Episode 3
The walk home was filled with the usual banter.
Freya and Rex strolled side by side, the grocery bag swinging slightly in his grip. The night air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of the city, but Freya barely noticed.
She was too caught up in their conversation—the way Rex always managed to turn any topic into something amusing.
Rex
“You know,” *Rex smirked, tilting his head toward her,* “you never told me how you got that job.”
Freya
*Freya sighed.* “Because I knew you’d make fun of me.”
Rex
“Oh, now I have to know.” *He grinned.* “Don’t tell me you finally accepted your destiny as a professional plate scrubber?”
Freya
*She playfully elbowed him.* “It’s called a dishwasher, you idiot.”
Rex
“Dishwasher, professional plate scrubber—same thing.”
Freya
*Freya rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips.* “It’s temporary. At least I’m earning money.”
Rex
*Rex hummed in agreement before glancing at her hands.* “Yeah, but… are you okay?"
Freya
*She blinked.* “Huh?”
Rex
*He nodded toward her fingers.* “Your hands. Washing dishes all day must be rough on them.”
Freya looked down, only now noticing the faint redness on her fingertips. She hadn’t even realized.
Rex
*Rex sighed and gently took her wrist, his thumb brushing over the irritated skin. His touch was surprisingly warm.* “You should be more careful. If they start peeling, it’s gonna hurt like hell.”
Freya’s breath hitched slightly.
He always did this—teased her relentlessly, then turned around and showed this soft, caring side that made her heart do things she did not want it to do.
Freya
“I’ll be fine,” *she muttered, pulling her hand away, though the warmth of his touch lingered.*
Rex
*Rex didn’t look convinced but let it slide.* “Just don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”
She nodded, trying to ignore the way her heart skipped a beat.
Before she could respond, they arrived in front of Freya’s house.
The porch light flickered slightly, casting a warm glow against the modest home. The moment they stepped onto the front steps, the door swung open.
Linda, Freya’s mother, greeted them with a bright smile.
Linda
“Oh, Rex! You’re just in time!”
Rex barely had a chance to react before Linda pulled him into a warm hug.
Rex
“Aunt Linda,” *he laughed,* “you’re gonna squeeze the life out of me.”
Linda
“Nonsense,” *Linda pulled away, giving him a once-over.* “My, my, you’ve grown so much since the last time I saw you! Look at you—so tall, so built! No wonder you’re so popular with the ladies.”
Rex
*Rex scratched the back of his neck, a small smirk playing on his lips.* “Ah, well… what can I say?” He threw a glance at Freya. “Someone’s gotta carry all the groceries she can’t.”
Freya
*Freya scoffed.* “As if I asked you to.”
Linda
*Linda chuckled before crossing her arms.* “You two really do make a perfect pair.”
Freya’s entire body tensed, her face heating up in an instant.
Rex’s smirk faltered, and for once, he found himself at a loss for words.
Freya
“W-What?!” *Freya sputtered, eyes wide.*
Linda
*Linda shrugged innocently.* “What? You two bicker like an old married couple, and he’s always hanging around here. It’s only natural to wonder.”
Rex
*Rex cleared his throat, trying to ignore the sudden tightness in his chest.* “Aunt Linda, you’re really trying to give Freya a heart attack, huh?”
Freya
*Freya crossed her arms, looking anywhere but at Rex.* “It’s ridiculous! Rex and I are just friends.”
Linda
“Right.” *Linda smirked knowingly.*
Rex forced out a laugh, but deep inside, something about her words lingered.
It was a joke, obviously. Linda always teased them. So why did it make his heart race for a split second?
Freya, on the other hand, was screaming internally.
She knew her mother was just playing around, but the way Rex fell silent, the way her own heart reacted to his presence—it was dangerous.
Freya
*Desperate to change the topic, she grabbed the grocery bag from his hand and bolted toward the kitchen.* “Mom, let’s just start cooking before you say something more insane.”
Linda
*Linda chuckled.* “Alright, alright. Rex, you can wait in the living room.”
Rex
*Rex, still a little flustered, sighed in relief.* “Right. Sounds like a plan.”
The moment Freya and Linda disappeared into the kitchen, Rex flopped onto the couch, exhaling.
Linda’s words repeated in his head.
He knew Freya didn’t see him that way. She had made it clear countless times that they were just friends.
Before he could dwell on it further, a small hand tugged at his sleeve.
Nathan
*The kid stood beside him, holding his notebook.* “Hey, Rex. You’re not busy, right?”
Rex
*Rex smirked.* “Depends. You gonna confess your undying admiration for me?”
Nathan
*Nathan deadpanned.* “I need help with math.”
Rex
*Rex placed a hand over his heart.* “Ouch. Not even a thank you for gracing your house with my presence?”
Nathan
*Nathan gave him an unimpressed look.* “You live five minutes away.”
Rex
*Rex sighed dramatically.* “Alright, fine. Show me the damage.”
Nathan
*Nathan plopped down beside him, flipping open his book.* “It’s multiplication. Freya told me to figure it out myself, but it’s hard.”
Rex
*Rex leaned in.* “Lemme see.”
As soon as he read the question, he smirked.
Rex
“Okay, Nathan. What’s 7 times 8?”
Nathan
*Nathan frowned.* “Uh… fifty… sixty…?”
Rex
*Rex gasped.* “Sixty?! Wow. I didn’t realize Freya had a little brother who was this dumb.”
Nathan
*Nathan groaned.* “I knew you were gonna be annoying.”
Rex
*Rex laughed.* “Alright, alright. I’ll help you out.”
For the next few minutes, Rex explained the trick behind multiplication, but he couldn’t resist slipping in some ridiculous answers just to mess with Nathan.
Nathan
*Nathan thought for a moment.* “Fifty-four.”
Rex
*Rex grinned.* “Wrong. The answer is actually banana.”
Nathan
*Nathan threw his pencil at him.* “Rex!!”
Freya, peeking from the kitchen, couldn’t help but smile at their banter.
He was good with Nathan—always had been. And that… was kind of nice.
As Freya stirred the soup, her mother’s voice suddenly cut through the comfortable silence.
Linda
“You like him, don’t you?”
The wooden spoon nearly slipped from her grip.
Freya
*She whipped around, eyes wide.* “W-What?!”
Linda
*Linda smirked.* “You heard me.”
Freya
*Freya felt her face heat up instantly.* “Mom, stop saying weird things!”
Linda
“I’m just saying,” *Linda continued, turning to chop some vegetables.* “Rex is a very good man. Kind, responsible, handsome. You’d be lucky to have him.”
Freya
*Freya groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead.* “Mom. Please.”
Linda
*Linda chuckled.* “So? Do you?”
Freya
*Freya’s heart pounded against her chest.* “Of course not. He’s just my friend.”
Linda
*Linda hummed.* “Uh-huh.”
Freya
*Freya clenched her jaw.* “It’s true! And besides, Rex sees me as a friend too.”
But before she could let herself think about why, she quickly busied herself with the soup.
Good thing Rex didn’t hear that conversation.
If he did, she’d never recover from the embarrassment.
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