Just then, I caught a glimpse of Ice, moving through the cafeteria, scanning for an empty seat. I raised my hand, hoping to catch his attention. I was sure he saw me—he definitely did!
"Ice!" I called, excited to finally get a chance to talk.
But he ignored me.
He looked straight at me, then turned away, his face impassive. How could he... I felt a little sting in my chest.
The break ended far too quickly. The relief I felt earlier evaporated as soon as I sat back at my desk. With my heart still racing from the stress of the test, I knew exactly what I had to do: confront Ice.
I wheeled around in my seat, eyes fixed on his. "I was calling you at the cafeteria, you ignored me!" I said, my voice a little sharper than I intended.
Ice didn't even spare me a glance. His gaze was locked on the front of the room, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"You and your friends are noisy," he muttered, as if I were a mere distraction.
"We're not! We're just chatting normally!" I protested, though it felt like I was talking to a wall. He didn't even acknowledge my words, staying as cold as ever.
Okay, maybe I could try a different approach. "I'm sure we'll get a good grade for the cake. You designed it perfectly!" I tried again, hoping that a compliment would soften him up. Why does he always seem so irritated?
Ice turned his gaze toward me, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "I don't want a high grade. I want the highest grade," he said, his voice as flat and emotionless as before.
I felt a chill run down my spine. His glare seemed to say it all: You better have followed the instructions properly, or else. I swallowed hard. Great. That pressure again.
The professor walked into the room, breaking the tension. She set her laptop down, her gaze scanning the room as everyone quickly packed their cakes or shoved them into the back freezer for later. The air buzzed with anticipation. The scores were about to be announced, and once that was done, we'd finally be free to go home.
"Ms. Oriel and Mr. Dhylan, you didn't finish your cake. But don't worry, I'll give you another chance, though some points will be deducted," the professor said, announcing their grade first. A few students groaned in sympathy while others whispered quietly about the competition.
I didn't dare glance around. The thought of Ice getting angry if I messed up had my heart thumping wildly in my chest. I wasn't even sure who would be next. The professor was calling the names randomly, and my palms felt sweaty.
Then, she called our names.
"Mr. Keice and Ms. Zafire, I can say you two make a great team. You got an A! Not bad for your first laboratory test," she announced with a nod, as if she were evaluating us, analyzing our results carefully.
An A?!
My eyes widened in disbelief. That was… high, right? Really high?
A whisper from behind caught my attention. "Yup! It's the first time Ice has had a partner, right? I think he's less scary now…"
I felt my face light up. I wanted to jump up, to shout in joy. That was a success! We did it! I couldn't contain my excitement. Slowly, I turned to Ice, eager to share the moment with him.
But Ice… only gave me a cold, emotionless gaze.
"Eh?" I blinked, my smile faltering for a second.
The professor continued to announce the remaining scores. I wasn't paying attention anymore. My mind was stuck on the A. It felt surreal.
But I wasn't done. I had to share this victory with Ice. It was a team effort, after all!
I scooted my chair a little closer to him, my grin growing wider. "We got a high score!" I repeated, practically glowing with happiness.
Ice didn't even flinch. He remained perfectly still, his eyes still trained on the front of the room.
"Hey! Didn't you hear me? We got a high score!" I couldn't help myself. I clasped my hands together and flashed him my biggest, most excited smile.
His response was predictably cold. "Shut up, I heard you," he muttered, his tone thick with irritation.
I laughed nervously, my enthusiasm starting to wane. Ice might've been the best at what he did, but why was it so hard to get him to show even the slightest sign of enjoyment?
Even now, with the high score, he remained a mystery. He was... impossible to read.
But deep down, I knew something. Despite his tough exterior, despite his coolness, he had to feel something. Right?
But deep down, I knew something. Despite his cold, indifferent attitude, there had to be more to Ice than just that stone-cold exterior. Right?
"Why are you still acting like that, ah?" I crossed my arms, staring at him with confusion and frustration, though part of me was beginning to understand. It didn't make sense. Why does it feel like I'm always in the wrong with him?
Ice didn't even look at me. His gaze remained fixed ahead, as distant as always. Then, that familiar, sharp voice broke through the silence.
"We got a high grade, but still not the highest. It's your fault."
What?
My chest tightened, and it felt like something inside me snapped. My mind raced, trying to figure out where I'd gone wrong. Was I not fast enough? Did I miss a step?
What did I do this time?
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but it was no use. The words stung more than I wanted to admit. I wasn't sure if it was his cold tone or the fact that he blamed me for everything that had me shaking inside.
"What? Why? It's a high grade! Aren't you happy with it?" My voice cracked, despite my best efforts to sound normal. I had no idea why this was so difficult. He wasn't even giving me a chance to explain myself or even celebrate the fact that we'd done well.
But Ice didn't answer. His eyes were still glued to whatever he was staring at, distant, unfeeling.
The words that followed only made it worse.
"No. So shut up."
It was too much. I could feel the heat of embarrassment rushing to my face, the sting of tears pressing at the back of my eyes. I can't do this. Not again. Not here.
"Is there a problem there, Mr. Atlas and Ms. Asfault?" The professor's voice cut through the silence, pulling all eyes to us. My heart dropped into my stomach, the weight of every student in the room feeling like an unbearable pressure.
Ice didn't respond. No apology. No explanation. Just… nothing. The cold air between us felt like a wall I could never break down.
And me? I just stood there, caught in the middle of it all, feeling like the biggest failure.
I really messed up this time, didn't I?
I had ruined everything. I knew it. Ice always aced everything. He was perfect, the best of the best. And here I was—his partner—dragging him down, ruining his chances. I couldn't get anything right, not even in a simple class project.
The tension in the room felt suffocating. I could feel my feet tremble beneath me, my legs threatening to give out. The tears, they were so close to falling, but I refused to let anyone see them. I had to hold it together. Just hold it together, Fire.
But before I could stop myself, I ran.
I ran out of the room, not even thinking about what was happening around me. I just needed to escape, to hide from the heat of my own embarrassment, from Ice's silent reproach, from the feeling of disappointment I could feel radiating off him even without words.
I messed up again. I always do.
I didn't even look back. I just wanted to be anywhere but there, away from the sharp sting of his silence. Away from the weight of my mistakes.
Would Ice ever forgive me for this? Would he ever see me as more than just a failure?
I had no answers, just the cold emptiness of regret and the stinging pressure of my own inadequacy.
Next Chapter: After a tense lab session, Fire retreats to a nearby ice cream parlor, seeking solace from the sting of Ice's harsh words. Unexpectedly, he appears outside the shop, his usual cold demeanor softened by an unfamiliar guilt. Inside, their strained partnership takes a surprising turn when Ice proposes they continue as lab partners for the rest of the semester, leaving Fire to grapple with the complexities of his emotions and her own uncertainties. Will this unexpected gesture bridge the gap between them, or is it merely another layer of Ice's enigmatic facade?