Fire Meets Ice

Chapter 6: Awkward Cupid

Alexa went on and on bragging about bumping into Marcus again at the library and what he did to defend her at the donut shop. She never spoke with such enthusiasm and excitement about any guy before as she was always indifferent from the past. But the lovely talk about Marcus didn't stop there.

"Let me send you his Instagram," she said, her eyes sparkling with delight. "I'll show you what he looks like!"

She sent Megan a link to Marcus's Instagram and Megan was dumbfounded by how hot he was.

With a quick tap on her phone, she sent Megan a link to Marcus's profile. When Megan opened it, she was amazed too. "My God... Look at him!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her enthusiasm. "Isn't he so hot? He's got such a nice smile and great posture!"

Curiosity sparked in Megan's mind. "What is his sign?" she asked, eager to dive deeper into this newfound interest.

Alexa chuckled, brushing off the question. "Haha, not sure. I haven't asked him. Usually, men aren't interested in astrology; they think it's nonsense."

Megan pondered for a moment, studying the pictures on the screen. "Hmm... He definitely looks like an Aries to me," she mused, pointing to an eager expression captured in one of Marcus's photos. "I can also see he might have some Aquarius and Pisces placements! But I'm not sure about his rising sign."

"Regardless, he's hot, despite what sign he is," Alexa replied, her tone playful but tinged with sincerity. "Oh, and he followed me back, by the way."

Megan leaned in closer, a teasing grin spreading across her face. "Girl, don't deny it. You really like him, don't you?"

Caught off guard, Alexa felt a blush creep across her cheeks, betraying her. "No, I don't! We still don't know each other that well personally," she insisted, though her flustered expression told a different story.

"Yes, you do!" Megan laughed, clearly enjoying the moment. "My bestie is blushing! Haha."

Deep down, Alexa knew Megan was right. With a single glance, Megan could read her like an open book, unraveling the tangled thoughts that swirled in her mind. Megan had always possessed a sharp intuition, a trait that earned her the nickname "Evil Psych" back in high school, a title that both intimidated and fascinated those around her.

The following day, Marcus found himself absorbed in the world of Instagram, his mind wandering as he scrolled through Megan's posts. He stood in his apartment, stirring a pot of rice for his pre-workout meal, but his focus was entirely on her pictures. With each like he tapped, a part of him wished she would share more of herself with the world.

She doesn't have to hide her smile, he mused, wishing he could see more of that radiant grin. His heart quickened as he stumbled upon a detail that intrigued him. Oh? She's an otaku? Very, very nice to know that about her.

As he admired her posts, thoughts of Megan consumed him. I've heard of many mystic girls, but never one quite like her. She makes me want to ponder about her more, he thought. 

But in the midst of his daydreaming, he completely lost track of time. The rice in the instant pot began to burn, the scent of scorched grains filling the kitchen.

"What the hell?!" he exclaimed, rushing toward the stove. "Oh no!"

By the time he turned off the heat, it was too late. The rice had hardened, forming a thick crust that clung stubbornly to the bottom of the pot.

"Goddamn... Shit! How the f**k did I leave it heating for so long?!" His frustration mounted as he surveyed the ruined meal.

"Great... Such a waste of rice," he muttered to himself, feeling the weight of disappointment settle in. Cooking again felt like a daunting task, and he couldn't shake the thought of his coach's disapproval looming over him.