The day of the expedition finally arrived, and both you and Taylor were filled with a mix of anxiety and excitement. Despite the animosity, you couldn't deny the adrenaline rush that came with the opportunity of exploring one of the few places on Earth that still remained largely untouched by humans. While the professional explorers briefed everyone on safety protocols and the important tasks ahead, you and Taylor stole glances at each other – each one feeling the tension in the air. The shared anticipation of the adventure clashed with the competitive spirit that still lingered between you two.

You had a rather unfortunate sensitivity to cold – a fact that you tried hard to keep to yourself, not wanting it to undermine your competence for the expedition. The thought of spending extended periods in the freezing Antarctic temperatures filled you with dread. Unfortunately, despite your best efforts to keep the sensitivity to cold hidden, nature had other plans. Within hours of arriving in the safe zone after an exploration, you were struck by a fever – a consequence of the harsh weather conditions. Amidst the chaos, one of your mates, Leon, stayed by your side. He was one of the only ones who knew about your sensitivity to cold, and he offered to keep an eye on you while you recuperated.

As you remained in the campement, recovering from the fever, Taylor couldn't help but notice Leon's tender display of affection. The sight of him caressing your forehead with a gentle touch made Taylor's irritation grow even more. Taylor's irritation was a mystery even to himself. Every moment that Leon spent tending to your needs, even the slightest gesture of affection, seemed to trigger an inexplicable feeling of annoyance within him. He hated the idea of you receiving attention from anyone, let alone Leon. The more he observed Leon's gentleness towards you, the more he felt a mix of jealousy and resentment. Why did he feel this way? He couldn't understand it, and it frustrated him even more.