𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻:
Comfort Waffles

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗡𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻❅

All I could do was focus on the skyline, staring out of my floor-to-ceiling windows as I laid in bed.

I'm currently trying to ignore the distant shower.

Which I tried not to anticipate turning off.

Or the idea of her in there.

Entirely bare wrapped in steam and hot water.

I could technically go to sleep—I had already brushed my teeth and I'm comfortable in bed.

But I couldn't.

Not with me anticipating when she would finally walk out of the bathroom and join me in this bed.

I drew in a deep breath as soon as I heard the shower turn off.

Then I was focused on trying not to pass out over the slightest idea of her finally exiting the bathroom.

I was unsure what I would do or say.

Am I supposed to say anything?

I shook my head to myself, focusing on the Miami skyline as I tried to desperately center my thoughts.

But my focus only lasted a few more long minutes—given the sound of the door knob twisting open snapped me away.

I had shut my eyes before I could possibly think it through, inhaling the sweetness that lingered out from the foggy bathroom.

Her footsteps were quiet—cautious even as I pretended to be asleep.

What the fuck is wrong with me right now?

I unconsciously clenched my jaw when I felt the bed dip—keeping my eyes shut as she gently pulled down the covers.

I could easily hear my heart pounding in my ears, especially with her presence barely inches away.

I wanted to say something.

Or maybe turn around to face her.

But I felt paralyzed—unable to move even if I tried.

So I cleared my throat, hoping she would say something first.

But the sound was annoyingly so soft that I questioned if she even heard it.

Especially since she remained quiet.

So I hesitantly cleared my throat again, trying to make the sound a little louder.

But still, nothing.

I contemplated just remaining quiet—to stop being fucking weird.

But I had already drawn in another breath, about to clear my throat again.

"Virelai," Mazin said before I could clear my throat again, easily making my face burn up.

I kept my eyes tightly shut, turning my head a little, "Yes?" I whispered, pretending to sound tired.

For whatever fucking reason.

I'm insane.

This is insane.

"Do you need some water?" Mazin asked, and I could hear the amusement in her tone.

She's teasing me.

"Yes, actually," I decided to say, going along with my act even if Mazin seemed to find it amusing.

"Turn around," Mazin instructed me, causing my eyes to flutter open—hesitantly turning to face her.

And that's when I finally got to lay eyes on her, taking in her bare face and blonde hair tucked into a messy low bun.

She wore one of my heather grey sweatshirts with a pair of matching sweatpants, sitting up in the bed slightly with her back against the headboard.

"Come here," Mazin said, motioning me over as she picked up the glass of water from the nightstand.

I hesitantly slid closer to her, laying up from the bed slightly as I leaned over her body—and toward the glass of water.

Mazin's dark eyes burned into me the entire time, watching as my lips wrapped around the rim and drank the cold water.

I purposely took a few long sips, hoping to
seem like I was actually thirsty.

"Good?" Mazin asked me when I pulled back.

I nodded once, "Good," I determined, causing her to lower the glass and set it back over on the nightstand.

"Now you can finish faking you're asleep," Mazin subtly added, her dark eyes locked back on me.

I furrowed my brows, "I was asleep," I tried to lie, but the moment my lips lifted into an uncontrollable smile—and Mazin glanced down to them, I knew the act was over.

Still, I decided to stick with it.

"You're the one who woke me up," I emphasized, still trying to cling to my lie.

Mazin's lips twitched up slightly, "I woke you up?" she asked me, her dark eyes trailing my face.

I let out a dramatic sigh, "Yes, you did," I said as if it really bothered me.

Which easily earned a laugh from Mazin, the beautiful sound nearly ringing in my ears even after it coated the air.

"I'm sorry for waking you up then," Mazin said, shaking her head with an amused smile.

I pursed my lips in disapproval, "It's not okay," I decided to say, which earned a fake scoff from her.

"Wow, really?" Mazin said, eyeing my face as her smile somehow grew.

I shrugged, purposely glancing away from her without so much as a single word.

Mostly because I annoyingly felt shy.

"I know you aren't actually mad about the fake sleep I interrupted," Mazin said, gently grabbing one of my hands in my lap.

"It wasn't fake," I argued, still finding a way to stick with my story.

"Fine, it wasn't fake and I'm very sorry for interrupting it," Mazin said, gently guiding me closer to her by my hand, "Happy now?" she asked me, eyeing my face when I finally turned back to her.

"Only if you mean it," I said, pursing my lips when they threatened to lift into a smile.

"From the bottom of my heart," Mazin didn't hesitate to say.

I happily smiled, "Good because I was fake sleeping," I said, glancing down to our hands tangled as one.

And then I was silent, tuning out whatever she could've possibly said as I smoothed my thumb over the back of her hand.

