Zena dropped her suitcase on the floor and collapsed onto her new bed with a satisfied sigh.
"Finally. A new apartment, a new start," she whispered, hugging the pillow. The mattress was soft, the room smelled of fresh paint, and for the first time, it felt like she had her own space.
Just as she was about to close her eyes, she heard the front door click open. Footsteps echoed in the living room.
That must be my roommate, she thought, curious. She brushed her hair behind her ear, stood up, and stepped outside—only to freeze.
A tall boy stood there, tossing his keys onto the counter. His dark hair was slightly messy, his build lean but athletic. When he looked up and caught her staring, a playful smirk tugged at his lips.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked. "Don't tell me I'm your type."
Zena blinked, taken aback. "What—? No! I just… I didn't know my roommate would be a boy."
He chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Whatever you say, pretty." With that, he slipped past her toward the other bedroom. "Don't miss me too much."
Her jaw dropped. "Ew! Who'd miss you?" she muttered, cheeks warm as he disappeared into his room.
Inside, Shio leaned against the door with a quiet laugh. She's cute. What's her name? He grabbed a fresh shirt from his bag. I'll talk to her later.
---
Half an hour passed before Zena's stomach growled loud enough to embarrass her. She tiptoed into the living room, pressing a hand to her belly. "Ugh, I'm starving…"
From behind her, a voice drawled, "Hungry already, baby?"
She spun around. Shio had emerged, dressed in a fitted black shirt and casual shorts, hair damp from a quick shower.
"Don't call me that!" Zena shot back. "We're not close. And it's gross."
"Sure, sure," he teased, walking closer. Without waiting for her answer, he gently took her wrist. "Come on."
Her brows furrowed. "Where are we going?"
"Café down the street," he said smoothly. "You haven't eaten, right? Breakfast is on me. Consider it a welcome treat."
She hesitated. "You don't have to—"
"I want to." His smile was quick, confident.
Zena sighed. "Fine. But let go of my hand."
He released her immediately, scratching the back of his neck. "Right. Sorry."
---
The café was cozy, filled with the smell of roasted coffee and fresh pastries. They slipped into a corner booth as Shio placed their order at the counter.
When he returned, Zena tilted her head. "Why didn't you let me order for myself?"
"I figured it out," he said simply. "Matcha latte and custard croissant."
Her eyes widened. "You guessed my favorite?"
"You don't like it?" he asked, already half-rising to change the order.
She quickly reached across the table to stop him. "No! Don't. It's perfect."
For a moment, her voice softened. "It's just… whenever I hung out with my old friends, they always ordered waffles or chocolate drinks for me. They knew what I liked but acted like they forgot. I don't know, maybe it was a joke to them."
Her lips curved into a small pout before she caught herself. "Sorry. I overshared."
Shio leaned back, watching her quietly. "Don't apologize. If they couldn't respect the little things you love, they weren't friends worth keeping."
She blinked at him, surprised by the seriousness in his tone.
The waiter arrived with their order, breaking the silence. Zena sipped the matcha, the warm flavor settling her mood. She glanced at him, curiosity slipping past her guard. "What's your name, anyway?"
"Shio," he answered easily. Then he smirked. "Handsome boy Shio, if you want the full version."
She almost choked on her drink. "Seriously?"
He laughed at her expression. "Your turn."
"…Zena," she said after a pause.
His smile softened. "Zena. A pretty name. Fits you."
She rolled her eyes, but couldn't stop the small smile forming at her lips.
---
Later, they walked back to the apartment. The morning sun had climbed higher, spilling gold across the street.
At the door, Shio checked the time. "It's already six-thirty. I need to hit the gym." He grabbed his bag and winked at her. "See you later, pretty."
Before she could answer, he was gone.
Zena shook her head, closing the door behind him. Despite herself, she was smiling again.
This is going to be… interesting.