Don stared at Sumr standing in the dim hallway, her hand still raised mid-knock as though frozen by indecision.
For a mont, she seed rooted in place, her soft blue eyes wide with uncertainty. Then she quickly lowered her hand and took a half-step back.
"H-Hi…" she whispered, her voice low and trailing off as she clasped her hands nervously in front of her, avoiding his gaze like the floor was suddenly the most interesting thing she'd ever seen.
Don raised a brow. 'What the hell's this about?' he thought. Sumr, usually fiery and full of bite, looked… timid? His mind flicked back to their tense exchange the night before. 'Don't tell she woke up at four in the damn morning just to apologize…'
He let out a slow breath, suppressing the urge to groan. Deciding not to assu, he responded flatly, "Hey."
An awkward silence stretched between them before Don added, "Is there a reason you're knocking on my door… at four in the morning?" His tone put deliberate emphasis on the last part.
Sumr shifted on her feet, clearly uncomfortable. The movent caused the strap of her loose vest to slide further down her shoulder, revealing more of her smooth collarbone and faintly glistening cleavage, likely from the lingering humidity of the early morning air.
She bit her lower lip, her gaze firmly fixed downward as she struggled to form words. Slowly, she rubbed one arm with her opposite hand, a gesture that made her seem far more vulnerable than he was used to seeing her.
"I… I ca to say I'm sorry…" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Don heard her perfectly, thanks to his heightened hearing, but he feigned ignorance. He tilted his head slightly, stepping just a bit closer. "Say again?"
Sumr stiffened, her shoulders locking as if she wasn't sure whether Don hadn't heard her or if he had and was just being difficult. Swallowing hard, she finally raised her head just enough to et his chest-level but still avoided his eyes.
"I… said I was sorry. About… what I said last night." Her voice trembled slightly but remained steady enough.
Don studied her carefully. Though her tone was awkward, not exactly brimming with sincerity, he recognized sothing real beneath her unease. 'She's not used to apologizing,' he concluded, based on what he'd observed about her temperant so far.
His lips twitched into a faint, fleeting smirk. 'Cute.'
Waking up this early just to apologize wasn't sothing he'd expected from her. Sumr might've been a hot-headed brat with a sharp tongue, but the fact that she could own up to her mistakes added another layer to her that Don couldn't help but admire—just a little.
Deciding not to make things harder for her, especially since he'd already forgiven her after the "peace offering" she sent last night, Don shrugged casually.
"Oh, that's fine," he said in a relaxed tone, as if the entire thing was barely worth ntioning.
Sumr blinked, visibly stunned by his nonchalant response. 'That's it?' Her lips parted in disbelief as she raised her head fully, eting his gaze for the first ti.
"R-really?" she stamred. "You're not… mad?"
Don chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I was never mad. Just… a little irritated, that's all."
Before she could process his answer, he added with an offhanded shrug, "I an, you're still just a girl, so I can't really hold it against you."
Sumr's expression shifted from relieved to outraged in an instant. Her brows shot up before knitting into a deep frown.
"The hell does that an!?" she snapped, hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.
Don said nothing, letting the question hang as he turned on his heel and took a quick step backward into his room.
"If you'll excuse ," he said over his shoulder, completely unfazed, "I might as well get my morning workout done since I'm already up."
With that, he pushed the door closed with a quiet but resolute **click**, leaving Sumr stunned and furious in the hallway.
"Hey!" she called out, stomping toward the closed door. "What do you an, 'still just a girl'!? HEY!"
The muffled sound of her indignant protests echoed faintly as Don casually stretched his arms overhead, already ntally moving on from the encounter.
'Definitely still a brat,' he thought with mild amusent.
Don ignored Sumr's yelling, letting her voice fade into the background as got ready for his usual morning routine.
———
By 5:33 AM, he was done and returned ho from his final task—jogging through the quiet, dimly lit neighborhood. Imdiately after, he took a cool shower to wash away the sweat and lingering haze of early-morning fatigue.
Then, finally feeling refreshed, Don dressed for the day, throwing on a simple fitted tee and dark jeans before heading downstairs.
As he descended the last set of stairs, a warm, familiar aroma greeted him: pancakes, buttery and sweet, drifting lazily through the air.
'Pancakes?' he thought with mild curiosity as he rounded the corner into the kitchen.
The sight that t him was a dostic snapshot that reminded him of how different his life had beco.
Sumr stood leaning over the center kitchen island, already dressed in her school uniform—though loosely was a generous description.
Her tie hung askew and her top buttons were casually undone, exposing just enough cleavage to push the limits of decency. Her long blonde hair was swept into a low, careless ponytail as she thodically worked through a stack of pancakes, a tall glass of juice stationed nearby.
Across from her, Winter moved efficiently in her maid attire, her polished deanor untouched by the early hour. She arranged another batch of golden-brown pancakes onto a serving plate with ease before noticing Don's arrival.
"Good morning, Don. Was your sleep satisfactory?" she greeted politely, her soft voice carrying its usual composed and direct tone.
Don stepped further into the kitchen, moving to stand next to Sumr, leaning one hand casually against the cool countertop of the island.
"I slept well enough," he replied smoothly, before adding with a smirk, "A girl I know sent a really nice picture… helped sleep like a baby."
**Cough!**
Sumr imdiately choked on her next bite, nearly sending a piece of pancake across the room. She grabbed her glass of juice and downed half of it in one hurried gulp, her eyes wide with alarm.
Don kept his gaze firmly on Winter, carefully neutral, though the corner of his mouth twitched ever so slightly.
"Goodness, are you alright, Sumr?" Winter asked, stepping forward. "Would you like to assist with—"
Sumr waved her off frantically, still coughing lightly. "I'm fine," she rasped, shooting Don the most aggressive side-eye she could muster.
Unbothered, Don remained the picture of innocence, pretending not to notice.
Winter, ever practical, nodded and added, "Should such an incident occur again, it may help to chew more slowly and avoid speaking while eating. Additionally, leaning slightly forward can prevent blockage, while sipping water in asured amounts assists in clearing the throat."
Sumr's expression tightened with restrained exasperation, though she managed a clipped "Noted."
Don, now struggling to suppress a laugh, decided retreat was the better option before Sumr's glare set sothing on fire.
"Winter, when you're done with the pancakes, fix up a bowl of cereal, would you?"
Winter inclined her head respectfully. "Not a problem."
Satisfied, Don left the kitchen, his footsteps quiet as he moved into the adjacent living room. He dropped onto the plush sofa with a contented sigh, sinking into its welcoming cushions.
Reaching for the remote, he powered on the wide-screen TV with a soft **click**.
The familiar jingle of the morning news filled the room as the "Morning Headlines" segnt rolled onto the screen.
———
BREAKING NEWS:
"Police Find Five Dead Bodies in Workshop Garage Stashed with Cocaine Worth 3.1 Million Credits."
———
Don's eyes lingered on the bold headline as a faint smile ford on his face.
'This should rile them up.'
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