"…What?"
Nigel was shocked by her sudden outburst. Her shout attracted the incoming customers of the café, slightly causing her to blush in shame. However, she did not remove her serious gaze on Nigel. If an outsider was looking at them right now, they would think that Nigel and Shyla were having a normal lover's quarrel. They do look the part as they do look like they were on a date.
"Believe me. Don't trust her. You don't know her background, right? I don't know how deep your trust in her is, but don't trust her with important information."
"You are asking me to believe you, yet we barely know each other. While the same might be the case for Rena, I don't think I can believe anyone without sufficient evidence."
"…"
"Ah, of course. Your best tactics, staying silent and uncooperative. Tell me something first before I could even consider you're 'warning'. Why would she harm me? I'm not hiding anything, nor am I a grandchild of a great person. Between the two of us, aren't you more in danger?"
"You don't have to worry about me. You should be more worried about yourself. What you said is true, for now, you don't seem to be special. However, she is making moves to make you closer to her. That has always been a bad case. Do you know who James Castro is? The guy who jumped off the science building in the university a week ago? Basing from your astonished expression, you do know him. Well, he was her last 'victim'."
Nigel's face hardened upon hearing her shocking revelation. However, even if what she says is true, he is clueless as to what Rena might stand to gain from him. He has nothing special, aside from his hint system.
'Wait, maybe it is the hint system…? No, that's impossible. Nobody can know about it aside from me unless they can enter my mind as well.'
"Even if what you say is true, I really don't have anything valuable. Maybe she was attracted by my handsome persona, don't ya think so?"
"Idiotic and Narcissistic. Well, I already warned you out of goodwill from saving me. If you keep on playing this game, you will eventually reach game over so I suggest you let go and stopped befriending her."
"If I don't know any better, I'd say you are just jealous that I'm a lot closer to her than to you."
"Please, you flatter yourself too much. I don't mind you dreaming about me, but please do it at night. Don't dream in the middle of the day."
"Cold, stoic beauty with a sharp tongue. What a great combination. You make my heart shiver from the pain of your cruel remarks."
"Idiotic, narcissistic, and perverted."
Shyla, after insulting him, smiled. It was a pure smile, one emanating from pure joy. Nigel was visible stunned from her unexpected but beautiful reaction. He saw the clouds parted to give way for sunlight to hit her smiling face, making the scenery more radiant. It was like a pure and blissful angel smiled at him. No, swore it was more beautiful than that.
Shyla, after noticing him freezing up, couldn't help but remember what she did a few seconds ago. Realizing her previous action, and also understanding that it caused Nigel to freeze, she put an embarrassed but prideful face. She was aware that she had enchanted Nigel at that moment and tried to tease him some more. Unfortunately for her, it backfired.
"Oh ho. Did you freeze up upon seeing my beautiful smile? Do you feel like prostrating yourself on the ground? I don't mind if you want to start worshipping me and giving me your full attention."
"…"
"What now? Cat got your tongue? Can talk back…wait, what do you think you're doing!?"
While Shyla was talking about her outrageous demands, Nigel began to sneak near her. Without a moment of hesitation, he grabbed her face and suddenly kissed her cheek. He returned to his seat in a silent, calm, and collective manner.
He performed these sequence of actions in a fluid and effortless manner, stunning even the people inside the café. The subject of his actions, Shyla, was still frozen solid as she tries to understand what had just happened. A few minutes elapsed and her shout reverberated inside the café. Her face was painted red from her neck to her forehead, and her expression was ever-changing.
Nigel watched her various reactions while drinking his coffee in a calm manner. Noticing his reaction, or lack thereof, made her more frustrated. If a glare could kill, she swore that Nigel would die a thousand times.
"What do you think you're doing!? Why did you do that for!?"
"You said it yourself. You don't mind if I start worshipping you and giving you my full attention, right? That's how I do my worshipping. It's what Christians do, right? They go to a statue of Jesus Christ, and kiss his feet."
"A feet and a cheek are different!"
"Well, he did say that if one kisses you on the right cheek, you should also turn him the other."
"Wrong! It's a slap! Slap! Not a kiss!"
"Slap? I see… Shyla, I don't have any bias against different fetishes… but I guess it was unexpected that you are actually an M. You like being slapped, huh. I'll take on that humiliating task of slapping you then."
"Stop twisting my words! Why do you keep on doing that? You pig!"
"Takes one to know one. However, don't be shy if you need someone to attend your *ahem* needs."
"I don't need any thank you very much!"
It took a couple of minutes before they settled down from their fun. 'Time to talk about the more serious stuff, huh.' Nigel thought as he was observing the beauty right in front him who was also looking back him with serious eyes while emitting an ominous aura.
"Then let's go back to a serious topic. Do you know why I returned the book?"
"Didn't you say so yourself, it was a last wish of sort by the late Dr. Merca.?"
