Rhea's phone buzzed against the bed. She glanced at the screen and groaned.
Ling looked at it upside down. "Zifa?"
Rhea answered. "What?"
Zifa's voice came sharp and whisper-y. "Why is aunt calling me and asking if you're alive?"
Rhea shut her eyes. "She called you?"
"Yes," Zifa said. "Very politely. Very dangerously. She asked if you stayed the night."
Ling leaned closer, trying to listen. Rhea pushed her face away with one finger.
Rhea muttered, "What did you say?"
"I said yes," Zifa replied instantly. "You came late, you're sleeping, you're dramatic, end of story."
Rhea exhaled in relief. "I owe you my life."
"You owe me more than that," Zifa said. "Aunt also asked why sudden plan and what about Ling kwong. She also asked did Ling tried to reach you."
Rhea froze.
Ling froze harder. "…What?"
Rhea hissed, "Zifa, why would you even—"
"I said I don't know," Zifa cut in. "I said rich people have no rules. Now tell me—are you with her right now?"
Rhea looked at Ling. Ling slowly raised her hand and waved at the phone, completely unapologetic.
Rhea sighed. "Yes."
Zifa laughed. "I knew it. You're insane. You stayed whole night."
"I'll call you later," Rhea said. "If I survive."
"Good luck," Zifa replied. "And Rhea?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell Ling if she gets you caught, I'm denying knowing both of you."
The call ended.
Rhea dropped the phone onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. "My mom is alert."
Ling shifted closer, voice low. "How alert?"
"She notice everything."
Ling winced. "Okay. That's… not ideal."
Rhea turned her head and looked at her. "See? Fear."
Ling protested immediately. "Strategic concern."
Rhea smiled faintly. "Sure."
Ling reached up, brushing Rhea's hair back gently, the teasing gone for a moment. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Rhea studied her face, then softened. "I know."
Ling pulled her closer again, forehead resting against Rhea's. "But maybe… we should be smarter today."
Rhea smirked. "Says the woman who hid me behind a kitchen counter."
Ling groaned. "Don't remind me."
Rhea laughed, curling into her arms anyway. "Relax. If we're caught, we'll improvise."
Ling sighed, but her arms tightened around Rhea like there was nowhere else she'd rather be.
Rhea stretched dramatically in her arms. "I'm getting bored."
Ling raised an eyebrow. "That sentence always scares me. What now?"
Rhea rolled onto her stomach, chin on Ling's chest, eyes sparkling. "We can do hairstyles. Like… baby time. On you."
Ling scoffed immediately. "Absolutely not."
Rhea was already halfway off the bed. "Too late."
She opened drawers, rummaging with exaggerated seriousness. "Wow. Scarves. Clips. Of course you'd have these."
Ling sat up. "Those are not for—Rhea—"
Rhea pushed her gently back down, sitting behind her. "Relax. You're my victim now."
Ling crossed her arms, sulking. "I do not consent to being cute."
Rhea laughed softly and ran her fingers through Ling's hair, separating strands with careful focus. "You already are."
Ling tried to argue but slowly went quiet, the tension leaving her shoulders as Rhea worked. Rhea hummed while tying a scarf delicately, then another, turning Ling's head slightly left and right like she was inspecting art.
Ling muttered, "If mom sees this—"
"I'll blame you," Rhea said easily.
Ling snorted despite herself.
Rhea leaned closer, resting her chin briefly on Ling's shoulder. "There. Perfect."
Ling reached up, touching one of the scarves. "I look ridiculous."
Rhea smiled, warm and fond. "You look… mine."
Ling's ears went pink. She turned just enough to look back. "You're dangerous when you're bored."
Rhea grinned. "You should be grateful. I could've chosen makeup."
Ling groaned and pulled Rhea down with her, both of them laughing as they collapsed back onto the bed, the scarves forgotten but the closeness very much not.
Rhea's eyes lit up instantly. "Makeup now."
Ling froze. "No. Absolutely not. You already said that no makeup."
Too late.
Rhea was already off the bed again, dragging out a makeup pouch like she'd been waiting her whole life for this moment. "Sit. Don't move. Breathe if you must."
Ling sighed dramatically and sat on the edge of the bed. "I trusted you with my hair. This is betrayal."
Rhea straddled the bench in front of her, knees brushing Ling's thighs. "Hold still, future superstar."
She started with foundation—way too much. Ling squinted. "Why does it feel like you're plastering a wall?"
"Because your skin is illegal and I'm covering the evidence," Rhea replied seriously.
Next came the eyeshadow. Rhea didn't even hesitate—dark, smoky, unapologetic. She blended with her finger, then added more. And more.
Ling tried to peek. "Is it bad?"
Rhea tilted her head, evaluating. "Bad? No. Aggressive? Yes."
Then the lipstick. Deep, dark, dramatically smeared just slightly past the lips. Rhea leaned back, proud. "Perfect."
Ling stood and went to the mirror.
Silence.
Then: "Rhea."
Rhea burst out laughing before Ling could finish. "You look like you're about to ruin someone's life and then cry about it in the rain."
Ling turned slowly, hands on hips. "I look like a villain in a low-budget drama."
Rhea walked up to her, still giggling, and fixed the collar of Ling's shirt like this was completely normal. "A hot villain."
Ling shook her head but smiled despite herself. "If my mother walks in—"
"I'll say you lost a bet," Rhea said instantly.
Ling leaned down, noses almost touching. "You're enjoying this too much."
Rhea smirked. "You said I can do anything with you."
Ling caught Rhea's wrist gently, thumb brushing her skin. "Next time, it's my turn."
Rhea raised a brow. "Makeup on me?"
Ling smiled slowly. "No. Payback."
Rhea laughed, but there was a spark in her eyes that said she wasn't scared—she was looking forward to it.