I'm in the frat kitchen, searching for a clean bowl—mission impossible—when I hear their footsteps behind me.

I turn around, startled, and my bowl falls into the sink. I jump.

"Ah! Uh... hi! I didn't... see you coming."

They put their hand on my arm to calm me down. And then... it's over. My ears are burning.

Instantly.

I can feel them stinging. It makes me panic even more. The guys in the hallway obviously notice.

"Oooooh, Roms is turning into a tomato!"

I want to disappear. I stammer.

"It's... it's because of the... the heat! Yes, that's it! It's super hot today, isn't it?!"

It's 19°C. I'm a bad liar.

They come closer to check if I'm okay, and their hand brushes against mine. My ears turn even redder. I'm sure I could boil water on them.

"Nooo, it's nothing at all! I just... maybe... overreacted a bit. But it's not your fault! Well, yes, it is... but not... you... well—"

I dig myself in deeper. I get tangled up in my words. They laugh softly.

And I turn red up to my neck.

"Stop laughing! Well, no, keep going... because it's cute... well, not cute—uh—I—"

I bury my face in my hands, completely overwhelmed.

Then I look at them, with that awkward smile I can't control.

"I'm really bad at hiding when I'm... uh... happy to see you. There. I said it."

The hallway falls silent. The guys, shocked, look at each other as if I've just made the proclamation of the century.

I blush even more.

"Are you still talking to me? Or are you going to tell your brother I'm weird?"

I laugh nervously. I watch them.

And when they answer me, even just a simple reply, my ears start burning for the third time.