Fatal Attractions

Chapter 2: The Noodles Incident

Author's p.o.v

It was dinner time, and Ava stood at the entrance of her room, hesitating. Her stomach had been growling for hours, but she wasn’t in the mood for anything fancy. After the long, exhausting day of settling into the new house, all she really wanted was something simple, something familiar. She stepped out of her room and made her way down the hallway, the large villa echoing with each step.

Ava found herself in the kitchen, the warm glow of the lights making it feel cozier than the rest of the house. The butler James, who had introduced himself earlier, was already preparing something for dinner.

“Good evening, Miss Ava,” he greeted her with a polite bow. “How can I assist you this evening?”

Ava smiled politely but wasn’t sure what she wanted. “Honestly, I’m not really craving anything special,” she said. “Do you happen to have any instant noodles?”

James gave a small, amused smile. “Of course, Miss Ava. They're on the top shelf cabinet. Would you like me to prepare them for you?”

Ava thought for a moment. She wasn’t used to anyone cooking for her other than her mother. “No, thank you. I can make them myself.”

James nodded with a respectful gesture before excusing himself and leaving her alone in the kitchen.

Ava stood on her tippy toes, reaching as high as she could to grab the box of instant noodles, but no matter how much she stretched, her fingers couldn’t quite reach. She sighed in frustration, feeling like the universe was mocking her height. Maybe she was a little short—but surely not this short.

As if on cue, a shadow loomed behind her. She felt a presence before the noodles were gently placed on top of her head.

Ava turned around quickly, startled, and came face to face with none other than Ethan. His smirk was immediate, as always, though there was something different in the way he looked at her now. He leaned down slightly, placing his left hand on the kitchen slab and his other on the cupboard. His gaze lowered, locking onto hers with a kind of intensity that made her pulse quicken.

“Why didn’t you ask James for help?” he said, his voice almost playful, though his eyes seemed to study her as if trying to figure something out. “Or is there a reason you wanted to struggle with it yourself?”

Ava’s heart skipped a beat at his proximity. She stepped back a little, suddenly feeling the tension between them. It wasn’t the first time Ethan had been this close, but something felt different. It was almost as if he were trying to get under her skin—again—but this time, there was an unfamiliar softness in his gaze.

"What are you talking about? First of all, move." she pushed him, "Secondly, I... I didn’t want to bother him" Ava replied stiffly, her fingers brushing the noodles as if it would give her a reason to look away."And thirdly, why are you being weird? You think helping me with a pack of instant noodles would make me forgive you for torturing me throughout high school and college?"

Ethan laughed and scoffed, "Who said I was trying to make you forgive me? I wasn't apologizing little Ava, get out of my sight." He pushed her out of the way, opened the fridge, grabbed a can of soda, and left.

Ethan's POV

I entered my room and shut the door, opened the can of soda, and gulped down the entire can. My mind recalled what I had seen earlier. My bunny stood on her toes to reach the top shelf, she looked so cute .I regretted of not having my phone at that moment.

"This is wrong, she is going to be my sister in the future,I am supposed to kill every feeling I have for her." I muttered.

But she is not my sister yet, I've always had feelings for her, since when we were in high school but I didn't know how to tell her so I bullied her instead.