Rhea crossed her arms and pointed toward the door. "Go. I have to take a bath."
Ling didn't move. "I don't have to go."
Rhea squinted. "What do you mean you don't have to?"
Ling said it like it was the most logical thing in the world. "I mean—couples can bathe together."
Rhea blinked. "…We aren't one."
Ling tilted her head, unfazed. "We're future ones."
Rhea scoffed. "Then we'll bathe together in the future."
Ling nodded thoughtfully. "Fair."
Then, immediately: "Actually, I was thinking I should take a bath too."
Rhea stared. "You already did."
Ling smiled. "Twice."
Rhea pointed again. "After me."
Ling leaned against the sink, completely relaxed. "Together. Saves water."
Rhea rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. "This is a billionaire mansion. Don't tell me you have a water shortage."
Ling clicked her tongue. "Sometimes."
Rhea laughed, sharp and disbelieving. "even children lie better. Your house has fountains."
Ling tried again. "Okay, not water. Time. We save time."
"You woke up at eleven."
Ling didn't miss a beat. "Exactly. Very busy day."
Rhea shook her head. "Ling."
Ling raised a finger. "Also—safety."
Rhea paused. "Safety?"
"Yes," Ling said seriously. "Slippery floors. I could—hypothetically—fall."
Rhea crossed her arms. "You're an athlete."
"Even athletes fall," Ling replied solemnly.
Rhea narrowed her eyes. "You're exhausting."
Ling smiled softly. "You like that about me."
"No," Rhea said instantly.
Ling leaned against the marble counter, arms crossed, acting casual. "I'll stand here. You go in. The glass is opaque anyway—I won't see anything."
Rhea glanced at the glass wall, shrugged. "Fine. Don't be annoying."
Ling smiled. "I'm incapable of that."
Rhea rolled her eyes and stepped inside, sliding the glass door shut. The sound of water starting filled the bathroom. Steam slowly began to rise.
Rhea's voice came through clearly, relaxed, unaware. "You're still there?"
Ling hummed. "Told you. Guard duty."
Rhea laughed softly. "From what? Shampoo monsters?"
"Exactly," Ling said. "Very dangerous."
Rhea shook her head, reaching for the body wash. "You're impossible. By the way, your mom almost caught me this morning. I swear my heart stopped."
Ling's eyes followed her silhouette through the glass—clearer than she'd implied, softer than her gaze had ever been. Every curve on display too tempting, breath taking. She didn't say anything about it. Her voice stayed steady. "She's terrifying before breakfast."
Rhea snorted. "You act brave but you flinch when she raises her eyebrow."
"That eyebrow has power," Ling replied. "Ancient power."
Rhea laughed again, water splashing. "Dramatic."
Ling swallowed, shifting her weight, keeping her hands firmly in her pockets. "You still mad at me?"
Rhea paused, then shrugged, shampooing her hair. "I was. I am. I don't know. You make it hard."
Ling watched quietly, not in hunger, not in rush—just… there. "I don't want to make it hard."
Rhea sighed. "Then stop doing reckless things. Windows, security, broken hands—"
"I know," Ling interrupted gently, then softened her tone. "I know."
A brief silence, filled only by running water.
Rhea spoke again, lighter. "If you're really standing there, tell me—what am I doing right now?"
Ling smiled to herself, eyes tracing the movement she wasn't supposed to see. "Wasting water."
Rhea laughed. "Liar. I'm rinsing."
"Still counts," Ling said calmly.
Rhea leaned her forehead briefly against the glass, fogging it. "You're annoying."
Ling stepped closer to the glass but didn't touch it. Her voice was low, controlled. "And you're oblivious."
Rhea frowned slightly. "About what?"
Ling didn't answer.
"Finish up," Ling smirked quietly, turning around.
Water kept running as Rhea stayed inside, humming softly, completely relaxed. Ling didn't move from her place. She leaned back against the sink, eyes lifted again to the glass without thinking.
Rhea spoke casually, still busy. "Why are you so quiet now? Planning something?"
Ling tilted her head. "Just… observing."
Rhea laughed. "Observing what? Tiles? You're really bad at pretending, you know."
Ling smirked. "Am I? I can tell you exactly what you're doing right now."
Rhea froze for half a second, then continued rinsing. "Oh yeah? Try me."
Ling spoke lazily, carefully choosing words. "You're standing slightly to the left because the water pressure is better there."
Rhea blinked. "Lucky guess."
"And," Ling added, voice smooth, "you keep pushing your hair back every few seconds even though it's already wet."
Rhea frowned, then laughed again. "Everyone does that."
Ling smiled to herself. "You also wrinkle your nose when body wash gets too close to your eyes."
Rhea stopped fully this time. She turned toward the glass, squinting at the blurry surface. "Okay… that was weird."
Ling raised an eyebrow. "Weird how?"
"How would you know that?" Rhea asked, still not suspicious, just confused. "You said the glass is opaque."
Ling shrugged lightly. "I know you."
Rhea shook her head, reaching for the towel hook inside. "That's not knowing me, that's stalking."
Ling chuckled. "If I were stalking, I'd be more detailed."
Rhea laughed, missing the implication completely. "Wow, listen to you. So confident."
Ling stepped a little closer to the glass, her tone still playful but layered. "For example… you tilt your head when you rinse your neck. Always have."
Rhea paused again, then brushed it off. "You're imagining things."
"Maybe," Ling said softly. "Or maybe you underestimate how much attention I pay."
Rhea smiled without seeing her. "You talk like you're right here."
Ling's fingers hovered near the glass but didn't touch it. "I am right here."
Rhea sighed, relaxed again, water splashing. "You're so dramatic. Stop narrating my bath like a documentary."
Ling laughed quietly. "Fine. I'll stop."
A beat passed.
Then Ling added casually, "Though… the steam's making it clearer than I expected."
Rhea tilted her head. "Clearer?"
Ling realized her slip but recovered smoothly. "Clearer sound. Echoes weird in here."
Rhea accepted it instantly. "Oh. Yeah, this bathroom is huge."
Ling exhaled slowly, half amused, half undone by how easily Rhea trusted her.
Rhea reached for the tap, turning the water off. "Okay, I'm done. Don't turn around."
Ling turned immediately, facing the door instead. "I have manners, remember?"
Rhea smiled to herself, wrapping the towel around her. "Barely."
As Rhea slid the glass door open, steam rushed out. Ling handed her another towel without looking back.
Rhea said casually, "You were really talkative today."
Ling smiled faintly. "You make me that way."
Rhea didn't notice the way Ling's eyes softened—or how carefully she had avoided saying just how much she'd seen.