The fried noodles she had reheated on the stove went cold. She didn't take a single bite. The hunger that had been screaming in her stomach vanished completely, swallowed up by the embarrassment burning along her entire spine.
Aurelia ran into her bedroom, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed. She buried her whole face in the pillow, pounding it over and over with muffled thumps. Stupid. So incredibly stupid. Why had she said that? Why right in front of Aksa?
The conversation between the three men in the living room gradually faded. An hour later, the house was completely silent. They had finished their meeting. Maybe they had gone home. Maybe they were still downstairs. Aurelia didn't dare peek outside.
She rolled onto her back and stared at the bedroom ceiling, decorated with tiny stars she'd stuck up herself back in high school. Until now, everything had been simple. Until now, she had known only one thing: she liked Darren. She had for years. Ever since the first time he'd come to this house wearing a worn leather jacket, barely speaking, and handed her chocolate candies when her big brother wasn't looking.
But Darren already had a fiancée. Everyone knew it. Everyone also knew their wedding was only three months away. So Aurelia had accepted it long ago. She wouldn't say anything. She would just stay quiet and keep everything to herself until those feelings died on their own. That had been her plan. Until tonight.
Until Aksa leaned against the kitchen door frame. Until Aksa lowered his voice to a whisper. Until Aksa winked and said the thing that should have existed only in her worst nightmare.
And the worst part of all, the part she didn't dare admit even to herself:
When Aksa had spoken earlier, her heart hadn't raced because she was embarrassed.
It had raced because, for one incredibly stupid second, she had thought, Yes.
There was a soft knock at her bedroom door.
Aurelia went rigid.
"Lia."
It wasn't Aksa's voice.
The voice was deeper. Calmer. Without the slightest hint of a joke.
Darren.
Her hand stopped halfway to turning off the bedroom light. Her heartbeat began racing again. She didn't answer.
"I know you're not asleep." His voice came again, right from the other side of the door. "I want to talk for a minute."
Aurelia took a deep breath. She sat on the edge of the bed, smoothed her hair with trembling hands, then walked over and opened the door.
Darren was standing there. Alone. His right hand was in his pants pocket. There was no smile on his face. His gaze was fixed directly on Aurelia's eyes, as if he were reading every thought in her head.
"Arden and Aksa have already gone home," he said softly.
"O-oh." Aurelia lowered her head. She didn't dare look at him for too long. "What's wrong, big brother?"
Darren didn't answer. He stayed silent for several seconds. Then he stepped slightly into the doorway until only one step remained between them. Aurelia could smell the same cologne he always wore, a scent she'd known for seven years.
"You asked for a kiss earlier," he said.
Aurelia nearly fell over.
"You heard me?"
"Yes."
Darren was still looking at her. He wasn't angry. He wasn't amused. He only wore that same calm expression, making Aurelia feel as if every one of her secrets had been laid completely bare.
"You asked Aksa for it."
"No! You heard wrong! I didn't—"
"I know it wasn't for Aksa."
Aurelia stopped speaking. All her breath caught in her throat.
Darren reached out with his right hand. He gently touched the end of Aurelia's still-damp hair. His touch was incredibly soft. So soft that Aurelia couldn't breathe at all.
"I also know who it was for."
His voice dropped to a whisper. And for the first time all night, the corner of Darren's mouth lifted slightly. Just barely. Almost imperceptibly.
"Don't ask the wrong person next time, Lia."
He pulled his hand back. Then he stepped away.
"If you want to ask, just ask me directly."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving Aurelia standing alone in her bedroom doorway, the door still open, her entire world having just shattered into pieces.
At the end of the hallway, before turning toward the stairs, Darren paused. He pulled his phone from his pocket. There was one incoming message from an unsaved number.
You were right. She really does like you.
Darren deleted the message. He stared at his phone screen for several seconds, then typed a one-line reply.
Don't ever mess with her again, Aksa.
I wasn't messing with her.
The reply came just three seconds later.
I like her too.