FIRST GIFT FROM GRUMPYY
Elena's POV
I quickly looked away before he could notice the faint smile creeping onto my face.
Mike's voice broke the moment anyway — loud as ever.
"Finallyyy! You got your precious Cinnamoroll. Now can we please eat? I'm starving!"
Jaiz added dramatically, "Yeah, it's literally night already, Elena. You've been fighting that machine for an hour!"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine, fine. Let's go before you two die of hunger."
We walked toward the cafe section inside the Game Zone. It was bright, crowded, and smelled like fries and pizza.
We grabbed a table near the glass wall overlooking the arcade floor.
Mike and Jaiz were already bickering over the menu, Adrian was scrolling through his phone, and I was… still holding onto the plush like a little kid.
Pathetic. But it made me feel strangely calm.
We ordered burgers and milkshakes, and for a while, everything was normal — loud laughter, teasing, stories from school.
Every time Mike said something stupid, Adrian would just shake his head with that faint, sarcastic smirk of his.
I didn't say much — just listened, occasionally laughing when something was genuinely funny.
But somewhere in the middle of it all, I found myself looking at him again.
The way he quietly picked out the fries he didn't like.
The way he didn't talk much, but when he did, people listened.
The way he caught me staring — and raised one eyebrow as if to say, what?
I quickly turned away, pretending to check my phone.
Great. Smooth, Elena. Very smooth.
By the time we finished dinner, it was almost 9. The neon lights outside looked softer now, fading into the night sky.
Mike stretched and yawned. "Alright, let's go before my mom calls and kills me."
We headed to the parking area together.
Mike and Jaiz were already fighting over who got the aux cord in their car. Typical.
I stopped beside them. "Wait, I'm supposed to go with you guys, right?"
Mike glanced inside his car and made a face. "Uh… you were. But there's no space now — my boxes are still in the backseat."
"Seriously?" I frowned. "Then how am I supposed to—"
Before I could finish, Adrian's voice came from behind.
"She can come with me."
I turned to look at him.
He stood beside his car, keys in hand, expression unreadable.
Mike grinned. "Perfect! Problem solved. See you at school tomorrow!"
And before I could protest, he and Jaiz were gone — driving off with loud music blasting.
I sighed, looking at Adrian. "You didn't have to—"
He opened the passenger door. "Just get in. It's late."
I hesitated for a second, then nodded and got inside.
The ride started off silent — only the low hum of the engine and faint music playing on the radio.
I looked out the window, clutching the Cinnamoroll plush in my lap.
Streetlights flickered past, painting soft gold lines across his face as he drove — calm, focused, like he belonged to a different world.
For some reason, that silence didn't feel awkward.
It felt… safe.
After a few minutes, he spoke quietly, eyes still on the road.
"You really weren't going to give up on that doll, huh?"
I smiled faintly. "Nope. Not when it's Cinnamoroll."
He exhaled through his nose — a hint of amusement in his voice. "You're stubborn."
"Maybe," I said softly. "But it was worth it."
I looked down at the plush again and smiled to myself.
And though neither of us said anything else for the rest of the ride…
somehow, it felt like a conversation had already begun.
I leaned my head slightly against the window, feeling the rhythm of the car beneath me.
After a while, curiosity got the better of me.
"So…" I began, breaking the silence. "Do you always help random people with twisted ankles?"
He glanced at me briefly, one corner of his mouth twitching.
"No. Only the ones who fall right in front of me."
I laughed softly. "Wow. Lucky me then."
He shrugged lightly. "Or unlucky, depending on how you see it."
There was something about his tone — half teasing, half genuine — that made my chest tighten a little.
I looked away, smiling to myself.
A few more seconds passed before I spoke again.
"You didn't reply to my text."
His hands stayed on the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the road. "I saw it."
"I know you did. That's why I said you didn't reply."
He sighed, his voice low. "I didn't think it needed one."
I frowned a little. "A simple 'you're welcome' wouldn't have killed you."
That made him chuckle quietly — a sound I hadn't heard from him before. "Noted."
The car fell silent again, but this time it wasn't heavy.
It felt… easy. Comfortable, somehow.
I hugged my Cinnamoroll plush a little tighter, trying to hide the tiny smile tugging at my lips.
He noticed, of course — he always seemed to notice.
When we finally turned into my street, I straightened up, suddenly more aware of the quiet between us.
He stopped the car near my gate. The headlights dimmed, leaving only the faint streetlights outside.
"Thanks for the ride," I said softly, unbuckling my seatbelt.
He nodded once. "No problem."
I reached for the door handle but paused, turning slightly toward him.
"Um… and for the doll too. I probably would've broken the machine if you didn't help."
He looked at me — just for a moment — then said, "You're welcome."
That same calm tone again, but this time… it felt warmer.
I smiled faintly. For a moment, neither of us moved. Then I said, "Goodnight, Grumpy."
He held my gaze for a heartbeat, then replied,
"Goodnight, Elena."— my name sounding almost gentle from his voice.
And as he turned to leave, I caught myself smiling again.
This time, I didn't stop it.
I stepped out of the car, clutching the plush close as the night breeze brushed past my face.
When I looked back, he was still there — watching to make sure I got inside safely before driving off.
And as I closed the door behind me, I couldn't stop the tiny smile that found its way back.
Something about him… just didn't feel like nothing anymore.
I entered in my room and closed the door and then dropped my bag on the chair, placed the Cinnamoroll plush on my bed, and went to freshen up. The warm water against my face felt soothing — like it washed off the noise and lights of the day.
When I came out, I changed into my night tee, tied my hair loosely, and turned off the main lights. Only the fairy lights near my bed stayed on — soft and golden, wrapping the room in a calm glow.
My eyes landed on the plush again.
It was sitting there — tiny, ridiculously cute, and somehow making my heart feel... lighter.
I picked it up, brushing my fingers over the soft fur.
"This is the first gift from that Grumpy," I whispered before realizing what I said.
The words made me pause — and then I laughed softly, shaking my head.
"No, Elena. It's not a gift. He just helped you. That's all."
But even as I said it, the smile wouldn't leave my face. Because deep down, it did feel like something else — something that made my chest feel warm in a way I hadn't felt in a while.
I hugged the plush close, lying down on my bed.
My thoughts kept wandering — from the way he said "Goodnight" to that quiet, almost hidden smile of his.
"Grumpy," I murmured, half-asleep now.
And with that, I closed my eyes — still smiling, still holding that Cinnamoroll close — as the night slowly drifted into dreams...