It's a little long but it's worth it❤️

MIA

Knock knock

"Miles, are you busy?" I peered into his room, catching a glimpse of him sitting in front of his computer, eyes focused intently on the game.

"Yes," he replied, his attention still fixed on the screen.

"Okay," I whispered, feeling a pang of disappointment. I lowered my head and began closing the door, ready to retreat. But just as I was about to shut it completely, I noticed Miles glancing at me, his expression softening.

A sigh escaped his lips, and he dropped his game. "What do you want?"

A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I stepped into his room, fiddling with my fingers nervously. "I... was... wondering if you have Jackson's number," I muttered the last part, hoping he wouldn't hear it.

However, my hopes were dashed as his laughter filled the room. Miles had a distinct laugh, one that resembled a monkey's, but in a strangely endearing way.

"I can't believe you don't have his number, damn Mia, you need to up your game," he chuckled. "I heard Rachel is hovering around him like a peacock."

I scoffed at his remark, realizing that Maddy must have already spilled the beans to him. Miles was right, though. Ever since Jackson thought I was dating Ethan a few days ago, it seemed like the universe had conspired against me again.

He would give us rides home from school, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth. With Maddy being at the backseat staring at us like some creep, it was a no go in the car, and during class, Rachel would find flimsy excuses to get closer to him.

What frustrated me even more was that Jackson seemed to be allowing it.

"You know what?" Miles interrupted my thoughts, his laughter subsiding. "I'll do you one better." He swiftly rose from his seat, grabbed his phone, and began typing away. In a matter of seconds, a notification pinged on my phone.

"You'll thank me later. Now please get out," he said, opening his door and smiling mischievously at me. I let out a sigh and left his room, but before he closed the door, he called out my name.

"Hey, Mia."

I turned to face him, raising an eyebrow inquisitively. "What?"

"Dress pretty this time," he said with a playful wink, before slamming the door shut. Confusion washed over me, but curiosity got the better of me. I unlocked my phone and saw a new text from Miles. The message simply read, "21 Cenfall Avenue."

A wide smile spread across my face as I realized that it was Jackson's house number. I couldn't contain my excitement. I turned back and stared at Miles' closed door, "Sometimes he's the best brother," I whispered to myself as I skipped into my room like a happy bunny.

 "You can do this, Mia," I whispered to myself, mustering up the courage to knock on Jackson's door. I had spent a whole hour meticulously choosing a cute outfit, settling on a pink top and a blue jean skirt that I hoped would make a good impression.

Engaging in a video call with my friends, I sought their reassurance. "It's not weird, right?" I asked, seeking validation. Sydney appeared confused, but she replied, "I don't know, Mia. Since you're already here, why back down? It doesn't make sense."

Her words resonated with me, and a surge of determination flooded through me. "You guys are right. I'll talk to you later. Bye," I waved goodbye as I ended the call. Taking a deep breath, I finally raised my hand and knocked on Jackson's door.

The door swung open, revealing Jackson's mom, who appeared surprised at my unexpected visit. "Mia?" she exclaimed.

"Good day, Mrs. Yung... oh, I mean Miss Yung... no, I mean..." I stumbled over my words, feeling flustered for no apparent reason.

However, her laughter instantly put me at ease. "Oh, Mia, it's okay. You can call me Mimi, okay, love?" She smiled warmly, and I couldn't help but notice the resemblance between her and Jackson.

"Yes, Mimi."

"Come in, dear," Mimi said, stepping aside to let me enter. I couldn't help but admire the cozy and inviting atmosphere of their home.

"Woah, this looks so homey," I murmured, taking in the simplicity and comfort of the surroundings.

"I'm glad you think so. Jackson is in his room, so you can meet him there," Mimi informed me. "I'm about to leave, so just tell him I've already gone, okay?" Carrying her bag, she walked towards the door.

"Oh, before I forget, Mia, do you know why Jackson's been feeling moody these days? I hope everything is fine at school," she asked, concern evident in her eyes.

"Oh, no. He's doing great in school. I mean, he's already famous with everyone," I replied, my mind drifting to the attention he received, especially from the female students. Mimi sighed, nodding her head in understanding. We bid each other goodbye as she closed the door, leaving me standing at the foot of the stairs.

"Come on, Mia. What's the worst that could happen?" I muttered, trying to boost my confidence.

