Touch...

Serena somehow managed to keep her thoughts about the upcoming online classes in Mike's apartment to herself. While she had been annoyed before, now she felt more relaxed. Mike, on the other hand, was growing increasingly tense after reading the school's message about homework and class notes.

"I wanna die, Miss," Mike mumbled at the dining table while Serena carried their plates to the sink.

"Then go outside without a mask and sanitizer," Serena quipped while scrubbing the dishes. "I think you'll fulfill your wish that way."

"Oh, come on, Miss. Don't joke around," Mike groaned, resting his chin on his palm.

'In two days, online classes will start...' Mike thought darkly. 'I'll kill that principal when I get my hands on him. Just let me graduate first, you asshole. Then I'll make you pay.'

Suddenly, his phone buzzed again. It was a message from his friend in their group chat: VIRGIN LAND. The chat was flooded with angry and shocked messages about the unexpected announcement. Mike tossed his phone aside with a frustrated sigh and slumped onto the sofa.

'Damn it... it's not even the classes that bother me most. It's the fact that Miss Serena's here... and she won't let me skip a single one.'

After finishing the dishes, Serena noticed Mike's mood and walked over to the living room. She sat down beside him on the sofa and asked, "Hey, Mike. Why are you acting so gloomy? It's not like you're really going to school… you'll just be staring at a screen."

"Be... on the screen…" Mike muttered under his breath. He suddenly turned to Serena and asked hesitantly, "Miss... would you let me skip...some classes?"

"Absolutely not." Serena replied firmly, without a second thought.

"Please, Miss! You can't do this to me. I'll die if I have to attend every class!"

"So what? I don't care," Serena teased, secretly enjoying how flustered Mike looked. She couldn't help but smile a little.

"Okay, okay… How about this?" Mike straightened up, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Can you at least let me skip your class?"

"My class?" Serena's eyebrows shot up. "You want to skip my History class?!"

Mike leaned closer to her on the sofa, lowering his voice. "No, you're getting it wrong. What I mean is… you'll be right here, in front of me anyway. So what's the point of logging in for your class? You could always teach me in the evening over dinner or something..."

Serena chuckled lightly.

'Look at him… all frustrated and annoyed. But... why does he look so cute right now?' she thought.

She placed her hand on his shoulder and said, "Alright, I'll let you skip my classes."

Mike's face brightened with relief. "Oh, thank you, Miss! I knew you'd understand my pain!"

But before Mike could celebrate too much, Serena tightened her grip on his shoulder and added, "In return, you'll have to make a detailed drawing of me, just like the one you did of Amy."

"Huh?" Mike blinked in confusion. "B-but… what about the money...for the drawing?"

"Oh, how can you ask your teacher for money, Mike?" Serena smirked. "Think of it as a mutual exchange."

'Damn it… Looks like I have no choice,' Mike groaned internally. 'Alright, fine… I'll draw you, Soulless Beauty, for free.'

With a deep sigh, Mike leaned back against the sofa. "Fine… I'll draw you, like I did with Amy."

Hearing that, Serena's face lit up. Her heart fluttered unexpectedly, and a warm feeling spread through her chest. A wide, genuine smile appeared on her face — a smile that felt different from her usual guarded expressions.

Then suddenly, Mike was hit with a realization — if he was going to draw Serena anyway, why not have a little fun while doing it? A mischievous smile crept across his face as he looked up at her.

Serena, who had been living with him for some time now, recognized that smile instantly. She narrowed her eyes.

"Hey, Miss... could you let me observe and touch your face and body a little?"

"Wh-what are you saying, you...!" Serena stammered, instinctively wrapping her arms around her chest as if to shield herself.

"Relax, Miss," Mike said with exaggerated innocence. "Think about it I'll be able to draw you more precisely if I observe your face and whole body closely... with my sharp artist's eyes."

"You…" Serena's eyes widened. "Did you say something like this to Amy too?"

Mike paused for a second, pretending to think. "Well... no. I had her photo with me, so I just drew from that."

"Then can't you draw mine from a photo too?"

"Miss," Mike said with an air of mock seriousness, "a photo might be good, but drawing while closely observing the model — studying their form, their anatomy, even feeling the angles that's what makes the artwork great. Plus… it'll speed up the process."

