Ling pulled back, amused, eyes bright. "What?"
Rhea reached up and shoved her shoulder. "Idiot. You did that intentionally."
Ling laughed, completely unapologetic.
"I don't do accidents," she said easily.
Rhea scrambled half upright, tugging at her shirt collar, already imagining the mark. "Ugh. My mom will see."
Ling leaned back on her hands, thoroughly entertained. "Let her."
Rhea shot her a glare. "That's not funny."
Ling tilted her head, inspecting her work with mock seriousness. "It's not obvious."
"It's under my collarbone."
Ling shrugged. "Strategic."
Rhea pushed her again, harder this time. "You're unbelievable."
Ling laughed openly now, the sound warm and careless, nothing like the cold control she showed the rest of the world.
"You should've kicked me more in your sleep," Ling said. "This is what happens when you don't."
Rhea groaned, covering her face. "You're impossible. Completely impossible."
Ling leaned forward, brushing a quick kiss to Rhea's forehead innocent this time.
"And yet," she said lightly, "you didn't tell me to stop."
Rhea peeked at her from behind her hands, cheeks warm. "Next time I will."
Ling smiled, unconvinced.
"Sure," she said. "Good luck with that."
The knock came sharp and sudden.
Rhea froze.
Her eyes flew to the door. "Mom is there," she whispered urgently.
Ling, completely unbothered, stretched lazily on the bed, arms over her head, looking far too comfortable for someone who wasn't supposed to exist in the room.
"Let her see," Ling said calmly. "What her daughter's doing."
Rhea's panic spiked.
"Are you insane?" she hissed.
She didn't wait for an answer. She grabbed Ling's wrist and shoved her off the bed, dragging her toward the bathroom.
"Hide," Rhea whispered fiercely. "Do. Not. Come. Out."
Ling allowed herself to be pushed, still amused, still smug. Just before the bathroom door closed, she leaned in and murmured,
"You panic beautifully."
Rhea slammed the door shut.
"Rhea?" Kane's voice came again, closer now.
Rhea took a breath, smoothed her shirt, and opened the door.
Kane stepped inside, eyes sharp, scanning the room instinctively. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
Rhea nodded quickly. "Yeah. Fine."
Kane glanced toward the bed, then the bathroom door, but sensing nothing. "Breakfast will be ready soon. Are you coming down?"
"I'll eat later," Rhea replied. "I'm not that hungry."
Kane studied her face for a moment too long then nodded.
"I'll be late tonight," Kane said. "There's a meeting."
Rhea kept her expression neutral. Perfect. Trained.
"Okay," she said simply.
Kane turned to leave, paused at the doorway. "Don't stay locked in all day."
"I won't."
The door closed.
Rhea exhaled sharply and turned toward the bathroom.
Before she could speak, the door opened.
Ling stepped out like she owned the place, arms crossed, eyes amused.
"She didn't even check," Ling said. "Disappointing."
Rhea shoved her again, furious and whispering. "Are you trying to get me killed?"
Ling laughed softly, catching Rhea's wrists before she could push again.
"No," Ling said. "I'm testing how far you'll go to hide me."
Rhea yanked her hands back. "Don't come out again like that."
Ling leaned in, lowering her voice. "You didn't say that when you dragged me in."
Rhea glared at her, flustered, heart still racing.
Ling smiled — satisfied, possessive, utterly at ease.
"Relax," Ling said. "She's gone."
Rhea shook her head. "You're impossible."
Ling tilted her head, eyes dark with amusement. "And yet… you hid me."
"Go to the bathroom," Rhea said. "I'll bring you a new toothbrush."
Ling raised an eyebrow, amused, but nodded anyway. She stretched once more like she owned the room, then walked into the bathroom without locking the door, completely at ease.
Rhea rolled her eyes and went to the cupboard, carefully picking out a brand-new toothbrush, still sealed. She took a moment longer than necessary, calming her heartbeat, rehearsing normalcy. This is fine, she told herself. Just normal.
When she finally entered the bathroom, she stopped short.
Ling was already at the sink.
Brushing.
Rhea blinked. "I— I brought a new one for you."
Ling glanced at her through the mirror, foam at the corner of her mouth, completely unbothered.
"It's okay," Ling said casually. "I'm using yours."
Rhea burst out laughing, startled. "You didn't even ask."
Ling shrugged, continuing to brush. "Didn't think I needed permission."
Rhea leaned against the doorframe, still laughing. "You're unbelievable."
Ling finished brushing slowly, deliberately, as if enjoying the effect she had. She rinsed her mouth, then turned around, eyes sharp and smug.
"What?" Ling asked. "You got flustered again?"
Rhea scoffed, shaking her head. "You're impossible."
Ling smiled wider. "I know. My swag does that to people."
Rhea laughed again, then hesitated. "Actually—"
Ling tilted her head. "Actually what?"
Rhea lifted the new toothbrush slightly. "I brought this because… that one— I don't really use it for my teeth."
Ling froze.
Her expression shifted from smug amusement to stillness in a split second.
"What?" Ling asked slowly.
Rhea gestured awkwardly. "I mean it is a toothbrush. But I use it for… cleaning. My private areas."
Silence.
Ling stared at her.
Then her eyes widened just a little.
Then she smiled.
Shameless.
Dangerously amused.
