "Alright, alright, I'll stop... for now."
We walked the rest of the way with her still grinning beside me, like she'd uncovered some juicy little secret—even if there wasn't one.
Right?
Just as we reached the corner where our paths split, Lina suddenly stopped and blurted out, "Oh shit! Look at me, forgetting the most important thing."
She quickly started rummaging through her purse. "Thank god I remembered," she added with a grin, like she was about to pull out something secret or special.
She handed me a small plastic bag, casually pressing it into my hands.
"Here," she said with a wink. "Some sweets I bought earlier. Don't even think about saying no."
I blinked, a little surprised. "Oh—thanks. You didn't have to."
"Also, Remember—be on time tomorrow," she added, wagging a playful finger. "If you're late, I'll come get you myself."
I gave lina a totally dramatic and exhausted look on purpose, like the kind you give your friend when something's happening against your will and you have no choice but to say yes. That playful, exaggerated expression.
She let out a light laugh before heading inside.
I turned as well and stepped inside the house and found him waiting, a hint of concern on his face that eased as soon as our eyes met. I apologized softly, explaining I'd been at Lina's and lost track of time.
He didn't make a fuss, just gave me that easy smile and teased me about how well Lina and I were getting along. I smiled back, said I'd get lunch ready, but he just chuckled and asked me to take my time.
I could feel him easing last few days. The flicker of doubts were nowhere to be seen in his eyes. It... made me feel good.
The rest of the day passed quickly, filled with the usual routines—cleaning up after lunch, folding clothes, sorting things around the house. Nothing out of the ordinary. And yet… something felt different.
I noticed it in small moments.
Like when I bent down to pick up the laundry basket—there was a sudden, shameful tingle between my legs and how I found myself looking back quickly, wondering if anyone is standing behind me. Or when I leaned over to reach something in the back of a cabinet, and my breath caught for no real reason.
It wasn't just once or twice.
It kept happening.
My body felt warmer than usual, more sensitive. Things that never used to register now sparked the smallest, inappropriate reactions. I hated to admit it—even to myself—but it felt like some switch had been flipped.
And I was trying to ignore it. Trying to focus on anything else. Every time I pushed it down, it returned stronger.
I didn't want this. I was trying, really trying not to feed that side of me.
But it was getting harder to control.
It was next morning already. I quickly finished the chores, knowing I had to head out for the cooking lessons. If I got late, Lina would definitely throw a fit.
Well, it wasn't just because of her.
He is a great cook. Sure... there had been a few strange moments between us. Nothing obvious, nothing anyone could call out, but it was there. That undercurrent. That strange, quiet pull.
And really, I couldn't blame him either. Young blood, full of energy. At his age, it's normal to try and pull stunts like that. Hoping to get under the pants of a married woman.
And honestly, I think he already did.
That woman I saw that day on his doorsteps—yeah, she was married.
...How shameless.
Him... or that woman?
I took a deep breath to shake off these thoughts. Whatever. I'll just stay close to Lina and not think too hard.
That should be enough.
I informed my husband about heading to lina's place. I couldn't possibly tell him that it was actually the young neighbor next door. It would unnecessarily make him tense, and definitely not when he is starting to relax.
I walked around normally, trying not to overthink anything. As I neared the gate to the young neighbor's house, I spotted Lina approaching from the other side. She gave me a bright, happy smile, one of those excited ones that made it hard to be tense around her.
We reached the door together and knocked a few times.
A moment later, he opened it, greeting us with a polite smile and a small wave, stepping aside to let us in.
He led us toward the kitchen like before. Lina, as always, took over the conversation—chatting, laughing, throwing in her usual energy while I mostly listened.
Then he turned to face us, hands casually at his sides. "Alright ladies, today marks our first official cooking lesson. I hope to be a great teacher," he said with a slight grin.
Lina clapped mockingly like it was some grand event. "Oh we're in good hands, chef," she teased, nudging me lightly with her elbow.
I gave a small smile, y-yeah.
He handed us aprons, tossing one on himself with practiced ease. I took mine, already dreading the next part. I always had a hard time knotting it from behind. With a quiet sigh, I gave Lina a quick side-eye, hoping she'd get the message.
She smirked immediately and said aloud, "Chef, could you help her out?"
