PHOENIX

Date?- friendly date.

After getting a sense of the cozy yet small dorm, Minjun decided to explore the space a bit more.

Evara had already made herself comfortable on the mattress, her eyes closed as if the mere thought of speaking further exhausted her.

So, he figured he might as well take a self-guided tour of what would now be his home.

He started with the kitchen, which was the first space just off the hall.

The moment he stepped inside, he was struck by how sterile it looked. The countertops were gleaming, not a single smudge in sight, and the appliances looked brand new, almost as if they had never been touched.

He opened the cupboards one by one, finding them completely empty. Not a single pot, pan, or even a stray piece of cutlery.

The fridge was equally barren, humming softly as if waiting for the day it would finally be given a purpose.

Minjun frowned, running his hand over the cool marble countertop. It was strange to see a kitchen so unused, especially in a place where someone lived.

He had expected at least a few signs of life—an old shopping list, a forgotten snack in the corner, anything. But there was nothing. It was as if the space had been frozen in time, untouched and unloved.

He closed the last cupboard and moved on to the bathroom. To his surprise, it was equally pristine, but this time in a way that felt more intentional.

The air was fresh, carrying a faint scent of lavender, and the tiles sparkled under the light. The sink was dry, the mirror spotless. It was the kind of cleanliness that spoke of regular upkeep, the kind that required effort.

As he walked out onto the balcony, Minjun was greeted by a spacious area that felt like a breath of fresh air compared to the compactness of the dorm. The balcony had a clear view of the city, with just enough space for a small table and a couple of chairs.

The floor was swept clean, and he noticed that even here, there wasn't a speck of dirt to be found. Whoever had taken care of this place had done so meticulously.

Returning inside, Minjun couldn't help but notice how immaculate the entire dorm was.

The tiles in the hall were so polished he could almost see his reflection in them. There was no dust on the shelves, no stray hairs on the floor, nothing to suggest that this place had ever been anything but perfectly maintained.

He cast a glance over at Evara, still lying on the mattress with her eyes closed, her expression unreadable.

He had half a mind to ask her how she managed to keep the place so clean, but instead, he kept his thoughts to himself and started unpacking his belongings.

The cupboards in the hall were spacious enough to fit his clothes and a few personal items, so he began arranging them carefully.

As he worked, he couldn't shake the curiosity gnawing at him. The kitchen's pristine state in particular was bothering him. Finally, he decided to ask, figuring it was better to know now than later.

"You never use the kitchen, do you?" he asked, his tone more of an observation than a question.

Evara's eyes fluttered open at the sound of his voice. She seemed to consider his words for a moment before answering in her typical blunt fashion. "I don't know how to cook," she said, her voice steady and unbothered. "Never tried."

Minjun paused, his hands halfway through folding a shirt. He turned to look at her, incredulous. "You don't cook? At all?"

"Nope," she replied, eyes drifting shut again, as if that was the end of the conversation.