"I stick to my word, Mr. Min. When I don't want to be with someone then I really don't want to be with them. I'm sure your daughter is a fine young woman who's yet to find her love. Let her out into the real world so that she can meet people instead of asking her to look at pictures on her phone or laptop all day." Zen spoke and pushed the man a little, causing him to stumble back with shock plastered onto his face.
"H-How-" Zen cut him off. "I'm giving you chances, Sir. Now, I don't really like this psychotic side of me. It doesn't come out often but when someone gets on my nerves, it's necessary. And what's with you charging at me? I've been given training to take care of myself, Sir. It's something basic. I don't need bodyguards. They're only a formality at this point." He spoke and shrugged, dusting his jacket off. "I-I'll speak with your father. Have a good day." Mr. Min spoke and immediately ran away.
Zen chuckled to himself as he leaned against the railings. "Ah, what you do to me." He sighed as he ruffled his hair a little.
Aelise's face paled as she heard that her phone received a notification. She looked at her older brother in horror and grudge. It was like she was about to rearrange his facial features and bury him 6 feet under ground. No. Even worse. She could throw him out of the window anytime now. Meanwhile, Yuriko, her brother, just stood there with a smug look on his face. After all, he does care for his sister's ex. A bit. Not that he's gay for him. He just knew that they were genuinely happy when they were together and he adored that, for his sister has always been the most quiet and unfriendly type back then, until she met him.
Yuriko shook his thoughts off and grabbed Aelise's phone from her hands. Apparently, he knew the pass code, which didn't seem to be so much of a code anymore, so he easily opened it, immediately typing away. He was too quick. Really quick. Aelise's mind was processing everything and then she realized. "HEY! Don't send it!! NOOOOO." She cried out like a child who just got forced to lend her barbie doll to some random kid at a family party. Much to her dismay, he sent it. Received. She saw those words and gulped.
"You're so slow. This is why you're still a virgin." Yuriko stated. Aelise's once pale face was now flushed with embarrassment upon hearing such a thing. "I- How dare you!? We attempted it one time you know but i- uh, kindofkickedhimintheballs." She said the latter quickly, causing her brother to erupt into laughter. And apparently they weren't alone. Her mother was there, laughing too as she commented. "That's got to have hurt. I did that once to your dad back then. Perhaps, it's in the genes-" she got cut off by a whine."Moommm, stop. I don't want to know about your sex life with dad." The duo-color haired girl mentally cried in embarrassment and she hoped that she could gouge her eyes out as well as cut her tongue and break her eardrums. It was just too much.
After some time, much to Aelise's luck, they stopped. The conversation was too much, really. She looked at the text 'she' sent to him, then her mouth went agape.
'Never mind. I'm not busy.. :v Things got cancelled just now. How about we meet at the cafe we used to go to? My auntie's cafe, I mean. 3:00pm if that's okay.'
She looked at the time. 2:40pm. "Ugh. Life is so much fun. Fuck you, Yuriko. I hope you stay single till you die." She cursed under her breath as she waited for Zen's reply all the while adding BB cream on her face and lip tint. Well, she still looked like shit in her own eyes.
Zen was in the middle of a meeting which was absolutely killing him. He was going to end up rejecting them anyway. Maybe he should just stop them here. He felt his phone vibrate and pulled it out under the table, a smile making it's way into his face. '3pm it is then. I'll be there :)' He sent the text and put his phone back before looking at the men.
"Gentlemen, I'm going to have to stop you right here." He spoke as he stood up. "But, Sir-" One of them tried to speak but he shook his head. "You should be fully aware of the kind of proposals you bring to my company, Mr. Langdon. This one cannot go through. Our company doesn't deal with this industry. Now, I have something important to attend to. Arai, please show these gentlemen out." He spoke and Arai bowed. "Have a good day." Zen bowed before he got his blazer and left.
"Why did you just make up that you needed to be somewhere?" Nate chuckled as he walked with Zen who put his blazer on. "Oh no. I actually do. You know, I'm meeting her." He said and looked at the time. "Her?! Hey hey. There's this thing called a brain. Do you not have it or are you not using it?!" Nate exclaimed. Zen chuckled as he got on his bike and put his helmet on.
