Whisked Away

Chapter 5: Simmering Tension

Sky stood in the kitchen the next morning, leaning against the counter and staring blankly at the mug of coffee in her hands. Kenji had messaged her good morning, just as he always did when he was away, reminding her of how considerate he was. He even asked about her plans for the day, as if he wasn't miles away with his team, focusing on his game. It was the type of thoughtfulness she'd grown used to, something so familiar, like the taste of a favorite meal.

But today, it felt different. Routine.

She took a sip of coffee and sighed. Her phone buzzed, and for a second, her pulse quickened. But it wasn't Kenji—it was Kito. Again.

Kito: Don't be late. Chef's in one of his moods.

Sky's lips twitched into a small smile as she replied.

Sky: I'm never late. Maybe you should worry about yourself.

His response was immediate.

Kito: I've got my priorities straight. Do you?

Sky stared at the screen for a moment, her fingers hesitating above the keyboard. She could feel her heartbeat quicken again, just like it had every time she interacted with him over the past few weeks. This wasn't good. Not at all.

At the Restaurant

When Sky arrived at the restaurant, the kitchen was already buzzing with energy. The sharp clatter of pots and pans, the constant hum of conversation, and the intense heat from the ovens created an environment she both loved and hated.

Ash was in her usual spot, focused on a delicate sauce she was whisking together. As Sky tied her apron and set up her station, she couldn't help but glance toward the back of the kitchen, where Kito was moving with his typical swagger. His presence was magnetic, even from a distance, and Sky found herself tensing slightly, unsure of how to handle the mix of emotions swirling inside her.

"Busy morning?" Ash asked casually, pulling Sky back into reality.

Sky nodded. "Yeah, the usual."

Ash gave her a sidelong glance, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You've been distracted lately."

Sky's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

Ash shrugged, her smirk growing. "Just an observation. You've been quieter than usual."

Sky opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, Chef stormed into the kitchen, barking orders. The conversation was cut short as everyone snapped into action. The lunch rush was about to hit.

The Heated Exchange

The rush hit harder than usual. Orders were flying in faster than the kitchen could keep up with, and Sky found herself slipping into her usual groove, working like a well-oiled machine. But the tension in the room was palpable—Chef was on edge, and it was making everyone nervous.

At one point, Kito brushed past her, close enough that she could feel the heat of his body. He didn't say anything, but his presence lingered, and Sky had to force herself to focus.

It wasn't until a little later, when they were both grabbing ingredients at the same time, that the tension finally bubbled over.

"You're moving a little slow today, pastry girl," Kito teased, reaching for the same bag of flour Sky had her hand on.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm moving at my usual speed, thanks."

Kito's grin widened. "Your 'usual speed' has been off lately. Something on your mind?"

Sky's grip tightened on the flour bag. She didn't like the way he could read her, how he always seemed to know exactly what to say to get under her skin. "I'm fine, Kito."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just low enough for only her to hear. "You sure about that? Because I think there's something going on. You're holding back."

Sky stiffened, her mind flashing briefly to Kenji, to the life they'd built together. She felt a surge of guilt. "Don't start," she said quietly, trying to pull away.

But Kito didn't let up. "I'm not starting anything. I'm just saying... you're different when you're with me."

Sky swallowed hard, her heart pounding. He was right, but she didn't want to admit it—not to him, not to herself. "I don't have time for this," she muttered, grabbing the flour and turning away.

"Yeah, keep running," Kito called after her, his voice laced with amusement. "You're good at that."

Sky gritted her teeth, her mind a storm of emotions. She had to focus on work. She had to keep her distance. But every time she tried, Kito was there, pushing her closer to the edge.

The Confrontation with Ash

Later that evening, after the kitchen had finally quieted down, Sky found herself scrubbing down her station next to Ash. The silence between them was comfortable, but Sky could feel Ash watching her, waiting for her to speak.

"So," Ash said after a few minutes, her tone light. "What's going on with you and Kito?"

Sky froze, her hands stilling on the dish she was washing. "What do you mean?"

Ash raised an eyebrow. "Come on, Sky. I've seen the way you two look at each other. Something's going on."

Sky felt her cheeks flush, and she quickly turned back to her cleaning. "There's nothing going on," she said, a little too quickly.

Ash didn't buy it. "You sure about that? Because it seems like there's... something."

Sky didn't know how to respond. She wanted to tell Ash everything—about the confusion, the guilt, the way her heart seemed to race every time Kito was near—but she couldn't. Ash had always been her confidante, but this felt different. Too complicated.

"I don't know what's going on," Sky admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I don't know."

Ash didn't push her. She simply nodded, giving Sky the space she needed, even though Sky could tell she wasn't convinced. "You'll figure it out," Ash said softly, her voice full of quiet support. "You always do."

Sky smiled faintly, grateful for her sister's understanding. But even as she finished cleaning up and headed home, her mind was still a tangled mess of emotions.

Later That Night

When Sky got home, the apartment was quiet—too quiet. Kenji had sent her another message, telling her he was thinking about her and wishing her goodnight. The sweet, simple words that usually made her heart warm now felt like a weight on her chest.

She knew she should reply. She knew she should say something reassuring, something that reminded him that she was still here, still committed. But she couldn't bring herself to type the words. Instead, she placed her phone face down on the table and leaned back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling.

She was torn—caught between two worlds, two men, and two versions of herself. With Kenji, she felt safe, loved, and understood. But with Kito... with Kito, she felt alive in a way she hadn't in a long time. And that scared her.

Her phone buzzed again, and this time it wasn't Kenji.

It was Kito.

Kito: Drink after work tomorrow?

Sky stared at the message, her heart pounding. She knew she shouldn't. She knew she had to be careful. But even as her mind screamed no, her fingers were already typing.

Sky: Yeah. Sure.

As she hit send, Sky closed her eyes, a mixture of excitement and guilt swirling inside her. She didn't know where this was heading, but she knew one thing for sure: she was in too deep to turn back now.