Ice didn't show up all day. When I asked Oriel about it, she just shrugged and said it was probably a Student Council meeting. After all, University Foundation Day was coming up.
But he did have time to give me a violation notice this morning!
I crossed my arms, walking down the same hallway where he'd scolded me like a criminal. The memory of his stern voice echoed in my mind, making my cheeks burn with frustration. I have to find him and get that violation slip back!
I wasn't even sure where the Student Council office was, but Oriel had vaguely said "somewhere south," near the larger buildings with more kitchen laboratories. Supposedly, that's where the upperclassmen trained. They even wore different uniforms—so professional, they looked like real chefs. I couldn't wait to wear that uniform one day.
Just imagining it made my heart flutter with excitement.
...If I even survive a year with Ice's mood swings.
I sighed dramatically. Why is he always so grumpy? He needs a girlfriend. Someone to melt all that ice in his veins.
I pouted. "What if I make him fall in love with me?" I mumbled to myself, half-joking.
But then I imagined it: him falling for me, me pretending it was a game... and then the truth comes out. He finds out it was all a bet. And I'm left—shattered.
I giggled at the thought. It sounded like something straight out of the romance novel I'd just finished.
Ice was cute, sure. But not that cute. Especially not when he yelled at me to stop running in the hallway. I was almost late—of course I had to run!
And seriously, why doesn't my charm work on him?
I pouted again, remembering how often a single smile had worked wonders in the past.
—
"I'm really sorry, Manager! The traffic was horrible!" I had said once, hands pressed together in apology. In truth, I'd just overslept.
"Please, sir! I left my wallet inside," I'd pleaded with the gym security guard after I'd carelessly left it behind.
"Could I get a small discount? Pretty please?" I'd asked with a sweet smile during auditions.
It usually worked. It always worked. Just a flash of a smile and people bent like butter.
But not him.
Never him.
I let out an annoyed huff, remembering the way he had looked at me on the first day—like I was a nuisance. That cold, irritated stare had never changed.
Though... occasionally, he was kind. Just a little.
—
Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed where I was going. When I blinked back to the present, I'd somehow wandered to the very end of the southern hallway, the quietest part of campus.
"Eh?" I glanced around. I hadn't even looked for the Student Council building like I was supposed to.
Determined to try again, I turned on my heel—only to freeze.
Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention.
A greenhouse?
I stopped and turned back. I'd never seen this part of the campus before.
Curiosity tugged at me. Before I knew it, I was walking toward the large glass dome nestled beyond the paved paths. The air here felt different—calmer, a little magical.
What if there's a serial killer inside? I paused, then laughed at myself. No way.
"I'll just take a peek. Just a peek!"
The door wasn't locked. I pushed it open, and the warm, orange light of the afternoon poured in like liquid gold through the transparent walls.
My breath caught.
It was like walking into another world.
Lush greenery filled the space—ferns, orchids, and flowering vines in every corner, with bursts of color framed by an overwhelming canvas of green. A small fountain sat silent in the center, and the paths were clean, almost pristine.
From the ceiling, delicate orchids hung like living chandeliers, swaying gently in the breeze. The greenhouse wasn't just beautiful—it was alive.
In the farthest corner stood a massive tree, so tall it pierced through the roof. Its ancient branches stretched like arms reaching for the sky. They must have built the greenhouse around it.
It looked... enchanted.
My heart raced. I jogged toward it, unable to resist.
This is just like that drama I watched, I thought. Maybe there's a vampire sealed inside. Or some monster, frozen in time.
I reached the base of the tree, panting slightly, eyes wide with wonder.
And there—leaning against the trunk, eyes closed, his face serene in the soft sunlight—was Ice.
I gasped.
His usual sharp edges were gone. Bathed in golden light, he looked calm... peaceful... almost angelic.
"...Ice?" I whispered.
I hadn't realized before.
Some people are better when they're asleep.
Next Chapter:
All he wanted was one quiet afternoon, maybe a nap under the tree no one knew about. Instead, he got her.
Fire—chaotic, stubborn, and too close for comfort—barreled into his peace with teary eyes and a ridiculous plea to erase her violation slip. As usual, she ignored boundaries, ignored rules, and definitely ignored the meaning of personal space.
But this time, something was different.
In between her protests, her pouting, and her wild nicknames, he caught a glimpse of the real her—the girl who didn't want to get kicked out because, for the first time, she was having fun. Who cried because she cared. Who, despite all her disasters, still tried.
And the worst part?
He didn't hate it.