Flour, Sugar, and Heartbeats
851 Words
CHAPTER 4
The Moonlight Festival preparations were complete chaos.
Absolute chaos.
“Chris, stop hanging lanterns upside down.”
“I’m adding creativity.”
“You’re adding danger,” Carl answered immediately while fixing the crooked decorations for the third time.
Meanwhile, Ren sat quietly on the floor surrounded by papers and fairy lights.
“…Why are we using seventeen different ribbon colors?”
“Because Chris said it would look magical,” Carl sighed.
Ren stared blankly.
“…We’re doomed.”
Across campus, the literature club had been assigned a festival booth selling homemade desserts and drinks.
Which explained why Leanne was currently standing inside the academy kitchen wearing an apron while staring at mountains of ingredients.
And one very stressed Kai Santos.
“…Why is there so much flour?” she asked carefully.
Kai looked dead inside.
“Because Chris signed us up for extra menu items.”
“Without asking?”
“Yes.”
“That explains a lot.”
Kai sighed deeply before tying his apron tighter.
“At least the others are decorating instead of making things worse here.”
Leanne laughed softly.
Honestly, being alone with Kai felt surprisingly comfortable.
He was quieter than Chris.
Calmer than Carl.
Less intimidating than Ren.
Though he still avoided eye contact half the time.
Especially when Leanne smiled at him directly.
“Okay,” Kai muttered while washing his hands. “We should start with the strawberry pastries.”
Leanne blinked.
“Chris’s favorite?”
Kai froze slightly.
“…Maybe.”
Leanne smiled knowingly.
“You spoil him a lot.”
Kai immediately looked offended.
“I do not.”
“You literally learned baking because he likes sweets.”
“…That information was supposed to stay private.”
Leanne burst into laughter.
Kai looked away awkwardly while grabbing ingredients.
His ears were slightly red.
Cute.
Very cute.
The kitchen slowly filled with warmth as they worked together.
Soft music played quietly from Kai’s phone.
The smell of butter and vanilla spread through the room.
And surprisingly—
Kai was a really good teacher.
“No, gently fold it,” he said while standing behind Leanne. “Like this.”
Leanne tried focusing on the bowl.
Unfortunately—
Kai suddenly reached around her to guide her hands carefully.
And suddenly—
Too close.
Way too close.
Leanne froze slightly.
Kai froze harder.
The both of them realized their position at the exact same moment.
Kai immediately stepped back like he touched fire.
“S-SORRY.”
Leanne looked away quickly.
“No, it’s fine.”
Silence.
Very awkward silence.
Kai coughed while aggressively mixing batter.
Leanne tried calming her heartbeat.
Why was this kitchen suddenly so hot?!
Then suddenly—
Smoke puffed out from the oven.
Kai gasped dramatically.
“THE COOKIES.”
Both of them rushed toward the oven immediately.
Too late.
Slightly burned.
Kai stared at the tray in horror.
“…I failed.”
Leanne blinked.
“They’re barely burnt.”
“But they were supposed to be perfect.”
The disappointment in his voice surprised her.
Kai looked genuinely upset over a few cookies.
Then quietly, almost embarrassed, he muttered—
“My father would’ve yelled already.”
Leanne paused slightly.
Kai immediately stiffened like he regretted saying it.
Then he quickly forced a casual expression.
“…Anyway. We can remake them.”
Leanne noticed it.
The tiny c***k in his calm personality.
But she didn’t push.
Instead, she grabbed one of the cookies and took a bite dramatically.
Kai looked horrified.
“They’re burnt!”
“They taste good.”
“That’s scientifically impossible.”
Leanne grinned.
“Well, I’m still alive.”
Kai stared at her for a second.
Then unexpectedly—
He laughed.
A real laugh.
Soft.
Warm.
Pretty.
Leanne blinked slightly.
Because Kai rarely laughed openly.
And somehow…
Seeing him smile like that made her chest feel funny.
Kai slowly stopped laughing while looking at her.
Then he looked away first.
“…You’re weird.”
“You baked seventeen trays of pastries for one festival.”
“…Fair point.”
The atmosphere softened again.
Comfortable.
Warm.
Until suddenly—
The kitchen lights flickered.
Then turned off completely.
Leanne jumped.
“WHAT HAPPENED?!”
Kai blinked.
“…Power outage?”
The kitchen became dim except for moonlight streaming through the windows.
Outside, festival lanterns glowed softly across campus.
Everything looked strangely beautiful.
Quiet.
Leanne carefully moved through the darkness.
Then suddenly—
She slipped slightly on spilled flour.
“Whoa—”
Before she could fall—
Strong arms caught her instantly.
Leanne froze.
Kai froze too.
They were suddenly incredibly close.
His arm wrapped around her waist carefully.
Her hands gripping his uniform instinctively.
And under the pale moonlight—
Kai looked unfairly handsome.
His soft brown eyes widened slightly as he stared down at her.
Neither of them moved.
Neither of them spoke.
Leanne could hear her own heartbeat.
Fast.
Too fast.
Kai swallowed nervously before speaking softly.
“…Careful.”
Leanne looked up at him.
“…You too.”
And for some reason—
Neither of them let go immediately.
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