"Nate. It's been 5 years." Zen sighed. "Yeah, Zen. It's been 5 years and in those years, she's managed to move on and get a boyfriend." Nate placed his hands on his hips, looking like a mom who was scolding her child. "Don't worry. If something happens, I'll come back home to your mom and cry my heart out." Zen chuckled as he started his bike. "I trust you to know your limits, Zen. That's all I'm saying." Nate sighed, worried for his friend. "Heyyyy~ Come on. I've got you, right?" Zen smiled as he revved the bike up a little before taking off. "Yeah you do." Nate smiled as he watched Zen leave. Zen was beyond happy. He probably shouldn't be but then again, he couldn't help it at all.
He looked at the time and smiled. '2:50pm.' He rode really fast or time just stopped. He smiled to himself as he got off his bike and got his mask, putting it on as he removed his helmet and locked his bike. He twirled the keys around but stopped as he walked into the cafe. He saw a table for two which was empty and took his seat. He pulled out his phone and just relaxed. It had been so long since he'd done anything like this.
'Don't bring my hopes up and crush them, please.' He thought to himself. She did have a boyfriend so he probably shouldn't be expecting too much. He sighed as he typed on his phone. 'Mom, stop worrying.' He let out a small laugh as he texted Nate. 'Yeah yeah, son. Listen, Zara is here. What do you want me to do?' He received the text and almost face palmed but controlled himself. 'In the company? Throw her out. Tell her that roaches aren't allowed inside.' Zen smirked as he sent it. Nate on the other side was laughing his ass off. "Oh, Zara." He laughed. "Are you insane?" Zara asked as she looked at him as if she just saw an alien.
"Guards." Nate called and they held each of her hands as she struggled. "Pest control said that they'd be a little late. Let's start first, yeah?" He spoke, getting serious again as the guards laughed and dragged Zara out.
Aelise groaned lowly in annoyance. The teasing was just killing her. She felt like her ovaries could explode in a mere second now. 'I shouldn't have said that.' She mentally cursed at herself. Midway through her family's teasing, she had enough and managed to sneak out.
Aelise glanced at her rose gold wrist watch and took note of the time. Her jaw dropped upon seeing it, it was 3:04pm. But her jaw didn't literally drop, though. She started running all the way to the cafeteria. Luckily, it wasn't that far away. Her phone rang. She picked it up, not even checking who called, all the while running to the cafe.
"Hello?" Aelise greeted. "Aelise? I have something to tell you." She recognized the voice, it was Emma. She hummed in response, "I'm going to South Korea for a bit. I just have some businesses to deal with. I can't tell you this personally because I'm already at the airport." She stated, making the duo-color haired girl raise an eyebrow. As far as she knew, Emma didn't have a job at all and she didn't even have enough money to go to Korea. Not that she was insulting her, though. It was just so sudden and weird, for some certain reasons. But nonetheless, she responded. "Alright, then. Take care, I'll call you later. I'm in a rush right now. Love ya!" With that, she hung up without even letting Emma say something further.
Finally, she arrived in front of the cafe. She breathed heavily as she entered. People were looking at her as if she was a person who just got bitten by a zombie and got infected. But she couldn't care less. Aelise went towards the counter and immediately the staff already recognized her. One of them spoke with a British accent. "Lisa, what happened to you? Is a dog chasing after you again?" The guy joked, receiving a slap from Aelise. Not too hard but it was enough to make him wince.
"Shut up, Elric. Have you guys seen Zen here? And also, please get me water quickly with the usual, please." Aelise demanded quickly. It was like she owned this cafe. Seriously. After all, she was the niece of the owner of this big, fancy place. Already understanding what she meant, they did their job. "Ooh, is this what i think it is? He's there." One of the waitress, whom she recognized as Jwyneed, pointed at him with a ridiculous grin on her features.
Aelise rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry at her. "Thanks and please shut up." With that, she walked towards the table where Zen was. 'Is it just me or did he just arrive from work? Or maybe this is his casual wear? Yeah, maybe. Definitely. He looks so-' She slapped herself and the thoughts got off her mind as she slammed her hands on the table like a mad woman, gathering everyone's attention. When she took notice of this, she waved her hands at them in dismay. Not embarrassed at all. She always does this anyway. She's only embarrassed because she's in front of her goddamn ex.
Aelise cleared her throat and just casually took a seat, as if she never did anything just a few seconds ago. "Uh, i'm sorry if i got here late- how long were you waiting?" She asked. Hell, this was awkward. Really. Utterly. Amazingly. Outstandingly. Very, very awkward. For Aelise.
'Oh lord, save my soul.'