The smell of eggs and garlic rice filled the kitchen.
Ash sat at the dining table, quietly chewing as sunlight filtered through the window. His hoodie was slightly loose, his hair still a mess from just waking up.
But that wasn't the problem.
The problem was the dream.
Every time he blinked, he could still feel her weight on him. Her warmth. The way she moaned his name. The way she moved.
Ash swallowed hard and shook his head.
"Get a grip…" he muttered, stabbing at his food.
Buzz.
He froze.
His heart stuttered.
He reached for his phone—already knowing who it was.
Celeste:
I dreamed of you last night 😚 You were under me~ and saying my name~ over and over~
…Were you dreaming of me too? 💋
Ash choked on his rice.
"Cough—!"
He slammed his palm on the table, eyes wide, coughing like he was dying.
May peeked in from the living room, holding her son in one arm and a spoon in the other.
"You okay?"
"Y-Yeah! Swallowed wrong," he gasped.
She narrowed her eyes.
"Don't die on Christmas break."
He quickly turned his screen away and tried not to combust.
She didn't know, did she?
No. She couldn't possibly know.
That dream was his secret.
He looked back down at her message, eyes burning.
Celeste:
You're probably blushing right now~
Ash typed quickly:
Eat your breakfast.
He deleted it.
Typed again:
Behave, Cel.
Deleted again.
He finally settled on.
Ash:
Don't send stuff like that in the morning.
Celeste replied instantly.
Celeste:
Hihi. So you DID dream about me. I knew it.
What happened in the dream? Tell meeeee 😈
Did I… do *this*? Or *that*?
Or did you just lose control completely? 💅
Ash put his phone face down and nearly shoved his entire face into his food.
He groaned into his palm.
"If only you knew," he muttered.
Because if she ever found out the dream he just had…
He'd never survive.
_________
Celeste was sprawled across her bed, one leg dangling off the side, her fingers lazily scrolling through her phone. A smug smile was stuck on her face, lips still tingling from that dream last night.
She really had a dream. Same dream but different situation.
*Knock *knock.
"Celeste! Are you awake? It's almost lunchtime. Don't be such a hermit," Rowan called from outside.
Her smile fades.
"Yeah, yeah! I'm coming!"
She rolled out of bed and ruffled her hair into something presentable. Their home was a spacious, one-floor bungalow—cozy, lived-in, perfect for four people.
She walked out and found Rowan in the kitchen, placing bowls on the table.
"Oooh. Did you cook?" she teased.
"Of course, that's talent." Rowan said proudly, dusting his hands off.
"Why is it always the guys who can cook… and here I am, born just to eat and look pretty." She muttered to herself.
"Go call Mom and Dad. Mom's probably in her jungle again."
She headed out back, spotting their mom lovingly misting her flowers like they were babies.
"Ma, lunch."
"Huh? Oh—yeah, yeah. I'm coming," her mom said, still watering like it was her full-time job.
Next, Celeste walked to the garage, where her dad was elbow-deep in engine grease.
"Dad. Food."
"Great. I'm wrapping up anyway."
The whole family eventually gathered at the table. Rowan served like a chef showing off to food critics. Their mom dove into gossip mode mid-bite, retelling dramatic stories that may or may not be true, and their dad just chuckled like a man who had surrendered long ago.
Then—
*Buzz.
Her phone lit up.
Ash sent a photo.
She opened it with curiosity, only to find a picture of a perfectly plated dish. Her favorite dish. The creamy garlic tamari noodles.
Ash:
I accidentally cooked your favorite dish. Don't assume things.
Her lips twitched as she bit her cheek to suppress a grin.
Celeste:
Yuh yuh. I won't.
But make sure to cook that for me next time… or else I'll get hungry and have no choice but to eat your—hihi 😋
She imagined his face the moment he read it.
Ash's ears turned red. He stared at the phone with a soft groan.
Ash:
Seriously. Stop.
She giggled quietly, her fingers already typing.
Celeste:
Hehe, I love you 💋
His ears burned.
His heart felt like it skipped five beats.
Ash:
I love you too
Celeste:
😭😭😭
Bruh you sound like you were forced at gunpoint 😔😠
Ash squinted at his phone like it was judging him. After a few tries, he typed:
Ash:
I love you 🦊🥄🫠🚪❤️
She nearly choked on her food.
Fox. Spoon. Dizzy face. Door. Heart. She had no idea what it meant. And that made it even funnier.
She had to slap her thigh under the table to keep from bursting out laughing, sneaking a glance across the table. Her mom was still going on about someone's affair, Rowan was nodding politely, and their dad was chewing like he'd heard it all a hundred times.
Celeste:
Hahahaha what even IS that combo??
You're a walking emoji disaster and I love it💀
FYI—Rowan made spiced herb rice with seared chicken and caramelized mushroom glaze today 😋
So yeah, I'm eating now…
But you still owe me that meal.
Gotta bond with these weirdos. 🥢💖
Ash:
Eat well. And behave. Please.
Celeste:
I'll try hehe.
I'll be back. Don't miss me too much 😜
Ash didn't type anything after that.
He just stared at her last message…
And smiled.
His ears? Red.
As always.
___________