It made me tilt my head, registering the softness of her skin.

And then unconsciously thinking back to what Dani had said to me.

It doesn't help that I'm now sharing a bed with Mazin—or that I kissed her days after Dani.

Maybe she's right.

Maybe—

"What is it?" Mazin asked, her voice much softer with me.

I could hear the serious tone she held compared to her previously playful one—clearly picking up on where my mind had shifted to.

"Do you..." I trailed off, shaking my head as I thought about my words, "Do you think I'm... a whore?" I asked honestly, my words quieter than I wanted them to be.

And the silence following them didn't help.

Especially when Mazin drew in the longest breath of her life, clearly restraining herself from something.

"She said that to you?" Mazin asked me, her tone now growing with something darker.

I hesitantly nodded, refusing to glance up from our hands.

"You're making it really fucking hard not to kill her, Virelai," Mazin said honestly, her stare still burning into me.

"You didn't answer the question," I pointed out, finally glancing up to meet her dark eyes.

And almost immediately, I could notice how offended she looked.

Like my question had somehow offended her even if it was targeted at me.

"No," Mazin said, staring so deeply into my eyes that it nearly made me dizzy, "I would never think that."

I pursed my lips, "Is that you only being nice or—"

"That's me being truthful," Mazin cut me short before I could discredit her opinion, "It's really all subjective—anyone exploring their sexual freedom shouldn't be classified as a whore."

I nodded a few times, but still, I somehow couldn't feel relieved by her words.

"But I don't do those things..." I trailed off, drawing in a deep breath, "I'm not that kind of person and," I went to say, glancing down when my eyes burned with frustrated tears.

Mazin gently pulled me down to her before I could think it through—wrapping her arms around me as I unconsciously buried my face in her chest.

"I'm not that kind of person," I whispered, trying to control my breathing.

"I know," Mazin assured me, running her hands under my shirt to gently tap her fingers into my lower back, "Everyone knows that, Virelai."

I nodded a few times, sniffling as I let out a deep breath—focusing on her fingers tapping against my back.

"You're so soft with the purest intentions—and some people like to abuse that," Mazin whispered to me, nuzzling her face into the crook of my neck, "They like having something to take their insecurities out on."

I forced out a weak hum, sighing deeply as I tried to push away my annoying tears.

"But the best part is," Mazin went to say, her soft voice so close to my ear as she caressed her hand up the bareness of my spine, "You never have to go through it again—it's all over now."

I let out a long deep breath, keeping my eyes closed as I latched onto her words and focused on her soft touch.

Which slowly soothed me back down, one second at a time.

Until I finally breathed properly again, with dried tears and a calm heartbeat.

It was a feeling of relief and then nervousness, unsure if I should pull away from her now.

It might be awkward if I didn't?

"Lay with me," Mazin said as soon as I tried to pull away.

And I didn't hesitate to sink down further in her arms—while she let go of my waist to pull the covers up further over us.

Then she was hugging me tighter to her, nuzzling in closer to me as our legs unconsciously tangled together.

I focused on her heartbeat as I laid on her chest, allowing it to lull me deeper and deeper to sleep.

I didn't realize I was that tired, but now that I'm wrapped in her arms with her warm breath fanning across my neck—I've never felt more tired in my life.

Nothing else was said between us.

The air was only filled with our combined soft breaths and a calm silence, falling further into our deep sleep.

❅

I squeezed my eyes shut tighter when the sound of my alarm cut through my sleep.

A deep sigh fell from my lips, stirring from my sleep to turn it off.

But before I could reach over, it had already been turned off.

That's when last night filtered back in around me.

Recalling Dani—then Tahir and Mazin.

Also, the baked spaghetti and the shower Mazin took as I waited for her.

Then she joined me in bed—where I remember her soothing words and how she wanted me to lay with her.

Which I quickly realized I was still doing.

Except I was much closer, lying between her legs as I kept my arms wrapped tightly around her and my cheek pressed against her chest.

"Go back to sleep," Mazin whispered as soon as I laid up from her chest, blinking my eyes open.

"Classes," I whispered, realizing it was Tuesday, "I have classes," I pointed out, my tired voice raspy and lowered.

"Take the day off," Mazin said as she looked up at me with heavy dark eyes.

I had to blink a few times, trying my hardest not to let my mind wander.

But with her frizzy blonde hair, heavy eyes, and her touch drawing up my back to guide me back down—I couldn't help but burn up.

"I can't just cancel," I whispered, still laying up even if her soft touch made me want to lay back down closer to her and never get up again, "I have to send out an email."

Mazin hummed, drawing her hand away from my back to caress my jawline, "I'll write it for you," she whispered, now grabbing my phone for me.

"But you can't—it won't sound like me," I pointed out as she gently tucked the stray hairs away from my face.