My eyes widened in disbelief. "Lina…" I whispered, but she just giggled and quickly stepped aside, pretending to busy herself.
He stepped behind me slowly. "Oh, you want me to help with the apron?" he asked, already catching the loose strings behind me.
Before I could answer, he pulled the straps back sharply to tighten them. The sudden force pulled me backwards a little, making my back hit against his chest. I froze.
"Don't move, please," he murmured calmly.
His fingers worked on the knot behind me. Tight. Tighter than necessary.
I swallowed as I felt the fabric clinch around my body, wrapped around my curves too tightly. My tits and stomach were both pressed forward by the force, clearly outlined under the apron. I could feel the tension all over again.
The outline was embarrassingly clear. My breasts pushed forward, my waist pulled tight, the fabric gripped me in all the wrong places. I could feel every inch of it. He walked off, his footsteps fading toward the counter.
I stepped over to Lina and leaned in slightly, keeping my voice low. "Can you loosen this a bit?"
She looked at me, confused. "Loosen what?"
I gestured vaguely at the apron. "This. Don't you think it looks... weird from the front?"
She blinked, gave me a quick glance, then smirked. "Nope. Looks fine to me. You're just thinking too much."
I opened my mouth to protest, but she added with a playful nudge, "Come on. Let's pay attention. He's about to start."
I gave a small nod, biting the inside of my cheek. Maybe she was right. Maybe I was just overthinking it. But still... it felt a little too snug
He asked us to listen up, said he'd quickly walk us through the ingredients and the first dish. I stood still, nodding, trying to focus on his voice. But I could feel it, his eyes—not on me but my body. More than my eyes, I felt it on my chest. Like I was putting up a show to motivate him, to encourage him. Those quick glances…
Lina said it didn't look weird, the apron. So I tried to believe her. I told myself to stop thinking too much and just listen.
He explained everything smoothly—what spices went with what, the timing, the cuts—and Lina, as expected, jumped in with her usual questions. I didn't mean to join in, but somehow I found myself asking a few too. He answered them all without missing a beat, with confidence.
He then handed me some onions and some tomatoes to Lina. I took them without a word and moved to the cutting board, reminding myself again to just focus.
After giving him the ingredients, he went on explaining the next steps. His instructions were clear, and both Lina and I tried our best to follow along. I kept my head down, focused on cutting and measuring, trying not to think about anything else.
The kitchen was already getting messy. Vegetable peels, wrappers, and scraps were piling up everywhere. I figured I might as well clean a bit, so I gathered some of the waste into my hands and walked over to the bin in the corner.
I lifted the lid.
The stench hit me instantly. My face twisted in disgust. It was strong, sharp, and unmistakable. I blinked hard, trying to process what I was seeing.
Used condoms. A lot of them. Crammed, sticky, tied up. Some looked newer than others. A few had tissues stuck to them. The sight made my stomach twist, but more than that, my brain couldn't help but started counting them. One, two... five... ten... fifteen...
What the fuck.
I froze, still staring, heart thudding in disbelief. Is he an animal? How is it even possible? My brain kept trying to calculate. How many women would that take? Or how many times in a day?
I didn't even hear him come up behind me.
"Hmm," he said casually, like we were just chatting about the weather. "I was wondering what's taking you so long. And here you are... completely focused, staring inside the bin?"
My whole body jolted. I flinched like a guilty child caught red-handed. "Oh. I—I'm sorry. I was just—"
I quickly tossed the trash in and closed the lid, walking away without finishing the sentence. My face burned, breath quick. I didn't dare look at him.
"Forty-seven," he said behind me, loud enough that only I could hear it.
I stopped in my tracks. My spine stiffened. My heart thumped harder.
He added, casually, like he was just giving a grocery number, "That's from the last two weeks."
Two weeks?
What?
Forty-seven? In fourteen days?
I didn't respond. My lips stayed sealed. My thoughts weren't even forming complete words anymore. Just messes of panic and confusion. What the hell was I doing counting? Why did I even care?
He called out again, tone playful, teasing. "How about focusing on cooking? That's what you're here for, right?" A beat passed, and then he added, in a low voice, "Of course, I wouldn't mind if you wanted to focus on something else. I'm always free."
