On Saturday morning, Alex woke to unfamiliar surroundings and stepped out of the luxurious guest room with cautious uncertainty.
Lu and Kacy were lounging comfortably in the spacious living room, watching him with unmistakably amused eyes.
“Good morning,” Kacy said, her tone loaded with meaning.
Alex replied with a slightly awkward smile, still processing the previous night’s reality. “Good morning.”
Naosa emerged from the kitchen in a sleek swimsuit, her hair tied back neatly, greeting him with her usual cheer.
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Lu said lightly, catching Alex’s startled reaction. “She’s always like this on weekends. She goes skimboarding while the bread dough is rising, then showers while it bakes.”
Alex suddenly remembered Kazu’s earlier comment about his friends wanting to visit just to catch a glimpse of her. He made a mental note: he and Naosa needed to talk about this—having a stunning woman in a swimsuit around teenage boys was asking for trouble.
“What should we do today?” he asked, trying to settle into this new domestic reality.
“Is there anything you’d like to do—or anywhere you’d like to go?” Naosa asked with genuine curiosity.
Alex smiled with quiet contentment. “Honestly, just being with you is more than enough.”
She hesitated, looking almost apologetic. “I usually do the grocery shopping on Saturdays… would you mind coming with me? I know it’s not exactly romantic.”
Alex’s face brightened immediately. “I’d love that.”
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After a leisurely breakfast, just before they were ready to head out, Naosa and Kacy subjected Alex to a brisk head-to-toe inspection, then exchanged a look that said everything.
Without explanation, they led him into what could only be called a walk-in suite—easily larger than his entire bedroom at home.
“This one’s too big for Kazu now, so it might fit you,” Kacy said, pulling out various pieces with professional speed. “And this was Nao’s father’s—the size should be perfect.”
Naosa evaluated each item like a stylist, holding clothes against Alex’s frame and nodding in serious thought, while Kacy offered commentary from the sidelines.
At that moment, Alex realized with perfect clarity that he had become their personal dress-up doll.
Once the two women had made their selections, Naosa hung the chosen clothes neatly in the guest-room closet and laid out a casual, well-coordinated outfit.
“I’m just wearing everyday clothes today,” she said with satisfaction, “so I picked something simple and comfortable for you too.”
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Later, Lu led them to an impressively equipped garage.
“These two are mine and Kacy’s,” she explained, pointing to a pair of well-maintained cars. “The other two belong to Nao. I was afraid they’d be dead from disuse, but surprisingly, the engines still purr.”
Alex stared. One was a sleek, high-end SUV; the other, a beautiful convertible that probably cost more than his annual salary.
“You actually own cars?” he asked, astonished.
Naosa pouted adorably. “I have a valid license and bought them because I loved the designs, but my family refuses to let me drive. Especially my father—he gets furious if I even mention it.”
Lu gave Alex a serious look. “Promise me you will never, under any circumstances, let her drive. I’m not exaggerating. Lives are too precious. I don’t want to lose her—or you.”
“Are you serious?” Alex asked, startled.
“Dead serious,” Lu replied.
Naosa giggled. “I haven’t driven in so long, I barely remember how. Consider them yours now.”
Lu handed Alex the SUV keys with brisk efficiency. “You’ll need space for groceries. This one’s more practical anyway. I think the car’s probably just happy to finally have a purpose.”
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Following Naosa’s directions, they drove into town and arrived at what was unmistakably an upscale grocery store—the kind Alex had only seen from the outside.
Naosa moved through the immaculate aisles with purpose, mentally mapping out elaborate meals as she selected ingredients with the confidence of a professional chef.
Alex pushed the cart beside her, both amazed and oddly content.
It felt strange and wonderful all at once—this quiet domestic moment so far removed from the sterile world of the lab.
Everything she picked was top-tier: organic, imported, artisanal. The price tags made Alex blink more than once.
“Nao,” he whispered, “you know this would be a lot cheaper somewhere else.”
She shook her head with calm conviction. “This place has the best local produce and the highest-quality imports. The difference in flavor and nutrition is worth every penny.”
Alex didn’t argue further, but the growing gap in their worlds lingered in his thoughts.
Her life is simply built on a different scale than mine…
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Next, they stopped at an upscale home-goods store. Naosa’s eyes sparkled immediately.
“Let’s get matching pajamas!” she said, holding up a luxurious silk set in deep navy blue.
“I’ll pay for these,” Alex said with determination.
At the register, he swallowed hard at the total. He had never spent that much on sleepwear in his life.
“All this… for pajamas…” he murmured.
Naosa blushed and leaned closer, whispering playfully, “I wonder if I’ll even be able to sleep, knowing we’re wearing matching ones.”
Then she smiled with such pure gratitude that his heart skipped a beat.
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Back home, Lu and Kacy were waiting, full of curiosity.
“What treasures did you two find?” they asked, immediately helping to unpack the mountain of shopping bags.
While Lu and Naosa discussed meal plans, Kacy gently pulled Alex aside for a quiet talk.
“You weren’t entirely ready for this, were you?” she said kindly.
Alex froze. She’d seen right through him.
“Nao inherited substantial wealth,” Kacy explained. “Money just isn’t something she worries about—that’s her blind spot. But she’s not wasteful. She only buys what truly matters to her. She’s careful—especially about food, because of her health. Everything she buys, she buys for all of us.”
Kacy paused, her voice softening.
“Lu and I are solidly middle-class. This house overwhelmed us too at first. Lu’s family cut her off when she left home. She came here with nothing, and Nao’s father took her in without hesitation. Nao’s like a little sister to us. Her family is small, so she gives when she can. We don’t take advantage—we contribute in our own ways. That’s how this home works.”
Alex nodded slowly, taking it in.
“What about the clothes?” he asked, uneasy. “I should pay you back for those.”
Kacy laughed lightly. “Please don’t. I work in fashion—I get designer pieces discounted or free: samples, overstock, items from shoots. We dress Kazu up all the time. Now we have another willing model—it’s fun for us.”
Her voice softened again. “If you spend your energy worrying about what you can’t give her, you’ll only drive yourself crazy. Just give what you can. Small, thoughtful things mean the world to her. And if you ever hurt her on purpose…” She smiled meaningfully. “We have Lu. She’s a very capable lawyer.”
Alex managed a weak smile, but deep inside, the question echoed louder than ever:
Can I really make her happy when our worlds are so completely different?
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