The unthinkable

"We're home," Leo announced, collapsing onto the couch with a dramatic sigh.

"Mr. we can't afford to go a week without a couch again, be careful" Carrie said nonchalantly, striding past him as if she hadn't just watched him nearly break a piece of furniture.

"We have a billionaire at home, it's fine" Leo responded chicky.

"Don't you care about what happened at work?" Ava demanded, grabbing Carrie's arm.

"Hey! Let go of me," Carrie said, gently prying herself free.

Leo, barely lifting his head from the couch, changed the subject. "Where's Jae-Wook?"

Carrie shrugged. "Dunno. He hasn't stepped out of his room since morning."

"That's... weird." Ava tapped her chin, frowning.

"Some girl came over. His cousin, I think. Whatever she said must've ruined his mood," Carrie added before plopping down onto the couch.

Ava's eyes narrowed with intrigue. "Was she pretty?"

Leo snorted. "Everyone in Jae-Wook's family is exaggeratedly pretty. It's almost unfair."

Carrie waved a dismissive hand. "Not interested." She stood and walked into the kitchen.

Ava arched a brow. "Now, that's odd. The Carrie I know would be demanding more details—and a second round of gossip."

"I'm too exhausted to care," Leo muttered.

Ava let out a sigh before disappearing up the stairs.

Leo watched her disappear before pushing himself up with a groan and heading toward his own room.

As for Carrie, she stood on the countertop, stretching on her toes as she rummaged through the highest kitchen shelf. Whatever she was looking for had become a personal mission now, though she hadn't thought twice before climbing up like a reckless acrobat. Her focus was so intense that she didn't hear the soft footsteps behind her, nor did she sense the presence that loomed near.

A voice, low and almost ghostly in its whisper, sent a chill down her spine.

"What are you doing?"

She flinched, her fingers grazing the edges of a tin, but more importantly, nearly losing her balance. Heart pounding, she snapped her head toward the voice and found Jae-Wook standing there, arms crossed, watching her like she was some kind of science experiment gone wrong.

"What the hell!" she exclaimed, steadying herself. "Why would you do that?"

"I was just asking what you were doing up there," he said, entirely unfazed by her dramatics.

Carrie scowled. "Not like it's your business, but someone decided to keep the coffee on the highest shelf."

"I did that," he admitted, still disturbingly unbothered.

Her glare deepened. "I know that." Then, sighing, she turned back to her search. "You know what? Just forget it. I'll get it myself."

Jae-Wook exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "I put it up there intentionally," he stated. "You've been drinking too much caffeine lately. It has consequences, in case you weren't aware."

Carrie let out an exaggerated groan. "Oh, please! Since when do you care that much?"

"Since forever," he shot back effortlessly. "Now get down before you fall and break something." He extended his hand toward her.

She scoffed, slapping his hand away. "Obviously, you're not going to help me, so just leave."

"Get down first," he insisted, stretching his hand out again. "Then maybe I'll consider helping."

"If you shove that hand in my face again, I might just bite it," she said, waving him off. "Now, be on your way so I can finish my business in peace."

Jae-Wook clicked his tongue. "I might just have to get you down myself, then."

Carrie laughed dryly. "That's not even an option."

He sighed, as if already tired of her defiance, then moved so fast she barely had time to react. With an effortless motion, he scooped her up, his arms securing her waist as he lifted her off the counter.

"Hey! How dare you—put me down this instant!" she barked, her legs kicking uselessly in the air.

"Relax," he said with a smirk, holding her just a moment longer than necessary. "It's not like I plan to carry you forever. Unless that's your secret fantasy?"

She gasped. "You're insufferable."

"Mm-hmm," he hummed before setting her down gently.

Carrie rolled her eyes. "I swear, you must be high." But before she could step away, his fingers brushed lightly against her hair.

She froze.

"You should've listened to me," Jae-Wook murmured, his focus fully dedicated to dusting invisible specks of dust from her hair. "Now you've got dirt all over your head."

