𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲:
Cinnamon Rolls

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲❅

I furrowed my brows, hearing the sound of an alarm cut through my dreams.

And then something move underneath me.

Which continued to move even after the alarm was quickly turned off, causing my eyes to flutter open.

"Shhh," I heard her familiar soft voice, feeling the softest touch against my cheek.

Which easily made it harder for me to open my heavy eyes.

"Where are you going?" I whispered, furrowing my brows as I blinked a few times—trying to open my eyes.

"Just to make breakfast," Mazin whispered as I finally found the strength to open my eyes.

And that's when I registered my aching head, the large unfamiliar room, and the fact that it was still really dark around me.

"What time is it?" I whispered, sitting upright when I recalled it's Thursday.

I have to teach today.

"It's only five," Mazin said, her raspy voice lowered and eyes focused on me even through the darkness.

I felt my shoulders physically relax, remembering my first class didn't start until nine.

I also remembered that I'm at Mazin's place.

Worst case scenario, I leave here at seven so I can go home and get ready.

The only thing that sucks right now is this hangover.

And the fact that I can't cancel classes today after I canceled on Tuesday.

Fuck.

"I don't want breakfast," I whispered, laying back down in the bed, "Don't leave me alone please."

I noticed her features soften even through the darkness, feeling her soft touch caress my cheek.

"You need breakfast," Mazin insisted, staring down at me so precisely, "I'm not letting you eat protein bars or fruit anymore. You need more."

I let out a deep sigh, "Okay, I'll grab something then—just come here," I whispered, holding my arms out.

And almost immediately, Mazin's lips twitched up, leaning down to me as she slid her arms back around my waist.

I let out a long deep sigh, running my arms around her torso and sliding my hands under her shirt.

The softness of her back met my fingertips, gently caressing her skin as she nuzzled down into the crook of my neck.

"I'm making you breakfast, Virelai," she whispered in my ear, still somehow insisting on her previous point that I had forgotten about when she hugged me.

I held her tighter to me, "Mazin," I sighed in frustration.

"Your full stomach will thank me later," she said, slowly pulling back from me.

"Thirty more minutes," I tried to negotiate with her, leaning up with her even as she laid up from me.

Which naturally made her chuckle tiredly, noticing how I never let her out of the hug.

"I need to get started now," she whispered, which made me let out a long dramatic sigh.

"Eggs take like five minutes to make Mazin," I reminded her, growing rather irritated by this predicament.

"I'm not making you just eggs," Mazin pointed out almost offensively.

Which easily earned another sigh from me.

"Fine, whatever," I mumbled, finally letting go of her in defeat.

But I couldn't miss the way her lips pursed as I pulled away from our hug, disapproving of the tone I was currently using.

"Don't be mad beautiful," Mazin murmured, grabbing my waist and pulling me back closer.

I only frowned deeper when she leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips as she lightly squeezed my waist.

"I'm not trying to be," I tried to explain, running my arms back around her waist, "But you're leaving me alone in bed at five in the morning."

Mazin raised a brow, "You make it sound really bad," she said, tilting her head to press yet another fleeting kiss to my lips.

Which naturally made my body grow warm, reciprocating the brief kiss as I leaned in even deeper.

"Maybe it wouldn't if I came with you," I suddenly determined, finding a way to compromise.

Even if I felt really fucking tired.

But I don't want to sleep in here without her.

"No," Mazin immediately shut me down, "You have classes in a few hours and then you drank last night so you need to sleep."

I shrugged, "You can't make me stay up here and sleep," I said, unable to argue the point she had made.

Because she's right.

"I can think of a few ways," Mazin murmured, her dark eyes openly trailing my face even through the darkness.

Which easily made me grow warm, unable to properly form words back to that.

I just shook my head in disagreement, wanting nothing but to go with her.

"Please," I suddenly whispered, leaning in closer to briefly kiss her lips.

Which she quickly reciprocated back, leaning down to place a soft kiss against my jawline.

"Fine, Virelai," Mazin said, her voice lowered and reluctant as she pulled back to meet my stare.

A tired smile immediately grew on my lips, forcing her eyes to divert down.

"Beautiful," she murmured, gently drawing me back in to kiss my lips softly.

Which was less brief than last time.

I hummed against her lips, feeling my smile grow when she started pressing repetitive kisses against my lips.

