Chapter 21 – Quiet Night, Loud Hearts
The mansion lights glowed warmly against the darkness outside.
It had been a long day.
The first official day of sports practice at college had drained everyone more than they expected. Shoes were scattered near the entrance, bags lay half-open on the couch, and the entire group looked exhausted.
Nova was the first one to collapse dramatically onto the sofa.
"I can't move," she groaned, pressing her face into a pillow. "My legs are officially dead."
Ash walked in behind her and dropped his sports bag on the floor.
"You ran for fifteen minutes," he said.
Nova raised a finger weakly.
"Fifteen minutes too many."
Cole leaned against the wall, sipping water and watching the chaos with quiet amusement.
Lyra sat cross-legged on the carpet while Alex stretched his shoulders beside her.
"You look like you fought a war," she teased.
Alex winced.
"Volleyball practice feels like one."
Joong came from the kitchen carrying two glasses of juice. Daisy followed him slowly, her steps careful but steady.
He handed one glass to her.
"Drink this."
Daisy looked at him.
"Joong, relax."
"You're recovering from pneumonia."
"And?"
"And that means you shouldn't push your lungs."
She rolled her eyes but took the glass anyway.
Care had been sitting quietly in the armchair the entire time.
Her gaze moved slowly across the room, observing everyone.
Finally she spoke.
"Alright."
Everyone turned toward her.
Nova groaned.
"Why do I feel like we're about to get a lecture?"
Care ignored the comment.
"Report."
Cole blinked.
"Report what?"
"How practice went," Care said calmly. "And what sports everyone finalized."
Ash smirked.
"This sounds like a military meeting."
Care folded her arms.
"Humor me."
Nova sat up dramatically.
"Fine. I'll go first."
She pointed at herself proudly.
"Running. One hundred meters."
Cole raised an eyebrow.
"You hate running."
"I hate losing more."
Ash chuckled quietly.
"Fair."
Care nodded slightly.
"Next."
Ash leaned back in the chair beside Nova.
"Basketball."
Cole nodded approvingly.
"That suits you."
Ash shrugged.
"I've played since school."
Lyra raised her hand next.
"Badminton."
Alex immediately added,
"And volleyball."
Lyra looked at him.
"You picked volleyball too?"
Alex smiled slightly.
"I thought it would be fun."
Nova smirked.
"Sure. Totally not because Lyra chose it."
Lyra threw a cushion at her.
"Shut up."
Everyone laughed.
Care looked at Alex.
"And you?"
"Volleyball and table tennis."
Care nodded thoughtfully.
Then she looked at Joong.
"Your turn."
Joong leaned back calmly.
"Football."
Cole grinned.
"Of course."
Joong shrugged.
"I've always liked it."
Then Care turned her attention toward Daisy.
The room grew quieter immediately.
"What events did you choose?"
Daisy sighed.
"Here we go."
She placed the empty juice glass on the table.
"Hundred meter running."
Alex nodded.
"That's manageable."
Then Daisy added casually,
"…and five hundred meters."
The room exploded.
"What?!" Nova shouted.
Lyra stared at her.
"You're running five hundred meters?!"
Ash frowned.
"You just recovered from pneumonia."
Joong looked genuinely worried now.
"You shouldn't push yourself like that."
Daisy raised her hands.
"Relax. It's not like I'll sprint the entire thing."
Care was staring at her sharply.
"You volunteered for it?"
"There was no one left for the event," Daisy said simply. "So I took it."
Nova groaned loudly.
"You people are insane."
Care leaned forward slightly.
"You shouldn't stress your lungs that much."
Daisy immediately pointed at her.
"Oh really?"
Care narrowed her eyes.
"Yes."
Daisy smirked.
"You joined Kabaddi."
Everyone turned to Care.
Nova blinked.
"Wait."
Cole looked confused.
"What does that have to do with—"
Daisy crossed her arms.
"You have asthma."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lyra looked shocked.
"…You do?"
Alex frowned.
"You never told us that."
Cole stared at Care.
"You have asthma?"
Care looked annoyed now.
"It's mild."
Nova sat up straight.
"How long?"
"Since childhood," Care replied quietly.
Joong leaned forward slightly.
"You carry an inhaler?"
"Sometimes."
Nova grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.
"Sometimes?!"
Care caught it easily.
"I manage it."
Daisy raised an eyebrow.
"So you can lecture me but hide your own lung problems?"
Care glared.
"You ran five hundred meters."
"And you joined Kabaddi."
"You had pneumonia."
"You have asthma."
Cole rubbed his forehead.
"This argument is ridiculous."
Lyra sighed.
"You both sound like stubborn children."
But beneath the bickering, something else filled the room.
Concern.
Real concern.
Care leaned back finally.
"Just… don't overdo it."
Daisy's expression softened a little.
"I won't."
Joong quietly slid the juice glass back toward her again.
"Finish it."
Daisy muttered,
"You're worse than a doctor."
But she still drank it.
Care noticed everything.
Joong watching Daisy carefully.
Daisy pretending not to notice.
Nova also noticed.
Alex noticed.
Lyra definitely noticed.
And slowly…
Care smiled.
Not a normal smile.
A dangerous one.
Nova narrowed her eyes.
"…Why do I feel like you're planning something?"
Care leaned back comfortably.
"Maybe."
Cole looked at her suspiciously.
"What are you thinking?"
Care glanced toward the kitchen hallway.
Then back at the group.
"I think two people here need help realizing something."
Joong frowned.
"What?"
Daisy looked confused.
"Realizing what?"
Care's smile widened.
"Oh, nothing."
Lyra crossed her arms.
"I don't like that tone."
Alex nodded.
"Me neither."
Care stood up.
"The pantry."
Cole immediately understood.
And burst out laughing.
"Oh this is evil."
Nova leaned forward excitedly.
"Wait what's happening?"
Care looked at Cole.
"You in?"
Cole grinned.
"Absolutely."
Lyra looked between them.
"Should I be worried?"
Alex sighed.
"Yes."
Care walked toward the kitchen.
"The pantry gets very cold at night."
Nova's eyes widened.
"Oh my god."
Cole laughed again.
"This is going to be chaos."
And somewhere in the mansion…
two completely unsuspecting pairs were about to get trapped in a freezing pantry all night.
Thanks to Care.
And Cole.