ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ᴛᴡᴇɴᴛʏ ᴛᴡᴏ

Akira groaned, holding her head as she sat up in bed. A sharp, splitting pain pulsed through her skull, making her wince.

"Are you okay, love?" Ciel's voice came from the doorway.

She glanced up to see him walking in with a small tray, a steaming bowl of oatmeal porridge resting on top. His concern was evident in the way his brows furrowed, his gaze searching her face for any sign of distress.

She let out a sigh, rubbing her temple. "Just a headache... a really bad one."

Ciel set the tray down on the coffee table, watching as she sluggishly dragged herself out of bed and stumbled toward the bathroom. His mind was racing, drowning in a single question.

Should I tell her about the pills?

He heard the sound of running water as she turned on the shower, the steady stream filling the quiet room. With a tired exhale, he sat down on the bed, then let himself fall back against the mattress, staring at the ceiling.

His thoughts twisted and turned, replaying the confrontation with his mother. What the hell is she hiding? Is there something wrong with me?

His fingers twitched at the thought. His entire life, he had trusted her. But now? Now, it felt like his own reality was slipping through his fingers.

The creak of the bathroom door pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Are you okay?" Akira asked, stepping out with a towel wrapped around her body, droplets of water still clinging to her skin.

"I have to go home today," Ciel muttered, sitting up.

She raised a brow as she towel-dried her hair. "Oh? What time?"

"Will you miss me?" he smirked, standing up and slipping his arms around her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Akira rolled her eyes. "Who said anything about missing you?" she teased.

Ciel pouted dramatically. "Wow, that's harsh, Kira." Then his expression softened. "I'll be leaving in a little while. Want to go somewhere later?"

"Yeah, I finish work at four. Today's my first day interning at Moriyama Corp."

"Nervous?" he asked. "Don't be. You'll do fine. I mean, look at you—you're intelligent, beautiful, and diligent. They'd be lucky to have you."

A warm smile spread across her face. "Thank you."

"Okay, now unhand me," she giggled, playfully pushing at his chest. "I have to get ready."

Just as she reached for her clothes, a troubled expression crossed her face. "Ciel... I barely remember what happened last night after the restaurant. And I didn't even drink. I think I need to see a doctor this weekend."

Ciel's stomach twisted. He exhaled slowly, then said, "It's the vitamins. My pills."

Akira froze mid-movement. "Wait, what? Vitamins don't make your memory all jumbled up, sir," she said, crossing her arms.

"My mother was here last night," Ciel admitted.

Her entire body went rigid. "Wait, what—WHAT THE FUCK?!" she snapped.

She whirled around, eyes wide with horror. "Hold the hell up. So you're telling me I took some weird-ass 'vitamins,' met your mother, and I can't even remember it? Oh my God—did I embarrass myself? Did I do something stupid? Did she hate me?!"

Ciel held up a hand, trying to calm her down. "Akira, breathe."

"I AM BREATHING—NOT WELL, BUT I AM!"