Serena stared at him, her gaze narrowing as she searched his eyes for any trace of inappropriate intent. But all she found was that familiar playfulness — the teasing glint that had become typical of Mike.

With a sigh, she relaxed her arms and muttered, "Fine... you can do it."

Mike's grin widened.

"But," Serena added firmly, pointing a finger at him, "you better not try anything weird... or else…"

She wasn't sure why she had agreed. Clearly, he was just messing with her — she knew that. So... why? Why couldn't she say no? She couldn't find the answer.

"Yeah, yeah," Mike chuckled. "Just trust me, Miss." A small, teasefull smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "So… can I start now?"

Serena sighed again, turning to face him. She tucked her legs up onto the sofa and crossed them, then closed her eyes. "Alright… go on."

'I-I thought she'd refuse... but why did she agree?' Mike wondered. 'Still... I can't back out now.'

He moved closer, slowly raising his left hand. Gently, he placed his palm on Serena's cheek, his fingertips grazing her jawline and neck while his thumb rested near her cheekbone.

The moment his hand touched her skin, Serena's eyes shot open.

For a second, neither of them moved. Their gazes locked, her wide, startled eyes meeting his. A jolt of electricity seemed to spark between them, unexpected yet undeniable.

Serena felt her face warming. She tried to avert her eyes, but they kept flicking back to him. Mike's fingers remained still on her face, but his touch lingered — warm and oddly comforting.

Both of their cheeks flushed pink.

'What the fuck is this feeling?' Serena wondered, her heart pounding in her chest. Meanwhile, Mike couldn't stop staring either. His fingers twitched slightly against her skin. His teasing smile had faded now, replaced by something softer, something… unsure.

'Her cheeks... they're so soft. Is this how a woman's skin feels?' Mike wondered, his fingers still resting on Serena's face. The warmth of her skin lingered against his palm, making his heartbeat quicken.

Hesitant to break the silence, Mike finally asked, his voice quieter than usual, "M-Miss... are you okay? You're not uncomfortable, are you?"

Serena blinked rapidly, as if snapping out of a trance. "N-no... I'm not uncomfortable," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just that... except for my family, no one's ever touched me like this before... but... you can go on."

'Her voice…she's... nervous isn't it?' Mike wondered.

"O-okay... I'll continue," Mike replied, his own voice shaky.

He shifted his position, pulling his legs up onto the sofa to face her directly. His left hand still cupped her cheek, and now he brought his right hand to her other cheek, mirroring his earlier touch.

Serena lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest, yet she didn't pull away. Mike gently lifted her face, tilting her head as though she were a delicate doll. His fingers brushed against her skin with surprising care.

He slid his head slightly to the side, observing her face from a different angle, the soft curve of her jawline, the way her hair framed her face. He turned her head slightly one way, then the other, before returning it to its original position.

"D-Do it quickly…" Serena murmured, her voice barely audible.

Mike gave a slight nod. Slowly, he withdrew his left hand, feeling an unexpected pang of disappointment from Serena's side — a fleeting expression in her eyes that almost seemed... regretful.

But before she could speak, Mike reached for her hair. His fingers moved delicately through the strands, parting them to reveal her ear. His fingertips trailed along the curve of her ear slow and deliberate. His touch was gentle yet firm, exploring the delicate skin with surprising precision. Serena's breath hitched slightly, but she said nothing.

When he finally withdrew his hand, she felt a strange emptiness — as though something comforting had just been taken away.

But then, Mike's hand returned, this time moving further than before.

His thumb brushed against her lower lip.

Serena's eyes widened at the unexpected touch. Her lips, soft and warm, parted slightly beneath his thumb. A faint gasp escaped her.

'God… her lips…' Mike swallowed hard. His thumb lingered there, his breath becoming heavier. Her lips were softer than he'd imagined — like silk beneath his touch. An unfamiliar urge surged inside him, the sudden desire to pull her closer, to close the small gap between them... to kiss her.

'No... no, stop it...' Mike forced the thought away, pushing down the feeling clawing at his chest.

"Miss… you're okay with this?" he asked hesitantly, his voice almost breaking.