Whisked Away

Chapter 4: The Sizzle of Something New

The early morning light filtered through the windows of Sky's apartment, casting long shadows across the kitchen counter. She stood at the stove, stirring eggs in a pan, but her mind was far from her breakfast. The apartment felt oddly quiet without Kenji, who had left early that morning for an away game with his volleyball team.

They'd barely spoken the night before. Kenji had been exhausted after practice and went straight to bed when he came home, missing dinner. Sky had stayed up late, going over some new recipes for work, so they'd barely crossed paths. Their interactions had become a routine—predictable and steady—but there was a growing distance between them that she couldn't ignore.

Kenji was supposed to be gone for the weekend. That meant Sky had the apartment to herself, and while she usually enjoyed the quiet, lately it left her feeling more alone than she wanted to admit.

She glanced at her phone, half-expecting a message from him. Instead, a new text lit up her screen. It was from Kito.

"Morning, pastry girl. Ready to get your hands dirty today?"

Her heart did that little flutter again, the one she'd been trying to suppress ever since they started working together. Kito was the opposite of Kenji. Where Kenji was steady and calm, Kito was wild, unpredictable, and challenging. And lately, she'd found herself craving that unpredictability more than she should.

Shaking her head, Sky slipped her phone into her bag, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door. She had to get to the restaurant, and she knew today would be another long, hot day in the kitchen—especially with Kito around.

At the Restaurant

The kitchen was already bustling with activity by the time Sky arrived. The familiar clatter of pans and the sharp scent of garlic in hot oil filled the air. She tied her apron around her waist, mentally preparing herself for another chaotic day.

Ash was at her station, meticulously chopping vegetables, and Sky gave her sister a small nod in greeting. But Ash, ever perceptive, narrowed her eyes as she glanced at Sky. "Something on your mind?" she asked, her voice low but firm.

Sky shrugged, trying to appear casual. "Nothing. Just a busy day ahead."

Ash didn't look convinced, but she let it go, turning back to her chopping. Sky appreciated that about her sister—Ash never pushed too hard, always respecting her space, but Sky knew she couldn't keep her feelings bottled up forever.

Just as Sky settled into her own station, she noticed Kito approaching from across the kitchen, his usual casual grin plastered on his face. His dark hair was messily styled, and his sleeves were rolled up, revealing the intricate tattoos that covered his arms.

He stopped next to her, standing close enough that she could smell... cologne?

Sky shot him a sharp look and immediately waved her hand in front of her nose. "Kito, are you serious? You know you can't wear that in the kitchen. It messes with the food."

Kito blinked, taken aback for a moment, and then chuckled. "Ah, sorry about that. Old habits. I'll wash it off."

"You'd better," she scolded lightly, though she couldn't help but smile. "Or Chef will have your head."

"Guess that means you care, huh?" he teased, leaning in slightly, his voice dropping to a playful murmur. "You're always so serious, Sky. Maybe you should loosen up a little."

Sky rolled her eyes, though the corners of her mouth tugged upward. "I'm not serious. I'm focused."

"Focused," Kito repeated, the grin still lingering on his face. "Whatever you say."

As Kito walked away, heading toward the back to scrub off the cologne, Sky couldn't help but feel the familiar spark that always ignited when he was around. He was so different from Kenji—so chaotic and alive. And part of her hated how drawn she was to him.

Later in the Kitchen

The lunch rush hit like a storm. Orders piled up, and the kitchen was a whirlwind of movement—knives chopping, pans sizzling, and chefs shouting across the room. Sky threw herself into the work, trying to lose herself in the rhythm of the line, but every time Kito passed by, she felt that electric tension between them.

"Pass me the tongs," Kito said from beside her, his voice low and calm even in the midst of the chaos.

Sky handed them over without a word, their hands brushing briefly. She quickly pulled away, her heart pounding for no reason that made sense. She was imagining things. She had to be.

But the truth was, there was something undeniable about Kito's presence. He was loud, bold, and unafraid to challenge her in ways Kenji never did. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing, but she couldn't stop thinking about it.

The Smoke Break

After the rush, Sky finally stepped outside for a moment of peace. The kitchen was too hot, too stifling, and she needed fresh air. She leaned against the brick wall of the alleyway, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath.

"You're thinking too hard again."

Sky opened her eyes to find Kito standing beside her, a lit cigarette dangling from his fingers. He offered her a lopsided smile as he took a drag, the smoke curling into the air between them.

"You need to stop sneaking out here with those," Sky said, nodding toward the cigarette. "It's a bad habit."

"So I've been told," Kito said with a smirk, flicking the ash away. "But we're all bad habits, aren't we?"

Sky rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. There was something about Kito's casual, carefree attitude that made her feel lighter, even if just for a moment.

"I saw Kenji earlier," Kito said, leaning back against the wall beside her. "He came by the restaurant to pick up some food before his trip. Seemed like a good guy."

Sky's chest tightened at the mention of Kenji. She nodded, not trusting herself to say much. "Yeah, he is. He's great."

Kito glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Great? You don't sound too convinced."

Sky hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. She wasn't ready to unpack all the confusing feelings swirling inside her, not with Kito of all people. "We've been together a long time," she said finally. "It's just... comfortable."

Kito didn't press her further, which she was grateful for. Instead, he took another drag of his cigarette, the silence between them feeling heavy, but not uncomfortable.

Finally, Kito turned to her and said, "Sky, you ever feel like you're not living the life you're supposed to be living? Like maybe you're holding back?"

Sky looked at him, startled by the question. She didn't know how to answer it because deep down, she knew there was truth to it. But before she could respond, Ash's voice echoed from the kitchen, calling them back inside.

Sky pushed off the wall, leaving Kito in the alley as she headed back inside. The tension between her feelings for Kenji and the pull she felt toward Kito was growing stronger every day. But for now, she wasn't ready to face it.

Later That Night

When Sky got home, the apartment felt emptier than usual without Kenji. He'd left her a sweet message, telling her to sleep well and that he couldn't wait to see her when he got back. His warmth and kindness were always comforting, but tonight, Sky couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

She missed Kenji, but at the same time, she couldn't stop thinking about Kito. The contrast between the two men was stark—Kenji was her stability, her calm in the storm, while Kito was the storm itself.

As she lay in bed that night, her mind raced, torn between the life she had with Kenji and the dangerous allure of something new.