The rain had shown no sign of letting up, and both Jennifer and Ana felt the chill of uncertainty in the storm outside. Roby, always calm and collected, had taken the initiative to call Miss Lana.
"I've got Jennifer and Ana here, working on the project," he explained. "But it's raining heavily. It's not safe for them to leave right now."
The reply came swiftly. "Keep them at your place until the weather clears. It's fine."
Click.
Roby looked at the girls with a sly grin. "There. No more arguments. You're staying here tonight, whether you like it or not."
Jennifer gave a helpless sigh, finally relenting. "Well… okay. Fine. We're staying."
Zen rose from the couch, his expression unreadable. "Dinner will be on my behalf," he said coolly. Ana's eyes widened slightly. Oh wow… Mr. Cold is cooking for us, she thought, trying to hide her excitement.
"It's fine, Zen. I'll prepare it with you; we can have it together," Roby said with a knowing smile.
Zen's lips quirked slightly as he approached. "Do you doubt my cooking skills?" he asked in that calm, deadpan tone that made Ana's heart skip.
Ana couldn't resist. "Wait… you know how to cook?" she whispered, teasingly incredulous.
"You'll find out soon," Zen replied, looking just above her head, straight-faced, cold but utterly magnetic.
Ana whispered to herself, Ahh, this coldie… and followed him as he led the way to the lift. Roby and the girls trailed behind, the soft patter of rain outside blending with the warm hum of the elevator.
Zen unlocked his apartment and stepped in first. "Welcome," he said, a faint, rare smile brushing his lips. He guided them to the TV lounge. "Have fun. The LED remote is on the wall-side sofa. I'll be back shortly," he added before disappearing into the kitchen.
Roby switched on the LED and asked what they wanted to watch. They let him decide, and soon a series was playing, filling the room with laughter, occasional comments, and the soft clinking of mugs.
After a while, Jennifer felt restless. She rose from the couch and headed to the kitchen. Zen was at the counter, chopping vegetables with practiced precision, though strands of messy hair fell over his face.
Without thinking, Jennifer stepped closer, brushing the hair away and pinning it neatly behind his ear. Zen froze, surprised by the intimate gesture. She reached up, tying his hair back with a pin. Their eyes locked for a heartbeat, electric and intense.
"Um… th-thank you," Zen muttered, looking down, cheeks tinged pink.
Jennifer shrugged casually, hiding the flutter in her chest. "No need," she said, stepping back, though she couldn't tear her gaze away completely.
Zen smiled softly just enough to make her pulse quicken then resumed chopping.
"Do you need any help?" she asked, keeping her tone steady.
"No. I've got this. Do you need anything?" he replied.
"Just water," she said, moving toward the fridge.
He nodded. "It's in the fridge," he said simply. Jennifer grabbed a bottle, took a sip, and when she turned to put it back, Zen's voice stopped her.
"Um… could you… hand me some water too?"
Jennifer moved closer, balancing the bottle carefully against his lips, mindful of the height difference. He drank, his tall frame bending slightly, and she couldn't help but notice the heat that radiated off him. Once done, he straightened, nodding politely. "Thank you."
Jennifer returned to her seat at the dining table, water in hand, feeling her heartbeat linger in her chest. Roby and Ana were still engrossed in the series, laughing and teasing each other.
An hour later, Zen appeared, almost silently. "Dinner is ready," he announced.
Jennifer, startled, jumped slightly. "Huh? Already?"
"I said… dinner is ready. Let's gooo," Zen repeated, voice low but firm.
They washed up and took their seats at the dining table. To Jennifer's surprise, the food was immaculate each dish perfectly arranged. Her first bite of Zen's chicken fried rice left her momentarily speechless.
"This… this is amazing," Jennifer breathed, her eyes wide with astonishment.
Roby leaned back, impressed. "Zen… you've got to give me this recipe. Fabulous."
Zen offered only a subtle, almost shy smile in return. Jennifer couldn't help but smile at him, noting the way his cheeks colored faintly.
Dinner continued, laughter and conversation flowing easily. Just when they thought it was over, Zen reappeared with a cake, dark chocolate with elegant chocolate decorations, and a small inscription: "Best of luck."
"Woah…" all three murmured in unison.
Ana stared at the cake, momentarily entranced. Mr. Cold… also perfect… like my Mr. Perfect, she thought breathlessly.
Roby chuckled. "Looks delicious. Your future wife will be lucky," he teased Zen.
Zen's ears flushed red, but he kept his composure, looking straight ahead. Roby laughed, nudging him playfully. "Bro, stop teasing, or I won't let you eat the cake."
They cut the cake together, each bite sweeter than the last. Ana's gaze kept flickering toward Zen. "Mr. Cold… I mean, Zen… this is breathtaking. You're amazing," she whispered, losing herself in the decadent chocolate.
Jennifer, equally enchanted, muttered softly, "Talented, huh?" catching his eyes. Zen's small, almost shy smile made her pulse race.
Later, Roby guided them toward the guestroom. "There's one bedroom that's mine and one guestroom. If you need anything, let me know," he said warmly.
Jennifer collapsed onto the bed, letting out a contented sigh. Ana plopped beside her, grinning. "What a day…"
They shared a few quiet, comfortable moments, both too shy to speak their excitement out loud. Soon, Jennifer drifted into a peaceful sleep, Ana following close behind, memories of the day etched fondly in her mind.
Zen, after insisting on helping with final cleanup, finally settled in Roby's room for the night.
"Don't be so mean leaving your friend alone with two beautiful girls isn't fair," Roby teased dramatically.
Zen chuckled, eyes sparkling. "I'm sure they're safe with you," he replied, his voice calm but carrying an unspoken warmth.
The rain outside subsided as night fell, leaving behind a soft, serene calm a perfect end to a day filled with quiet intimacy, laughter, and gentle sparks of attraction.
Next morning, Jennifer awoke to clear skies, stretching and gently shaking Ana awake, who clutched her pillow, still half-asleep. After their morning routines, they found Roby sitting on the couch, lost in his book, the soft morning light painting the room golden.