FEELINGS AND DREAMS

>>Next Morning>>

Zoey stepped out of her room, her skin still warm from the shower, the scent of vanilla and honey lingering in the air. She ran her fingers through her damp hair and made her way to the kitchen. The morning was peaceful, and she hummed softly as she set out the ingredients to prepare pasta and pork stew. She had just reached for the pot when she heard footsteps behind her. Slow. Measured. Familiar. Her heart stuttered. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Ty.

She forced herself to focus, pretending not to notice. But just as she reached for a cabbage, it slipped from her grasp and tumbled to the floor. Without thinking, she bent down to grab it—only for her fingers to brush against another hand. Warm. Firm. Steady. Her breath caught as she lifted her gaze, and there he was. Ty. Just inches away. His hand resting atop hers. His dark eyes locked onto hers. Something sparked between them, something silent yet deafening. The warmth of his skin seeped into hers, sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. For a moment, neither of them moved, neither of them breathed.

Zoey quickly yanked her hand away and stood up too fast, turning toward the stove as if the near-burning pot was suddenly the most interesting thing in the world. 'Breakfast is almost ready,' she mumbled, her voice not as steady as she wanted it to be. Ty didn't say anything. But she could feel his gaze lingering a second longer before he finally stepped back. They sat together and ate, both pretending nothing had happened. But Zoey knew the truth. Something had changed.

Later that day in the mid-evening, Zoey wandered into the garden, mindlessly watching reels on her phone. She wasn't paying attention to her steps until—snap! Her foot landed on a pipe, and before she could react, water shot up from the broken sprinkler, drenching her in a cold, shocking downpour. She let out a gasp, shivering as her white top clung to her skin. Hugging her arms around herself, she hurried inside. The moment she stepped through the door, a familiar voice greeted her.

'Did it rain, or did you decide to take a shower outside?'

Zoey froze. Slowly, she turned her head. Ty was leaning against the staircase railing, arms crossed, amusement twinkling in his eyes. Her face burned. 'I—I broke the pipe,' she admitted sheepishly.

His brows lifted slightly. 'What pipe?'

'The sprinkler,' she mumbled.

Silence.

The way he just stared at her, not saying anything, made her even more nervous. She quickly started up the stairs, eager to escape the conversation. But Ty was heading up at the same time, and as she tried to move faster, her damp feet betrayed her.

Her foot slipped.

She barely had time to gasp before gravity pulled her backward. But she didn't hit the floor. Instead, strong arms caught her. Her body collided with warmth. Familiar. Safe. Ty.

Her breath hitched. One of his arms was wrapped securely around her waist, his other hand gripping the railing to steady them both. But the unexpected weight threw him off balance, and with a grunt, he dropped to one knee. Zoey's hands landed on his shoulders, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. Their faces were too close. Their breaths mingled. She could feel his heartbeat against her own. Her stomach flipped. Ty held her there, his grip strong yet gentle, his dark eyes searching hers.

Then—'Ma'am,' Ty said, voice low, 'I think my knee is hurting.'

Zoey blinked, jolting out of the trance she hadn't realized she'd fallen into. 'Oh! I—I'm so sorry!' she stammered, scrambling to stand.

Ty exhaled, standing with her, adjusting his shirt as if trying to shake off whatever had just happened. But as he took a step back—his foot landed on a wet spot. And then—he slipped.

Zoey's hands shot out to grab him, instinct taking over. But instead of steadying him—she lost her balance too. They tumbled. And before she could process what was happening, she was lying on top of him, their bodies tangled together on the floor.

Zoey's breath caught. The warmth of his chest beneath her, the way his arm had instinctively wrapped around her waist again, the way their faces were so, so close—her stomach erupted in butterflies. She sucked in a sharp breath, too afraid to move. Because if she did… she wasn't sure she'd be able to pretend this was just another accident.

Ty was staring at her, his jaw tight, his eyes darker than usual. Something had shifted between them. And this time, she wasn't sure they could ignore it.

Ty pushed open Zhoeys' door, his heart racing with anticipation. The air was electric, charged with unspoken emotions. "I think I've fallen for you," he whispered, his voice husky with desire.

Zhoey's eyes widened, her lips parting in surprise. "But you hate—"

Ty's fingers brushed against her lips, silencing her. "Shhh... let's make this work."

The room seemed to shrink, the space between them crackling with tension. Zhoey's hair was tied up, but Ty's fingers deftly untangled the strands, letting them cascade down her back like a waterfall of silk.

At first, Zhoeys was stiff, her body resistant to Ty's touch. But as his hands stroked her hair, her shoulders began to relax, her eyes drifting shut. She couldn't help herself; she reached out, her fingers trembling as she undid the buttons on Ty's shirt.

The sound of buttons popping open was like a trigger, releasing a floodgate of passion. Ty's lips brushed against Zhoeys', sending shivers down her spine. He trailed kisses down her neck, his hot breath igniting a fire that threatened to consume her.

Zhoey's moans were quiet at first, but as Ty's lips and fingers explored her body, her sounds grew louder, more insistent. She couldn't help herself; she was lost in the sensation, her body arching into Ty's touch.

