Kyle stepped out of the car and walked around to open the door for Yvienna. As she gracefully stepped out, he couldn't help but admire her. No matter how many times he saw her, he never grew tired of her beauty. Her long eyelashes, those hazel eyes that gleamed under the city lights, her wavy chestnut hair cascading over her shoulders, and the sharp yet delicate features of her high cheekbones and defined jawline—she was utterly breathtaking.
"Where are we?" she asked, blinking twice as her gaze settled on him.
Kyle cleared his throat, catching himself staring at her lips. "I—I told your mother I'd borrow you for a while. I wanted to have dinner with you."
Her eyes widened slightly before flickering to his ears, which were now tinged red. She smirked. Is he shy?
"Yeah? But why here?" she questioned, glancing at the tall building in front of them.
"M-my condo is here," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I... wanted to cook for us."
Her heart fluttered at his words. Was this real? Kyle, of all people, wanted to cook dinner for her? Excitement bubbled within her. She had always dreamt of having someone cook for her, and now here he was—about to turn that dream into reality.
"Shall we?" he asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.
She nodded, following him inside. The ride up the elevator was quiet, but anticipation hummed between them. As the doors slid open, they stepped into his condo, and her eyes immediately wandered around. The modern interior, with its neutral tones, gave the space a sophisticated yet cozy feel. A large painting of a moon hung on the wall, accompanied by neatly placed plants in pristine white vases. The kitchen island caught her attention—scented candles were scattered across it, filling the air with a warm vanilla essence.
"You live alone here?" she asked, watching him roll up his sleeves.
Kyle glanced at her as he tied a brown apron around his waist. "Yeah, I'm planning to—due to certain circumstances."
She hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "Do you need help?"
He studied her for a second, then pointed to the raw chicken beside the rice cooker. "Can you wash those?"
"Got it," she replied confidently, moving toward the sink. Turning on the faucet, she grabbed a bottle of dishwashing liquid and a sponge, scrubbing the chicken diligently.
Kyle, busy washing vegetables, turned his head—and froze. His eyes widened in horror. "W-what are you doing?"
"Washing the chicken, like you asked," she said, still focused on her task.
"With dishwashing soap and a sponge?" His voice was laced with disbelief as he gently pulled her hands away from the sink.
"Of course! It needs to be cleaned properly, right?" she reasoned, utterly unaware of her mistake.
Kyle let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "My Luna, dish soap is for kitchenware, not meat."
Yvienna's face turned crimson. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't know..."
She felt utterly embarrassed. She had never really cooked or cleaned growing up—her parents had always pampered her like a princess. While she had seen the maids handle the kitchen, she had never actually learned how to do it herself.
"Don't be sorry. Come here, I'll show you," he said, his voice gentle as he guided her hands under the running water. "Just rinse it like this, then place it here to drain."
She nodded, watching him attentively.
"You can watch me cook tonight. Maybe next time, we can cook together,"
Her heart skipped a beat. Next time? So this wasn't a one-time thing? He was already thinking of more moments like this? Her stomach did a little flip, excitement bubbling in her chest.
Kyle started chopping ingredients, moving with effortless skill. Yvienna stood by his side, watching like a curious child. Every now and then, he stole glances at her, amused by how intently she observed him.
"Cute," he murmured under his breath, but she didn't seem to hear.
As he sautéed garlic, the rich aroma filled the air, making her stomach grumble. She instinctively covered her abdomen, hoping he hadn't noticed—but his smirk told her otherwise.
"What are you cooking?" she asked, trying to distract herself.
"Chicken Adobo, my Luna."
She turned toward the large window beside the kitchen, where the city lights sprawled beneath them like a sea of glowing stars. "It's beautiful..."
Kyle stepped behind her. "You like it?"
"You're done cooking?" she asked, still mesmerized by the view.
"Yep. Ready to eat?" he asked, and before she could respond, his arms wrapped gently around her. She gasped, feeling the warmth of his body against her back. His scent—a mix of musk and something uniquely him—lingered in the air, making her heart race.
"L-let's eat," she stammered, stepping away to compose herself.
Kyle chuckled but didn't say anything as he set the table. "What juice do you want?"
"Grape, please," she replied, eyeing the steaming dish before her. Her mouth watered just looking at it.
He poured the juice and served her a generous portion, watching her reaction as she took the first bite. The savory, tangy flavor of the Adobo burst in her mouth, perfectly balanced with the rice. Her eyes widened in delight.
"Is it good?" he asked, amused by her reaction.
"It's amazing! You're a really good cook," she said, giving him a thumbs-up.
Kyle grinned. "I'm glad you like it."
As they continued eating, his phone suddenly rang. Their eyes met before he excused himself, stepping away to answer the call. Yvienna continued eating but couldn't help sneaking glances at him. His expression turned serious, the playful glint in his eyes replaced with something unreadable. The way he carried himself, so effortlessly confident, made her heart flutter even more.
Then, a beep from her own phone snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked down at the notification—a message from an unknown number.
Unknown:
I miss you, Vien.
Her blood ran cold.
That nickname... it had been a long time since anyone called her that. A familiar rage flickered in her chest, but before she could dwell on it, Kyle returned, his warm smile breaking through her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his gaze searching hers.
"Y-yeah," she replied, shoving her phone into her pocket.
He studied her for a moment, but when she gave him a reassuring smile, he let it go. "Wanna watch a movie before I drive you home?"
Yvienna glanced at the large flat-screen TV, then back at him. "Sounds good!" she said, pushing aside the unease from the message.
For now, she wanted to enjoy this moment with him.