𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍~ 𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐈𝐑𝐎

♡Chapter-41♡

Third point of view.

The moment you opened your eyes, confusion hit you like a tidal wave. You blinked a few times, trying to adjust to your surroundings. The soft clatter of dishes and the faint scent of home-cooked food filled the air.

You were sitting at a table, a plate of steaming food placed in front of you.

"Eat up before it gets cold."

Your gaze shifted, and there he was. Mikey with his hair slightly messy. Face unguarded and boyish as he ate, occasionally glancing up at you with that unmistakable grin of his.

"You're staring." He said with a playful smirk.

You blinked, caught off guard.

"Are you okay?" He asked, tilting his head slightly, his chopsticks frozen mid-air.

"Yeah," You mumbled, finally picking up your chopsticks. "I'm alright."

Emma walked into the room, carrying another dish, her smile as bright as ever. "You'd better eat up, Y/n-san. Mikey might steal your food if you don't."

"Hey, I wouldn't!" Mikey protested, but the mischievous gleam in his eyes said otherwise.

The two siblings shared their usual playful banter, light and teasing. You listened in silence, your chopsticks still in your hand.

You couldn't stop stealing glances at Mikey. His demeanor was so different from the cold, distant Mikey you knew would emerge in the future. But this Mikey--he laughed softly when Emma teased him. He seemed carefree, like the world hadn't already begun to shape him into something darker.

It felt like you were staring at two entirely different people.

Your grip on the chopsticks tightened as you forced yourself to take a bite of the food. It tasted warm.

You couldn't help but wonder.

How did you end up here? Why Mikey's house?

Emma, noticing your silence, exchanged a quick glance with Mikey. She gave a small nod, then turned to you with a kind smile.

"Do you like the food, Y/n-san?" She asked, her tone gentle, looking for reassurance.

You nodded quickly, offering a small, tight-lipped smile. "It's good."

Mikey didn't seem convinced. His gaze lingered on you as he nudged Emma, their silent communication going unnoticed by you. Without a word, she stood up and left the room, giving you and Mikey a moment of solitude.

Then, suddenly, he leaned forward, closing the distance between you in one swift movement. You froze, chopsticks halted mid-air as his face hovered inches from yours.

"What's going on with you?" His voice was soft but insistent, cutting through the silence.

You opened your mouth, but no words came out. Mikey's frown deepened as his concern became palpable.

"Is something wrong? Are you feeling sick? Do you need me to drop you off somewhere?"

The barrage of questions caught you off guard, and before you could even process them, you immediately shook your head.

"No, no... It's nothing like that." You forced a smile, trying to seem casual. "Everything's okay, really." You sighed, glancing down at the food. "Besides, I wouldn't want to make Emma's cooking go to waste."

His brows lifted, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "She'd be mad if you didn't finish." He said, leaning back in his seat, though the concern in his gaze didn't fully leave.