Ty's voice was low, husky, urging her on. "Don't hide it... I want to hear you."

The room was a blur of heat and color, the air thick with desire. Zhoey's hand slipped down Ty's chest, her fingers dipping into the waistband of his trousers...

*FUCK*!!!

Ty woke up, drenched in sweat, with a lingering sense of frustration. "Seriously, brain? That's how you choose to torture me?"

He threw off the covers and stumbled to the bathroom to wash up immediately after that he went to the kitchen to make some coffee. As he waited for the brew, he couldn't help but think about the dream.

Zhoey's smile, her laughter, and those piercing eyes... it all felt so real. But Ty was determined not to let his subconscious get the better of him.

He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table, trying to shake off the vivid images. But his mind kept wandering back to the dream.

"What if?"

Ty stood frozen, his eyes locked on Zhoeys' as she entered the kitchen. The dream still lingered in his mind, and for a moment, reality blurred.

Zhoeys noticed Ty's distant stare and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, are you okay?"

Ty snapped back to reality, his face flushing with embarrassment. "Shit!" he muttered, before quickly apologizing. "I'm sorry."

Zhoeys looked concerned, but Ty couldn't handle the awkwardness. He quickly retreated to his room, shutting the door behind him.

As he leaned against the door, Ty couldn't help but laugh at his own foolishness. What was wrong with him?

He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering emotions. But as he looked around his room, he couldn't help but wonder...

what if?.

Zhoey made lunch but Ty didn't come for lunch nor dinner, she thought what if and didn't bother much....

It was already dinner time and he didn't turn up again? She probably has to look for him, he could be asleep or studying.

Zhoey voice echoed through the empty room. "Ty, I'm coming in!" But when she entered, the room was silent. She called out again, "Ty, where are you?"

She searched every nook and cranny, but there was no sign of him. Starting to get worried, Zhoeys made her way to the balcony, sliding open the glass door.

As she stepped out into the cool evening air, she spotted Ty leaning against the railing, staring out at the city skyline. His back was to her, and his shoulders seemed tense.

Zhoey's heart skipped a beat as she approached him, her footsteps quiet on the balcony floor. "what's going on?" she asked softly, concerned etched in her voice.

Ty's gaze locked onto Zhoeys', his eyes searching for something. And then, like a floodgate opening, memories came rushing back. The dream, the feelings, the awkwardness...

"Shit," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Without a word, Ty turned and walked away, leaving Zhoeys standing alone on the balcony. The city lights twinkled behind her, but her eyes were fixed on Ty's retreating back.

She took a step forward, her voice whisper-soft. "Pinky?"

"Stop calling me that"

That's not my name

Zhoey's eyes widened, taken aback by Ty's sudden rudeness. "Okay, sorry," she said softly, her voice laced with hurt.

Ty didn't respond. He just shut the door behind him, leaving Zhoeys standing alone on the balcony.

As he leaned against the door in his room. Ty let out a frustrated sigh. He couldn't believe he'd almost lost control. Being alone with Zhoeys was torture. Every moment with her made him question his own sanity.

He needed space, time to think straight. But with Zhoeys around, his thoughts were a jumbled mess. Ty rubbed his temples, trying to ward off the impending headache.

Why did she have to be so... distracting?

Ty's thoughts swirled in turmoil as he submerged himself in the icy water. The chill was a welcome distraction from the guilt gnawing at his conscience.

Why did he feel so bad about being rude to Zhoeys? He wasn't exactly known for his tact, and usually, he didn't lose sleep over hurting someone's feelings.

But Zhoey was different. Her hurt tone had pierced him like a dagger, and now he couldn't shake off the feeling of remorse.

As the ice cubes melted around him, Ty's frustration grew. What was happening to him? Was he losing his edge?

The questions swirled in his mind until exhaustion finally took over, and Ty's eyelids drooped.

The next morning, Ty emerged from his room, looking like he'd been put through a wringer. His eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was pale.

Zhoey was already up, sipping coffee in the kitchen. She looked up as Ty entered, her expression guarded and greeted him in a cold tone.

"Morning."

Ty took a deep breath, his voice barely above a whisper. "Morning."

He felt a pang of regret, his heart sinking. He nodded, trying to play it cool, and took a seat opposite her.

The silence between them was palpable, the tension thick. Ty's eyes darted back to Zhoeys, searching for any sign of forgiveness. But her expression remained guarded, her eyes fixed on the coffee cup in front of her.

The silence grew, and Ty's anxiety spiked. He glanced up to see Zhoeys pushing her chair back, her eyes still fixed on the coffee cup. Without a word, she stood up, her movements economical and precise.

It seemed like she was mad at him, or was clearly giving him space in a rude way. Ty's heart sank as he watched her walk away, her back straight and unyielding. He felt a pang of regret and frustration, unsure of how to bridge the gap between them.

Ty's eyes dropped to the floor, his mind reeling with self-recrimination. "Fuck," he cursed under his breath, his fists clenched in frustration.

What had he done? He'd never meant to hurt Zhoeys like this. The silence, the distance, the pain he'd caused her - it was all literally torture to him.

Why must it be zhoey to break down those tight-built walls?