"Wait a second!" Aqualina's voice trembled with urgency as she dashed into her bathroom. Aether watched her retreat with a puzzled expression, blinking a few times before shaking his head in confusion.
Inside the bathroom, Aqualina's heart raced. She leaned over the sink, desperately sniffing her breath. "It doesn't smell, does it?" she muttered to herself, anxiety bubbling up.
The thought of her first kiss being tainted by bad breath made her stomach churn. She couldn't bear the idea of that moment being anything less than perfect, especially with Aether, the man she adored.
She took a deep breath, relieved that there was no unpleasant odour. But as she glanced at her toothbrush, doubt gnawed at her, "Better safe than sorry..." she murmured, grabbing the toothbrush and hastily brushing her teeth.
Rinsing her mouth, she hurried back out, only to find Aether engrossed in his work, his back turned to her.