that when i talk to you oh, cupid walks right through,
and shoots an arrow through my heart.
and I sound like a loon,but don't you feel it too?
confess i loved you from the start
— LAUFEY
CHAPTER 39 VENTI CAKE
amid the falling snowflakes outside, a certain duo found themselves captivated by their smartphones. they were deeply engrossed in a popular roblox game called "altitorture."
the atmosphere within the room was a mix of cozy warmth and focused excitement. as their avatars navigated the virtual challenges of the game, their expressions mirrored the determination and amusement that accompanied each obstacle.
the game's intricacies held their attention, creating a delightful contrast with the serene winter scene unfolding beyond the glass.
with their fingers tapping away at the screens, they maneuvered their avatars through swinging pendulums, treacherous platforms, and other demanding feats.
laughter and friendly competition filled the room as they exchanged comments and strategies, engrossed in the virtual adventure they were undertaking.
as they approached a set of swinging pendulums, (name) shouted a warning, "watch out for the pendulums, kazuha!"
kazuha nodded, his avatar deftly leaping to avoid the first pendulum. however, a misjudgment in timing caused his character's foot to catch the edge of the second pendulum.
in a comical twist of events, his avatar was sent spinning through the air, limbs flailing and ragdolling wildly.
"i think i'm going to fall off." (name) exclaimed, a mix of surprise and amusement in her voice.
she watched in both concern and amusement as kazuha's avatar spun out of control, ricocheting off walls and platforms in a chaotic dance.
kazuha's laughter echoed through their voice chat as he tried to regain control. "i've got this, i've got this." he reassured, though his avatar continued to tumble in a rather uncoordinated manner.
amidst the chaos, (name) couldn't help but laugh along, her own avatar struggling to maintain balance as she watched her friend's antics.
after a few more chaotic spins, kazuha's avatar finally collided with a wall and came to a stop, limbs splayed in every direction.
"i think i've had enough of the pendulums." he quipped, his laughter still evident.
(name) laughed, "that was quite the performance, kazuha."
as the laughter subsided, kazuha's avatar struggled to its feet, albeit in a rather wobbly manner.
"well, at least i provided some entertainment," he said, his voice still lighthearted.
with a grin, (name) replied, "you definitely did."
after a period of determined gameplay, the allure of the roblox game began to wane for (name) and kazuha.
frustrated sighs mingled with shared laughter as their avatars encountered yet another challenging level.
with a simultaneous press of buttons, they finally let their avatars rest, gazing at their screens with a mix of satisfaction and weariness.
kazuha leaned back with a stretch, breaking the concentration that had held them captive. "you know," he began, his voice tinged with a touch of mischief.
"we could always find a different way to entertain ourselves."
(name) glanced at him, a curious smile playing on her lips. "oh, and what do you have in mind?"
with a playful grin, kazuha suggested, "how about we switch gears and do something tangible? i was thinking... how about we bake a cake together?"
her eyebrows lifted in surprise, the idea catching her off guard. "bake a cake?" she repeated, a hint of amusement coloring her voice. "well, it's certainly a change of pace."
kazuha's grin widened. "exactly. and who knows, maybe it'll turn out to be as much of an adventure as that game."
with a chuckle, (name) nodded in agreement. "alright, you're on. let's see if our skills are better suited for the kitchen than for virtual challenges."
in the warm and inviting kitchen, (name) and kazuha embarked on a delightful baking endeavor.
the soft glow of the overhead light illuminated the countertops where their ingredients and utensils were laid out in an orderly fashion.
a sense of shared anticipation hung in the air as they exchanged excited glances, ready to turn their culinary aspirations into reality.
flour sifted through a fine mesh, landing in a cloud of fine particles in a mixing bowl. (name) wore a focused expression as she turned the handle of the sifter, her movements precise.
"there we go, perfect flour." she declared with a triumphant smile.
kazuha nodded in agreement, his fingers deftly cracking eggs into a separate bowl. "now for the eggs." he said, his voice a mix of concentration and excitement.
with bowls of ingredients ready, their hands danced in a well-practiced rhythm as they mixed, (name) using a whisk to combine the flour and wet ingredients that kazuha had prepared.
the batter gradually took shape under their careful hands, transforming into a smooth and creamy consistency.
as they worked, their fingers occasionally brushed against each other, igniting a subtle spark that they both felt but didn't comment on.
with the batter ready, (name) carefully poured it into cake pans, her movements deliberate to ensure an even distribution. kazuha watched with admiration, appreciating her attention to detail.
once the pans were filled and placed in the preheated oven, they exchanged satisfied smiles.
the cozy aroma of the kitchen mingled with their sense of accomplishment as they leaned against the counter, waiting for the cake to bake.
as they stood there, the seconds ticking away on the oven timer, (name) turned to kazuha with a grin. "you know, i can't help but wonder if our cake will turn out as epic as our virtual adventures."
kazuha chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "well, let's hope our baking skills are just as on point as our teamwork in those games."
(name) laughed, a musical sound that seemed to fill the room. "i guess we'll find out soon enough."
the timer's digital display finally reached zero, and the oven emitted a soft ding. with synchronized movements, they donned oven mitts and carefully opened the oven door.
the sight of the risen and golden cake filled them with a sense of satisfaction that went beyond the culinary realm.
as they carefully removed the cake from the oven and set it on a cooling rack, (name) grinned at kazuha. "well, looks like we nailed the baking part."
kazuha's smile matched hers, a shared sense of accomplishment in his eyes. "indeed, we did."
with the cake now cooled and awaiting its finishing touches, they stood side by side, their eyes twinkling with mischief and shared laughter.
kazuha picked up a container of frosting, a playful grin on his lips. "you know, i've always wondered if we could be artists as well as bakers."
