After stuffing herself with dinner, Kate bathed and retired for the night. By the time dinner was ready, Kate had realised how her words could be taken but despite the red blush ever present on her face, she didn't retract it. This made the atmosphere a little awkward but Shui found it cute the entire time.
Though it was deep in the night, neither of them obediently went to sleep. Both of them would usually use this time to cultivate or study their spells and arts, but at this time they were stuck in reminiscence. While living in a world for just the two of them, they didn't consider what would happen if an outsider intruded.
The next day, Shui came out of his room to the sight of breakfast. He had already noticed Kate preparing it, but he was still surprised to see it and Kate with a light blue apron on.
"Wow, is this because of me or do you normally do this?"
"Are you gonna eat or not?"
Though Kate wore a stern expression and no longer seemed as innocent and joyful as last night, she still blushed in response to his question.
"Well, since you've put so much effort into it, I guess I'll dig in."
Kate acted like she didn't care but she nervously watched Shui take his first bite and sighed in relief once he seemed satisfied.
'Yes, the lessons paid off.'
She then took of her apron and sat down in front of him.
While the two of them enjoyed breakfast, Lisa and the two other female inner sect disciples that were close with Kate, entered Storm Court. The other two weren't as popular as Lisa in the inner sect, but due to their cute faces and good talents they were still well-liked in their own groups.
Normally only core disciples could enter without being called for, but since Kate had given these three her imprint, they were given limited access.
"Every time I come here I wish I could stay forever."
"I know right. The core disciples have it so good."
The two female disciples, Claris and Toa, had their usual conversation about the atmosphere of the Storm Court, but Lisa was stuck in a daze.
"Lisa?"
"Huh?"
Only after Claris tapped her shoulder did Lisa wake up and return her focus to them. She hastily tried to hide any sign of what she was thinking about, but both Claris and Toa already knew it. They looked at each other with playful smirks before Toa whistled.
"I didn't know I would be walking with a lovestruck maiden today."
"Neither did I," Claris added.
"Guys, stop it."
Lisa blushed as the two teased her but she made no excuses. While there were distasteful rumours that made Lisa out to be a loose woman, at the very least she never put her hands in two bowls. She might flirt occasionally but once she was in a relationship she would stick to it. However, these relationships were normally short-lived since she had long given in to the reality that she would be used in some political marriage by her family. Even her time as lovers with Clyde wasn't that long despite the fact that the two were childhood sweethearts.
However, this time, she felt something different. The fluttering feeling made her wonder if this would be her fantasy-like true love.
'Hmm, what's she doing here?'
Shui had finished breakfast and was sipping tea when he noticed Lisa approach with Toa and Claris. Kate hadn't told him about them but he figured that they were probably friends if they were allowed to come here.
'Hmm, I should leave.'
Shui quickly finished the rest of the tea and stood up.
"Well, I should go now."
"Hmm? Why? Do you have something to do?" Kate asked.
She didn't pout or look at him with longing, but as she tilted her head Shui felt an arrow pierce through his heart and slow his steps.
"Uh, yeah..."
Shui's speech capabilities dropped but he was still determined to leave.
"Wait!"
As Shui got up and started walking out, Kate grabbed his sleeve and quickly stood up to follow him. Her steps got hesitant as she got closer, but once she was close enough that Shui could feel her 'growth', Kate stood on her toes and laid a peck on Shui's check. For Shui, this reminded him of the day she left for Storm Sky Manor, but Kate remembered the daily scene of her mom and dad. After her mom kissed her dad on the cheek, she would then follow up with,
"Take care."
Kate's face seemed almost bright red while illuminated by the morning sun that made it through the mist, and that along with her shy smile took Shui's breath away.
With his thoughts temporarily stalled, Shui continued staring at her until three presences were already at the doorstep.
"Kate, you will not believe what happened to me yes,ter,day..."
Though Lisa managed to keep herself together on the way here, once she reached Kate's door she rushed in without knocking so that she could excitedly talk about her experience with Shui. However, after one step her excitement was blown away by a cold breeze. This was the very first time she saw such a sweet smile on Kate's face, but she could never have imagined that it would hurt so much to see it. Once Claris and Toa came up to the door and saw Kate and Shui, they were also speechless but the pain they felt was only from the sympathy they had for Lisa.
Shui could barely hold a polite smile together when he saw them, but Kate, oblivious to the background details, was the only one who could stay innocently happy.
"Oh girls! Let me introduce you to someone."
With a bright smile on her face, Kate presented Shui to the three.
"Shui, these are my friends Lisa, Toa and Claris. Girls, this is Shui, the one that I told you about."
"Oh..."
"Ah..."
The awkward responses from both sides made Kate confused, but before she could question it Shui decided to escape.
"Well, I'll just,"
*puff*
In an instant, Shui was behind the three girls and after waving goodbye he vanished from the area.
"Hmm, he must have some really important business."
In this place, only Kate couldn't guess the reason why Shui left so quickly. Once he was gone, Lisa tried to tell the truth to Kate.
"Um, Kate-"
"Wait please, I'll quickly get the tea ready."
Lisa and the girls as Kate's first and closest female friends, were the one who taught her how to cook, make tea and wear makeup so none of them could interrupt her as she worked in bliss. At first they planned on talking over tea, but once they sat at the table Kate couldn't stop herself from babbling on and on about Shui. It was the same thing that they did in front of her but seeing her finally participate in this sort of girl talk only left them with pained smiles that she didn't notice.
By the time they took the chance to leave, no conversation had taken place, it was only Kate being happy on her own. Once they were on their way back to the inner sect, Claris tried to comfort Lisa but was quickly shut down.
"Um, Lisa, are you-"
"Sorry, but can you leave me alone?"
When she turned her head to respond, there was an expression that she had never seen on Lisa's face before. One that silenced her.