This is part 1 of Chapter 5.
I merge the parts into a single chapter once they reach about 3.000 words.
Previously, in Chapter 4: Ningshun forced himself to refocus, taking a deep breath as he turned off the water. "She's our teammate... Good thing I left," he whispered, a sigh of relief escaping him, determined to put the incident behind him. "I can't let this mess with my head."
Meilin stood in the center of the living room, her eyes lighting up as Ningshun entered. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his changed outfit—a tight, white tank top and jeans. Her eyes traced every contour of his arm muscles and chiseled collarbone.
'Okay, think innocent thoughts. Puppies. Sunshine. Kittens playing with yarn. Anything but those... biceps!' Her hands trembled as she played with the hem of her blouse, the memory of their previous intimate moment still warming her cheeks. 'He probably thinks I'm... He left quickly... Was I too aggressive? Did I scare him? Oh no, what if he hates...'
He furrowed his brows, fixing his eyes on her averted face. Running a hand through his damp hair, he reminded himself of tonight's goal: not to worsen the awkwardness. Clearing his throat, he flashed a charming grin. "Hey, Meilin."
She quickly raised her head, catching him off guard. "Oh, hey!"
"Relax, it's just me," his tone casual with self-assurance. He stepped closer, tilting his head. 'I just have to think of her as... one of the guys. Maybe like... Kaili?'
In his imagination, Meilin's delicate features morphed into Kaili's sharp jawline and chiseled features, like a Picasso painting gone wrong. The absurdity of her softness turning masculine hit him like a pie in the face. He shuddered and let out a startled yelp before recoiling in mock horror.
'BAD IDEA! I'll just... pretend nothing happened! Yeah, that's it. I should be chill about it.' Determined to keep things smooth after his moment of silence, Ningshun opened his mouth to speak but missed his chance. Before he could utter a word, she breezed past him, her gaze fixed on the next person to enter.
"Hey, Kaili!" she exclaimed in an overly friendly tone as she spotted him entering the room. She practically rushed over to Kaili, her movements quick and almost desperate. 'Just focus on others, don't look back. Keep it casual.' She tried to steady her racing heart.
He stared in disbelief as she made a beeline for Kaili, leaving him with a bemused expression. It appeared as though he became invisible in her presence. "Seriously? She's going to play it like that?" he muttered under his breath, briefly clenching his jaw as he tried to keep his cool.
Taking a deep breath, he turned and strode confidently toward the kitchen. But her laughter, so full of joy and life, pulled him back. His brows furrowed, his smooth facade cracking momentarily as Meilin engaged in an animated conversation with Kaili after avoiding him.
"Smooth move," he muttered, a wry smile on his lips as he continued to the table, viewing over twenty different pizzas.
The delicious smell of pepperoni pizza caught his attention, a tempting mix of smoky, spicy goodness, melted cheese, and a touch of herbs. He grabbed a few slices, treating them like his new best friends, then returned to the living room and sat on the couch.
"Yo," Hooman's voice interrupted his pizza-pity-party, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Ningshun turned to Hooman, his smile a mix of amusement and irritation. "Hey, what's up?"
Hooman followed Ningshun's gaze to Meilin and Kaili, who were deep in conversation. Kaili gestured wildly as he talked, animated and expressive. "Looks like Kaili's making quite an impression," he remarked, nudging Ningshun.
Ningshun rolled his eyes, casually leaning back. "Yeah, seems like it." His jaw clenched just a bit, his grip tightening around the slice of pizza he had picked up. 'Why is she avoiding me?'
He could not resist stealing glimpses of her while taking a bite of his pizza. She avoided eye contact with him, as if he were a street marketer trying to sell her something. But as Kaili and Meilin made their way to the kitchen, bringing their laughter with them, he smirked and shook his head.
"Guess some people just can't resist Kaili's charm," Ningshun quipped, his tone light but his eyes darkening as he focused on her, a flicker of something more than frustration in his gaze. 'Maybe she isn't ignoring me on purpose... right?'
"Wow! There are so many of them. I can't choose!" She burst into the kitchen with her lively presence and enthusiastically placed different slices on her plate.
The mouthwatering smells hit her nostrils: tangy tomato sauce, melted cheese, basil, savory sausage, mushrooms, and aromatic garlic and herbs.
Kaili grinned and grabbed a slice for himself. "You've got to try this one, Meilin. It's got this spicy kick that'll blow your mind!" He accompanied her back to the living room, sitting across from Ningshun and Hooman on the couch.
Han chuckled as he joined Meilin and Kaili. "Well, Ningshun insisted on getting them all."
Ningshun's head turned as his name reached him. His gaze drifted toward Meilin and Han, catching a brief glimpse of her, but she averted her gaze when his eyes met hers. His brow twitched in confusion and frustration.
"Thank you, Han, and... Ningshun," she uttered, avoiding eye contact with the team leader and quickly diverting her attention back to Kaili, who continued chatting in an animated manner.
Kaili, always the chatterbox, leaned in closer to her. "Did you hear about the prank I pulled on Coach last week? It was epic!"
Ningshun raised an eyebrow, forcing a confident smile. "No problem, Meilin," his frustration hidden by a nonchalant tone. 'What's up with her? Did I do something?' After a moment of contemplation, he scoffed. 'Why the hell am I even bothered by this!'
Closing his eyes, he attempted to focus on the upcoming games and winning, but Kaili's loud laughter shattered his concentration. Opening his eyes, he clenched his fist, a smirk playing on his lips as an idea struck him. He took a sip of his soda, placing the mug down with a decisive clink, his gaze fixed on her.
He strode boldly toward the kitchen, catching sight of her disappearing inside. Without hesitation, he followed her, his presence demanding attention.
"Hey, Meilin," his voice smooth as he entered the kitchen. Startled by his sudden appearance, she lifted her head from the sink, her eyes widening in surprise. "Mind if I lend a hand?" His eyes locked onto hers, daring her to look away, his determination clear in his gaze.
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