(name) laughed, her eyes dancing with amusement. "well, there's no harm in trying, right?"
with a sense of lightheartedness, they decided to embark on a new creative endeavor. with frosting tubes in hand, they set their sights on the cake as their canvas.
the challenge? to draw their friend venti's likeness on the cake's surface.
as (name) squeezed frosting onto the cake, she tried to capture venti's characteristic features, her eyes focused in concentration as she carefully outlined his familiar hat and mischievous expression.
however, the result was more comical than accurate, and she couldn't help but burst into giggles at the sight of her creation.
kazuha joined in the laughter, "i think the cake might end up as a work of abstract art." he remarked, his voice laced with amusement.
(name) wiped a tear of laughter from her eye, her shoulders shaking with mirth. "abstract art or not, i'm sure venti will appreciate our effort."
with frosting-covered fingers and a shared sense of amusement, they continued their artistic endeavor, turning the cake into a whimsical representation of their friend.
lines wobbled, colors merged, and the frosting took on a life of its own as they worked side by side.
on the cake's surface, the depiction of their friend venti in frosting took on a playful and slightly misshapen form.
the outline of his hat was wobbly and uneven, giving it a quirky charm.
beneath the hat, frosting dots formed his eyes, each with a distinct expression. one eye was larger and rounder than the other, giving venti a somewhat surprised expression.
a squiggly line hinted at his mischievous grin, and a series of dots represented his nose.
when they finally stepped back to admire their masterpiece, their laughter echoed through the kitchen.
on the cake's surface was a colorful, albeit slightly misshapen, representation of venti's features.
(name) wiped frosting from her hands, her eyes crinkled with joy. "well, it might not be perfect, but it's definitely unique."
kazuha's gaze shifted to (name)'s face, and his eyes landed on a small smudge of frosting on the tip of her nose. his lips curved into a gentle smile as he observed the endearing detail.
(name) noticed his gaze and instinctively raised a hand to wipe at her nose, but kazuha's voice stopped her.
"wait," he spoke softly, his tone warm and amused. "you've got a little something right there."
before (name) could react, kazuha's fingers brushed against her nose as he gently reached out, his touch light as he attempted to wipe away the frosting.
however, the smudge seemed to be more persistent than expected, and he ended up leaning in closer, his fingers tracing the edge of the frosting with a gentle touch.
as his fingers brushed against her skin, (name)'s breath caught in her throat. their faces were suddenly so close, the warmth of his breath mingling with hers.
the room seemed to quiet down, and the world around them faded into the background, leaving only the two of them in that fleeting, intimate moment.
for a brief, suspended second, their eyes locked, and a different kind of awareness seemed to blossom between them.
their heartbeats echoed the rhythm of a shared emotion that went beyond the playfulness of the moment.
as the realization of their proximity settled in, their cheeks flushed with a mutual embarrassment that mirrored the frosting on (name)'s nose.
his fingers finally managed to remove the smudge, and he pulled back slightly, his own face tinged with a rosy hue.
"got it." he said softly, a trace of a nervous chuckle in his voice.
(name) nodded, her heart beating a little faster in her chest. "thank you." she replied, her voice equally soft.
as he pulled back, a subtle but shared smile tugged at their lips, a silent acknowledgment of the unexpected closeness.
the memory of that fleeting touch lingered in the air, leaving behind a sense of intimacy that neither of them could ignore.
with a cough to clear his throat, the white-headed boy turned his attention back to the cake. "well, our cake is certainly unique, right down to its frosting designs."
(name) chuckled, her fingers playing with the edge of her apron as she regained her composure. "yes, i suppose our artistic talents extend beyond just baking."
as (name) continued to laugh and chat, his thoughts drifted away from the conversation, pulled by a thread of confusion that tugged at his heart.
the image of their faces being so close, his fingertips gently brushing against her skin as he wiped away the frosting, replayed in his mind like a persistent melody.
he found himself lost in his thoughts, his brow furrowed in an attempt to decipher the unfamiliar emotions swirling within him.
amid the laughter and the jovial atmosphere, he was struck by a sudden realization. the memory of their close proximity had triggered something deeper, something that defied explanation.
the playfulness of the moment had ignited a spark of awareness, like a fire slowly spreading through his thoughts and emotions.
he watched as (name) continued to engage in the conversation, her gestures and expressions captivating him in a way he hadn't quite experienced before.
her laughter was a melody that resonated within him, leaving him both enthralled and bewildered.
the cake they had created sat on the table, a symbol of their shared adventure and the connection they had deepened.
yet, for kazuha, the cake had become a metaphor for the emotions he was grappling with – a mixture of sweetness and uncertainty, much like the frosting they had spread.
the sound of (name)'s laughter brought his attention back to the present, and he turned his gaze towards her with a mixture of fascination and contemplation.
as he watched her, the memory of their faces being so close seemed to play in a loop, like a scene from a film he couldn't shake off.
the sensation of her breath against his skin, the warmth of their proximity – it was all etched into his mind, leaving him questioning the nature of his feelings.
kazuha couldn't deny the undeniable pull he felt towards (name), a connection that went beyond friendship.
but the uncertainty clouding his thoughts was unfamiliar and unsettling. with a quiet sigh, he realized that he couldn't find the answers he sought in that moment.
the truth of his feelings was as complex as the mixture of ingredients in the cake they had baked together.
but one thing was certain – the memory of their faces being so close would continue to linger, a constant reminder of the emotions that had been stirred, waiting for the right time to be explored and understood.
↷ ⁞ END OF CHAPTER 39!
⟶ chapter written; august 11 2023