**Arc 2: Chapter 8 – Dinner Invitations and Unseen Walls**
The buzz of the café had become something of a comfort for Jae-min over the past week. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the faint sound of keyboard clicks and murmured conversations. It was a place that seemed to fit So-ra's energy perfectly—focused, busy, but oddly soothing in its chaos.
Jae-min was seated at his usual corner table, scrolling idly through his phone while keeping an eye on So-ra. She was perched behind her counter, pouring over her laptop with a furrowed brow.
"Staring at her like that isn't going to make her fall for you," Elyra teased, suddenly appearing beside him.
Jae-min nearly dropped his phone. "Can you not do that?" he muttered under his breath.
Elyra shrugged, her golden eyes sparkling with mischief. "Just trying to help. You've got her likability up to 65%, but you're going to need a stronger move if you want to push it higher."
"Like what?" Jae-min asked, keeping his voice low.
Elyra grinned. "Dinner. Take her out somewhere nice. Show her you're serious."
Jae-min hesitated. "I don't know. She's not exactly the type to go for that kind of thing."
"Then make it about her," Elyra said. "Find a way to tie it to something she cares about."
Jae-min leaned back in his chair, considering the suggestion. It wasn't a bad idea, but he needed to approach it carefully. So-ra was sharp, and she'd see through any insincerity in a heartbeat.
---
An hour later, So-ra finally closed her laptop and leaned back in her chair with a sigh. Jae-min took that as his cue and walked up to the counter.
"Long day?" he asked casually.
So-ra glanced up, startled, then relaxed when she saw him. "You could say that. The mod's almost done, but I keep running into bugs."
"Sounds frustrating," Jae-min said. "Maybe you need a break."
So-ra raised an eyebrow. "A break? And do what, exactly?"
"Come to dinner with me," Jae-min said before he could second-guess himself.
So-ra blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Dinner?"
"Yeah," Jae-min said, keeping his tone light. "You've been working nonstop. A good meal might help clear your head."
So-ra hesitated, her gaze searching his face for any signs of ulterior motives. "Why are you so interested in my head being clear?"
Jae-min shrugged. "Because I think you're brilliant, and it'd be a shame if a little burnout stopped you from finishing something amazing."
For a moment, So-ra didn't respond. Then she sighed and stood up, grabbing her jacket. "Fine. But don't think this means we're friends or anything."
Jae-min grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
---
They ended up at a small, cozy restaurant a few blocks away. It wasn't fancy, but it had a warm atmosphere and an extensive menu that seemed to put So-ra at ease.
"So," So-ra said as they sat down, "you've clearly been hanging around the café for more than just the coffee. What's your deal?"
Jae-min hesitated, caught off guard by the directness of the question. "My deal?"
"Yeah," So-ra said, leaning back in her chair. "Most guys don't stick around after one conversation. But you keep showing up, offering to help, asking questions. Why?"
Jae-min took a deep breath, deciding to go with honesty. "Because I see someone who's been through a lot but refuses to let it break her. And I respect that."
So-ra stared at him, her expression unreadable. "You don't even know me."
"Not yet," Jae-min admitted. "But I'd like to."
For a moment, So-ra didn't say anything. Then she shook her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You're weird, you know that?"
"So I've been told," Jae-min said, smiling back.
---
The dinner went smoother than Jae-min expected. So-ra slowly began to open up, sharing bits and pieces about her life—her love for coding, her frustration with people who underestimated her, and even a few stories about her childhood.
By the time they left the restaurant, Jae-min felt like he'd made real progress.
"Thanks for this," So-ra said as they walked back toward her apartment. "I didn't realize how much I needed it."
"Anytime," Jae-min said.
As they reached her building, So-ra paused, glancing at him. "You're not as annoying as I thought you were."
"I'll take that as a compliment," Jae-min said, grinning.
So-ra smirked and headed inside, leaving Jae-min standing on the sidewalk with a satisfied smile.
---
Back at his apartment, Elyra appeared, her expression smug.
"70% likability," she said. "And a dinner invitation? Not bad."
"It's not about the numbers," Jae-min said, sitting on the couch.
Elyra tilted her head. "Then what is it about?"
Jae-min leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "It's about her realizing she's worth someone caring about her."
For once, Elyra didn't have a snarky comeback. Instead, she simply nodded and disappeared, leaving Jae-min to his thoughts.