rd the voice

s-Ot

confused. The sound seemed

ti

nes, only to realize it

i calling

oor and called ou

was ice-cold. Even though it was summer, the ch

st a whisper. "The wat

throom door, could barely hea

Speak l

"Check the water heater

s were already off, tossed into the new basin she'd bought and soakin

legs instinctively pressed together. The thought of Otis being just

her head,

gether, and this is already happenin

ated. A quick glance told him it hadn't been turned on, like

a satisfying "click" as t

ard the bathroo

was now flowing. She shouted back, "Thanks! You... you can go n

es. Isn't this jus

d of water. What could poss

y eat three bowls of rice ju

his headphones, and played some music. After a

s something again. Definitely not be

er in the background slowly lulling him to sleep. Initially, hi

shower and dried her hair

, instinctively y

ed the d

pinkish knees. Her naturally pale skin now carried a rosy glow, even on her delic

art skipp

h a towel and said, "I'm done.

moment, dazed. S

ctly, and the fresh scent of her shower gel mix

thinking? Am I s

muttered, "You took long enough

Hmph. So what? Just

to herself. It didn't feel like it

s feel like

shook off

shower. I'm

er graceful figure dis

returned to his bed, starin

eping in separate rooms after twenty years of marri

next

ndings. His job as a testing engineer involved simulat

enthusiasm but cluelessness. For now,

ll and thin with glasses, exuding an a

nding a hand. His slender fingers,

to meet you. I'm Otis. Look

and nodded. "Which

University

ent to Frisson. Nothi

friendly tone as the

arizing himself with the company's processes. For the initial period, he would att

a master at time manageme

y, he thought. Getting paid while taking

nd to make sure no one was listening. "So, are

ted a place," Oti

impressed.

nt? Are you l

nestly, "It's decent-over a thousa

mention of sharing. "Oh? W

again. Should h

want to visit later. Then ex

ed smirked knowingly. "It'

fumbled for words. "Uh.

ng his shoulder. "G

ot, exactly?

i faced a sim

t her desk, relieved to be working

workplace, she would've packed

asses but overlapping courses. Thinking about it brough

lk, his youthful voice intoxica

I even t

g away the thought. It's ju

As a newcomer, she would follow her mentor, Jessica Halle

elegant figure. She wore a professional s