𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 ||| 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐯 (𝟑)

[ 𝟏𝟑 ]

Sunlight pierced through the windows and illuminated my room, causing me to wake up. I groaned, unwilling to leave my bed, but not wanting the brightness. Finally, I decided to step out and close the curtains. Before I could walk back, I crashed against the bed, pain traveling up my ankle again.

Ningning must've heard my cry in agony because she swung my door open and rushed to my side. I thanked her for shifting me back on my bed.

"How did you twist your ankle?" Ningning showered me with endless questions that entered and exited my ear without being processed. I gestured for her to sit down next to me and explained yesterday evening's events to her—the abandoned dinner, the scene at the bar, and the cherry on top, a twisted ankle. She gently held my hand in between hers and caressed it. Her eyes gazed at me with pity, the comments making her sound like she was my sister.

For the day, Ningning had become my non-biological sister. She made sure I ate well and took me out shopping when my foot got better. Then, we watched a movie and stopped by a photo booth before getting dinner.

Look, I have nothing against French cuisine. But I can't resist the call of home, especially when it's hot pot that's calling my name.

"Don't forget to take a shower before going to sleep," Ningning advised, let out a yawn, and left the living room for her beauty sleep.

I stuck around for a few more minutes as I waited for my dead phone to revive itself again. I powered it off for the day to eliminate any distractions for our girl's day out. As I plopped down on my bed, a sudden burst of notifications caused me to roll my eyes. My fingers swiped them away and left the room, returning to the living room once I heard a knock on the door. I swung the front door open and was greeted by a surprise dressed in a zipped-up ocean blue jacket that clearly didn't fit the weather outside.

"Mingxia," Ten said, his voice filled with emotion I didn't bother to note. "I need to talk to you."

I returned a cold look with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm so sorry about yesterday, I completely forgot, and, well, what I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry and I can explain."

I looked away, scoffed, then returned a sharp glare. I didn't care enough to register his expression in my mind before I shut the door. Knocks followed, not seeming to stop. I cursed under my breath, in Mandarin, and opened the door to be greeted by the same person in the same place.

Rolling my eyes, I muttered, "Stop knocking and get out. I don't want to talk to you."

I shut the door again, knowing that Ten wasn't the type to follow whatever he was told to do, and he proved it well with his unstoppable knocking. Refusing to deal with his nonsense, I went to my bedroom and fell asleep to the sound of the chilly wind hitting my window.