The door slammed behind him as he stormed toward the parking lot, frustration and irritation churning in his chest.
Why the hell did he feel the need to apologize?
He clenched his fists. He was just trying to help her…
But he didn't owe her an apology, did he?
The sound of a pair of heels echoed behind me, followed by her voice, calling out. "Ice!"
Without thinking he stopped and turned.There she was again—bright, eager, like nothing had happened just minutes ago. That bubbly attitude of hers was unreal.
Reluctantly, relief and exhaustion hit him all at once. She'd already forgiven him. Just like that.
He should've been thankful she wasn't crying or causing a scene, but something about it left a strange weight in his chest.
It shouldn't sit like this.
She smiled at him like none of it mattered.
How the hell does she forgive people so easily?
Ice wanted to feel grateful that she wasn't making a scene, but part of him couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that this was all too easy. I shouldn't feel like this. It's not right.
The thought unsettled him, like a pebble in his shoe—small, constant, impossible to ignore.
The next few days passed in a blur. Fire was still the same—cheerful, chatty, and completely unbothered—while Ice held back every urge to lose his temper.
The looks from their classmates didn't help either. Full of pity—poor, sweet Fire, stuck with him.
If only they knew the truth. He was the one suffering.
The girl next to him was a storm in disguise, draining him daily like a vampire feeding on whatever patience he had left.
Every day, he questioned why he'd chased after her that afternoon.
His only moments of peace came when she was distracted by her friends or when he escaped to SSC headquarters.
"Ice! Ice, have you tried the restaurant downtown?"
She leaned across his table again, eyes sparkling. He just shook his head, one thing he learned, if you won't give her an answer she will not stop.
"We should go after school! Oriel and Dhylan are coming too!" she beamed, making decisions for him.
"We're going to practice after school."
Ice turned to her this time, eyeing her — clearly, she had forgotten.
"Yes, I know... that."
She nearly choked on the last word, her voice dropping as she turned her back to him.
"I better cancel with the two."
After school…
She jumped into the passenger seat of the car, smiling like she was about to go on some fun little field trip.
And there he was—Ice, driving toward the shop with a knot still tight in his chest.
Still thinking about how she forgives everyone who wrongs her like it's nothing.
She's going to have a hell of a time in life.
Why the hell am I so concerned about this?
"We're almost there," Ice muttered as he steered into the tight parking lot in front of the shop. As expected, it was packed. It always was.
He glanced at the girl in the passenger seat—smiling like she was about to visit Disneyland instead of a pastry shop to work. Her energy was relentless. How could she still be excited after everything?
Once parked, he glanced over at her, still tangled in his own thoughts. "Once we're there, don't do anything stupid, okay?" he warned.
"Aye aye, Icy!" Fire saluted.
Is she mocking me?
Icy? His brow furrowed. "Just call me Ice. Not anything stupid." He shut off the engine and unlocked the car.
She pouted, and for a second, he couldn't help but feel like he was dealing with a five-year-old. For a split second, he felt like the villain. Why does she make me feel guilty over the dumbest things?
They walked toward the pastry shop, and he could already feel his mood shift. His mom was waiting, as usual. She had a way of making things feel… familiar.
"Wow!" Fire's voice broke through his thoughts as she stared up at the sign above the shop, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Sweet Dream Pastry Shop," she read out loud, like she was narrating some fairy tale.
Ice reached for the door, feeling the familiar cold metal against his hand as he pushed it open. The bell chimed as they entered, announcing their arrival. Fire followed closely behind, and the place was buzzing with customers, just like every other day. The shop was busy, filled with the usual hum of chatter, clinking plates, and the scent of fresh cream and sugar.
They had built the shop up from nothing, and now it was one of the busiest spots in town. His mom was brilliant at it. But Fire? She didn't care about the business side—she just got lost in the sweet treats. He knew she'd wander off. It was inevitable. She was already at the glass display, her face pressed up against it like a kid at a museum, eyes wide with wonder.
He stood there for a moment, watching her, feeling impatience start to rise. She's not here for this. She's here to learn.
Finally, Ice walked toward her, crossing his arms as he leaned down.
"It's sooo pretty!" He heard her mutter, eyes fixed on the array of cakes.
"Ice, Ice, are you going to teach me like this? This one, please!" she exclaimed, pointing eagerly at a cake covered in flowers.Ice stared at her for a beat. Her eyes were practically sparkling.
She's ridiculous.
...Why do I kind of want to say yes?
Without realizing it, he found himself smiling—just a little. Her childlike excitement was contagious, even if it was a bit ridiculous. She's so damn stubborn.
"Let's go," he said, trying to sound tough. "You're not here to window-shop for cakes."
She didn't move, still staring at the display, clearly contemplating whether to follow him or stay glued to the cakes. He shook his head, exasperated.
"Since you like them so much, I'll talk to my mom first. I'll be back." He turned, feeling the familiar irritation rising again—though it wasn't as sharp as before.
Her face brightened instantly, and she gave him a thumbs-up, as if she'd just won a round in some invisible game.
Babysitting… really?