CHAPTER 5

It was already 3:39 p.m. when the five of them finally dispersed from the café.

Zephyr left with Dean, saying

" it's getting late",

but not before dropping a comment that left Velvet scowling. Amber also left soon after, saying she had to go babysit her siblings.

The road was calmer now as people returned to their daily routines.

As the two girls walked side by side, Velvet's thoughts drifted back to the events of the day-especially to Zephyr, Dean, and Emily.

The expressions and reactions Emily had shown earlier left Velvet with a thought she didn't want to dwell on for too long.

"Millie." she called, her voice calm and clear.

Emily hummed. "Hmm?"

"The guy I said I had a crush on... it's Dean."

Velvet didn't beat around the bush.

She never did.

Emily's bell-like laughter rang out as they walked.

"Really?" she said, though her voice dipped slightly at the end.

Velvet noticed it.

Observation was one of her quiet specialties.

"Yeah. What do you think?"

The question was simple-just a friend seeking another friend's opinion.

Emily paused. She cleared her throat before answering jokingly.

"I think you should tell him," she said lightly. "Otherwise, I'll do you the honors."

It sounded playful, but Velvet noticed the seriousness flashing in Emily's eyes. For a brief moment, the air between them felt strangely heavy.

"So till now, your prized grievance with Zephyr still hasn't changed?" Emily suddenly laughed, clearly trying to change the topic.

"He's super annoying. I can't help it."

Soon they reached the bus stop. Emily took a taxi, while Velvet headed to begin her shift at the bakery café where she worked part-time.

• • • •

It was 10:15 p.m. by the time Velvet got back home.

Exhaustion weighed heavily on her body.

The rush hour at the café had been brutal, leaving her completely drained.

The house lights were still turned off, just as she had left them that morning.

That could only mean one thing.

Either her mother had come and left or ... She hadn't come back

Velvet marched straight to her room, irritation bubbling inside her for reasons she couldn't quite explain.

She removed her clothes and stepped into the shower.

As the water poured over her, the events of the day replayed in her mind.

By the time she stepped out, her anxiety had reached its peak.

Velvet had a strange trait-she could sense subtle shifts in people's moods. And the feeling she had gotten earlier, ever since their meeting with Dean, left an uncomfortable lump rising in her throat.

But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.

After changing into her dark purple pajamas, she went downstairs and collapsed onto the couch while waiting for her mom to return.

She didn't bother making dinner. She had already eaten some bread at the café earlier.

>> >> >> >> >>

The sound of the morning news jolted her awake.

Velvet blinked, slowly returning to reality.

She had fallen asleep on the couch.

Her mom still hadn't come home.

Velvet was pissed.

There weren't many chores to do around the house, so she decided to go out for a run. Maybe it would help clear the storm of thoughts swirling in her head.While running back home, Velvet suddenly slammed into something solid.

A very solid human wall.

"fuck," she muttered, rubbing her forehead.

"Oh," a familiar voice said lazily above her, "such a magnetic connection we have."

Velvet froze.

Slowly, she looked up.

Of course.

Zephyr.

She groaned, stepping back and glaring at him. "You could've found somewhere else to practice wall camouflage, idiot."

Without waiting for a response, she brushed past him and continued jogging down the street.

But the sound of footsteps followed behind her.

Naturally.

"I didn't think you'd walk out today, Miss Li," he called out casually.

Velvet rolled her eyes. "Of course I don't. Days like this are the exception."

She meant to mutter it quietly.

Unfortunately, Zephyr heard every word.

"Could've fooled me."

Her steps stopped.

Slowly, she turned around.

"You-"

The insult died in her throat.

Because now that she was looking at him properly, she realized something she had always hated admitting.

Zephyr was... unfairly good-looking.

His sharp cheekbones, the perfect symmetry of his face, the irritating smirk pulling at his full pink lips. Even his messy hair somehow looked intentional, falling slightly across his forehead.

And those dark, fox-like eyes.

They were watching her like she was some interesting puzzle he intended to solve.

Velvet scowled harder.

Stupid zephyr.

"Done staring?" he asked, clearly amused.

"I wasn't staring," she snapped.

"Mhm."

His smile widened.

Velvet pointed a finger at him as she began jogging backward.

"Don't get used to this. I'll get you for this."

Zephyr laughed softly, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Looking forward to it."