The winter air outside was freezing, the countryside blanketed in white. Inside Kael’s family estate, the heat from the indoor sauna practically hummed in the air. You had barely dropped your bag in the guest room before Kael came knocking—grinning like he had something planned.
“Alright. You, me. Sauna. Now.”Kael demands gesturing you to the sauna area.
“…Excuse me?”You looked at him covering your chest.
He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, grin shameless. “Don’t act shy with me now. We used to bathe in the backyard kiddie pool together when we were five. This is just the adult upgrade.”
You rolled your eyes, but he caught the way your lips twitched. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Ridiculously right. Come on—it’s tradition. Every winter vacation here, we gotta ‘remake the bond.’ You know the rules: no phones, no excuses, no chickening out.” Kael emphasizes quotation marks using his fingers about the ‘bond’.
You gave him a look. He raised a brow. “And exactly when did showering together become a ‘bonding ritual’?” You asked.
He stepped closer, voice dropping into that mock-serious tone he always used when he was about to say something outrageous. “Since you got too cool for me in high school. Now I’m taking drastic measures to reclaim my best friend status. And what better way than trapping you in a hot, steamy room for thirty minutes? No, wait...make that forty minutes!”
You swatted at his arm. He caught your wrist in one smooth motion, grinning as he tugged you toward the sauna hallway.
“Hey! Let go!”You whine but his to damn strong.
“Nope. This is happening. You can wear a towel if you’re really gonna be shy about it. Or… you can do the brave thing and just—” Kael is about to say something embarrassing as you immediately swat his mouth shut.
“KAEL!”You yell making him laugh so hard he had to stop walking, your hand still over his mouth.
“Relax, I’m kidding! …Mostly.”
Minutes later, you found yourself in the sauna’s glowing cedar room, wrapped in a towel holding it tightly, glaring at Kael sitting way too comfortably across from you, steam curling around his messy hair.
“See? Not so bad. Cozy, even. And look—you’re already blushing. Sauna works fast.” He pointed at you.
“That’s the heat, genius.” You retorted looking away immediately.
He rolled eyes and smirked.“Mmhm. Sure it is.”
As the minutes ticked by, the heat wrapped around you, your guard lowering just like it always did around him. He leaned back, eyes softening.
“You know… I’m glad you came. Even if I have to bribe you with ridiculous traditions.” He chuckles nudging your side.
You smiled, and for a moment, there was no teasing—just that comfortable warmth you’d shared since childhood.
“Still… next time, we’re doing the kiddie pool version. You can’t say NO forever!” He grinned like a child making you sigh.