CHAPTER FIFTEEN

After cooking my delicious meal…

"I'm done cooking," I said, pulling off the apron from my waist. Cody walked over to the table and gave the food a skeptical glance.

"Come on, it's not like I poisoned it," I said, throwing up my hands. "You were literally here the whole time I was cooking!"

He cleared his throat, picking up the chopsticks. "Okay... why don't you take the first bite?"

My eyes narrowed. So he didn't trust me? Maybe he needs a slap.

"Fine. Let's feed each other. That way, you know it's safe."

He agreed with a nod. I picked up the other set of chopsticks and we both dug into the steaming bowl of ramen.

We shared a quiet moment, savoring the flavors. Our eyes met, lingering a little too long.

"Maybe you're not that bad at cooking," he muttered.

"I told you! I could totally be a chef!" I grinned, lighting up. "Here, I want another taste. Feed me."

Without hesitation, he lifted his chopsticks, noodles dangling from the tips. My heart skipped. He never listens to me. Was he trying to get my attention—or had he already fallen for me?

I opened my mouth, and he fed me gently. My imagination ran wild.

And then… he leaned in and kissed me. But not just any kiss—he softly sucked the broth and noodles from my lips, lingering like he wanted to taste more than just the food.

I was frozen.

He pulled back, licking his lips slowly. "There was ramen on your lip," he said casually, ignoring the way my face had gone blank from shock.

Maybe I should leave tomorrow—before he starts kissing me every five seconds. But wait… wasn't I the one who should be doing this?

"It's late," he said. "Got anything to do before bed?"

"Yeah," I said, trying to sound normal. "You're taking me on a date tomorrow."

"Let's go to sleep," he replied.

"But first… carry me like a princess," I teased. Was he going to do it because he just kissed me like that?

He didn't move. For a good four minutes, he stood there, just staring at me.

So he wasn't going to carry me? All he wanted was to kiss me senseless?

"Okay, let's go," I said, dragging him toward the bedroom.

Wait… are we sleeping together?

As we stepped into the room, he wrapped an arm around my waist and led me into the larger bed. Panic fluttered in my chest.

But instead of what I expected… he gently pushed me onto the bed, tucked the blanket over me, and kissed my cheek.

Squeeee.

I touched my face, a smile breaking across my lips.

Tonight's dreams were going to be amazing.

---

As Alva slowly regained consciousness, her eyes fluttered open, blinking away the remnants of sleep. Groggily, she raised her hands to her face, touching her cheeks and forehead, as if to reassure herself that she was real.

She sat up in bed, swung her legs over the side, and planted her feet firmly on the ground. Then, she stood up, stretching her arms above her head and arching her back like a lazy cat.

Still feeling a bit disoriented, she shuffled to the bathroom, flipped on the light switch, and squinted at her reflection. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were still puffy with sleep.

After a quick glance, she turned away and returned to her bedroom. That's when she noticed it—her outfit for the day, laid out neatly on the bed.

She picked it up, gave it a quick once-over, and nodded to herself. "Time to get ready," she muttered, moving to her closet for shoes.

With quiet determination, she got dressed, tying her shoes with swift precision. She paused in front of the mirror, gave herself a nod, and declared, "I'm going."

"Going where?" came a voice behind her.

She turned around. "Work. I have a project to finish."

Cody crossed his arms, casually leaning against the doorframe. "You're not going to work. We're going out."

Where? That question echoed in her head, but she kept her expression neutral. Why now? Was he acting like this because of that experiment? Had he really fallen for her?

"Going where?" she finally managed to ask.

"To a haunted house," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Her eyes widened. Really? She'd always wanted to visit one, but no one ever agreed to go with her. She loved horror movies. Her mom used to joke, "Are you sure you're not a boy?"

"You don't look scared," Cody said, almost disappointed.

Did he really expect me to scream over a fake attraction?

"Why should I be scared of a haunted house?" she replied flatly.

"Okay," he muttered, his face falling like a dad disappointed in his daughter's report card.

