“Why… why do you want my phone?” Lucian finally asked, his voice laced with hesitation. His instincts screamed at him to refuse outright, but a gnawing curiosity held him back.
Celestia’s golden eyes glimmered mischievously, her expression unreadable. “Because I need it,” she replied casually, as if her vague reasoning were perfectly valid.
“That’s not an answer!” Lucian snapped, furrowing his brow. “You need it? For what, exactly?”
Celestia tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Are you going to hand it over,” she murmured, her voice laced with a teasing edge, “or do I need to take it from you?”
Lucian sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Whatever,” he muttered under his breath. Not like there’s anything important in it right now. It’s a new phone anyway. He glanced at her, her expectant gaze unwavering. Two contacts Jimmy and Garry. Nothing to hide. Let’s just avoid an argument.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the phone. “Here. Take it,” he said flatly, extending the device toward her.
A glint of satisfaction flickered in Celestia’s eyes as she reached out. Her delicate, pale fingers brushed against his hand as she slowly took the phone, her touch lingering far longer than necessary.
Lucian stiffened at the faint, electric sensation her fingers left behind. He immediately pulled his hand back, avoiding her gaze. What the hell was that? he thought, unease pooling in his chest. His mind was racing, and guilt began to creep in, uninvited.
Why do I feel like I’m cheating on Avey? he asked himself. The thought felt ridiculous there was nothing between him and Avey anymore. Nothing tangible, at least. But the guilt gnawed at him nonetheless.
Celestia, of course, noticed his reaction. Her faint smirk faltered, and she glanced away. Did I push him too far this time? she thought, biting the inside of her cheek. A quiet sigh escaped her lips. Did I push too far this time? she wondered. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noting how he avoided looking at her altogether.
I need to tread more carefully, she mused, biting the inside of her cheek. Yet, a small, rebellious thought surfaced. But isn’t he mine in the future anyway?
Forcing the thought aside, she turned her attention to the phone. “Thanks, darling,” she said, her voice light, almost teasing.
Lucian didn’t respond, keeping his eyes fixed elsewhere as if he wasn’t interested in what she was doing.
Celestia tapped at the screen, her fingers moving swiftly. Her golden eyes lit up as she scanned his home screen. No Avey wallpaper this time, she noted with genuine relief. It was a simple black background, stark and neutral.
Progress, she thought with a small, satisfied smile.
She navigated to the contacts list. Her heart swelled slightly when she saw that there were only two names Jimmy and Garry. No Avey. The realization sent a spark of joy through her, though she kept her expression neutral.
He doesn’t even have her number saved this time. Perfect, she thought gleefully.
Without hesitation, she added her number to his phone. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she considered the name to assign herself. With a mischievous grin, she typed: My Wifey.
Satisfied, she hit save.
Lucian, noticing her faint giggle, raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing?” he asked warily, his tone dry.
Celestia ignored him, a smug smile curling her lips. “Done,” she announced cheerfully, handing the phone back. This time, she refrained from repeating her earlier move of lingering touches. He’s already rattled enough, she thought, her playful nature taking a back seat for now.
Lucian took the phone, his suspicions growing as he unlocked it. His gaze immediately fell on the screen, where an ongoing call was displayed. The name on the call read: My Wifey.
He stared at the screen, dumbfounded, before glancing back at Celestia, who held her phone up with a triumphant grin.
“Now I have your number too, darling,” she said, her tone dripping with smug satisfaction.
Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Seriously?”
“And,” she continued, ignoring his exasperation, “don’t even think about changing the name. You don’t want to know what happens if you do.” Her voice dropped slightly, and her grin turned teasingly sinister.
Lucian sighed heavily, powering off his phone and shoving it into his pocket. Why do I even put up with this? he thought, his lips twitching in irritation.
Celestia held her phone tightly in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly as another call rang through. Her previously warm and teasing demeanor seemed to freeze over, a cold, sharp look flashing in her eyes. She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to draw a faint taste of iron, her irritation barely contained.
