-TWO DAYS LATER-

We were sent back home on the second day after Grandpa woke up. The doctor said he shouldn't have taken that long to wake up, but given his age, it was expected.

"Amy, you've got mail!" Nick's voice yelled from the hall.

"Coming!" Brushing and tying my hair up real quick, I skipped downstairs.

"Looks like someone didn't know Christmas ended three days ago. Maybe he forgot." He passed a remark. I looked beside and gawked at the size of the gift.

"Pft! How are you so sure it's a guy?"

"Who else is capable of admiring a female like you?" Nick winked cheekily, slapping my butt when he passed by to meet the stairs!

The gift was as tall as me and surprisingly lighter than I thought. Nick offered to carry it to my room, but I said, "I got this!"

"Phew!" Heaving slightly, I closed the door and smiled at the note attached. It was from Cynric.

-Hey, sweetheart. You're the light of my life. The gift has a paced heartbeat mimicking mine so you'd sleep on it. Think as though you're cuddling with me every night on your bed. Love you, baby.-

Oh my gosh...

So thoughtful!

I pulled the package open and was astonished at the teddy bear that inflated once it gained freedom!

"Oh god, Cynric," I muttered to myself softly. There was a remote and an instruction manual. After feeding it batteries and following instructions, the teddy bear came to life.

Its soft, velvety cream fur was warm. It was an added feature! Since it was winter, the gift made a whole lot of sense, and I hugged it dearly. I set it on my bed and walked back downstairs. But not before throwing out all evidence to say it was from Cynric.

Dane was sipping on black coffee and reading a book with Winter. As I passed by them, he quickly glanced up and asked,

"Who was it?" He asked. For a moment there, I felt my heart jump out and I said,

"A-Anonymous admirer. Did you guys have lunch?" And yes, it was my desperate attempt to deviate from the topic.

"Yes, just did. We were waiting for you but you seemed busy." Winter replied in a plain, smooth voice. I nodded curtly and went to fix a plate for myself.

In the evening, the clouds were darkening and I hoped it'd snow again.

"Grandpa Gerald would have loved the snow." The voice...

"What are you doing here?" I asked Cynric, who was sitting on the window pane. I quickly locked the doors and ran to him, who was standing in the middle of my room!

"That was dangerous! And- and..."

"Shush...I want to bring you somewhere. Do you wanna come with me?" Cynric gazed at me with hopeful eyes. Those deep, oceanic blue eyes convinced me greatly to abide by his wishes.

"Sure. I have nothing to do anyway..." I looked back at the open textbooks, resting on my big cute gift. I watched him pull a thin line with his lips.

"It seems you're busy to me though."

My eyes widened, and I quickly shuffled to stop him from jumping back out through the same window!

"No! No. I mean, I always have time to study more. I can have remedial classes for my subjects too, under the pretext of err...um..." Suddenly, Cynric dove down and captured my lips in a fervent kiss. I could feel his sensual touch all around my waist. He was pulling me closer. The kiss itself was so intimate, like never before.

"You don't have to let go of your studies to give me company, Amy. We'll see each other at college tomorrow anyway. I'm looking forward to your performance." I blinked, nodding my head. But...

"Since when did I ever listen to anyone?" As I said that, Cynric's smile lit up the entire room, and I couldn't hold back mine either! We were grinning like idiots, having realized something special.

"So are we...going on our first official date?" I asked shyly. My cheeks were flushed with excitement.

"Yes. Yes, we are. And I came prepared." He held out the wallet, making me chuckle quietly.

"Good job! But be careful about me burning a hole through your pocket. I'm a rich girl with high standards, you know?" I bluffed while Cynric scoffed at me, looking all high and mighty himself. I loved how we could play fight and improvise our drama, spot on!

"You're forgetting that I'm a billionaire heir too, my love."

***

It felt surreal to escape your own house with your forbidden boyfriend. The security around this side was leaky, and it almost upset me to discover that Cynric knew about the weak security around our mansion! At that moment, I didn't think much of it and walked away hand in hand with Cynric.

"Good disguise, Amy Cooper." I whipped my head towards him.

"Good disguise to you too, Mr Jay McHale." He chuckled loudly at our internal joke!

"He's a clown-looking guy!" He said,

"But he has the same eyes as yours!" I retorted!

"Wait wait! So there's a food festival street not very far. Wanna enjoy some delicacies and get an upset stomach?" Cynric proposed and raised an eyebrow as if challenging me!

"Challenge accepted, ant brain."

"Pft! Ant brain? Where did that come from?" Cynric's cackle made heads turn. Clearing his throat, he changed his voice and spoke again.

"Why ant brain?"

"Just because." He rolled his eyes at my answer. It wasn't the savoury answer he'd expected. The night street view paired with delicious food to eat all evening was the best thing that ever happened to me since Christmas!

"Hey, um..." We were heading to another street, the day was close to ending. I stopped Cynric and made him face me.

"Yeah, what's up?" I didn't know why, but Cynric made me view a different version of him than just a manipulator. Someone who gets what he wants and dusts his hands off. He was more than that.

"You're...you're a really good lover. I haven't felt so alive in nearly....years." I confessed. The man, overcome with joy, turned to touch my face.

"Baby girl,

We're just getting started. I don't want you to misinterpret it, but the excitement between us that you feel...it's because you're willing to date me behind THEIR backs."

My subtle smile fell. His words wiped the happiness clean out of my face.

"Y-You're right, actually. I feel excited because I'm cheating on my harem partners. You're right." Cynric's eyes widened.

"No, Amy! I didn't mean it like that!" His hands were flailing and his words were all over the place.

"It's alright, Cynric. I thought we had something going on between us."

"And it is something precious too, Amy! Oh god, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it that way..."

Silence ensued.

The tension between us was thick enough to be chopped for fun. Then, to cut it with his words, Cynric spoke up.

"I have something else to tell you..." I turned to him. I should've been eager, but I was just waiting to get done with him so I'd go back home.

"T-The Zelinskys bought a chunk of shares from StarTech. My family is your..."