Ethan's breath caught, but he didn't hesitate to kiss her back, his hand instinctively moving to cup her cheek.
The moment felt peaceful, intimate —
Until a loud clatter interrupted them.
They broke apart just as Cynthia staggered into the room, balancing a plate of food in one hand while rubbing her bleary eyes with the other.
She squinted at them like she was trying to process what she was seeing.
Then, completely unfazed, she cleared her throat and muttered,
"Fuck. This hits the spot."
Ethan blinked.
Lila groaned, covering her face with both hands. "Oh my god, Cynthia."
Cynthia ignored her.
Instead, she flopped down onto the bed like she owned the place, setting her plate down on another desk with a satisfied sigh.
Ethan watched as she grabbed a piece of toast, took a huge bite, and chewed happily, completely unbothered by the fact that she had just walked in on them mid-kiss.
Ethan didn't know why, but something about her felt like the exact opposite of Lila.
If Lila was timid, then this girl literally screamed social.
Now that he was actually getting a good look at her, Cynthia's appearance reflected her bold personality.
Her dark raven-black hair was short, stopping just above her shoulders in messy, uneven waves.
It looked like she had either cut it herself in a hurry or didn't care enough to style it properly.
A bright red streak ran through her bangs, standing out starkly against the deep black.
She had a sharper jawline than Lila, her cheekbones slightly more pronounced, giving her a natural edgy charm.
Her deep brown eyes held a mischievous spark, always looking like she was up to something.
Unlike Lila's usual soft expressions, Cynthia's face was always animated, her mouth always moving, whether it was talking, eating, or smirking.
And her outfit?
She was effortlessly messy but stylish.
She wore an oversized black hoodie, the sleeves a little too long, hanging past her wrists.
Her ripped denim shorts looked like they had seen better days, but she owned the look.
A pair of striped thigh-high socks completed the outfit, making her seem both lazy and put-together at the same time.
Ethan could already tell — Cynthia was like chaotic energy in human form.
Lila sighed, finally pulling her hands away from her face. "Cynthia, could you not?"
Cynthia raised an eyebrow, still chewing. "What? You were gonna make out on our bed."
Lila groaned again, burying her face into Ethan's shoulder this time. He chuckled.
"I mean, she has a point," he said, amusement lacing his voice.
Lila pinched his arm.
He winced but laughed.
Cynthia took another bite of toast, eyeing Ethan. "So. Boyfriend."
Ethan blinked at the sudden attention.
Lila lifted her head slightly, looking mildly concerned. "Cynthia — "
Cynthia waved her off. "Relax, I'm just saying hi." She turned back to Ethan, sizing him up in an obvious way.
Ethan just raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
Cynthia smirked. "You're taller than I expected."
Ethan chuckled. "You expected me to be short?"
"Kinda, yeah." She didn't even hesitate.
Lila looked like she wanted to disappear into the couch. "Oh my god, Cynthia, please stop talking."
Cynthia ignored her.
She finished chewing, took a sip of water, then gestured vaguely between them with a knowing look.
"So, did you two finally get your shit together, or are we still in the 'awkward longing glances' phase?"
Lila whipped around to face Ethan. "Don't answer that."
Ethan smirked. "We're together."
Cynthia grinned. "Oh, thank God. I was getting secondhand embarrassment from you both."
Lila glared at her. "Excuse me?"
Cynthia just shrugged, leaning back into the couch. "I mean, come on, Lila. The way you talk about him? The way you light up whenever he texts? I'm shocked it took this long."
Lila's face burned red. "Cynthia!"
Cynthia cackled.
Ethan just watched the exchange in amusement, his smirk never fading.
It was entertaining, seeing how wildly different the two of them were.
Lila was so soft-spoken, easily flustered, and always thinking about how others felt.
Meanwhile, Cynthia was straight-up blunt, completely comfortable saying whatever was on her mind.
Lila huffed and turned to Ethan. "You don't have to listen to her, you know."
Ethan shrugged. "I think she's got a point."
Lila gasped, scandalized. "You're supposed to be on my side."
Ethan smirked. "Am I?"
Lila smacked his arm again.
Cynthia snickered, finishing the last of her food before stretching her arms over her head.
"Welp, this was fun, but I gotta crash again. Hangover's a bitch." She yawned, standing up and grabbing her plate.
"Oh, and if you guys are gonna start making out again, at least take it to a hotel room,."
Lila threw a pillow at her.
Cynthia dodged it effortlessly. "Love you too, bestie."
She winked before disappearing out of the room.
As soon as the door shut, Lila groaned loudly and buried her face back into Ethan's chest.
He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. "She's… a lot."
Lila sighed. "You have no idea."
Ethan smirked, pressing a light kiss to the top of her head.
"Actually," he murmured, "I think I do."
Lila groaned again, but she was smiling.
Lila tilted her head, staring up at Ethan. The warmth of his presence had settled her nerves, but a thought lingered in the back of her mind.
She glanced at the clock. It was already past midnight.
A frown tugged at her lips. "Weren't you… busy before?"
Ethan exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck.
His sharp gaze softened just a little as he met her eyes.
"I was," he admitted. "But as soon as I got the call, I came over."
Lila's fingers curled around the edge of the blanket draped over her lap. "You didn't have to rush…"
Ethan's expression darkened slightly. "Lila, you were drunk and passed out. You really think I'd just stay put and wait until the next day to see you?"
His voice wasn't angry.
But there was something firm about it — something that made warmth bloom in her chest.
He had dropped everything just for her.
Her lips parted, but before she could say anything, he let out a sigh and leaned back against the couch.
"Besides, you know me." His smirk returned. "I don't sleep early anyway."
Lila rolled her eyes. "That doesn't mean you should run around playing hero in the middle of the night."
Ethan chuckled. "Oh? So now you're scolding me for showing up?"