“This again…fkkkk… Why now?” she muttered under her breath, her thoughts seething with annoyance. “Just when I finally got the chance to meet him. Now these people are ruining my time with him!” Her gaze briefly softened as she looked at Lucian, a pang of regret striking her.
“They’ll pay a hefty price for this,” she thought bitterly. “No one disrupts me and gets away with it.”
She took a deep breath, forcing a composed smile back onto her face, though her annoyance still flickered beneath her calm exterior. “Sorry, Lucian,” she said, her tone tinged with reluctant apology. “I have to leave now. Some important matters need my attention.” Her voice faltered slightly, and then she added, “Princess, after all.”
For a moment, her usual confidence wavered, as though she genuinely regretted leaving him. “Sorry, Lucian,” she thought again, this time to herself. “I really wish I could stay longer.”
Lucian blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift in her tone. He felt a strange mixture of relief and confusion. Dealing with Celestia was like navigating a minefield stressful and unpredictable. But as he registered the change in her demeanor, he felt a flicker of guilt.
“Oh, don’t worry about it. Do your thing,” he said, his voice calm but tinged with a touch of relief. His words were polite, but inwardly, he exhaled in relief. “Honestly, this is a breather. Talking with her is so mentally taxing, it feels like riding a rollercoaster without a safety bar.”
Celestia studied him for a moment, her sharp gaze softening. “Bye, Lucian,” she said sweetly. But just as she turned to standup from her seat, she paused, glancing over him with a sly grin that sent a chill down his spine. “How about a farewell kiss?” she teased, her tone playful but her eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. She licked her lips slowly, as though savoring the thought.
Lucian’s eyes widened in alarm. “Ugh… No,” he stammered, his voice rising slightly as he backed down on his chair, horrified by the suggestion. He immediately felt the temperature in the room drop as she pouted dramatically, but the amusement never left her eyes.
Celestia’s pout quickly morphed into a wide, almost predatory grin. Her expression was playful, but there was an unsettling intensity behind it.
Her eyes locked onto him, and for a moment, he felt like prey caught in a predator’s gaze. “What is she planning?” Lucian thought, his heartbeat quickening as an inexplicable sense of unease settled over him.
Suddenly, her grin deepened, and she leaned closer. “You’ll change your mind someday,” she whispered, her voice a sultry promise. Without giving him a chance to respond.
Lucian stood frozen in place, a bead of sweat sliding down his temple. He shook his head, trying to shake off the lingering creepiness of the encounter. “This woman is so fing weird. What is her deal?” he muttered to himself in his mind.
celestia who was about to stand up stopped as remembering something.
She leaned back in her chair, a mischievous smirk spreading across her lips as she played with a loose strand of her hair. “I’m telling you, Lucian. I will get my kiss, whether you agree or not,” she said, her tone teasing but laced with an unusual determination.
Lucian, who was seated across from her, furrowed his brows in confusion. “No, Celestia,” he replied firmly, his voice steady despite the slight bewilderment in his expression. “There’s nothing like that between us i don’t know why we even debating on it.it will not happen now for sure no matter what.
Celestia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her smirk deepening. “Oh? And how are you so sure? What if I decided to kiss you forcefully? What would you do then?” Her voice was light, almost playful, but her eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and challenge.
Lucian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to physically push away the absurdity of the conversation. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. First of all, I’m not exactly weak, and second, I don’t think you’re capable of doing something so reckless.” His tone was even, though the exasperation was evident.
Celestia didn’t seem fazed by his words; instead, her grin widened as if she had just been given an opportunity to prove him wrong. “Oh, Lucian, you underestimate me. What if…” she paused for dramatic effect, “…you didn’t even know you were being kissed? What then?” Her voice was filled with an almost childlike glee, her excitement palpable.
Lucian shot her a skeptical look, folding his arms across his chest. “That’s impossible. I think I’d notice something as obvious as that.” He leaned back in his chair, clearly thinking this was the end of the conversation.
But Celestia wasn’t done. She tilted her head to the side, her expression turning thoughtful, almost calculating. “Hmm,” she mused, tapping her chin as if she were devising some elaborate plan. “You’re so confident, aren’t you? Maybe I’ll just have to surprise you someday.”
—