I smiled at him as he handed me a cocktail. "Thank you, Kieran," I said, taking the glass and admiring the vibrant colors of the drink.
Kieran leaned casually against the counter, a playful grin on his face as he swirled the ice in his glass before taking a slow sip. He stretched his arms slightly, his posture effortlessly relaxed, exuding an easy confidence that made it seem like he belonged anywhere. "You're welcome. That's my signature cocktail, by the way. I call it 'The Kieran Effect.' Guaranteed to impress."
"Ah, confident are we? What if I'm not impressed?" I said with a smile, raising an eyebrow.
Kieran leaned in slightly, his grin widening. "Then clearly you have terrible taste, and I'll have to make you a second one to change your mind."
Maria chimed in, smirking. "Anh, you'd better be impressed. If not, I'll take the drink."
Anna laughed, nudging Maria. "Seriously, Kieran, you've set the bar pretty high. Let's hope 'The Kieran Effect' lives up to the hype."
I took a sip of the cocktail and blinked. The flavors were smooth yet bold—a mix of citrusy brightness and a subtle warmth that lingered, like a comforting presence. There was a hint of something unexpected too, a unique twist that made it stand out. It tasted like him—like if he was a drink, this would be it. "It... tastes like you," I said quietly.
Kieran raised an eyebrow, his grin softening into something more curious. "Is that a compliment? Because if it is, I'm taking it."
My eyes lingered on him for a moment, the warmth in my chest growing, before Maria and Anna started freaking out, their voices cutting through the moment.
"Wait, what do you mean it tastes like him?" Maria exclaimed, leaning forward with wide eyes.
Anna gasped dramatically. "Oh my god, Anh, you have to explain that right now!"
Kieran chuckled softly, his voice dipping into a teasing tone. "Don't overthink it, ladies. Clearly, I'm just that good." He shot me a knowing look, his grin playful but his eyes hinting at something deeper.
I let out a soft laugh. "I just meant that it tastes like... if he was a drink, this is what he would taste like. It tastes like home."
Maria's jaw dropped. "Okay, that's it. You're not allowed to say things like that without context!"
Anna clutched her chest dramatically. "I feel like I just walked into a romance novel. Anh, you've got to clarify before we lose it over here!"
Kieran's grin softened as he glanced at me, his playful tone dropping slightly. "Home, huh? I think I'll take that as the highest compliment." The word lingered in his mind, stirring something deeper he hadn't quite acknowledged before. There was a warmth in her voice, a sincerity that caught him off guard and made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't explain. For the first time in a long while, he felt a quiet longing—a sense that maybe, just maybe, he had found something worth staying for.
I let out a soft laugh. "You guys need to stop saying shit like that," I said with a smile. "Kieran is my roommate, and I'm already in a relationship."
Maria scoffed, folding her arms, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Yeah, yeah, with Nate. Who, by the way, never even joins game night. What kind of boyfriend doesn't want to spend time with you and your friends?"
Anna nodded, giving me a knowing look. "Exactly! Meanwhile, Kieran is over here making cocktails, playing games, and actually having fun with you. Just saying, Anh."
Maria smirked. "And let's be real, when was the last time Nate did anything that made you smile like this?" she added, motioning between me and Kieran.
I opened my mouth to protest, but the words caught in my throat. The truth was, Nate didn't do those things. He didn't spend time like this, didn't laugh like this, didn't make me feel as effortlessly light as Kieran did. I shook the thought away, brushing it off with a forced chuckle. "You guys are reading way too much into this."
Kieran chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think they're onto us, Anh. Should we start coming up with matching alibis now?" His tone was light, but there was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression as he glanced at me.
I dismissed his comment with a wave and a laugh, but something lingered in the air between us. We played well into the night, the room filled with laughter, friendly jabs, and dramatic exclamations as the game went on. Eventually, Maria and Anna began to gather their things to leave.
"You know, Anh, you've got a dangerously good setup here," Maria said, grinning as she pulled on her coat. "Between this apartment and Kieran's cocktails, I might start showing up uninvited."
Anna laughed, nudging her. "Same here. Honestly, Kieran, you've raised the bar for roommates everywhere. Don't let it go to your head."
Kieran smirked, leaning against the counter with an easy air. "Too late. But thanks for the ego boost."
As the door closed behind them, the apartment felt quieter, yet something remained unspoken between Kieran and me. He glanced at me, the playful smirk still in place but his eyes softer, unreadable. "So, did 'The Kieran Effect' live up to the hype?"
I hesitated, my fingers tightening slightly around the empty glass, my thoughts swirling in a way I wasn't ready to face. "Yeah... yeah, I think it did."