"What's your password?" Mazin asked me, still determined to do it for me.

I let out a dramatic sigh, "Five, Seven, Three, Three," I mumbled reluctantly, knowing there was no use in arguing with her.

At least not when she had her mind made up.

"Lay back down, you can read over it when I'm done," Mazin said, sliding her hand to the back of my head and gently guiding me to lay down again.

Which I let her do, relaxing against her body as I watched the sun peak over the horizon through my windows.

It really only took Mazin a few minutes to compose the email, which naturally concerned me.

But it looked... really good?

I just had to send it out to all my classes of students.

"Are you sure I should cancel? I mean—"

"Finals are this week, yeah?" Mazin asked me, her dark eyes openly trailing my face.

I nodded, pursing my lips as I reread the email again.

"Then I think it's fine—they'll appreciate the free time," Mazin assured me, glancing over to the phone I held in my hand, "Send the email, Virelai," she whispered, watching as my thumb hesitated over the send button.

Until I finally pressed it and let out a long deep sigh.

"You're a bad influence," I determined, handing my phone back to her.

"Whatever it takes to get you a day off," Mazin said as she set my phone back over on the nightstand—wrapping her arms back around my waist.

I let out a content sigh, relaxing against her chest as I focused on listening to her heartbeat.

My heavy eyes naturally fell closed, feeling heavier than they had ever felt before.

And then Mazin's soft caresses against the back of my neck seemed to make me even more tired, relaxing entirely in her arms.

I was unsure of how long I slept—but with the sun shining full blast through my windows when I woke up again, I knew it had been at least a few more hours.

And Mazin was nowhere to be found in my empty bed.

Which naturally made me lay up, feeling entirely confused as I rubbed my tired eyes.

I slid out of bed before I could process it, walking over to the door left cracked open slightly.

And that's when the strong aroma hit me, making my mouth instantly salivate.

I blinked a few times, eyeing Mazin who had her back to me.

Her blonde hair was pulled back like before, wearing the same sweatshirt and sweatpants as she focused on the waffle maker in front of her.

At least until she turned her head, sensing my presence.

"Good morning," she said, and I couldn't help but blink a few more times.

Mostly because this felt like a dream.

Mazin cooking breakfast for me as she wore my clothes felt like a reality too far from my grasp.

It was one that the younger version of myself got to experience many times, but not in this way.

Not with the way Mazin eyed me, walking over to me to pull me into a hug where her arms naturally roamed lower.

"You left me in bed," I pointed out in a soft whisper.

"I think making breakfast is a fair trade-off," Mazin argued my point, gently squeezing my waist, "We both know you need a full plate as soon as you wake up."

I shrugged as we naturally pulled back from the hug, "I would've been fine with a protein bar and a banana," I pointed out, knowing that had been my go-to recently.

The last time I had a full breakfast was back in Korea whenever my mom came over to cook for me.

Or years prior when my dad or Mazin would cook for me.

She always insisted on helping Lena and Tazmin in the kitchen.

Tahir was always running late in the mornings and then Omara was busy perfecting her outfit of the day.

"Don't tell me that's what you normally have for breakfast?" Mazin asked me, tilting her head almost in offense.

I swear anything bad regarding me seems to offend her.

"It's just easier," I whispered almost shyly, especially with her stare pinpointed on me.

Mazin groaned dramatically, "Virelai," she sighed,  pulling me closer by my waist, "We have to fix this."

I laughed, "I don't need a full breakfast every morning, Mazin," I pointed out, wrapping my arms around her neck.

And somehow we've ended up in yet another hug.

"You do if I can help it," Mazin argued my point, pulling back from the hug slightly to meet my stare, "I don't care if I have to come over every morning to cook for you."

I jokingly rolled my eyes, "You're being dramatic," I said, laughing when she shook her head at me.

"Go brush your teeth before we start arguing," Mazin said, gently nudging me away, "Because caring about whether or not you're fed is an argument you will lose, Virelai."

I dramatically sighed, "Fine but only because I want comfort waffles," I mumbled, backing away from her as she walked back over to the waffle machine.

Waffles seemed to be something we always had if we had a bad night prior to the next morning.

It was something Lena and Tazmin always did.

"I washed extra strawberries for you too," Mazin said as she started pouring the batter into the waffle maker.

I hummed at the idea, "Perfect," I said, turning around to quickly brush my teeth so I could get back and eat these waffles.

Mazin also seemed to make me my favorite lemon and honey tea along with a glass of water.

I swear this had to be one of the best breakfasts I've had in a while.

Probably since I've been in Korea.

And even if I knew we should probably talk about a lot of stuff, I decided to exist in the moment with Mazin—fully enjoying the breakfast she made us.

We can always talk later.