A Kiss He Couldn't Forget

Adrian's grandfather sat in his favorite armchair, a cup of coffee in his right hand and his eyes fixed on the television. On the screen, the two leads stood face to face, and the old man reacted to every line. He gasped, nodded, and swatted at the air as if he could reach into the screen and direct them himself.

Across the room, Adrian watched without really seeing.

On the screen, the two characters leaned toward each other, tilted their heads, and, with a clumsy little bump, their lips touched.

Adrian's mind went somewhere else entirely: the street in front of the family business, Chloe's face inches from his own, and the accidental brush of her lips against his.

Before he realized what he was doing, his fingers rose to his mouth. The moment replayed in his mind, and he quickly lowered his hand as if someone might have caught him.

"What kind of show makes two characters fall for each other after just one kiss?" he muttered, standing up and striding out of the sitting room. "This show is the worst."

"Hey! What do you mean, the worst?" His grandfather twisted around in his chair. "Listen here. This show is popular for a reason. You just need to get into it!"

Adrian ignored him and continued down the corridor.

"You're just jealous because nobody has kissed you like that!" his grandfather called after him.

Adrian stopped for half a second.

Then he continued walking, pretending he hadn't heard a word.

Meanwhile, Aria and Chloe had come to Chef Caleb's restaurant to discuss the company's decision to work with him. Caleb had prepared a spread of dishes as samples for Chloe to take back to her team, and Chloe was entirely absorbed in photographing them, adjusting the angle of each plate and leaning in for close-ups.

She was so focused that she almost missed what Aria was doing.

Aria had slipped a piece of food into her mouth. Then another. Then, after glancing over her shoulder to make sure nobody was watching, a third.

"Can you please focus on the job?" Chef Caleb said sharply, rapping his knuckles on the counter to get Chloe's attention.

"Okay." Chloe raised her camera and returned to photographing the dishes.

"Hey, this is really good," Aria said, her mouth full.

Caleb turned to her with a frown. "Have you been starving? You should eat more slowly."

"I haven't eaten all day. I spent lunch looking at apartments." Aria pouted and reached for another piece.

"Seriously, why did you move out?" Caleb asked, his expression turning concerned. "Do you even have enough money to get your own place?"

"You all seem to think I've been living off my dad's money," Aria replied. "But I've saved up my paychecks."

"Oh, I'm sure you've saved a lot," Chloe said sarcastically without taking her eyes off the camera.

Aria shot her a warning look. "You don't have to sound so happy about my situation."

"I'm just stating the obvious."

"Chloe!"

"What? I'm working."

Caleb shook his head, clearly deciding that he didn't want to get involved in their argument, and disappeared into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Aria rose from her seat and crept up behind Chloe. She leaned down until her chin almost rested on Chloe's shoulder and began teasing her in a sing-song voice.

"I like your food, and I like you too!"

She made up the tune as she went, swaying slightly as though she were performing on a stage.

Chloe continued taking pictures without even looking at her.

"I guess you don't want to sleep over at my place tonight," she said calmly.

Aria froze.

"I'm sorry."

"Right?" Chloe replied. "Now go eat."

Aria immediately straightened up and returned to her food.

By the time Chloe and Aria finished at Caleb's restaurant, evening had settled in. They headed home together since Aria was staying at Chloe's place that night.

After showering and changing into their nightwear, Chloe settled at her desk with her laptop open, typing away at the work she needed to complete. Meanwhile, Aria sprawled across the bed, scrolling through apartment listings on her phone.

"What kind of security deposit is this expensive?" Aria groaned. "This place doesn't even look half as big as my bedroom."

"I thought you said you'd saved all your paychecks without spending a cent," Chloe said, rolling her chair around to face her.

"Oh, so you were exaggerating," she added before turning back to her screen.

"On top of rent, I also need to buy furniture, and my living expenses will be pretty high too," Aria complained.

"Oh, that's right," Chloe replied flatly.

Aria stared at her for a moment before an idea crossed her mind.

"So, I was thinking. Should I just live with you? In this room?" she asked sweetly, wearing her most innocent smile.

Chloe slowly turned her chair.

She gave Aria a dangerously cold sideways look.

Aria sensed the danger immediately.

"It was just a thought!" she exclaimed, raising both hands in surrender. "I'm going to get my own place!"

She paused, then muttered under her breath, "You're a mean girl."

Chloe said nothing. She simply turned back to her screen and continued typing.

For a while, the only sound in the room was the clicking of her keyboard.

But as the night dragged on, exhaustion began to catch up with her. Her eyes grew heavy, and the words on her screen slowly blurred together. She blinked several times, determined to finish her work, but her body had other plans.

Eventually, her head lowered gently onto the desk.

Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

Morning arrived, but neither Chloe nor Aria seemed to notice.

The alarm rang loudly through the room, yet neither girl stirred. The sound continued until Chloe's mother finally opened the door and stepped inside.

"Get up! You're going to be late!"

She stopped when she noticed Chloe slumped over her desk.

"Chloe!" she exclaimed, hurrying toward her. "You fell asleep like this? Your back will hurt! Chloe, wake up! You need to go to work!"

She patted Chloe's back, then gave her another gentle shake.

"What time is it?" Chloe mumbled, keeping her eyes firmly shut.

"What time do you think?" her mother asked impatiently.

Chloe slowly opened one eye.

Then she remembered her unfinished work.

Her eyes flew open.

"Oh my God! I haven't finished this! What do I do?"

She snatched up her phone and checked the time. The moment she saw it, she sprang out of her chair so quickly that it nearly toppled over.

"I'm late! I'm seriously late!"

"Get up properly and at least eat something first," her mother said, shaking her head as she walked out of the room.

"How am I supposed to eat when I'm already late?" Chloe cried, frantically gathering her things.

On the bed, Aria stirred beneath the covers, pulled a pillow over her head, and went straight back to sleep.