KINA:
I stared at the money like it had offended me instead of Kieran. Like it was the embodiment of all my principles, my dignity, my rent struggles, my caffeine dependency, and my impulsive online shopping problem… wrapped in one thick wad of temptation.
Three months. Three months of rent. In cash.
Was this how drug deals felt? I wouldn't know, but I imagined this exact mix of disgust and salivation was involved.
My palms itched. My legs twitched. My brain screamed grab it while my pride whispered noooooo we're better than this. Unfortunately, my pride was broke and hadn't paid for a proper meal in months, so her opinion was a little less valid these days.
I swallowed. My mouth opened before I could stop it.
"I don't need your money."
I immediately wanted to slap myself.
Kieran tilted his head. That damn smirk slid back across his stupid face like it had never left. "Didn't ask if you needed it, sweetheart."
I scowled, mostly to distract from the internal screaming. I couldn't take that money. I shouldn't. But also… did it count if I just borrowed it? For a few weeks? Like, technically, if I bought nicer shampoo or a nice new set of bras or buy tickets for DAY6's upcoming concert and maybe finally replaced my one-legged desk chair, and my old TV too... that was an investment in my mental health, right?
Stop it. You are not letting a prideful, wounded stranger pay you to stay in your own apartment. You're not that girl.
But the broke girl in me was sobbing in joy. Clapping her hands. Doing a little jig. She was already planning what flavor instant noodles we were not eating next month because we could finally afford real groceries.
"Your poker face is terrible," he murmured.
I blinked up at him, heat prickling my neck. "What?"
"That thing you're doing," he said, gesturing vaguely to my face with a slow smirk creeping in to his smug face. "Like you're trying to look offended and unaffected, but inside you're calculating exactly how many overpriced plush that stack can buy."
I wanted to smack that smirk right off his face.
Or sit on it.
Wait, what?
No. No. No. Focus.
"You're not funny," I muttered.
"And you're greedier than you thought," he said, stepping just a little closer. "But I like that in a girl. Keeps things interesting."
I opened my mouth to argue, something about ethics or principles or whatever else poor people like me used to rationalize our poverty. But then he added:
"I'll transfer a hundred thousand more. Should be more than enough... Mmh princess?"
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Kina's self preservation, sold!
A hundred thousand.
Not just rent. That was like… a new wardrobe, replace that rusty air conditioning, new mattress, my Forever J-hope and Van-Damme merch, maybe a body pillow of Levi Ackerman I didn't need but always wanted. That was enough to breathe for the first time in what felt like forever.
There it was.
My downfall.
I could practically hear my ancestors sighing in disappointment from the afterlife, but they weren't the ones getting overdraft fees every other week.
A slow, triumphant smile crept onto my face. Not the polite kind. The kind that said yes, I just mentally spent all that money and then some. I could already see myself posing with my new air fryer like it was an Oscar. God, I was disgusting. My eyes probably glazed over the cash like I was picturing a hot makeout session with capitalism itself.
"Jesus, your face," Kyle muttered, eyeing me like I'd grown fangs. "You look like a villain who just got the last slice of cheesecake and a standing ovation."
My head snapped to his direction instantly. "Shut up, you twink!"
He made a strangled noise like I'd slapped him with a glittery slur. Good.
My gaze shifted back to Kieran who looked like he was holding back from bursting into laughter. I crossed my arms and glared harder, even though the war was already lost. "Y-you think you can just throw money at me and I'll say yes?"
I would.
"I know you will," he said simply. "It's just a matter of how long you want to pretend you won't."
He didn't even say it in a cocky tone. He said it like it was a fact. Like gravity. Like hunger. Like my broke ass eventually giving in to basic survival.
And worse? He was right.
So I said nothing. Just stood there, face scrunched like a constipated cat, while he waited, patient and smug and insufferably hot.
Was my sanity worth a hundred thousand dollars?
Yes.
Yes, it was.
"F-Fine."
I didn't look at him when I said it.
Because if I did, I knew I'd crumble again. Not because of his face, okay maybe a little because of his face, but mostly because of the damn cockiness in his eyes. I could already feel it radiating off him like smug little heat waves.
"Fine?" he echoed, like I'd just proposed marriage and not begrudgingly agreed to let a stranger crash on my couch.
I lifted a hand before he could get too excited. "With rules. Okay? Ground rules. Boundaries."
"Ooh," he said, eyes lighting up like this was his favorite part of the day. "Lay 'em on me, sweetheart."
"First," I said, holding up one finger like a kindergarten teacher, "no touching."
He raised an eyebrow. "Like, at all? What if you're choking on something and I need to save you?"
"I'd rather die," I said flatly.
His grin widened. "Would be a shame for you to die at an early age. But sure what else?"
"Second—no flirting."
That earned a short laugh. "You're adorable when you lie to yourself."
"I have a boyfriend, remember?" I snapped, cheeks heating.
He looked entirely unconvinced. "Sure you do. And I have a pet unicorn."
"I'm serious!"
"So am I. Can't wait to meet this imaginary boyfriend. Hope he's got all his teeth."
I nearly choked on my own spit. "He's real—and he's smarter and hotter than you."
"Impossible," Kieran said without missing a beat. "But I'm open to being proven wrong."
He leaned in slightly, just enough that I could smell the faint mix of soap and cigarette on his skin. I blinked. Twice. Then immediately stepped back.
"Rule three," I blurted, flustered. "No…space invading."
Kieran looked down at the single step between us. "This much space?"
"Yes!"
He took half a step closer.
"I'm serious."
"Sorry," he said, grinning like the devil himself. "I thought we were playing a game." Before pulling away and walking to the kitchen area, while muttering something to himself.
At that point, Rocco snorted from across the room. He elbowed Kyle and muttered, "I give it a week."
"Huh?" I asked, whipping my head toward them.
"A week," Rocco repeated, louder this time. "Before you two start fucking."
Kyle nodded sagely. "That's generous. I was thinking four days."
My jaw dropped. "That's not even remotely funny."
"It's a little funny," Kieran murmured behind me.
"I hate all of you," I muttered.
Rocco grinned and slung his bag over his shoulder. "Alright, lover girl. He's your problem now."
Kyle was already halfway to the door and Rocco continued, urging him to go faster. "Let's leave the newlyweds to nest."
"We're not—!" I started, but the door had already shut behind them.
Silence.