I see you || Kimi Antonelli

ᴇɪɢʜᴛ シ︎

Mum's eyes were quick to notice the shivers that racked my frame. "Anyone who wants tea, coffee, or hot cocoa?" she offered, her maternal instinct kicking in as she took in our chilled appearances. Amelie's response was immediate, her request for hot cocoa punctuated by an expectant look. I echoed her choice, adding a hopeful note for whipped cream and mini marshmallows. Kimi, ever the gracious guest, said he'd be happy with whatever Mum decided, which, of course, ended up being hot cocoa for him as well.

Dad's curiosity was piqued as he joined us in the kitchen. "Why were you guys outside anyway? It might be March, but it's cold outside nevertheless," he inquired, his brows knitting together in a mix of concern and confusion. I recounted the day's events, carefully skirting around the fact that I had chased Amelie in a moment of anger, an omission that didn't go unnoticed. Mum and Dad exchanged a look, then burst into laughter, their amusement clear. "That's just like you," they said, and I couldn't help but agree—it was indeed a 'me' thing to do.

With mugs of hot cocoa in hand, we gathered around the dining table, the warmth from the cups seeping into our fingers. Mum turned to Kimi, her tone inviting. "Kimi, do you think your parents would mind if you stay over for dinner? Only if you want to, of course," she asked. Kimi excused himself to make the call, his Italian a soft murmur that filled the room. I found myself captivated by the melody of his language, even though I couldn't understand a word.

"They were okay with it," he announced upon his return, a smile gracing his lips. "Great! Do you like soup?" Mum asked, and I couldn't contain my excitement. I clapped my hands, my love for Mum's soup no secret. Kimi chuckled at my enthusiasm and confirmed that he, too, enjoyed soup. Mum mentioned that dinner would take a while to prepare and suggested we occupy ourselves in the meantime.

"How about a game of F1 23?" I proposed, eager for a distraction. "You do know I'm going to beat you, right?" Kimi teased, a playful glint in his eye. "No, you're not! I won't let you," I retorted, my arms crossed in mock defiance. "We'll see," he replied with a chuckle, accepting the controller I handed him.

We settled into my room, the TV screen coming to life with the virtual race. Despite my determination, Kimi's expertise as an F2 driver was undeniable, and he claimed victory with ease, again. "Told ya," he said, a triumphant smirk on his face. "Okay, I get it! You've made your point," I conceded, throwing my hands up in surrender. His laughter filled the room, and soon he was tickling me mercilessly. "No, stop! I'm ticklish!" I managed to gasp out between fits of laughter.

The tickling stopped, and for a moment, we were still, our eyes locked. The same intensity that had captivated me earlier in the streets of Bologna was there again, making the room feel suddenly warmer. My gaze flickered to his lips, and I felt a rush of heat to my cheeks. It seemed he was mirroring my actions, our faces inching closer with each passing second.

Just as the possibility of a kiss hung in the air, Mum's voice called out, announcing that dinner was ready. I cleared my throat, and Kimi backed away quickly. "I heard Mum. Dinner's ready; we should go downstairs," I said, trying to sound casual despite the blush I could feel spreading across my face. "Yeah, let's go," he agreed, and together we left the sanctuary of my room for the dining room below.

ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᶠᵒʳᵍᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵛᵒᵗᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵒᵐᵐᵉⁿᵗ シ︎