"Omg, poor Fire," her seatmate muttered, a mix of sympathy and disbelief in their voice.
"Ice is still scary," a guy remarked, drawing quiet whispers from the others around him.
Oriel stood up abruptly, her eyes narrowing in irritation as she shot a glare toward Ice. "Can't you just act like a gentleman for once?" She was seething. How could he be so rude to Fire, of all people? Fire, who was always so sweet and understanding to everyone.
"Ice, you're the Supreme Student Council President, yet you don't even know how to show some respect for girls?" she added, her voice rising with challenge.
Dhylan, sensing the building tension, stepped in gently. "Ori, please. Let's not make things worse." His hands reached out, pulling Oriel back in a calming gesture.
The professor, having witnessed the exchange, shot Ice a disappointed look. "Settle down, everyone," she said firmly, her voice carrying a sense of authority, but the disappointment in her eyes was unmistakable. It wasn't the first time Ice's competitive nature had caused trouble, and she knew it wouldn't be the last.
Despite the growing tension, Dhylan managed to calm Oriel. As he returned to his seat, he leaned close to Ice, his voice low but laced with humor. "A little advice, bro—be kinder, especially to girls. Karma has a funny way of catching up with you," he whispered, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.
Ice exhaled sharply, torn between irritation and guilt. Why was it that, in just a few days, everyone was already on her side? He couldn't shake the frustration bubbling in his chest.
This was the moment when he should've rushed to Fire, apologized, and tried to console her. But he didn't move. Instead, his mind focused on the classes he still had to attend. How could she skip all the lessons, especially the ones that were essential to her growth? It bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
After class, Oriel was already in motion, her mind set. "Let go, you idiot DJ! I'm going to find Fire," she snapped, trying to pull her hand free from Dhylan's grip.
"No, don't! Let Ice handle it," Dhylan said, holding on tight, his voice casual but firm.
"As if that frozen-hearted monster will even care to look for her!" Oriel shot him an irritated glare, frustrated by his ridiculous suggestions. This wasn't the first time.
"Trust me on this one." Dhylan's tone softened slightly, trying to reason with her.
"Good thing I don't trust you." With a quick flick of her wrist, Oriel pulled away and began walking toward the door, her determination clear.
"Ori, that hurts my feelings!" Dhylan whined dramatically, his voice going high-pitched. "I'm gonna kiss you now! Here comes Batman's kiss!" He grinned and pulled her back toward him, pretending to swoop in for a kiss.
"Stop! Don't even think about it!" Oriel shrieked, stepping on his foot to break free.
In the background, students began noticing, quickly raising their phones to snap pictures. It wasn't unusual—Oriel and Dhylan were the campus couple, after all. A moment like this would be perfect fodder for the gossip section of the school paper.
Where do I go now?
Fire ran outside before she could fully process her emotions. Her feelings had taken over, amplified by the stress she'd been carrying lately.
He's so mean. Her chest tightened. I know I'm not perfect, but he could've said it more nicely. She wiped away the tears spilling down her face, embarrassed by them now.
Everyone had warned her that Ice was rude and scary, but she never expected it to be this bad.
Maybe it's because I've always been surrounded by people who treat me with kindness. No one's ever been this harsh to me.
She could almost hear the familiar voice of her mother in her head, "You're too innocent, sweetheart," followed by a gentle pat on the head. It was always the same—her parents, her friends, even her manager—everyone protected her, sheltered her.
Mom, I miss you.
Maybe I'm the problem? she sighed. I don't even know what I'm doing here at this school. All I ever wanted was to follow my dreams.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a pair of girls laughing nearby.
"Oh my god, this ice cream is amazing!" one of them said, her voice cheerful.
"Totally! That new ice cream parlor down the street is so good!" the other girl responded.
Ice cream! It was an emergency. I need it now.
Fire immediately rushed down the street, the only thing that could distract her from the swirl of emotions. Ice cream had always been a comfort—shared with her family, a bonding moment. It was the one thing that helped ease her sadness.
Inside the parlor, she sat alone, cradling her cone like a fragile piece of her happiness. The sun still shone brightly outside, though it was already late in the afternoon, with students trickling off campus.
I should leave soon. I don't want to see him again... But before she could finish the thought, a voice broke through her haze.
"Ice?" Her voice was quiet, barely a whisper.
There he was, standing outside the shop, staring at her through the glass. His face was partly bathed in sunlight, a bag slung over his shoulder, and that same void expression on his face—cold and unreadable.
Is he here to scold me again? She avoided his gaze, staring out the window instead. Maybe he's not looking for me at all... She tried to convince herself. The only reason he'd be here is to yell at me again. She continued eating her ice cream, focusing on the sweetness in her mouth.
But curiosity got the best of her, and she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder.
He's gone. Or maybe she'd just imagined him there. Why would I imagine him? she thought, confused.
"Hey." The voice behind her almost made her jump out of her chair.
She spun around quickly, her heart racing. "Don't startle me like that!" she snapped.
It was Ice. His usual aloofness was there, but now there was something different about him. He looked almost like a guilty child—one caught stealing candy. But he didn't say anything.
Fire's guilt started to weigh on her again. I ruined his reputation. He's so serious about everything, and I've messed it all up. Her hate for him, the anger she had felt earlier, began to melt away.
"We have another lab next week," Ice said, his tone still stoic but not as detached as usual. "It's about the decoration. We need to practice."
She didn't know how to respond to him, to his unexpected change in attitude.
"We'll be partners until the end of the semester," he continued, his voice softer, though still carrying a reluctant edge. "We need to practice as soon as possible."
Fire looked down at her melting ice cream. "I can ask the professor to change partners," she suggested, not wanting to cause more trouble.
At that, Ice's expression darkened, and a sudden sense of guilt gripped him. Normally, he wouldn't care if someone was upset with him, but with Fire, it was different. She reminded him of someone—a person he cared deeply for. She was so innocent, so kind, and it hurt to see her like this.
She's someone's daughter, maybe a sister, a friend... and here I am, being cruel to her. He swallowed the bitterness rising in his chest.
"We have an even number of partners," he responded, his voice harsher than he intended. "If you ask to switch, you'll end up with no one."
"That's fine," Fire murmured. She turned her back to him, her voice soft and hollow. The sadness in her tone was unmistakable. "I'll just go if I fail."
Ice's chest tightened. What am I doing? He walked over, gripping the top of her chair and gently turning it to face him.
"I thought you wanted to learn," he said quietly. "If you're just going to give up like this, then go ahead. This isn't like mixing ingredients. It's harder. You can't just be here for half-hearted dreams." His voice was calm, but there was a weight to his words, one that crushed her.
Without waiting for a response, Ice turned and walked out of the shop, leaving Fire stunned in his wake.
Next Chapter: Ice didn't ask to care—especially not about a girl like Fire. Too bright. Too loud. Too forgiving. Yet here they are. One shared kitchen, one old recipe, and a hundred clashing emotions between them. As flour flies and frosting gets serious, Ice starts to see something more in Fire than just chaos and cupcakes. Maybe she's not here to drag him down—maybe she's here to wake him up. But just when things begin to soften, a cloud of smoke rolls in—reminding Ice that, when it comes to Fire, trouble is never far behind. Because sometimes, falling for someone feels less like a recipe for love... and more like a recipe for disaster.