"No, that was a big lie. My great grandfather's command was the complete opposite of what I did."
"…You mean to say you did the complete opposite of what your great-grandfather had told you? Wouldn't it mean that you have disregarded what your family has to say in this matter?"
"…Yes."
"What was so important on returning that book that made you willingly suffer from the torment that your family is giving you as of the moment? I'm pretty sure they won't look at you kindly after what you did."
"…I need something and it can only be found inside that research room."
"What's is it?"
"Sorry… I can't tell you right now."
"…Fine, not like it matters to me. So, why invite me here? Was it only to 'warn' me about Rena?"
"No… I'd like to ask your help in finding what I need inside that research room."
"Well, would you look at that? You want my help but you refuse on telling me what it is. I don't even know what you are looking for, and I don't even know if I can help you nor am I willing to do so."
"Please, I need your help. While everyone might think that it was Rena who had discovered that book is actually the key to the research room, I don't believe it at all. Why? Because in the past Rena had the opportunity to do what he had done last week. In the end, she didn't do it. Why? Because she doesn't know the secret. Which means somebody told her what to do at that time. In other words, it was you knew that the book was the key. For you to notice the function of the book means that you have incredible insight and deduction ability. This is why I need your help. I need someone to help me in solving the many puzzles littered inside that research room! Please, help me!"
Nigel was quiet after listening to Shyla's entire deduction that points to him as the actual discoverer of the book's utility inside the library. At this point in time, Nigel would be lying to himself if he said that he wasn't interested with the research room's mysteries, special after he noticed a new case was added in the menu. 'Mystery: Shyla's Secret Treasure. Rank: E. Reward: 50 HINT XP, 1 SKILL POINT' Nigel saw the new item added, and it was connected to Shyla. In other words, he had no choice but to accept Shyla's offer now, but he felt that the rewards given by this case weren't enough.
"Okay, let's say that I will agree to your request. What are you willing to give me? I'm telling you right now, I have no interest in monetary or material rewards."
"…I'll comply with any of your requests."
The moment Nigel heard her reply, he smiled with glee and began looking at Shyla like how a predator watches its prey. Shield noticed this sudden change in Nigel's behavior, causing her to realize the possibilities and implications of her condition. However, she can't revert back what she had said and it was more important for her to attain the item found in the research room.
"Any, huh. Do you know what that covers?"
Seeing Nigel staring at her whole body, she flinched for a bit while her whole face turned red once again. Biting her teeth, she steeled her resolve and determination and looked at Nigel eye to eye.
"…Yes, anything. I'll comply with any of your requests. But that's only if we found the item that I was looking for."
Nigel was a bit shocked by the resolve showed by Shyla when she confirmed the 'any' part of her compensation for Nigel. This made him more interested in the case, and as to what this item is that Shyla is willing to sacrifice anything to get it.
"Fine. I'll help you with this little treasure quest of yours. It might also be a good time to go back to that research room as I have unfinished business in there."
"Thank you! Thank you very much!"
Shyla smiled to Nigel again and showing her joyful demeanor. She was happy that Nigel had accepted her invitation, even if it might lead them being exposed to danger. Nigel had realized this vague point, but he still accepted Shyla's invitation.
"In any case, I think our conversation here is over."
"That is true…"
While both of them knew that their meeting had ended, neither of the two of them budge from their seats. This awkward silence continued for some time until Nigel finally began decided to break the ice.
"Do you have anywhere else to go after this?"
"…No, I don't. Why?"
"How about we get some lunch? I know a good restaurant from here. They serve exquisite dishes there. You'll love it, I promise. So, how about it?"
"…Okay."
After hearing her reply, Nigel slightly smiled. He stood up from his seat and left the café, with Shyla right behind him. Both of them went to the same restaurant where he, Rena, and Ian ate lunch every day. After eating their fill, they both spent the whole day together.
They went to the movies and watched a highly rated film that was recommended to him by Ian. Next, they went to the super mall to shop, with Nigel becoming Shyla's cargo man for the day. Lastly, when the sun was setting in the horizon, both of them stopped on a nearby ice cream van. Together, they watched as the sunset faded from the horizon.
When they finally decided to part, Nigel took Shyla home… or so was his plan initially. Unfortunately for him, Shyla called her house to picked her up. A few minutes passed when a long black car appeared in the road where Shyla and Nigel were waiting. Upon seeing the car, Shyla stood up from the waiting area where they were seated at and walked towards the car. However, she did not immediately go inside the car. She stood there directly in front of it but turned around to face Nigel.
"Thank you for today."
"No problem. I'll be seeing you tomorrow then?"
"…Yes."
Saying their final goodbyes, Shyla went inside the car. The car sprang back to life at the instant that she sat on the car's seat and began to move away from Nigel. He stood there standing by the road while looking at the receding figure of the car.