"Mazin," I whispered, attempting to reciprocate her playful kisses.

"Virelai," she repeated back to me in the same tone, pressing one last kiss against my lips, "I'm afraid I'll never be able to say no to you."

I felt my smile grow as she pulled back, "Good," I whispered, feeling my face burn from her words alone.

"More like dangerous," Mazin said, her dark eyes staring precisely into mine for a moment.

A very long moment.

Until she gently pulled the covers back.

"Now come on, Ms. I have to get my way," Mazin murmured, sliding out of the bed and taking all the warmth with her.

Which caused me to quickly slide out of the bed right after her, placing my hand in the one she extended for me.

Then she guided us toward the nearby bathroom, turning the lights on but keeping them very dim.

A calming amount of dim actually.

Which allowed my heavy tired eyes to adjust properly, watching as she prepared the toothbrush she had just opened for me last night.

I suddenly groaned, recalling a few faded memories of last night.

Fuck.

Oh my god, no.

No-no-no.

"What is it?" Mazin asked, keeping her free arm around my waist as we both brushed our teeth.

I quickly shook my head, "Last night," I mumbled as I continued brushing my teeth, "I... that's embarrassing—I'm so embarrassed, Mazin."

Her lips immediately twitched up in amusement, "But you were so cute," she said as I reached over to turn the sink on, "I liked the conversation I had with drunk Virelai."

I groaned again as I spit out my toothpaste, now recalling so much, "Mazin, never again—seriously never again," I breathed out as she leaned down with me to spit her toothpaste out as well.

"I promise you're overthinking it," Mazin said, setting her toothbrush as I did the same, "And you look so fucking good in my clothes."

I felt my face burn up even worse, letting out a deep sigh when she drew me in closer to her by my waist.

"So... I can keep them?" I decided to ask, remembering my previous request.

Drunk me definitely had a good idea going when she insisted on keeping these clothes.

They're so fucking comfortable.

"Of course, you can keep them," Mazin said, her lips twitching up in amusement as she eyed me through the mirror, "Raid my closet already, Virelai."

I felt my lips twitch up, shaking my head as I leaned even closer to her, "You're too much," I whispered, finding her generosity beyond attractive.

To the point that it made me feel nervous.

It felt like she would legit give me anything, even if it was unattainable.

Which became clearer and clearer when I later realized what she was making me for breakfast.

I was seated on the dark marble counter of the kitchen island with a furry cover wrapped around me, watching her roll out dough and spread a brown cinnamon mixture over it.

Cinnamon rolls.

She's making me homemade cinnamon rolls.

Which left me sort of shocked.

Her house left me shocked too, now taking it in now that I'm sober and able to process it all better.

It truly made me realize how fucking huge it is.

The kitchen alone felt like a chef's kitchen.

And it was made of matte black cabinets and shiny charcoal grey marble counters.

The dim adjustable lights made the kitchen sparkle almost, illuminating the nearby glass dining room table decorated with a vase of red roses.

Just nearby was the living room with a grey sectional and a few furry blankets folded in a nearby basket by the lit Christmas tree.

Which was minimal but in a purposeful way.

There were these black, gold, and red ornaments, somehow matching her space so perfectly.

And then there was the electric fireplace right below the large flatscreen, which she had turned on when we initially got down here to provide more warmth.

It was the perfect vibe, even at five in the morning.

Or almost six now.

But it was entirely worth it, especially as I watched her bake and then later cook the eggs and bacon to go with the cinnamon rolls.

I forgot how well she knew her way around a kitchen.

Or how gracefully she managed to do it all.

She didn't look stressed in the slightest.

If anything she managed to time everything perfectly so it was all finished around the same time.

And when it was time to eat, I took my plate and continued to sit on her kitchen island, happily eating the cinnamon roll smothered in sweet icing.

Mazin ended up sliding up onto the countertop with me, sitting beside me as she ate some of a cinnamon roll with eggs and bacon.

It was perfect.

The sun had slowly begun to rise through the tinted glass windows nearby as we ate and conversed about random topics.

But I was mostly focused on eating, and then drinking the orange juice she had poured me.

Which Lena had freshly squeezed when she was here a couple of mornings ago.

I don't think I have ever eaten so much in the morning.

Typically, I'm not even that hungry and I try to force myself to eat.

