As Ayla and I sat down at the table, the playful banter between us never really subsided. Her eyes followed me as I moved around the kitchen, the scent of fresh ingredients filling the air. I couldn't help but notice how relaxed she looked, leaning back slightly in her chair, a soft smile playing on her lips. The flirtation from earlier still lingered, but now it was more subtle, woven into our conversation like a comfortable rhythm.
"You're really going to cook for me?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in mock disbelief. "I thought you just flexed your muscles and left the hard work to others."
I laughed, pulling a cutting board closer. "Oh, you have no idea. Once you taste what I can do in the kitchen, there's no going back." I shot her a playful look over my shoulder. "You sure you're ready for this, Aunt Ayla? My cooking might ruin you for everyone else."
She gave me a smirk, leaning her chin on her hand as she watched me work. "You always did like a challenge, didn't you, Rosé? Just don't get too cocky. I've had some pretty amazing meals in my time."
I winked at her. "This is going to be different. Just wait and see."
As I worked, my hands moved quickly and precisely, chopping, stirring, and seasoning with practiced ease. The kitchen was filled with the sound of sizzling, the rich aroma of spices and herbs slowly filling the space. I could feel Ayla's gaze on me the entire time, and I made sure to keep the conversation light, throwing in a tease here and there to keep her on her toes.
"So," I said, slicing into a ripe tomato, "if my cooking's as good as I say, you think you'll be coming over for lunch more often?"
Ayla chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "If it's as good as you claim, you might have a hard time getting rid of me."
I grinned, plating a beautifully cooked dish and setting it aside for Rosalia and Mira. "That sounds like a win to me."
Once the meal for Rosalia and Mira was ready, I picked up the plates carefully and made my way toward the bedroom. "Don't go anywhere," I called over my shoulder to Ayla. "I'll be right back to spoil you with the best lunch you've ever had."
She laughed softly as I left the room, and I quickly delivered the meals to Rosalia and Mira. They were resting, still wrapped up in their shared warmth, and I couldn't help but smile as I placed the food on the bedside table.
"Enjoy," I whispered to them both, kissing Rosalia's cheek gently before slipping out of the room and returning to Ayla.
When I got back to the table, Ayla was still sitting there, looking amused. "You're a regular charmer, aren't you? Taking care of everyone, making sure we're all spoiled."
I sat down across from her, finally ready to enjoy the meal. "Just doing my part," I said with a grin, placing a plate in front of her. "Now, taste this and tell me I'm not the best chef you've ever known."
Ayla leaned forward, picking up her fork and taking a bite. For a moment, her eyes widened, and she let out a soft, involuntary hum of appreciation. "Okay," she said after swallowing, her voice filled with surprise. "I hate to admit it, but this is incredible."
I laughed, leaning back in my chair. "Told you."
We continued eating, the conversation flowing easily between us. We caught up on everything, discussing the village, the farm, and even some of the lighter moments from when we were younger. Every now and then, I'd throw in a little teasing remark or flirtatious comment, just to see the blush rise on her cheeks or catch the way her eyes sparkled when she responded in kind.
"You know," she said at one point, resting her fork on her plate and giving me a knowing look, "you're a lot more dangerous than you used to be, Rosé. Not just in height or strength, but in how you carry yourself. It's… impressive."
I met her gaze, feeling the warmth of her words sink in. "You think so?"
She smiled, nodding slowly. "I do. But don't let it go to your head too much."
I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping to a softer tone. "I'm not sure I can help it when you're sitting here looking at me like that."
Her smile deepened, but she didn't shy away. "And how am I looking at you?"
"Like I might just be more than you bargained for."
Ayla laughed softly, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
"Yeah, but you like that, don't you?" I teased, finishing off the last of my meal with a satisfied sigh.
As we lingered over the remnants of the meal, the air between us felt warm and easy, like an unspoken connection was beginning to settle in. Ayla's gaze flickered from her empty plate to me, her lips curled into a soft, teasing smile. I could see the curiosity in her eyes, but there was also something deeper—a warmth, a familiarity, and perhaps even a hint of something more that made the moment feel alive.
"You know," she began, tapping her fingers gently on the edge of her plate, "I've been thinking... You didn't just grow taller. Something's changed in you."
