Chapter Six – Are you scared?

Javen was focused on preparing breakfast, his movements precise and controlled as he cracked eggs into a pan. But the moment he felt a presence behind him, he stiffened.

“You don’t need to be here.” he said without turning around.

Taliya, unfazed, glanced around the kitchen. It was small and old-fashioned, yet well-kept, everything neatly in place. A smile tugged at her lips.

“I really want to help,” she said, clasping her hands behind her back, her tone light.

Javen finally turned, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. His jaw tightened, his hazel eyes narrowing slightly as if searching for something in her expression.

Taliya sighed, shifting on her feet. “You guys helped me yesterday. The least I can do is return the favor.”

He didn’t reply. Just stared.

And the longer he stared, the smaller she felt beneath the weight of his gaze. There was something unreadable in his eyes—something that made her stomach tighten.

A sudden high-pitched whistling snapped her attention away.

She turned toward the stove, her brows lifting in alarm. “Um, I think…you need to put that down.”

Javen followed her gaze to the kettle.

And just like that, the whistling stopped.

Taliya’s breath hitched. She hadn’t seen him move. Hadn’t seen him do anything. And yet—the sound had ceased as if obeying his silent command.

Javen acted as though nothing had happened, shifting his focus back to the eggs.

Taliya, however, was too distracted to brush it off.

That’s when she really noticed him.

The way the loose brown shirt he wore hung open just enough to reveal his toned chest. The way the morning light caught the auburn strands of his hair, turning them almost golden. The way his hazel eyes—ever-changing between green and gold—remained fixed on the task at hand.

And his hands—strong, veined, precise as they handled the food with effortless ease.

A slow warmth crept up her neck.

What the hell are you doing? she scolded herself, shaking off whatever strange thoughts had taken root in her mind.

She has a boyfriend.

She needed to get back home. Back to her world.

And yet, as she stood there watching Javen, she couldn't deny the unsettling realization creeping over her.

Something about him pulled her in.

"Are you scared of me?"

Javen’s deep voice shattered her thoughts, yanking her back to reality.

Taliya blinked, momentarily disoriented. "What?"

His gaze pinned her in place, unreadable yet sharp. "Yesterday, when I used my magic—you looked shocked. Are you scared?"

For a moment, she didn’t know how to answer.

She wasn’t scared—at least, not in the way he meant. But there was something about him, something about the way his power had hummed through her skin, something about him that unsettled her.

Still, she shook her head quickly. "No. No, not at all." she said, forcing her voice to sound steady. "Honestly, if anything, I’m grateful. I never got to thank you properly."

Javen watched her closely, his gaze heavy.

"You and Elara… both of you have been so kind to me despite me being a complete stranger." she continued, sincerity lacing her words.

She meant it.

Taliya had no idea where she was, how she got here, or how she’d ever return home. But in the middle of all the chaos, these two had given her warmth, safety—even if Javen himself was a mystery.

He held her gaze for a second longer, then gave a curt nod.

"Breakfast is ready."

And just like that, he turned away, lifting a large wooden tray filled with food as though their conversation never happened.

Taliya exhaled, pressing a hand to her forehead as if trying to ground herself.

What was it about him?

Shaking off the strange feeling lingering in her chest, she followed him out of the kitchen.

♡♡♡

"Mmm, your cooking will always be the best," Elara sighed happily, chewing on a piece of bread. She turned to Taliya with an eager smile. "It’s good, right?"

Taliya glanced down at the simple yet inviting spread before her—golden fried eggs, warm bread, steaming lemon tea, and a few small desserts. The food was good. Comforting, even.

She smiled. "It’s really good."

Javen didn’t respond, merely eating in silence, and honestly? Taliya was beginning not to care. That just seemed to be the way he was—closed off, unreadable, distant.

She focused back on Elara, who was eyeing her with curiosity.

"By the way, Taliya, what happened to your ankle yesterday? I wanted to ask earlier but figured you were too tired," Elara said, taking another bite of her bread.

Taliya hesitated, her fingers tightening slightly around the edge of her cup.

Should she tell them?

Would they even believe her?

Her heart thumped at the memory of the monstrous, shadow-like creature chasing her through the forest, the sheer terror clawing at her lungs as she ran for her life.

Finally, she swallowed hard and spoke. "I... I was being chased. By a shadow-like beast. In the forest."

The words barely left her lips before everything at the table stilled.

Elara stopped chewing.

Javen froze mid-movement, his hand gripping his cup tightly.

The air in the room shifted, thickening with an unspoken tension.

Taliya’s stomach twisted.

They knew something.