After maths

The living room lay cloaked in a muted twilight, the soft hum of the air conditioner the only sound as Carrie sat, her face bathed in the pale glow of her phone. Her expression was vacant, fingers scrolling through an endless stream of nothingness, a quiet escape from the storm brewing around her.

Jae-wook stepped in, his silhouette sharp against the dim light, clutching Na-eun's ledger as if it were a holy relic. His eyes held a flicker of triumph, a hint of something dangerous. "I found something intriguing in Na-eun's ledger," he said, lowering himself into the armchair opposite Carrie.

She looked up, her expression unreadable, then let out a heavy sigh. Without a word, she rose to leave, her movements slow, deliberate, as if moving through molasses.

"Are you seriously still mad at me?" Jae-wook's voice trailed after her, a thread of irritation woven through his words.

Carrie stopped, her figure a dark silhouette against the doorway. She turned, and her gaze hit him like a cold wind. "You think this is a joke?"

"You just misunderstood me." He shifted in his seat, a nervous energy crackling beneath his calm facade.

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "Misunderstood? Alex, do you have any idea how close I thought everything was to falling apart? I started running scenarios in my head on trying how to keep your company from crumbling under the weight of your mistakes. We're not done dealing with the dead employee—the one whose death points straight at you—and then, finding out you might've gotten someone pregnant?"

Jae-wook's face twisted with a mix of disbelief and frustration. "How could you think I'd be so reckless? Don't you trust me?"

"Trust?" Her laugh was sharp, each note a shard of glass. "Alex, can you even hear yourself right now?"

"Stop calling me Alex," he muttered, his voice low. "It feels... wrong."

"From what I remember that's what everyone calls you" She snatched her water bottle, her grip white-knuckled, and stormed upstairs. Her footsteps echoed, each step a door slamming in his face.

Jae-wook exhaled, a sharp breath of exasperation. "Gosh! Women are so difficult."

"They're not difficult," a smooth voice cut in. Leo stood at the edge of the room, his presence as sudden as a shadow at dusk. "You just need to listen."

Jae-wook straightened, his expression guarded. "When did you get here?"

"Not long," Leo said, a sly smile tugging at his lips. His casual stance did nothing to soften the intensity of his stare.

Before the silence could settle, Ava stumbled in, her face a portrait of exhaustion. She collapsed onto the couch, sprawling out as if the very air weighed her down. "I hate being an adult already."

Jae-wook's expression shifted, a brief respite from the tension. "Lemonade?"

"Yes, please," Ava mumbled, eyes half-closed.

"Perfect. There's some in the fridge."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Could you get us some?"

"Nope." Jae-wook's response was crisp, devoid of any warmth. He turned and walked away, the door whispering shut behind him.

Ava shot a look at Leo, incredulous. "What kind of insane attitude is that? Then why even ask?"

"Maybe he enjoys the chaos." Leo's voice was low, almost conspiratorial.

The stairs creaked, and Carrie reappeared, her expression still clouded. Her eyes settled on Ava, who lay draped across the couch like a tragic painting. "What's with you?"

"I'm out of energy, Carrie. Like, completely out." Ava groaned, her arm flopping dramatically over her eyes.

"I'll make you hot cocoa."

"Nope! Just help us with the lemonade," Leo interjected, his tone playful.

Carrie hesitated, then shrugged. "Sure." She moved to the kitchen, her motions fluid, almost robotic.

As she poured the lemonade into glasses, Ava sat up, her curiosity breaking through the haze of fatigue. "By the way, what happened between you and Alex?"

Carrie's expression tightened, the question pulling a thread of tension through the air. "I rather not talk about it. It annoys me."

"Well," Leo began, his voice a soft lure, "we have a special visitor tomorrow."

Carrie's interest piqued, a faint light behind her eyes. "Really? Who?"

Ava's lips curled into a smirk, her dramatic flair seeping into her every word. "You might want to sit down for this one."

Carrie settled into a chair, folding her arms over her chest. "Go on, are we hosting a fan meeting or something?"

Ava's eyes widened. "How did you know it was Taeyang?"

"I've seen the flyers for his glamorous show. So what about it?"

"You're not... upset?" Ava asked, her expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

"Why should I be? He should feel awkward, not me."

"But he was your first kiss." Leo's words dropped into the room like a stone into a pond, ripples of tension spreading.

Carrie's jaw tightened. "You could die, you know that?"

Leo only grinned, unfazed. "Well... the thing is, we won't be home when he arrives. So, could you pick him up from the airport?"

Carrie's reaction was immediate, her head shaking before he'd even finished. "No. Absolutely not. Do you know what it's like to pick up a celebrity from the airport? It's like a live kidnapping—everyone staring, phones flashing."

"He's going to be in disguise. His fans think he's arriving on Monday, not tomorrow. Unless..." Ava leaned forward, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Unless you're just nervous to meet your first kiss."

"Ava Scott," Carrie's voice was a blade, sharp and cold. "Do you wish to die?"

Ava's laugh was light, an echo of mischief.

Carrie's shoulders slumped in surrender. "Fine. I'll do it. But don't expect it to be smooth. We never spoke after... the incident."

"You mean the kiss." Ava's grin widened, each word a tease.

"Leo!" Carrie's voice shot through the room like a whip. "Control your girlfriend before I do it for you."

Ava chuckled, a sound that danced along the edges of irritation.

"You're all insufferable," Carrie muttered, turning sharply and disappeared. The door clicked shut, leaving an uneasy silence in her wake.

Leo and Ava exchanged a glance, unspoken words passing between them.

"Think she'll be okay?" Ava asked, her voice softer now.

"She'll have to be," Leo murmured, his expression thoughtful. "After all, this isn't just about a kiss, or is it?"