Page 47 of A Lab Rat’s Guide to Fated Love

And it was exactly as he’d remembered it. From the warmth of her skin to the feel of her small fingers as they spread out and curved and settled in-between his. Right where they belonged.

Vir bit the inside of his cheek, glancing from their interwoven fingers to Nori’s peculiar expression. The shock and confusion were clear on her face even without him having to read them in her emotions.

No. He jerked his hand away before latching it onto his cup. His knuckles whitened in their desperation to fly back to her.

“Sorry.” Nori pursed her lips, a bright crimson seeping into her cheeks.

Before he could answer, she jumped to her feet and scurried off with her dishes.

“I really should head home,” she said quietly as Vir joined her in the kitchen.

He hovered at a safe distance from her, while contrasts of him made bargains inside his head.

The rational side told him to let her go, knowing he’ll see her again.

They were colleagues for a semester now.

While the other begged him to superglue himself to her.

Monday was too far away. Had four years without seeing her not been punishment enough?

Billie appeared at the window for her morning pets, and Nori glanced at her with a distant, wistful look in her eyes. And suddenly she was so… sad.

Why? “I’m sorr—”

“No, I should be the one apologizing,” she interrupted him. “That was highly inappropriate of me… earlier. I’m sorry.”

Vir opened his mouth to reply. Then closed it without saying anything.

“I should go,” Nori continued. “I need to buy groceries. There’s nothing edible at the cottage except a few packets of ramen. And then I have to get my notes in order for Monday.”

“I’m actually running low, too,” he blurted before mentally kicking himself. “Groceries, uh, and I know a good market nearby.”

“You want to… go together?”

“If you don’t mind.”

“I don’t mind.”

Vir smiled. And as he watched her beam in response, his hand jumped to his arm again to paint a fresh bruise there.

Nori

B ack in her own clothes, Nori browsed through Vir’s generously stacked bookshelf while she waited for him to change.

What was with the grabby hand earlier? She shook her head, still stunned at the absurdity of her own behavior. And the way he’d thrown her hand away… she winced. She had to stop embarrassing herself.

With an internal groan, she turned her attention back to the bookshelf.

There were the expected pseudo-science books, some psychology and art volumes, and a lot of fiction, arranged by color and size, not initials.

And some vinyl figurines and nick knacks.

She took one off the shelf—some kind of bald, orange animal with its tail on fire .

As she put it back, her eyes fell on a small glass jar to the side. She picked it up and turned it over in her palm, watching the small, white pebble clink inside.

“Let’s go.”

“Ahh!” She tossed the jar, startled, and it flew into the air, right before Vir caught it in his outstretched hand. “Sorry…” she said, watching him place it back on the shelf. “Do you collect rocks?”

Vir turned to look at her with a hint of amusement coloring his features. His eyes scanned her face as if they were searching for something. Or—she quickly brushed her fingers around her mouth, hoping she didn’t have crumbs.

“Just the one,” he said.

She glanced at the jar again and blurted out, “Do you know a cool fact about penguins?”

Vir gave her a blank look.

“They’re monogamous creatures, you see,” she continued, not waiting for him to reply.

“When a penguin falls in love, it searches for the prettiest pebble it can find to add to its mate’s nest, and then presents it to them as a declaration of love.

If the other penguin accepts, they become a bonded pair for life. Adorable, isn’t it?”

Her gaze moved from the jar to Vir, and she found him pursing his lips as if he were trying not to laugh.

“Don’t laugh! It’s true. Look it up, if you don’t believe me.” While it was a story her grandma used to tell her, it was also a scientific fact. How dare the pseudo-science guy mock a real-science phenomenon?

“I’m not laughing.” He shook his head, then laughed anyway. “Sorry. I know it’s true. And it is adorable.”

“You… know?” She glanced sideways at the jar again, then at him.

There’s no way…

“By any chance, did your ex-girlfriend give you that?” She kept her voice as flat as she could.

Vir nodded.

What a cheesy—

“And she told you the penguin story as well?” She didn’t bother hiding her distaste anymore .

“Yes, she did.” Vir’s mouth widened into a smile, a wistful one. As if he still remembered her fondly.

Of course he did. Why else would he keep that stupid piece of rock in a jar, safely tucked between his favorite books?

Nori’s jaw clenched while she resisted the urge to dramatically roll her eyes at him. She should’ve dropped it sooner, when he wasn’t looking.

Should’ve kicked it straight into Billie’s litter box.

Without another word, she turned on her heels and marched out of the apartment.