Imee's Apartment

"Okay" Imee nodded then led Renir again on the fifth floor but the curiosity was still there, 'Did he realized something?'

Although in the back of her head she knew it, it still could probably be anything. It could be that Renir just remembered something unrelated. But that was no longer the priority here as Imee stepped in front of a door that has a number inscribed to the plate [512]

Taking out her wallet, Imee retrieved the room's card and opened the door. As soon as the door opened halfway, the lights turned on and greeted them with a short corridor.

'Woah, it's automatic?' Renir commented in his head. And saw that Imee turned to him;

"Umm... welcome to my... home," she said, embarrassed.

The solemnity earlier disappeared in an instant as Renir's neck turned reddish. He was trying so hard not to show his embarrassment. But when he saw the living room just straight from the entrance, Renir couldn't help but daydream.

'Is this really a good idea? I'm a healthy teenage boy and she's totally my type and crush. Can I restrain myself?' Renir froze up a bit but after seeing that Imee was removing her shoes as if nothing important was happening he straightened himself, 'Come on! If I show that I'm embarrassed, she will think that I'm imagining stuff. That would be awkward!'

"Is this where I put my shoes?" Renir composed himself.

"Sure." Imee nodded and turned around, 'Wahh~~ why is he totally fine? Isn't I a beautiful and sexy girl? I'm his type, right? Then, why isn't he embarrassed? He's too calm. And why am I the one who's embarrassed here?! Imee, keep it down. If he knew you're embarrassed, he will think that you're imagining things!' she then breathed deeply, in and out, so to regain her composure, on the surface that is.

"Sit here first. I will get my notes first then cook for our lunch." Imee showed Renir the living room.

It was more spacious than what it seemed outside. Maybe because there were few furnishings, but they were complete. With sofas, a glass table, and a TV set in front, Renir could call it luxury!

He was born in a poor family, with no friends until now. He never had the chance to see the insides of even a middle-class home. So being there for the first time was a bit fascinating for him. Especially that it was getting cooler there, there must be an air conditioner in the living room.

"Ohh..." he murmured as he sat on one of the brown leather soda, 'Soft' he inwardly commented. That was also the first time he got to sit on such a comfortable sofa that he thought he could sink and just sleep there.

'It smells nice too.'

He then popped out from his relaxation to look around. Everywhere he looked, he would be fascinated. On his right was the kitchen which a counter separated it from the living room. Going in there, you could see two separate doors. It should be the restroom and the bathroom each. Renir gulped as he saw this.

Then, finally, he looked at his back and saw the door that Imee entered. The only bedroom in there.

After seeing this, he realized something;

'Wait! Where do I sleep?' Renir's imagination was gone wild once again.

While Renir silently panicked in the living room, Imee was in her room, panicking too.

'Where can he sleep tonight? I mean, he can sleep on the sofa but...' Imee stopped thinking upon realizing her thoughts.

She then took deep breaths and continue to ponder, 'No, I already helped him so much, we were basically strangers two weeks ago. I don't need to feel trouble.' she nodded and opened her eyes when she found the strength not to panic any longer. She then continued to prepare her notes and papers.

As she opened the door and enter the living room, she strengthened her determination, 'Yes, this is not because I imagined that we will sleep in the same bed. I wouldn't get shy about that!'

She nodded again as she composedly walked into the glass table.

"These are all the notes that are covered in the upcoming exam." Imee forced out a slight smile.

Seeing the pile of notebooks on the glass table, Renir sighed, "Ah... thanks."

When Imee noticed this, her eyes became a slit and realistically said, "You brought that upon yourself. Although you're smart, you missed two weeks of school.

That's not all but I doubt that you still clearly remember the previous lessons after that coma. So not only do you have to catch up but also have to review the previous lesson within a day and a half.

I am sure that you can get a passing grade after giving an effort but I don't think it will be easy for you to top the exam."

Hearing that made Renir's head drooped, "You're right..." his spirits wavered. That was reality he needed to accept.

