ꗃ ⋆ ࣪ . 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘾𝙖𝙩𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 - 🖇️ 𖥻

💬 𝟬𝟰┃𝙖 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧 ✰

"What the hell is your problem, Miss Lady?" Kai snaps.

Aloisa's annoyance intensifies, erasing any remnants of remorse she previously felt. "I have a name, y'know. Aloisa."

Despite her dismay, a twinge of guilt resurfaces within her as Kai's knees nearly buckle.

"But," she adds, averting her gaze to the carpet, "I apologize for throwing you."

While she remains displeased with the young man's rather disrespectful manner of speaking, her apology carries genuine sincerity. "Truly, I am sorry."

Kai gazes at her with incredulity.

"You shouldn't be so apologetic to someone you just met," he bluntly advises. "Especially after you've helped them."

Perplexed, Aloisa raises her eyes to meet his. "What?"

"You heard me," he replies, rising from his seat. "Where can I change into these clothes?"

He's strikingly straightforward, and his words fill her with slight embarrassment when she digests their veracity.

Kai is right; he is the one who imposed himself upon her without any permission, so why burden herself with guilt?

"Um... The restroom is by the kitchen," Aloisa mutters, subtly brushing aside her bangs in an attempt to maintain an air of nonchalance.

Only now does she fully comprehend Kai's height, as he had either been sitting or in his kitten form since they first met. Now, even with the distance between them, Aloisa can tell he towers over her.

"Why were..." she begins to ask, but a hint of hesitation pulls at her words, "...you lying on me?"

He raises a brow at her. "I was cold and you looked warm."

Aloisa gapes at him. "You can't just— You...!"

For a brief but bewildering minute and a half, her mind experiences a momentary short circuit. Words jumble together at the forefront of her thoughts, leaving her unable to articulate what she wants to convey.

She concedes defeat, massaging her temples in exasperation.

"You didn't care when I told you earlier, but," she gripes, moving on and trying to remain poised, "I don't have any underwear for you."

Kai's expression immediately changes, his eyes widening as his face reddens.

"It's alright." He rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. "This will be fine. Thanks."

Aloisa uncomfortably clears her throat. "I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't be a problem."

She admires Kai's broad shoulders as he struggles to pick up the clothes while keeping the blanket from slipping off his body.

In that moment, she finally recognizes that she finds him attractive, but quickly dismisses the thought when the young man speaks up.

"Are these Christmas socks?" He raises a bundle of black fluff adorned with white Christmas tree patterns.

"Oh! If you're cold, you can wear those. It's not necessary, though. I just put them there incase you got cold since it's snowing and all," Aloisa rambles. She feels her face heat up when she realizes she's digressed. "Yes, they're Christmas socks."

At this particular juncture, she longs to hide from her guest.

"I see," Kai responds, letting out a short giggle. "Cute."

Aloisa mirrors his giggle awkwardly, her lips pressed into a thin line as several seconds of silence pass between them, only the sound of the heater filling the room.