The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Kei lingered there, watching Fay sleep with a gaze that held nothing back an expression of quiet, unadulterated devotion. With a slow, tentative movement, Kei reached out, her fingers gently closing around Fay's hand.
Fay stirred, her eyes fluttering open to find Kei's smile waiting for her.
"Good morning,"
Kei murmured, her voice thick with affection.
But the warmth wasn't returned.
Fay's expression shifted instantly, freezing into a mask of professional distance. She withdrew her hand as if scorched.
"Whatever happened last night... it was only because I was drunk,"
Fay snapped, her voice trembling with a defensive edge.
"It was a mistake. Don't read into it."
Kei didn't flinch. Instead, her smile widened soft, patient and infuriatingly undeterred.
"Okay," she replied simply.
She stood up, smoothing her clothes before heading toward the kitchen.
"I'll go start on breakfast."
The moment the door clicked shut, Fay's composure shattered. She grabbed a pillow, burying her face into it to stifle a frustrated scream.
"Wahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"
She sat up, her hair a mess, lecturing herself with frantic whispers.
"Don't be dumb, Fay. You're only here for work! Do not fall in love with that stupid ghoster... deep breaths. Fay, just breathe."
Downstairs, the rhythmic sizzle of the pan hummed through the house. Kei cooked with a light heart, seemingly unaffected by the rejection. Once the plates were set, she returned to Fay's door.
"Fay? Come on, breakfast is ready."
Receiving no immediate answer, Kei moved down the hall to Sofia's room. She knocked once, then twice.
"Sofia?"
Silence followed.
Pushing the door open, Kei found the room empty, the bed neatly made, save for a lone slip of paper resting on the pillow.
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.
.
Fay appeared in the doorway a moment later, lingering in the hall. She was trying desperately to look like she was just passing by, her gaze fixed intently on a decorative vase as if it were the most fascinating object in the world. Her ears, however, were tilted sharply toward Kei.
•••••••••
Kei began to read the note aloud in a low, amused murmur.
.
.
"Kei, sorry I had to bolt. My secretary called crisis at the company. Tell Fay I'm a woman of my word, I kept my promise. Also, next time, let's go to the beach, just the two of us? I'll cook something you'll actually like... HEY! I know what you're thinking... it won't be a biohazard! Hmph!"
.
.
"Pft"
Kei let out a bright, genuine laugh. Fay's brow furrowed, her annoyance bubbling over as she failed to catch the specific words.
"_"
She leaned in closer, still pretending to inspect the vase's craftsmanship.
•••••••
"What are you doing?" Kei asked, catching her in the act.
Fay looking serious, her hand smoothing over the ceramic.
"I... I was just admiring this vase. It's... exquisite. Truly."
"Ah. Right," Kei said
"Where's Sofia?"
"Work emergency,"
Kei explained, folding the note.
"She said she kept her promise to you, though."
A small, involuntary smile tugged at the corner of Fay's mouth before she quickly suppressed it.
"Fine."
"Let's eat,"
Kei said, sliding the note into her pocket.
"_"
Fay's eyes tracked the movement with a sharp, suspicious glare but she followed Kei to the kitchen nonetheless.
.
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.
.
The meal was quiet until Fay, unable to help herself, looked up from her plate. She was eating slower now, her appetite returning along with her curiosity.
"So... where do you want to go after this?"
she asked, trying to sound bored.
Kei paused, her fork halfway to her mouth.
"Wait. You want to spend time with me? You're actually talking to me?"
Fay flushed, looking away.
"Well, it's not like there's anyone else here to talk to. If you don't want to, then I'll just..."
"No!"
Kei interrupted, her enthusiasm breaking through.
"I want to. I really want to. Just follow me when we're done."
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•••••••••••••••••••••
"I followed you because I thought we were going to do something fun,"
Fay groaned an hour later, staring at the water in disbelief.
"Why are we fishing, Kei?"
Kei let out a rhythmic, teasing laugh.
"Who knew the brilliant, hot-tempered doctor didn't know how to handle a fishing rod? Is it too technical for you?"
"Of course I know how to fish!" Fay snapped.
"Just watch me."
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.
.
The next few hours were a comedy of errors. Fay cast the line into the trees, tangled the reel and nearly dropped the rod into the lake. Eventually, she sat on the dock, shoulders slumped in exhausted defeat.
.
"Who knew this doctor had such a cute side,"
Kei whispered to herself, watching Fay pout.
.
.
Moving silently, Kei sat down directly behind Fay. She didn't just sit, she wrapped herself around her in a protective, back-hugging position. Fay stiffened, her heart hammering against her ribs as Kei's hands covered hers on the rod.
Badump
Badump
Badump
Badump
"This is how you do it, Fay,"
Kei whispered, her breath warm against Fay's ear. She began to guide Fay's movements, explaining the tension of the line and the rhythm of the reel.
"I know,"
Fay breathed, though she made no move to pull away.
"You don't need to tell me."
Kei just smiled, the silence between them thickening with a different kind of tension.
"Fay."
"What?"
"Fay," Kei repeated softly.
Fay turned her head to the right, intending to snap at her, but the words died in her throat. Their faces were inches apart. She could see the brown in Kei's eyes, feel the steady rhythm of her breathing.
"_"
Kei's gaze dropped first to one eye, then the other, and finally settling on Fay's lips.
As Kei leaned in, the world seemed to shrink down to just the two of them.
Badump
Badump
Badump
Badump
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SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
The rod jerked violently. The water erupted into a spray of silver.
"The fish!"
Kei shouted, the romantic tension shattering in an instant.
"Quick, Fay! Reel it in!"
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
"I'm trying!"
Fay yelled back, her adrenaline spiking. She cranked the handle with frantic energy until a massive, thrashing fish landed squarely in the bucket at their feet.
"Ahhhh....."
THWAT
"Yes! Look at that! High five!" Kei cheered.
WHACK.
Fay missed the high five and accidentally smacked Kei's shoulder in her excitement but she didn't care. She was beaming.
"Wait, let me get my phone!"
Fay pulled out her camera, leaning in close to Kei, who was still laughing. She held the fish up, the two of them framed against the sparkling water.
snap.
The photo captured it all. The prize catch, Kei's laughing and the undeniable glow in Fay's eyes that she still wasn't ready to admit was love.