Episode 2

He raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. "I need to focus if I want victory," he said, straightening up, his fingers flying over the controller with renewed determination.

But then, as if sharing a secret, he added with a softer tone, "You know, knowing you're waiting for me only makes me want to win even more."

( His eyes, intense just moments before, softened as he glanced over)

"Just keep me in mind while I crush this match. I'll be all yours in a heartbeat once I'm done."

Emily, Watching him soo concentrated and focused made her heart skip a beat. He was serious now, his eyes locked on the screen, fingers dancing over the keyboard with smooth precision, as if he wanted to accomplish the game as soon as possible.

Suddenly, he caught the look in her eyes and smirked, his concentration wavering just enough to notice. "Oh, your gazing is distracting," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But it’s also nice—because it means your eyes are only on me."

The match had taken quite some time to complete. Emily, sitting beside him and watching intently, eventually fell asleep.

( He glanced sideways and noticed her, now peacefully asleep, a softer expression crossing his face.)

"Hey, sleepyhead..." he whispered, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You should’ve woken me up when you got tired." (He chuckled, shaking his head.)

"I guess I should take a break now... even if I was just about to win."

( Leaning down, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.)

"But it's alright," he added softly, "I like having you here. Just don’t forget I’m still in the middle of something intense, alright?"

When the game finally ended and his victory was complete, she was still fast asleep.

( He smirked, a mix of pride and teasing lighting up his face. )

"I can’t exactly celebrate my epic win alone," he mused, nudging her playfully. "There’s no one to brag to if you’re snoozing away." He chuckled again, lowering his voice as he leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "But I saved the best for you. You owe me a victory kiss for not being awake to witness my glory. What do you say?"

The soft warmth of his voice against her ear stirred her from sleep. Yawning!, she blinked awake, asking whether the match is over or not and who's the winner, while rubbing her eyes.

“You bet I am!” he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he laughed softly. There was a playful edge to his voice as he added, “I couldn’t have done it without my lucky charm here beside me. You may have been asleep, but knowing you were close helped me focus.”

He leaned in closer, his gaze twinkling with mischief. “So, how about a victory celebration? Just the two of us. Maybe I can show you a few moves from the game? Trust me, it’s way more fun with you awake.”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “Again about the game? No way. Let’s grab something to eat instead, I'm a little bit hungry. You’re the winner, so you’ll cook while I enjoy the food you prepared.”

Raising an eyebrow, he smirked playfully. “You want me to cook? As a reward for winning, huh?”. "Oh, so you want a personal chef, huh?" he teased, stepping closer, mischief dancing in his eyes.

Before she could respond, he stood up and cuddled her into his arms, lifting her effortlessly. His grin widened.

"I'll make you a deal: I'll whip up something delicious if you help me clear out the space in the kitchen." He nudged her playfully. "What do you say? You can be my sous-chef, and I promise I'll turn up the heat in more ways than one, but I’m not promising anything gourmet. Just don’t fall asleep while I’m cooking, or you’ll miss the ‘chef’ in action!” He winked teasingly, his tone lighthearted. “But I’ll make sure it’s something delicious for you, my adorable cheerleader. Let’s go.”

She cleared the kitchen, watching as he began cutting the vegetables with practiced precision. She had asked him to make hot pot, as it was a celebration, and now, seeing him in the apron, carefully preparing the meal, she found it hard to take her eyes off him.

Noticing her gaze, he glanced up, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Oh, I see someone’s enjoying the chef at work," he said, tying the apron a little tighter, revealing a hint of his toned arms as he continued slicing the vegetables. "You just wait. This hot pot is going to be unforgettable." He winked, stirring the pot with a teasing smirk. "But I have to admit, cooking is much more fun when I have an audience like you. So, what do you think? Want to help me with the seasoning? Or are you too busy just staring at your handsome chef?"

(After completed cooking)

They arranged everything on the table and began to eat. Leo took a bite, a proud smile spreading across his face as he watched Emily savor the food.

"Mmmhhh, so good," she said, impressed. "You’ve got some skills, huh!"

Leo's grin widened. "Right? I told you I could whip up something special." He leaned in closer, his eyes sparkling with playful mischief. "Next time, you won’t forget who the real chef is around here." He nudged her lightly with his elbow, a teasing gesture.

"But seriously," he added, his tone more relaxed, "does this mean I’ve earned some extra points for that intense gaming session earlier? I might even consider letting you distract me during my next match... maybe."

As they chatted for a while over their meal, the night quietly passed, filled with the warmth of their sweet conversation.

Time seemed to drift by unnoticed, carried by the comfort of their presence and the simplicity of their exchange…..

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