I raised an eyebrow, leaning back in my chair, my arms folded casually across my chest. "Oh? And what exactly do you mean by that?" I teased, knowing full well she had more on her mind.
Ayla tilted her head, her eyes narrowing playfully. "You carry yourself differently now. There's something... magnetic about you. You've always been confident, but now... there's something else."
I smiled, leaning forward a little, resting my elbows on the table as I met her gaze. "Magnetic, huh? I like the sound of that. Maybe you're just noticing me more."
She laughed softly, her cheeks flushing a bit. "Maybe. Or maybe you're just hard to ignore now, towering over everyone."
"Ah, so it's the height that's finally winning you over?" I grinned, resting my chin on my hand, my eyes locking with hers. "All this time, I thought it was my charm."
"Charm is debatable," she shot back with a smirk, though her tone was light, teasing. "But you've got other qualities going for you."
"Other qualities?" I leaned in further, closing the space between us, my voice dropping into a softer, more intimate tone. "Now you've got me curious, Ayla. Care to elaborate?"
Her eyes flickered down for a moment, the flush on her cheeks deepening as she gathered her thoughts. She was trying to keep up her playful banter, but I could see the shift in her—something more real was taking hold.
"You've... matured," she said after a moment, her voice softer now. "Not just physically, but... in other ways too. The way you handle yourself, the way you've been working on the farm, creating things from nothing—it's... impressive. It's hard not to notice."
I let her words hang in the air for a moment, the compliment sinking in. There was no denying that my growth had been dramatic, but hearing it from Ayla like this, in such an unguarded way, made it feel more meaningful.
"Well," I said, my voice low and steady, "it's good to know that all the hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. But I think you're giving me too much credit."
She shook her head, leaning back slightly, but her eyes never left mine. "No, I don't think so. You've always been... different, Rosé. Special. But now... it's like you're coming into your own. I don't know how to explain it."
I smiled gently, appreciating the sincerity in her words. "I'm just doing what feels right, Ayla. And maybe you're right—maybe I am starting to figure things out. But enough about me."
I reached across the table, gently brushing my fingers along the back of her hand, letting the moment between us deepen. "What about you? I've been so caught up in everything, I haven't asked how you've been."
Ayla's eyes softened at my touch, and for a moment, she seemed caught off guard by the sudden shift in attention. "I've been... good," she said, her voice a little quieter now. "Busy, as always, but... good."
"Busy, huh?" I raised an eyebrow, my thumb tracing soft circles on her skin. "You make it sound like you've got no time to relax."
She smiled, a little rueful. "You know how it is. There's always something to do in the village. And... well, it's not like I have someone around to make me lunch every day."
I chuckled softly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I can't have you going hungry, now can I? Maybe I'll have to make this a regular thing—cooking for you, keeping you company."
Her breath hitched slightly, her eyes locking with mine again. "Is that an offer?"
I leaned in, my voice barely above a whisper. "If you want it to be."
There was a pause, a moment where neither of us spoke, but the intensity between us grew. The flirtation had deepened into something more meaningful, more vulnerable, and I could feel the weight of it in the air.
"You're dangerous, Rosé," she murmured, her voice soft but filled with something that felt like admiration. "You make it too easy to fall into this... whatever this is."
I smiled gently, brushing a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. "It doesn't have to be complicated, Ayla. We've always had this... connection. Maybe it's time we stopped ignoring it."
Her eyes searched mine for a long moment, and then she let out a soft breath, her tension easing as she leaned into my touch. "You're right. Maybe it's time we stopped pretending."
The moment between us lingered, and I could feel the warmth of her hand in mine, the closeness of her presence. There was something undeniably intimate about this quiet connection, this shared understanding that we didn't need to rush, but we also didn't need to hold back anymore.
I leaned in, closing the space between us just a little more, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I've always admired you, Ayla. Maybe I haven't said it enough, but... I mean it."
Her lips parted slightly, her breath catching as she looked up at me. "Rosé..."
Before she could finish, I closed the distance between us, my lips brushing softly against hers in a kiss that felt both gentle and inevitable. It wasn't rushed or urgent, just a slow, tender meeting of lips that spoke volumes of the unspoken connection we had been dancing around for so long.
When we finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, and she looked at me with a mixture of surprise and affection. "You really don't do anything halfway, do you?"
I chuckled, resting my forehead against hers. "Not when it comes to you."