Chapter 4: The Cockroach incident

Norman drove as fast as he could after hearing Gabriella’s distressed call. His hands tightened around the steering wheel, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

When he reached the apartment, he burst inside, calling her name.

“Gabi! Gabi, where are you?”

He rushed into the living room. The food he had ordered earlier was gone from the table — but that didn’t matter.

Gabriella was curled up on the couch, hugging her knees.

“Norman…” she muttered.

He hurried toward her and knelt in front of her, his eyes scanning her face, arms, legs — every inch — searching for injuries.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

“No… I’m not hurt,” she said nervously. “But there’s something else.”

Norman exhaled slowly, relief washing through him. “What is it?”

Gabriella hesitated, embarrassed but desperate.

“There’s… a cockroach in my room.”

Norman blinked. “A cockroach?”

She nodded quickly. “It’s big. I’m scared. I can’t go back inside.”

He groaned softly. “Gabi, do you know how worried I was? You called me crying and then the call cut off.”

“I didn’t hang up,” she protested. “My phone died. I didn’t even know if you heard me…” Her voice softened. “Please help me. You can punish me later — just get rid of it.”

Norman’s lips twitched despite himself. He stood and grabbed a can of bug spray from the kitchen cupboard.

“Wait here. And next time, don’t call me for meaningless things.”

“This isn’t meaningless,” Gabriella argued. “This is my phobia.”

A few moments later, she heard the hiss of the spray and the door closing. Norman soon returned.

“You’re safe.”

As Gabriella watched him, her gaze lingered on his broad shoulders and firm frame. He wasn’t bulky, but his presence was strong — confident, masculine, dangerously attractive. Five years had turned the boy she knew into a man she couldn’t ignore.

“I… I left some food for you,” she said awkwardly, trying to break the silence.

“I won’t eat. I bought it for you.”

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Norman leaned against the counter, studying her for a moment before asking, “Why are you here in Solmere City?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m attending Solmere State University.”

“And your mother allowed that? So far from home?”

Gabriella shook her head. “She wouldn’t care.”

Norman didn’t respond. His thoughts drifted to the past — to the woman who had once been his stepmother. He pushed the memory away.

Instead, his attention returned to the small figure curled on the couch.

He walked over and gently took her hand, guiding her toward her room.

“You can sleep now.”

She stopped at the doorway. “Are you sure it’s gone?”

“Yes.”

He opened the door. The faint scent of bug spray still lingered. Gabriella stepped inside cautiously, scanning the floor.

Suddenly —

A stubborn cockroach crawled out from the corner.

Gabriella shrieked and jumped onto Norman, her arms and legs wrapping around him instinctively.

He backed into the wall with a startled breath as the insect scurried away.

When she looked up, Norman’s eyes had darkened, his gaze locked onto hers.

Realizing what she had done, Gabriella tried to pull away — but his arm tightened slightly around her.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I’ll go—”

“No,” Norman said firmly.

Her breath caught.

“This is your punishment.”

Gabriella froze.

Then she remembered her own words earlier.

You can punish me later…

Her heart began to race.

Norman couldn’t decide whether Gabriella’s reaction had been reckless or simply adorable. Of all the things she could have done, jumping onto him had been the first instinct that crossed her mind.

Now, seeing her nervous face and the way she clearly regretted her action made the corner of his lips curl with amusement. It was entertaining — and he wanted to see more of it.

“Can’t you punish me another way?” she pleaded. “Like… making me clean the house for a week or do the laundry.”

“You want to do my laundry?” he asked playfully, fully aware of how flustered she would get.

“No, goodness! That’s not what I meant—” She froze when Norman suddenly started moving. “What are you doing…?"

Before she could finish, her body landed softly on the bed.

Norman hovered over her, close enough that she could feel his warmth. Gabriella was frozen — speechless, helpless — fully aware that this situation was wrong, yet every nerve in her body betrayed her logic.

His scent of sandalwood and spice wrapped around her senses.

“We still have unfinished business to talk about, Gabi,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.

“I don’t think so,” she replied nervously, avoiding his intense dark eyes. “And that matter doesn’t require us to be like this… does it?”

He smirked. “Why not?”

Deliberately, he shifted closer, placing his leg between hers.

She gasped, her heart pounding wildly. Her thoughts scattered.

Was this right?

“I asked you a question,” he said quietly, brushing her hair away from her face. He gently pinned her wrists above her head, preventing her from moving.

Her breath trembled. “What… what do you want to hear?”

“About that kiss five years ago,” he said, watching her carefully. “Did it mean anything to you?”

Her eyes softened.

“It did,” she admitted quietly. “It was my first kiss, after all.”

Norman paused.

Then, unexpectedly, he pulled away and released her hands.

“Sleep,” he said shortly. “Your punishment is over.”

“Huh?” Gabriella blinked, confused.

Norman leaned down and pressed a brief, light kiss to her cheek — just enough to steal her breath — before turning and leaving the room.

Gabriella lay frozen on the bed, her heart racing.

Sleep didn’t come easily that night. Her mind replayed every second, every look, every touch.

What a crazy day…

More than that, she couldn’t stop wondering what her life would become now that Norman was back in it — living under the same roof again after five long years.

The next morning, she woke early, showered, packed her things, and prepared for her first day on campus.