"However," Imee opened her eyes from a slit and stared at Renir which he looked back in curiosity as to what she would say, "You have me here, the undefeated champions in exams. The one who scores perfect scores almost all the time in every test! If I can teach you, why worry?" she patted on her chest, her tone filled with pride.

"..." Renir just stared at her in silence and unconsciously wore a smile after watching Imee's proclamation.

Imee's heart thumped. She tried to lighten the mood but after realizing what she had shown, she felt like wanting to disappear. She then opened her eyes, expecting an awkward reaction from Renir since she was not hearing laughter instead. As she looked onto his expression, what she saw was completely out of her expectations.

All she saw was a sweet smile, face filled with gratitude and hope.

"Thank you, Imee." Renir's smile widened and it directly hit Imee.

'There it is again! His killer move!' Imee froze for a few seconds before her cheeks virtually puffing out smoke, "... I-I'll teach you... that is after I cook our lunch!" Imee pointed out and ran away into the kitchen.

Renir blinked a few times, seeing her reaction, he thought, 'For a second, I thought she's in love with me... but I shouldn't imagine that.' the insecurity and fear of being rejected kept Renir from believing that so kept his mind shut about that topic. Only then, when he finds his worth can he present himself. That was his original intention before he and Imee got separated last time.

His thoughts were then interrupted when he heard from the kitchen, "You can skim through the notes first while I cook so you have the general idea before we start."

Renir looked at the source of the voice and saw Imee looking at him but abruptly averted her gaze as soon as his eyes landed on hers.

"O...okay." Renir also rolled his eyes back onto the notes while scratching his head.

'She must be just embarrassed by what she said earlier. I don't know if that was an act but that was a new side form her. Although I feel like she actually meant it.' Renir found it amusing as he silently laughed.

But then, his eyes turned solemn. He glanced at the kitchen again and thought, 'I thank the God or gods that gave me this opportunity.'

Currently, Imee was wearing a white apron with a cat design on top of her uniform. Her movements still graceful even when she's inside the kitchen.

'Good thing that my belly finally made space for the next meal.' the excitement from thinking that Renir will get to eat Imee's homemade cooking in her apartment, not to mention just the two of them, became a strong motivation for him to start skimming through the notes.

Lunch break only has an hour and a half, and both of them already used fifteen minutes of it walking and talking. So they needed at least a fifteen-minute spare of time to start walking. In short, they only had an hour there before they leave. So Renir immediately opened the note for Pre-Calculus. The subject he expected to have the hardest time.....

Time passed and Renir closed the notebook on History, the third subject out of nine.

He then breathed deeply and rested his eyes. He didn't realize the time or surroundings as he read and read.

"Finally finished?" Renir heard a voice coming from his right. He then looked at Imee and saw that she was resting her arms and head on the sofa as she silently watched him.

When Imee noticed the short distance between them, she turned around and walked onto a table, "I was calling you earlier but you seemed so focus." she said and continued in her head, 'Because of that, I was focused onto you too.'

"Sorry..." Renir apologized.

"Hehe, the lunch's ready. Come and sit here." Imee patted on the chair beside her.

Looking at the dining table, Renir tilted his head. He did not remember a dining table between the living room and the kitchen when he first entered.

"Okay." but even with that thought, Renir excitedly came over while suppressing it to show on his face.

Sensing the confusion, Imee chuckled a bit and said, "This is a foldable table from the counter with the chairs attached to it." she showed how the chairs can be folded back into the table.

"Ohhh--!" Renir exclaimed in mesmerized.

Imee found it amusing on how Renir got easily fascinated by something like that. Although she also felt pity, she ignored it. From now on, Renir will start living there and will eventually get accustomed to it. Thinking that made her embarrassed, 'Being with Renir, my emotions are always being stirred and mixed!' Imee thought to herself.

However, she was not alone who felt that way all this time as Renir saw the meal after another. With steaming hot rice, pork chops, salsa, and vegetables with soup, he commented, "This all looked like it came from a restaurant."

"Well, taste it first, I believe it is as delicious as it looks." Imee confidently said.

Renir took the offer and took a bite.

"Delicious!"