Especially if someone made me something.

But this morning was so different—I had not only one cinnamon roll but another half of one.

Which was purely because of how good they tasted.

And it was entirely worth it, even if it put me into a food coma.

I somehow fell asleep again in the car on the way over to my apartment.

But I think it was Mazin's driving combined with waking up early, my hangover, and then eating such a good fucking meal.

Luckily, Mazin gave me some medicine for my headache and also made me drink a glass of water once I finished my juice.

So that really set me up for a good morning.

And it also didn't take me that long to get ready once I got back to my place and hugged Mazin goodbye.

Or kissed her goodbye, considering she managed to kiss me a few times before she left my apartment that she insisted on walking me up to.

Security was already standing outside on guard, where they managed to stay even as I exited my apartment a little over an hour later.

Now wearing a black blazer dress with matching stockings and stilettos.

I wore my hair in a high ponytail with light makeup on my face, keeping today's look more minimalistic.

And luckily, today was the second to last day of classes until the semester would be over.

I only have a final that I'm holding this coming Tuesday.

So today's class really just consisted of reviews and then quiet studying.

But since I'm only doing a paper for the final exam, it didn't feel like I was putting too much pressure on them.

And there was also less pressure on me.

I swear both of my classes managed to fly by.

And then I planned to have lunch with Nelli later on in the day and also stop by the hotel.

"You look glowy today," Omara said as she approached me.

The classroom had cleared out and as usual, she stayed behind with me to talk.

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "Okay," I jokingly said, knowing she was referring to her older sister.

"Mazi must be treating you good," Omara said, clearly wanting me to spill some sort of details, "As expected honestly—she always worshipped the ground you walked on."

I felt my lips spread into a smile, shaking my head at her, "I feel like that's a little bit of a reach," I said, even if her words annoyingly made me blush.

Mazin did seem to prioritize me a lot.

To a point where it made me feel all warm and giddy inside.

"It's definitely not a reach," Omara argued my point with an amused smile, "Do you remember that one summer when you came back from Korea and you got really homesick? Mazi put together that whole night where we all learned to make some of your family's recipes."

I pursed my lips together, recalling how upset I was after returning from Korea after a full summer there.

It was the hardest adjustment.

And Mazin stepped in to somehow make it feel easier.

It was the summer before eighth grade.

Which somehow makes a lot of sense now that we had our talk.

"Well, she does treat me very well," I said, not bothering to downplay her efforts, "More than well really," I quickly added, feeling as if there wasn't an adequate enough term to describe how she treated me.

"Explains the glow," Omara said with a knowing hum.

I felt my smile grow, but before I could say anything back, I noticed a presence enter the lecture hall.

Which I initially assumed was a student.

Until I realized it was Dani.

And I couldn't help but draw in a deep breath, taking in the sweatshirt and sweatpants she wore with her hand in a cast.

It was so immediate.

The response my body had was immediate.

The way my heart rate ticked in my chest and my breathing grew shallow.

Even my hands began to tremble slightly by my sides, feeling entirely on edge.

Mostly because I'm unsure of what she's about to say.

But with Xavier, the head of security, quickly approaching me and Omara, I knew Dani wouldn't be able to lay a finger on me.

But Mazin will know about this.

And she'll kill her.

I know she'll kill her.

"Vee I know I shouldn't be here—"

"You need to leave," I immediately cut her short, especially when Xavier approached her.

And slid his gun from his waistband.

Which naturally made Omara's brows shoot up in shock.

I mean, she was aware of the illegal side of her family's business.

But they always kept her away from it.

She was never near a gun like this.

"Xavier," I said, now stepping in front of Omara to shield her from the sight, "Don't do this—please not here."

Dani immediately raised her hands up, displaying the most victim fucking expression as if she had not been warned.

Or not willingly walked into this.

But I also don't want her to die.

I don't want anyone to die.

"I was given clear orders, Ms. Chun," Xavier calmly said as he held the gun to her head, which made me quickly glance around—realizing he might actually shoot someone dead in my classroom.

"Vee I swear I just want to talk—I just wanted to clear the air," Dani said, keeping her hands up in defense.

Xavier immediately clicked the safety off as soon as she took another step towards us.

"Oh my god," Omara whispered from behind me, clearly not caught up on why Dani would be shot dead if she came near me.