Her breath hitched involuntarily. She looked up at him, and suddenly, the space between them felt too small. The gentle touch of his fingers in her hair sent an unfamiliar warmth curling through her stomach, and she hated the way her pulse reacted.

His movements slowed, and then, in a seamless motion, he leaned in closer, his face mere inches from hers. His voice dropped lower, teasing yet unreadable.

"Why are you staring at me?" he asked. "Did you notice the pimple on my face? Do I look hideous?"

Carrie blinked, heat rushing to her cheeks.

Jae-wook's brows knitted together in concern as he studied her face. "You're turning red, is that normal?" he questioned, his voice laced with curiosity. "Are you sick?" He reached out, pressing his palm gently against her forehead to check her temperature.

That was it.

Something inside Carrie snapped, or maybe it ignited—she couldn't tell. But before she could think twice, her lips crashed onto his in a swift, impulsive kiss. The moment lasted no longer than a heartbeat before reality came crashing down on her. She gasped and took a staggering step back, her eyes blown wide in horror.

Oh my God. What did I just do?

Jae-wook stood frozen, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. Carrie wanted to run, to disappear into the floor, but before either of them could utter a word, a familiar voice echoed from the hallway.

"Huh? Who's in the kitchen?" Ava's voice carried closer, her footsteps approaching.

Panic shot through Carrie like a bolt of lightning. Without thinking, she grabbed Jae-wook by the wrist and yanked him behind the door, their bodies pressing together in the cramped space as they held their breath. The dim light of the kitchen barely illuminated their faces, and she could feel the rapid thumping of her heart—no, wait… was that his heart?

Ava stepped inside, her gaze sweeping the empty kitchen. She frowned. "No one's here… so why is the light on?" She let out an exasperated sigh before heading to the refrigerator. Pulling out a bottle of milk, she shut the door and, without another thought, switched off the light before retreating back to her room.

Silence stretched in the darkness.

Carrie finally exhaled deeply, her breath shaky. "I think she's gone."

Then she paused. "Oh, the light," she muttered, reaching into the pocket of her nightie for her phone.

Before she could turn it on, Jae-wook's hand gently pressed hers down. "It's fine. I'm starting to get used to it."

Her stomach did an unexpected flip at the warmth of his touch. Swallowing hard, she stammered, "L-Look, I'm really sorry about what just happened. I swear I have no idea what came over me. Maybe I'm sick! Maybe it's a fever, or—or just reflexes since you were standing too close, or—"

Her rambling was abruptly cut off as Jae-wook leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a slow, deliberate kiss. Not rushed. Not accidental. Just… certain.

When he pulled away, he looked straight into her stunned eyes and whispered, "I like you too."

Carrie's brain short-circuited. "T-That's impossible. You must be confused because of the kiss!"

Jae-wook chuckled softly. "You think I can be swayed by just one kiss?" His voice was steady, firm. "You might not have figured out what's brewing inside you yet, but I'm not mistaken about mine."

She blinked at him, her breath hitching.

Jae-wook exhaled quietly, stepping back slightly. "You don't have to rush. I'll be here when you're ready—when you finally figure out what's going on inside you." He reached out and ruffled her hair, the touch surprisingly affectionate. "Don't think about it too much, okay? Sleep well."

And with that, he turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving her standing there, rooted to the spot.

For a moment, she didn't move, didn't breathe.

Then, the realization of what had just happened hit her like a ton of bricks.

"What the hell just happened?!" she whispered, her hands flying to her face as she felt the heat creeping back into her cheeks. Her fingers grazed her lips as if trying to convince herself that the kisses had actually happened.

Jae-wook kissed me. And he said he likes me.

A helpless squeal escaped her, and she clutched her chest, her heart hammering wildly.

"Why are you smiling, you fool? You kissed him first!" she scolded herself, smacking her forehead lightly. But the memory of the way he shut her up with a kiss, the way his voice had held so much certainty, made her stomach flutter all over again.

She let out another squeal, bouncing slightly on her feet before burying her burning face in her hands.

"I'm doomed, I'm in love with the red sea it self" she whispered to herself "but again that's some spice" she added smiling like an absolute idiot in the dark kitchen.