Rhea hadn't expected that.
Ling's smile spread, slow and deliberate, like she was savoring the moment.
"Oh," Ling said softly. "Is that so?"
Rhea immediately regretted speaking.
Ling stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Interesting."
Rhea crossed her arms, flustered now for real. "Stop looking like that."
Ling chuckled quietly. "Relax." She lifted the toothbrush slightly. "Now or later… I was going to taste this anyway. Through brush or not."
Rhea's face burned instantly.
"Li__!" she exclaimed, mortified.
Ling laughed, fully, clearly enjoying herself far too much.
Rhea turned away, embarrassed beyond recovery. "You should talk less."
Ling followed her with her eyes, still smiling, utterly unashamed.
"Too late," Ling said lightly. "You started this."
Rhea muttered something under her breath as she left the bathroom, cheeks still warm.
Behind her, Ling rinsed the brush again, still smiling to herself victorious, teasing, and completely unapologetic.
Rhea moved around the room quietly, pulling clothes out of the wardrobe with practiced ease. She chose carefully something revealing. Comfortable. Safe. Familiar.
She laid them out on the bed for Ling.
Her own shirt slightly oversized and a pair of soft shorts with an elastic waistband.
Ling watched from the edge of the bed, arms crossed, eyes following every movement like she was being entertained rather than dressed.
When Ling picked up the shorts, she raised an eyebrow.
"You're trying to sabotage me," Ling said flatly.
Rhea glanced over. "What?"
Ling held the waistband up, inspecting it with mock seriousness. "These won't fit."
Rhea snorted. "They will."
Ling tilted her head, eyes narrowing playfully. "You're fat."
Rhea rolled her eyes instantly. "Oh my god."
Ling continued, completely unapologetic. "Your hips are—" she gestured vaguely in the air, exaggerating, "—wider. I mean—"
"Stop," Rhea cut in, laughing despite herself. "Look properly."
Ling looked again, skeptical.
Rhea stepped closer and pointed at the waistband. "It's elastic. You can set it."
Ling tugged the waistband experimentally, stretching it once.
"Oh," Ling said slowly.
Rhea crossed her arms, smug. "Exactly."
Ling smirked. "So you planned for your… proportions."
Rhea shoved her shoulder lightly. "You're impossible."
Ling laughed and inspected shorts.
Ling paused, then looked at Rhea with mock disappointment. "Fine. You win."
Rhea raised an eyebrow. "Shocking."
Ling leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Still fat though."
Rhea groaned. "Get dressed before I throw you out the window."
Ling didn't move, didn't changed her clothes.
She stayed exactly where she was arms loose, posture lazy, eyes fixed on Rhea like she was waiting for something obvious to be acknowledged.
Rhea noticed after a moment. She frowned.
"You're not changing?"
Ling shook her head once. Calm. Certain.
"I won't."
Rhea turned fully toward her. "Why?"
Ling's lips curved not a smile, not teasing yet. Just intention.
"Because we're bathing together."
Rhea blinked. "What?"
Ling repeated it slowly, like it had already been decided the night before and Rhea was simply late catching up.
"As per your promise."
Rhea scoffed lightly, turning away, busying herself with nothing. "I didn't promise anything like—"
Ling straightened immediately. The air shifted.
"Don't," Ling said, voice low. "Don't change the topic."
Rhea glanced back. Ling was watching her closely now not playful, not smiling. Controlled. Possessive in the quiet way that made it worse.
Rhea tried again, softer. "Ling, we were joking—"
Ling stepped closer.
"You said it," Ling replied. "I remember."
Rhea exhaled, rubbing her forehead. "I didn't say now."
Ling tilted her head slightly. "You didn't say not now either."
Rhea opened her mouth, then closed it again.
Ling crossed her arms, settling into stubbornness like armor. "So I'm not changing."
Rhea stared at her. "You're impossible."
Ling shrugged. "You knew that before letting me climb into your window."
Rhea laughed despite herself, shaking her head. "You're seriously holding me to this?"
Ling leaned in just enough to invade space, just close. "Yes."
Rhea tried one last time, voice deliberately casual. "Can we talk about this later?"
Ling's eyes darkened, amused but unyielding.
"No."
She stepped back, flopping onto the bed with exaggerated ease, hands behind her head.
"Bath together," Ling said again, final and absolute.
"I'm not changing. You can stall. You can glare. But I'm waiting."
Rhea looked at her stretched out on her bed, acting like she already belonged there and realized with a sinking mix of irritation and warmth that Ling had already won.
And Ling knew it.
She watched Rhea turn away.
"So?" Ling asked casually, like the answer was obvious. "Can we?"
Rhea didn't respond. She walked straight toward the bathroom, fingers already reaching for the light switch.
"Bath," Rhea said over her shoulder. "We'll bathe later. Together. Not now."
Ling moved fast.
Before Rhea could step inside, Ling caught her wrist and pulled her back with a sharp tug. Rhea stumbled, breath catching, and the next second Ling's arm wrapped around her waist, lifting her slightly off the floor like she weighed nothing.
"Rhea," Ling said quietly.
Rhea froze.
Ling pulled her fully against her, one arm locked around her middle, the other braced against the doorframe behind them. Rhea's back hit Ling's chest, heat immediate, unavoidable.
"Why are you avoiding it?" Ling asked.