What's Wrong with Miss Bratty?

Yvienna sat across from Kyle. Both of them, along with the two children beside them, had already chosen what food they'd like to eat. The children's chatter filled the quiet corners of the restaurant. The minutes stretched on, and soon, the waitress approached with a smile that seemed a bit too bright. Yvienna watched as the waitress placed their orders on the table, but her eyes remained fixed on Kyle. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, like a ripe tomato. Yvienna's blood simmered in her veins as the waitress bit her lower lip, clearly captivated by Kyle's presence.

"Here's your order, Sir," the waitress said, her voice soft but laced with a subtle flirtation.

Kyle offered a nod, his smile polite. The waitress practically tripped over herself, eyes lingering on him a moment too long. When her gaze finally shifted to Yvienna, her smile faltered. Yvienna rolled her eyes in response, and the waitress hurried away, defeated.

As the tension dissolved, Yvienna dug into her meal with the hunger of someone starved. She barely noticed how quickly she was eating—her mouth full of food as she chewed with abandon. In the middle of her meal, Kyle leaned toward her, his voice a low whisper.

"You didn't eat for a week?" he chuckled, amusement evident in his tone.

Yvienna clasped her hands together, not responding, and continued eating.

"Eat slowly, baby," Kyle teased.

A cough bubbled from her as a small mound of rice spilled from her mouth onto his face. The children beside them erupted in laughter.

"Oops, sorry," Yvienna teased.

Kyle's expression went blank as he wiped the rice off his face, his eyes never leaving hers. Yvienna couldn't help it—laughter poured out of her, her stomach aching from the fit of giggles. He looked ridiculous, and she couldn't stop laughing.

But the moment she stopped, Kyle reached over, wiping her lips with his thumb. The touch was electric, sending a shock through her body, making her heart race. She pulled away quickly, trying to shake off the sudden flutter in her chest, and returned to her meal, heart still thudding.

After they finished eating, they wandered through the mall since the restaurant was near it, the bustling noise around them unnoticed by Yvienna until a sudden urge to use the restroom hit her.

"Hey, I'll be right back," Yvienna said to Kyle, who nodded.

She entered the comfort room, feeling oddly unsettled as she relieved herself. Standing at the sink to wash her hands, a strange sensation washed over her—a prickling feeling, as though someone was watching her. She glanced over her shoulder, but no one was there.

Shaking off the uneasy feeling, she turned back to the sink, but it returned, stronger this time. Her pulse quickened, and she dried her hands hastily before heading for the door.

But just as she reached the exit, a hand touched her shoulder.

"Ahhh!" Yvienna shrieked, spinning around.

"Hey! It's me!" Kyle's voice was hurried, concerned as he gripped her arms, shaking her slightly.

Yvienna exhaled in relief, her heart still racing. "You scared me half to death!" she punched his chest in mock annoyance.

Kyle chuckled as they left the restroom, heading back to join the children.

Grey, eager as ever, grabbed Yvienna's hand and pointed to a nearby claw machine. "I want that bear!" she exclaimed.

Kyle looked over, nodding before darting toward the cashier to buy tokens. Grey eagerly followed her brother, and Yvienna and Dark trailed behind.

Minutes passed, but Kyle hadn't managed to win a single prize. Yvienna watched as Grey's eyes began to glisten with disappointment. She could practically see the tears on the edge of breaking through.

Frustration flashed across Kyle's face. "How much is this thing?! I'll buy the whole machine if I have to!" he muttered under his breath.

Yvienna, unable to let Grey down, shook her head and pushed Kyle gently. Confused, Kyle turned to her, but she didn't answer. She grabbed the token from his hand and inserted it into the machine with practiced ease. After a moment, she retrieved the bear and handed it to Grey, who squealed in delight.

Dark, watching the exchange, glanced up at Yvienna. She asked if he wanted one too. He nodded, and Yvienna, smirking, turned back to Kyle.

"Token, please," she said, holding her hand out.

Kyle handed her another token, still surprised by her skill. She inserted it, and in no time, she had another stuffed toy, which she gave to Dark.

Kyle blinked in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me you knew how to play this thing?"

Yvienna raised an eyebrow, her smile playful. "You never asked."

As they left the mall, Yvienna couldn't help but remember how, as a child, her father had bought her a claw machine for their house. She'd spent hours mastering it, becoming something of a legend when it came to winning those toys. It wasn't surprising she was so good at it.

Later, sitting in the car as Kyle drove her home, she stared out the window. The drive was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine.

"Thanks," she said softly as Kyle pulled up in front of her house.

She hesitated before stepping out of the car, her thoughts heavy with the conversation she'd had with Cassandra earlier. Tomorrow was the day. The day she would face the truth. The day she would stop pretending, stop playing dumb.

Her heart ached as she walked inside, determined to forget about Kyle, to bury the feelings she knew she shouldn't have. The day she would let go. She wouldn't let herself be broken again. She refused to let anyone tear her heart apart once more.

She went upstairs to her room, collapsing onto the bed. The questions swirled in her mind. Why was she always falling for the wrong person? Should she transfer to another university? But if she did, would that mean she wasn't strong enough to face Kyle?

No. She would face him. And she would ignore him. She was strong enough to move on. She could forget him.

But as she closed her eyes, memories of his kiss flashed through her mind, and she cursed softly under her breath.

Why couldn't she forget him? Why did he have to steal her first kiss?

Frustrated, she grabbed a pillow and threw it across the room. She slapped her own face. "Be brave, Yvienna. It was just a kiss. It's just a small thing."