Work Text:
Ira paced towards her usual bathroom sanctuary, her mind buzzing and her body on fire. It was cold as hell outside, but the heat coursing through her was relentless. She could feel the flush creeping up her neck, the heat intensifying with every step she took. The clock read 8:30, and she couldn’t wait any longer. Her body was practically screaming for relief.
As soon as she stepped inside the bathroom, she locked the door, the lock clicking faintly behind her. Leaning against the cool wall, she tried to steady her breath, fingers twitching with the anticipation of what was to come. She let her thoughts spiral to the person who had her in knots lately. Kai. That insufferable, smug prick who somehow lived rent-free in her mind. Her brain tried to reject the thoughts, tried to shove them away like always, but every single time… he crept back in.
It wasn’t just his annoying, know-it-all attitude. It was the way he looked at her, like he knew exactly what she was thinking. And the worst part was that he turned her on. Bad.
She exhaled sharply, her hand slipping beneath her waistband as she leaned against the cold tile, closing her eyes. She tried not to imagine his stupid, infuriating smirk. She failed. Her mind conjured him too easily, the image of him too vivid. The sharp lines of his jaw, those dark eyes that seemed to undress her with a glance. She imagined his hands, the ones she hated, pressing her up against the wall, his lips ghosting over her skin.
Her breath hitched as her movements quickened, everything inside her winding tighter and tighter until—...
She shuddered and sighed, leaning her head back against the wall, chest heaving. It didn’t make her feel any less frustrated. If anything, it made her angrier that she was even thinking about him in the first place.
Ira quickly fixed herself up, her eyes catching her flushed reflection in the mirror. She splashed cold water on her face, but it barely made a difference. She reapplied her moisturiser with a huff, annoyed at herself more than anything. How the hell had she let herself think about him again?
She turned the knob and pulled the door open, only to stop dead in her tracks. Kai was right there, about to open the door. He was so close she could practically smell him: clean and sharp, like mint and something else that only made her more and more and more irritated.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the silence stretching out awkwardly. He looked... flustered? His hand still hovered near the door, like he was unsure what to do next.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped, trying to cover up the sudden surge of heat crawling up her neck again.
Kai stuttered, “I, uh... I was just—well, the indicator said the door was open.”
“You should’ve knocked anyway,” Ira shot back, crossing her arms defensively, already feeling her heartbeat spike.
He raised an eyebrow, still not moving, his face carefully blank. “I mean, you could’ve locked the door, y’know.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re so pompous.”
He sighed dramatically, stepping back just a little, giving her space. “Can we please carry on this thrilling conversation after you excuse me and let me use the bathroom?”
She rolled her eyes, “Ugh, you’re such a nerd.”
But as she stalked past him, she felt the heat of his gaze still on her. She hated how aware she was of it. She could feel it even when her back was turned.
In class, Ira sat at her usual spot at the middle-back, while Kai, fashionably late as always, sauntered in five minutes after her. He didn’t even glance at the professor as he made his way to his seat on the right. Of course, she noticed him. How could she not when he seemed to fill the room with his presence, like every damn move he made was intentional?
Their eyes met. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t even subtle. He stopped in his tracks for a second, his lips twitching as though he were suppressing a smirk. Ira glared at him, but her body betrayed her, heat pooling in her stomach as she remembered what she'd just been doing in the restroom no less than ten minutes ago.
She rolled her eyes and turned to her friend, Yasmine, who was already giving her the most suspicious look.
“What?” Ira asked, trying to sound casual.
Yasmine smirked. “Don’t ‘what’ me. I just watched you and Mr. Nerd over there eye fuck each other.”
Ira blinked. “What are you talking about?”
Yasmine smacked her arm playfully, whispering, “Don’t do that. You two basically stripped each other naked with your eyes.”
“You’re delusional. I hate that dork.”
Class went by in a blur, but Ira couldn’t concentrate. She could feel him watching her, every now and then, as if he were daring her to look back. The tension simmered under the surface, and every accidental glance in his direction made her heart race. She tried to push it away, but the memory of his almost-smirk, and the proximity of him at the bathroom, kept replaying in her mind.
As class ended, Ira hurriedly packed up her stuff, hoping to leave before he did. But of course, Kai’s eyes landed on her again just as she stood. She noticed. And she hated it.
Without thinking, she marched up to him before he had the chance to leave.
“Hey, tiny,” she said, arms crossed. “What’s your problem?”
Kai looked up from his bag, surprised, but only for a second. His eyes lit up with something she couldn’t place—amusement, maybe? He leaned back, crossing his arms, and that smug, infuriating smile appeared.
“I don’t know what you mean, Iradessa.” He said her name with that same mocking tone, like he was daring her to snap.
Her jaw tightened. “You know what I’m talking about. You’ve been acting weird all morning.”
He sighed, mockingly, as if she were exhausting him. “You mean the whole... toilet incident?”
She froze. Heat surged to her face, and for a second, she thought she might die of embarrassment. “What?”
He leaned closer, his voice dropping just enough to make her stomach twist. “I almost walked in on you... hearing that heavy breathing.”
Her body went rigid. Oh no.
Kai’s eyes gleamed as he straightened up, noticing her flushed cheeks. His smile was almost predatory now.
“Well, I didn’t barge in, did I? Maybe next time, remember to lock the door.”
Before she could reply, their teacher interrupted. “What are you two arguing about now?”
They both quickly said, “Nothing!” in unison, not breaking eye contact.
Kai leaned in just a bit, voice low enough that only she could hear. “Do you want me to explain it in front of everyone, Iradessa?” His breath brushed against her ear, sending shivers down her spine.
“Enough!” Ira interrupted, her voice cracking slightly. She turned around, calling out to Yasmine and the others, “Let's go," and the three of them left, leaving Kai alone in the small classroom.