•ELOQUENCE•

4. The Cheat Code

"I've been up for the past 30 minutes listening to my neighbors argue, i ran out of sugar for my tea, this obnoxious guy called me— no facetimed me before the sun could rise and it's not even 7am" i rant listing everything off with my fingers unaware of his smile.

"Ouch! Well this obnoxious guy just wanted to see that beautiful smile and know if you had time to get lunch with me today" he speaks my attitude seeming to not bother him.

"Are you busy for breakfast?" I ask him curiously, seeing as we were both up and not really doing much. Well who knows how long he has even been up it looks like he's already been out so maybe he's already had some.

"Did you even eat breakfast?" I question pulling myself out of my thoughts.

"Uhh...i had a banana before i went jogging" he says going in a different room, the ceiling height and light fixtures changing as he does.

"Kai that's not breakfast" I scold twirling a piece of my hair before he looks down at the camera grinning widely.

"I like how you say my name, all soft and sweet" he admits and I wait for him to say something sexual as most men do but it never comes.

"Don't change the subject, it's the most important meal of the day. It starts it off right" i speak switching the hand my cheek is resting on.

"Well maybe you need some breakfast to fix your attitude, practice what you preach lil mama" and i'm not sure if it's the weight of his words or the fact that he called me that nickname but the guilt instantly kicks in.

He didn't do anything to deserve my attitude, he's been sweet this whole time.

"Sorry" I mutter softly but he still seems to catch it holding his hand to his heart. It is time for me to make breakfast though, rising from the stool I head over to the freezer pulling out a box of strawberry waffles.

"Freezer waffles? Ugh. Let me make you some real breakfast" he frowns his face in disgust clearly not a fan of eggo.

"How when you can't even cook for yourself" I tease back, popping 4 in the silver toaster waiting for his response.

"Can't and won't are two different things, baby dont eat that! Unplug it and put it back in the box!" He shouts as if he was really offended with my breakfast choice. I don't miss the way he calls me baby either.

Smiling at the name he haults his movement holding his face in shock as he does.

"Is that a smile... from the ice queen herself? Well i'll be damned" he gasps, earning an eye roll that's broken by my smile. Using my tea mug to hide my blush i hear his deep warm chuckle.

"So lunch?" I try to change the subject and taking a sip of my still warm tea. "Is this just lunch or a lunch date"I finish feeling my curiosity brew as an eyebrow arches.

The metalic noise of a spring pops letting me know my waffles were done and I push the spring back down letting it toast a little bit more.

"Just lunch" he says before music comes on in the background softly but i can still hear it enough to know what song it is.

"I'm going to be busy with work the next few days and it could lead into weeks and i don't want you to think ive ghosted you since i don't date losers and you lost in jenga" he shrugs and i can't help the full force laugh that comes out of my mouth almost spilling my tea all over the floor.

The gesture in itself was sweet, him wanting to spend time with me so i don't feel ghosted. But the jokes this man had? Endless.

"First of all I remember you losing" i struggle to get out through my fits of laughter before i keep laughing all over again.

"... i don't recall" he says after a moment but i do i remember how the whole thing happened it even resulted in him trying to convince me to play 7 more rounds which he lost in all of them.

"Amnesia? If you come to my job we got something for that" I reply getting a plate out of the cabinet along with the syrup.

"Where do you work?" He asks seriously as I take the waffles out hissing at the burn on my fingertips as I do every morning.

"The hospital....i put people to sleep for fun" i tell him with a smirk on my lips as i pour syrup in each individual square of the waffle forgetting for a second he could see what i'm doing.

His snickering can be heard and when i look up im not sure if its because of what i said or what i'm doing or both but either way something amused him.

"As reserved as you pretend to be, there's so much to you, Dylon" he notices before I take a bite of the waffle, a curious look on his face.

Sitting in front of my computer, I tap my screen so it lights up...great only 3 hours until my break at 6— when i get to see kai again and most importantly eat. Him and I both agreed to a late lunch and I was happy with how perfect our schedules lined up.

My phone dings and I look down seeing a text from none other than him and I have to watch my facial expression when I see the picture he sent.

It's me from this morning, taking a sip of my tea curls coming down from different parts of my very messy ponytail and the first crack of the sunlight hitting my eyes making it appear a light brown. Another text follows and I can't hold my smile in at it.

"Ice queen in her morning glory❄️☀️"

I have absolutely no idea when he even took the screenshot but it was cute... it made my heart flutter a little bit at the pressure he was applying.

"What's got you all giggly?" One of the nurses ask her nearly black eyes peek over playfully at my desk and i flip my phone showing her.

She reads the message before looking at me in shock.

"A man?! Are my eyes deceiving me! You...giving a man a chance? Let me grab my coat cause hell is about to freeze over" she dramatizes and i roll my eyes locking my phone at her antics.

"Hes... i don't know yet. This one keeps me smiling but you know how it is with men nowadays. You get a two week trial and then they start acting stupid" i speak with a pointed look which she points her finger at me.

"You got me there, i'm still trying to unlock the cheat code to that one" she shrugs before her pager goes off alerting her she's needed on another floor.

Looking down at my phone I send a few emojis back to him which he quickly replies to.

'Do you know where you want to eat or would you like me to pick?'

And I'm sucked back into thought. I've been told many times I have a dominating personality. I hate being told what to do and having someone make decisions for me but I also hate having to make all the decisions. So him asking if I want to make the decision or if I want him to make it... it sits well with me, no matter how small it is.

Being understood without having to explain yourself is something I absolutely love. Twirling in the computer chair I'm completely unaware of the kool aid smile I'm sporting and how a few of my coworkers are staring at me.

'I'm craving mac n cheese, have you ever ate panera bread?'