"Leave, Dani. Seriously you need to..." I trailed off as soon as I noticed her presence emerge into the lecture hall.

She wore a long-sleeve shirt that clung to her body, pairing it with matching dress pants as she kept her hair tucked back into a bun.

Black framed glasses sat on her face covered in light makeup, easily pulling together her look.

She held a smoothie in her hand, one that I assumed was for me given the unopened straw she held with it.

It was an action I would've found sweet if it weren't for this current predicament.

One that immediately shot Mazin's guard up.

Fuck.

She's going to kill her.

I can see it on her face. 

"Xavier, you're good," she calmly spoke as she approached us, setting the smoothie and straw down on a nearby desk.

The man immediately nodded, lowering his gun, "I wasn't trying to kill her here, but I had clear orders—"

"I know," Mazin cut him short, now walking past him and Dani toward me, "You're good now, just wait by the exit while I handle this."

Xavier nodded again as he slid the black gun back into his holster, walking past Dani with a look that screamed he knew what was about to happen next.

And so did I.

It made my stomach hurt.

"Omi," Mazin said, walking around me to her younger sister that I was shielding, "Hey," she whispered to her as soon as Omara took a few steps toward her.

"What's going on? Why did he have a gun and then Dani—"

"It's all good, I'm handling it," Mazin assured her, keeping her tone lowered as I awkwardly stared forward and away from Dani who was silently staring at me, "You just go to your next class and I'll see you later."

The air stilled for a moment.

A very long moment.

Until Omara suddenly sighed, "Okay, but... but Vee will be okay? And you'll—"

"Everyone will be more than okay," Mazin quickly assured her before she could stress over it.

I suddenly flinched when Dani took a subtle step closer to me—immediately earning Mazin and Omara's attention.

"I swear to god, I won't hesitate to kill you right now," Mazin said, her attention now focused back on Dani, "I couldn't care less about the classroom we're standing in—I'll fund the entire school before I let you take another step toward her."

Dani shook her head, "This is not even about you. I'm just trying to talk to Vee—"

"Omara I need you to go to your class," Mazin calmly cut Dani short, focusing back on her younger sister.

And I swear I felt so bad for her even having to witness this.

A part of me felt embarrassed, wondering if she knew.

If it was obvious what I allowed Dani to do.

Or how weak I was.

"I'll uh see you both later," Omara whispered as she suddenly backed away from us, "Love you."

Mazin nodded once, "I love you too," she said, watching as she walked over toward the exit, purposely leaning away from Dani as she passed her.

It was a brief silence.

One that made me suddenly overthink everything that could come next.

I only had fifteen minutes until my next class and that's definitely not enough time to clean up a dead body.

I don't even want to witness a dead body.

I suddenly stiffened when I felt a hand against my lower back.

But as soon as I registered Mazin's familiar touch I relaxed entirely—focusing on how she gently tapped my lower back.

Which made Dani's stare noticeably divert down to Mazin's arm slightly around my waist.

And that's when I knew—

All hell might just break loose.

"I knew it," Dani said, scoffing as she shook her head, "I always fucking knew it."

Mazin hummed tightly, subtly pulling me closer to her, "I'm glad you knew," she said, entirely unbothered by her words that managed to make me more anxious, "No one wants to be with an abuser anyway."

Dani's brows immediately shot up, having the nerve to scoff in offense, "It was an accident—one that I'm trying to apologize for if it wasn't for your weird obsession with her," she pointed out, and I could tell by the way Mazin hummed that this wasn't good.

Even if she was so eerily calm, I could somehow feel her irritation.

Feel her anger.

"Mazin," I whispered as soon as she took a step forward, dropping her hand from my back.

But Dani didn't budge, if anything she rolled her shoulders back and didn't move an inch.

At least until Mazin's hand gathered into a fist by her side, lifting it up and—

I gasped as soon as her fist came into contact with Dani's face, somehow drawing in a breath directly after as I processed all of this.

I just never expected this.

I never expected Dani to show up here of all places.

I'm not even sure how she knew where my class was.

"My bad," Mazin said, calmly watching Dani stumble back as she held her hand over her eye, "It was an accident," she purposely added, twisting Dani's words back to her.

"Vee are you serious right now?" Dani said, glancing over to me with the eye she wasn't covering, "You're going to let her do this?" she asked me, easily making my heart tick worse in my chest.