♠ ♠ ♠

"Wait here. I'll go get the tickets," he said, then walked off.

Alva sat on a bench, inhaling the crisp evening air. She glanced around, people-watching, until a small voice caught her attention.

"Mommy, why is she sitting alone?" asked a little girl holding an ice cream cone.

"She's alone because she doesn't have a partner," the mom answered without hesitation.

Alva blinked, stunned. Seriously? Who says that to a six-year-old?

The child ran up to her, a frown on her tiny face. "Don't you have a partner?"

Alva squatted down and smiled. "Who told you that?"

The girl pointed to her mom across the way. Unbelievable.

"I do have a partner. What's your name, sweetheart?"

"I'm Debby," the girl replied, flashing a toothy grin with a gap where one front tooth had fallen out.

"Nice to meet you, Debby. I'm Alva."

Just then, Cody returned. Debby gasped and turned to him. "Is he your partner?"

Alva was about to say, No, he's just a friend, but stopped herself.

"You're so handsome, and you look really rich. I want him!" Debby shouted. "Mommy, I want him to be my dad! My boyfriend! My boyfriend!" She grabbed onto Cody's large hand.

"Yes?" he answered, amused.

Wait… he answered? He didn't pull away. Alva's heart did a weird flip. He likes kids? Should I… no. Wait. Am I jealous of a six-year-old?

"Hey, kid. He's not your dad. He's mine," Alva joked.

"Yah!" Debby yelled, laughing. "Promise me you won't marry someone cold like him!"

"Noooo!" she squealed, and Jessy came over, scooping her up.

"Sorry about that," Jessy said with a polite smile before walking off.

"Let's go," Cody said.

Now things are getting interesting, Alva thought, a grin spreading across her face.

♠ ♠ ♠

As Alva stood before the creepy, decaying mansion, a chill slithered down her spine despite the warm evening breeze. The sign above the entrance creaked in the wind, the words "Haunted House" faded and flickering under a dying lightbulb.

She smiled like a kid, giddy with anticipation.

At the ticket booth, an old woman greeted her with a crooked smile and a voice that scraped like gravel. "Welcome, dearie," she rasped, handing over two tickets. "Enjoy your stay… if you dare."

Alva giggled with excitement.

The moment they stepped inside, the air turned cold and heavy. The door slammed shut behind them with a bone-rattling clang.

Fog curled along the floor, and a foul, sweet scent of rotting flowers filled their noses. The walls were lined with portraits covered in dust and cobwebs, the eyes of the painted figures seeming to follow their every move.

As they walked deeper into the haunted house, the building groaned and creaked like it was alive, adjusting to their presence.

Then—a blood-curdling scream tore through the silence.

Alva flinched. Her heart skipped a beat. Cody grabbed her hand, but she didn't pull away.

Suddenly, a zombie with glowing red eyes and a bloodied knife lunged from a hidden panel in the wall. Alva screamed—a real one this time—but stood frozen in place.

Cody didn't hesitate. He yanked her hand and they ran, her feet barely keeping up with his. The walls seemed to shift, narrowing, the portraits morphing into grotesque, snarling faces.

They stumbled into a room filled with rusted medical tools. A single hospital bed stood under a circle of flickering candles.

From the shadows, a nurse emerged—twisted, mutilated, her face sewn together like a rag doll. She let out a high-pitched shriek and charged at them with a rusty syringe.

Cody pulled Alva behind him, then they both darted out, slamming the door behind them. Their chests heaved as they gasped for breath.

But they were still trapped.

The sounds of dragging chains and hissing whispers echoed around them. More twisted figures began to close in, surrounding them in the narrow corridor.

Just when panic began to claw at her throat, Alva spotted a faint light ahead. "There!"

They burst through the exit and tumbled into the sunlight, breathless and wide-eyed.

As they turned to look back at the haunted house, Alva clutched Cody's arm. "Never again," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Cody didn't say anything, but he didn't let go of her hand either.