My skin prickled. His words hit like a shock to my nerves, shooting straight through my legs. I walked faster, heat spreading to my cheeks. What the hell was wrong with me?
I went back to Lina, head down, lips sealed. I avoided eye contact with her and just started working again. She didn't say anything at first, just glanced my way.
A moment later, he walked back into the kitchen.
Lina looked up at him and grinned. "Hmm? Now where are you coming from, Mr. Chef? Is there a private lesson going on I don't know about?"
I gave her a quick pinch on her arm, hoping to shut her up. She winced and laughed.
He chuckled too, completely unbothered, like it was just another joke. Like nothing had happened.
Trying not to let her jokes get out of hand, I forced a smile and said to him, "Please don't mind her. She makes these weird jokes all the time."
He met my eyes briefly, then said with that same calm voice, "Oh, I absolutely don't mind."
And I didn't doubt that for a second.
My thoughts were spiraling, no matter how much I tried to focus. Lina wasn't helping either. She kept making small jokes, teasing me, pulling my leg like always. I forced a few smiles here and there, pretending everything was normal.
We were almost done with the dish. The kitchen smelled amazing, rich and savory. Even I had to admit, it was turning out much better than I expected. The aroma alone made my mouth water.
Lina was grinning ear to ear, clearly proud of how it looked. When we finally plated it and took a bite, it was—well, there was only one word. Delicious.
We devoured it. All three of us. Barely anything was left on the plates.
He leaned back and said he'd write the recipe down for us. Told us to wait a few minutes.
We nodded and sat quietly. I stared at the table, but my head wasn't here. It was spinning with that stupid image again. That dustbin. Those condoms. The number he said. Forty-seven. No way that was real. That had to be a joke.
But… what if it wasn't?
What if someone actually went through that?
What kind of woman would be able to take that much? No matter how I looked at it, the idea was insane. And still, the thought wouldn't leave. The bin. The count. The stench. My eyes staring like an idiot while he walked up behind me.
Lina suddenly elbowed me lightly.
I blinked and looked at her.
She smiled. "What do you think? Wasn't I right about him?"
I didn't answer.
She leaned closer, still teasing. "So I don't have to beg you to come anymore, right?"
I gave her a faint smile, not really sure what to say. My stomach felt weird. Not because of the food.
Something deeper.
He handed us the recipe sheet.
"I hope I didn't disappoint you two," he said, eyes flicking between us. "And I hope… you'll both keep coming here."
Lina grinned, cheerful as ever. "Of course. Don't you worry about that."
She was already untying her apron, humming to herself, while I was still fumbling with mine. I hadn't even started when he stepped closer.
"Let me help you with that."
Before I could respond, he was already behind me. His fingers tugged at the knot. It was too tight. I could feel it as he was clearly struggling a bit to get it loose.
I stood there, silent, trying not to shift or breathe too hard. My skin felt too aware. Each tug sent a strange flutter through my stomach.
He didn't say anything. Neither did I.
Just his hands, at my back, working slowly.
And for some reason, that small silence was louder than anything Lina could've teased me with.
Lina noticed the awkward silence and finally stepped in.
"Here, let me," she said quickly, moving behind me.
Within seconds, the knot finally came loose. I exhaled, the relief flooding through my chest as the apron slackened. My breasts dropped from the pressure release. I didn't notice before, but my nipples were hard from the pressure.
Lina chuckled. "Seems like it didn't want to let you go."
I shot her a look, flustered, but she just winked.
We started walking toward the door, chatting casually about how well the dish had turned out. I kept my eyes forward, pretending everything was normal.
But just as I stepped outside, something made me glance back.
And there he was.
Standing, holding my apron—pressed to his face.
He wasn't smiling. Just staring at me from the corner of his eye, like a madman caught in a moment he didn't care to hide. My eyes were on him but my feet kept moving toward the door.
That look was hungry, dirty. I turned around immediately, pretending I hadn't seen it.
I stepped out quietly. The cooking lesson didn't make me full. If anything… it left me hungrier.
I've been putting a lot of time and effort into this story, and while a few of you [ 2-3 readers] consistently support with power stones, which I truly appreciate. Though it feels like the story may not be suited for this platform. If there's not more visible support through comments or power stones, this might be the last chapter I post here. Your appreciation really keeps the motivation alive.