I really hate this. 

I hate this entire situation. 

Mazin suddenly took a step to the side, shielding Dani from my viewpoint before I could answer.

"Say one more fucking word to her," Mazin said, her tone so much more firmer than I had ever heard it, "Go on, I'm waiting."

Dani shook her head, "She's not even worth it," she said, still looking directly at me as the hurtful words spilled from her mouth, "She's worth nothing honestly."

"I disagree," Mazin said, taking another step toward Dani, and this time it managed to make her take a step back, no longer standing her ground as before, "Clearly you disagree too or you wouldn't be here."

Dani let out a laugh, the most chilling bitter laugh I have ever heard.

It nearly rattled me to my core, clasping my trembling hands together to help calm myself down.

"I was just trying to do the right thing really," Dani determined, shrugging as if this no longer mattered to her, "But clearly she doesn't deserve the right thing—maybe she does deserve to be hit a few times—"

She cut herself short with a grunt, stumbling back when Mazin punched her again.

This time so hard that it made her head fall back.

I had turned around before I could process it, clasping my hands tighter together as I drew in deep shallow breaths.

"We're taking this outside," I heard Mazin say before she suddenly called Xavier back into the lecture hall.

Who I heard immediately walk back in, his footsteps pattering in as I turned back around.

And just as Mazin motioned her head over to Dani who had her head tilted back in pain, holding both of her hands to her face, Xavier grabbed her firmly by the arm.

"I'm not going fucking anywhere," Dani said, trying to jerk out of his hold.

I felt my brows shoot up, watching him suddenly twist her arm behind her back—restraining her much more firmly as he forced her out of the room.

Even if she still continued to jerk and tug against him. 

I genuinely can't believe that just happened. 

"Virelai," Mazin suddenly said, quickly diverting my attention over to her.

And that's when I noticed she was right beside me again, her dark eyes analyzing my face.

"Can I touch you?" she whispered, noticing how visibly on edge I was.

I nodded almost unconsciously, unable to form any sort of words right now.

But I swear I let out the deepest sigh as soon as she ran her hands past my waist, gently pulling me into her body.

My body visibly relaxed in her arms which held me so protectively.

So presently.

All I could do was bury my face into her chest, wanting to just scream until I possibly couldn't anymore.

"You only have one class left?" Mazin whispered, gently kneading her fingers into my covered back.

I nodded silently, still not bothering to force out words.

Or I might cry.

I can't cry.

Not right now.

"I'm going to make a call then," Mazin determined, "I know the dean personally and he won't mind if you have another personal day."

I nodded again, squeezing her tighter when tears burned in my eyes.

But I swear I couldn't possibly help them from escaping my eyes, earning a frustrated sigh from me.

Mazin pulled back slightly to look at me, letting out a deep sigh as she gently cupped my face in her hands.

"It's okay," she whispered, glancing between my eyes, "It's all going to be okay baby."

I nodded a few times, even if more tears burned in my eyes—feeling so pathetic as I broke down, burying my face in her chest again.

It was just everything.

Dani randomly showing up, knowing that Mazin would want to handle this her way now, and then thinking about the aftermath of it all.

How hurt her parents and family will be.

And it feels like my fault.

Mazin sighed deeply, "You don't deserve any of this," she whispered, gently caressing my back as I continued to cry—sniffling and breathing deeply as I tried to somewhat relax.

And Mazin didn't bother to rush me or pull away.

She just held me, assuring me it would all be okay.

But eventually, my next class was approaching.

And I would have to send out another email before students started filtering in.

Mazin would also have to make a call to the dean.

Which she did after revising the previous email I sent out Tuesday about class being canceled.

Then I was free for the rest of the day, watching as Mazin packed up my stuff for me so she could walk me to my car.

I wasn't sure where Dani had gone—or even Xavier.

I assume Mazin most likely had something in place if this ever happened.

Tahir is probably already aware of the situation at this point.

And I hate that.

I hate this all just keeps happening over and over again.

But I think this is it.

This was the last straw, especially with Mazin.

And I'm not sure how to process that.

But Dani willingly walked into this.

She was warned.

But my conscience.

I just...

This will always be something I think about I think.

I'll always wonder if there was ever another way this all could've went.

A better way perhaps.

But somehow I feel like it was really all doomed from the start with Dani.