Taking a deep breath, I climbed up the stairs. There weren't many doors upstairs, and my gut told me to try the first one. I hesitantly knocked on the door.

"Umm... Jackson?" I mumbled, but there was no response. Encouraged by the silence, I turned the doorknob and discovered it was unlocked.

Nervously, I pushed open the door and stepped into the room, immediately noticing its disheveled state.

"Definitely Jackson's room," I smiled to myself, surveying the surroundings. It had a similar vibe to Miles' room, except for the anime pictures adorning the walls and the collection of Blackpink labels on the shelf.

"I'm so using that against him," I thought mischievously.

My eyes wandered further, and I spotted a picture placed next to Jackson's laptop. My curiosity got the better of me, and I walked over to examine it.

"He still has this," I whispered, holding the picture in my hands. It was a photo of us from when I had broken my tooth as a child.

I had expected a dollar from the tooth fairy, and when that didn't happen, Jackson dressed up as the tooth fairy and gave me the money. Our moms found it adorable and decided to capture the moment. I had completely forgotten about it, but evidently, he hadn't.

Suddenly, a door swung open, interrupting my thoughts. I turned to speak, but my words caught in my throat when I saw him standing there.

"Mum, I thought you had—" His voice trailed off as our eyes locked.

"Mia?" he said, his voice filled with surprise. However, I couldn't hear the rest of his sentence as my gaze involuntarily dropped to his chest, my throat suddenly dry. 

A towel draped loosely around his waist, water droplets glistening on his tanned skin. His wet, tousled hair clung to his forehead, accentuating his strong jawline and chiseled features. The droplets trickled down his broad shoulders, tracing a path along the defined muscles of his chest and abdomen.

My breath hitched in my throat as I took in his appearance.

"Oh, um... sorry, I didn't know you were... here," I stammered, my cheeks turning the shade of a ripe cherry.

He flashed me a lopsided grin, his eyes sparkling mischievously. "No worries. Just finished up. Didn't expect an audience," he chuckled.

Heat rushed to my face, and I bit my lip, trying to suppress the embarrassment that threatened to consume me. "I-I'll just... go," I managed to mumble, my voice barely above a whisper. I tightened my bag, rushing past him.

He reached out and gently touched my arm. "Hey, wait." His voice was warm and reassuring. "It's not a big deal. Don't be so hard on yourself."

I met his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. "I just... I didn't mean to intrude or anything." I tried making sense as my eyes lingered on his chest.

Look away! Look away!!

A soft smile played on his lips. "You didn't. Trust me, it's all good." He gave my arm a gentle squeeze before releasing it. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll get dressed."

I nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and lingering embarrassment. "Right. Sorry again."

"Don't worry about it," he said, his voice filled with a touch of amusement. "See you in a bit."

With that, I quickly scurried out of the room, my face still burning with a rosy hue. I couldn't help but replay the encounter in my mind, the image of him etched into my thoughts, and the way his understanding words had eased my embarrassment.

"Of course he was bathing. Mia, you're so stupid," I muttered to myself, berating my own forgetfulness.
I smacked my forehead repeatedly, as if punishing myself for my foolishness.

With a heavy sigh, I turned around, stealing one last glance at Jackson's closed door, and then I sprinted down the stairs.

After what felt like an eternity, I spotted Jackson descending the staircase, fully dressed this time. I jumped up from the chair and started talking before he could say anything. "Mia, it's okay. Let it go," he chuckled, approaching me with a playful grin.

" I could really use a snack right about now. How about you?" he asked, his eyes fixed on mine, his smile warm and inviting.

I felt my cheeks flush as I managed to stammer, "I could eat."

"Great!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together. My heart skipped a beat as he ruffled my hair, and then he headed towards the kitchen. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart, and followed him.

Taking a seat behind the counter, I watched him intently as he donned an apron and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his veiny forearms. He appeared so focused as he gathered the ingredients for our snack.

Is it just me, or does he look ridiculously hot right now?

Shaking my head to dispel my wild thoughts, I struck up a conversation with him. "So, what are you making?" I pondered, trying to guess what he could create with the assortment of items he had gathered.

"Gimbap," he replied, washing the vegetables in the sink. I couldn't help but pout.

"You know I'm not a fan of veggies," I complained, earning a chuckle from him as he glanced at me.

"But you like sushi, right?" he asked, to which I nodded.

"It's like sushi, but way better. Trust me," he assured me cheerfully.

