𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆 | 𝑴𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒚 𝒙 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓

❆ Too Much, Not Enough Time ❆

Next day

You sat at your vanity, wrapped in a luxurious silk robe, fingers lightly grazing the makeup brushes laid out before you.
The soft lighting of the room bathed your reflection in a warm glow,
but your mind was far from serene.

As you carefully applied your foundation, smoothing it over your skin with practiced strokes,
your thoughts began to spiral back to last night—back to Rindou.

The reflection staring back at you in the mirror looked composed,
like nothing had changed.
But inside, you were tangled up
in knots.

The feel of his hands on your body,
the heat of his breath against your skin, the way his voice dropped when he whispered your name—all of it lingered in your mind, replaying over and over as you tried to focus on your routine.

You swiped the eyeshadow brush across your lid, but even the calming ritual of getting ready wasn't enough to drown out the memories.
As you reached for your lipstick, your hand hesitated for a moment.

What did last night even mean?

Was it just a moment of weakness?

A fleeting escape from the pressure of your career and everything you've worked so hard for?
Or was it something more?

Something deeper?

A part of you hated the uncertainty, the way your emotions seemed to tug you in different directions.
The moment you thought you had a clear answer, something else would creep in, another doubt,
another question.

You carefully traced your lips with the lipstick, your movements slow, deliberate, as if taking your time with the details might somehow help you make sense of things.

But the truth was, you didn't have the luxury of time.
Your career was on the verge of taking off—four years until the Olympics, and every single move you made mattered.

You hate to admit it but...

Rindou wasn't just a fling.

He was part of your world now, whether you wanted him to be or not. You didn't need any distractions,
any scandals that could ruin what you've been building.

And yet, the tension between the two of you was undeniable.
The way he looked at you, the way he made you feel—it wasn't something you could just forget.
You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath as you dabbed a hint of blush onto your cheeks, the cool touch of the brush grounding you in the present.

You couldn't afford to lose yourself in this—whatever "this" was.
There was too much at stake.
And yet, every time you tried to rationalize it, there was a part of you that didn't want to let go, that wanted to hold onto the way you felt in his arms last night.

And then there was Emma's birthday, coming up next week.
The thought of it tugged you out of your Rindou-induced thoughts,
a welcome distraction from the inner turmoil.

Emma was one of your closest friends, and there was no way you were going to let her 19th birthday be anything
less than perfect.
You had already started helping her plan it—she wanted something simple, just a chill house party with a few friends.