The camera flashed nonstop against a clean, white backdrop. Today's concept was simple—black and white. Fire shifted effortlessly through each pose. First in a long, flowing white dress that trailed like mist, then transformed into a bold, androgynous figure in a sharp black suit. A short wig framed her face, soft features balanced with an edge of elegance. She looked beautiful—and strikingly handsome.
"And that's a wrap!" the head photographer called out.
A wave of applause echoed through the studio. As the tension melted, Fire's fierce gaze softened into her usual bright and bubbly demeanor. She bowed gratefully. "Thank you so much, everyone!"
Her manager stepped forward, tapping his phone. "Great work. Blaze is here—can we get a quick photo for the media?"
"What time is it?" Fire asked, already gathering her things.
"10:26," he replied, glancing at his watch.
"I'll do the picture, but I need to rush. My flight's in less than an hour."
I can't afford another warning from Ice, she thought, already bracing herself.
At the University…
The classroom buzzed with chatter. Morning lectures hadn't started, but gossip already filled the air.
"Wait, Fire has a boyfriend?" Dhylan asked, eyebrows raised.
Oriel barely looked up from her phone, scrolling. "Yeah. Totally forgot, but they posted a photo recently." She held the screen toward him. "Look—Blaze. He's a top action star in Asia. They actually look amazing together."
"They haven't confirmed anything officially, but come on," she added, now flipping to Blaze's profile. "It's obvious."
Blaze, also known by his stage name Ace, wasn't a global name yet—but in Asia, he was a rising icon.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway. Oriel turned, expecting the professor, but it was Fire—panting, cheeks flushed, visibly relieved.
She made it just in time.
Oriel was about to greet her when the real professor strode in. The room instantly quieted.
The lecture dragged on, long and dull, as always—but Fire was acting... off. The subject she usually complained about now had her full attention. Her eyes locked on the professor, posture straight, absorbing every word.
"Fire's acting weird," Oriel whispered.
"She looks fine to me," Dhylan mumbled, face down on his desk, hidden from view as usual.
I need to catch up. If I fall behind again, Ice will be furious. Fire clenched her pen tighter, willing herself to stay alert despite the creeping jet lag.
The bell rang. Students stirred in their seats.
"Alright," the professor said, "let's talk about your next lab project."
Excitement rippled through the room.
"This time, you'll prepare a full-course meal inspired by another country. You'll work in teams, and we're mixing groups—you'll be paired based on the country you draw."
"I hope we get Korea!" someone said from the back.
"I'm going with the Philippines," another chimed in.
The professor held up a glass jar filled with folded slips of paper. "Each country will be assigned to two groups—so if you draw the same, you're partners."
Oriel grinned. "I hope I get teamed with Fire."
Dhylan raised an eyebrow. "You sure? That means Ice will be in your group too." Oriel's smile froze; the thought clearly hadn't occurred to her.
The professor asked for a class representative to draw first. Fire stayed still, assuming Ice would go—but he didn't move. Instead, he gave her a look and gestured for her to step up.
Reluctantly, she walked to the front and reached into the jar. As she unfolded the slip, a smile spread across her face.
"Japan!" she beamed, holding it up for Ice to see.
"Find your teammates and bring me a proposal by tomorrow," the professor added. "You'll present on Monday next week. This will count as your midterm. Good luck." With that, he left the room.
Later, in the library...
The school library was quiet, bathed in the warm amber glow of the setting sun. Fire sat at a corner table, her laptop open and humming beside a scatter of Japanese cookbooks. Lia flipped nervously through one of them while Rika tapped her pen against the table, lips glossed and hair perfectly in place, clearly anticipating someone's arrival more than the actual project.
"He said he'll come after his meeting," Fire reassured them. "Let's just review the plan in the meantime."
"Are you sure it's okay?" Lia asked, lowering her voice like she feared Ice might appear out of thin air. "President Ice looks so… intense. Like, really intense."
"Shut up, he looks like a drama lead," Rika countered without missing a beat. Her voice sparkled with admiration. "Even when he's mad, he's insanely handsome. Like a villain you want to fall in love with."
Fire offered a small, forced laugh. This might get worse before it gets better.
And then—footsteps.
Slow, steady, deliberate.
They turned toward the aisle. Ice appeared like a character stepping out of a cinematic scene. His black uniform fit him too perfectly, sleeves rolled just enough to show lean forearms. His bag was slung casually over one shoulder. His hair, slightly tousled from the long day, looked effortless, not a strand out of place. Tired, maybe—but in the golden hue of the library lights, he looked like he had just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine.
His eyes—sharp and storm-gray—scanned the room with practiced calm, until they landed on Fire.
For a second, time hung still.
"Holy…" Rika whispered, clamping a hand over her mouth. Her cheeks flushed pink.
Lia had dropped her pen. She wasn't even blinking.
Ice walked toward them, a faint crease between his brows, a shadow of fatigue in his expression—but it didn't dull him. If anything, it softened him. And that was more dangerous.
He pulled out the chair next to Fire, completely ignoring the one Rika had oh-so-hopefully placed near her. The slight sound of that chair scraping away was louder than it should have been.
Rika's soul visibly left her body.
Fire let out a sigh she didn't mean to, glancing at Rika who was staring like she had just witnessed an angel touch earth.
Ice leaned forward, propping his elbow on the table and resting his cheek on his palm. His face, half-shadowed, seemed gentler in this light, eyes half-lidded in a way that made him look—adorable.
Not just handsome. Not just cool.
But effortlessly, devastatingly magnetic.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, directing his voice at Fire—but the sound alone nearly melted the other two girls.
From across the table, Lia and Rika looked like they had just been hit by a spell. Their faces were flushed, eyes wide, shoulders stiff, hearts visibly crashing against their chests.
Fire watched this happen, knowing exactly what was going on.
Ice wasn't doing it on purpose—he never did—but somehow, just by being tired and present, he had made two girls fall in love with him in real time.
And the worst part?
He was completely unaware.
This is going to be a very, very long project, Fire thought, suppressing another sigh as she opened her notebook again.
Next Chapter:
As the deadline looms and the library lights dim, a group of culinary students races to finalize their international cuisine project. Tensions simmer when Ice, the group's aloof perfectionist, insists on a high-end Kaiseki meal—until Fire, the new girl with quiet conviction, offers a simpler, homier idea that just might change everything.
In a battle of tradition versus authenticity, who will win?
And when the night ends, a sleepy, accidental hand-hold might stir more than just feelings about food...