I sighed, desperately wanting to believe his statement. He began chopping the vegetables with such speed and precision that I couldn't tear my gaze away from his hands. Breaking my trance, he asked, "So, why the surprise visit? Not that I mind, just curious."

"Oh..." My mind went blank, and I realized that I had completely forgotten the purpose of my visit amidst the fun and banter we were sharing.

"Right... uh..." I gulped, hoping that whatever I said wouldn't disrupt the easy flow of our conversation.

"It's about Ethan," I finally blurted out, causing him to halt his chopping abruptly.

"Mia, look–"

"He's not my boyfriend!" I blurted out, cutting him off before he could say anything else.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Really?" he asked, genuinely taken aback by my outburst.

I nodded vigorously. "It just seems that way because he likes me," I whispered, absentmindedly twirling the keychain on my bag.

"Do you like him?" he whispered back, his voice low and filled with curiosity.

"No!" I exclaimed, lifting my head and feeling my heart race.

"Oh, cool," he replied, nodding casually as if trying to brush off my answer. But for a split second, I saw a hint of a smile on his face before it disappeared.

"Do you wanna help?" he asked, grabbing a bowl of rice and gesturing towards the other ingredients on the counter—carrots, beef, and some unidentifiable leafy greens. I wasn't exactly a vegetable expert.

"Sure," I said, placing my bag on a nearby chair and stepping into the kitchen. "What can I do to assist, Chef?" I playfully teased him, earning a chuckle in response.

"How about putting on these gloves first?" he suggested, and I complied, slipping them onto my hands. "Okay, I've already prepared everything. All you need to do is roll them up neatly, and we're good to go."

Rolling rice seemed like a simple task, right? I thought, nodding confidently as I began attempting to fold the seaweed and rice together.

However, it quickly became apparent that some parts were falling apart, and I frowned in frustration. "Not like that, let me show you," Jackson's voice came from behind me, and my breath caught as his hands gently guided mine, helping me roll the gimbap.

"See, slow and steady always win the race. If you rush, it'll end in disaster," he whispered in my ear, and my face turned as red as a tomato.

I felt like I couldn't breathe. Maybe it was because I was in Jackson's hold, my body growing hot as I felt his solid form behind me. It was overwhelming, and it only got worse when he moved closer, our cheeks brushing against each other as he continued explaining how to roll the rice cake properly.

Did he really think any normal girl in her right mind could pretend this was nothing? He clearly had no idea what he was doing to me.

His voice was so close, so sweet in my ear, that I instinctively tried to pull away. But he wouldn’t let me, his strong hands guiding mine over the rice cake. His veins stood out, tense and defined, as he manipulated my smaller hands, trying to show me the technique.

I knew I needed to move away, to create some distance before he asked me something and I made a fool of myself. But it felt so good being in his warm grasp that I hesitated, savoring the moment even as I knew it was too much.

I started coughing and hastily moved away from him. "Are you okay? I didn't put too much pepper or did I? I'm sorry," he apologized, rushing to get me a glass of water.

How could I explain to him that it wasn't the pepper that made me react like that?

"I'm... okay... ahem," I managed to say, averting my gaze and trying to calm myself down. 'Breathe, Mia. He was just showing you something. Don't overthink it.'

I repeated those words in my mind like a mantra, feeling like a complete lunatic. "Are you sure?" he asked, placing the water down with a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Maybe I should make another snack."

"No!" I blurted out, startling him.

"I mean... why waste such delicious food? I really want to try it," I quickly added, offering him a smile to assure him that I was perfectly fine.

"If you're okay, then just sit down. It won't take long," he instructed, and I couldn't agree more. I needed to keep a bit of distance between us for the time being.

"Sure," I hurried back to my seat, clutching my chest. It didn't take long, as he had promised, and soon I saw the gimbap he had mentioned. It looked like sushi, but I had a feeling it would taste even better. He placed a plate in front of me, and I immediately reached out to grab a slice.

"Hey, wait," he said, disappearing into the kitchen and returning with a pair of chopsticks.

"Jackson, really? Not now. My tummy is literally crying," I whined, as I wasn't exactly skilled with chopsticks. When I ate sushi, it was either with my hands or a fork.

"Don't worry, these are for me. I'll teach you on our future snack date," he said, smiling and taking a seat next to me. My ears perked up at the mention of a date.

"D-date?"

.......