The next day arrived with the sun rising on the horizon, bathing the world in a golden glow. Birds flitted through the air, their cheerful chirping signaling the start of a fresh morning. At the west side of Sparrow City stood Green Spring Park, a serene oasis frequented by tourists, office workers, and everyday people alike.
Jacob sat slouched on a wooden bench, the very same one Mira had occupied just a few days ago, scrolling through her phone in solitude. Now, in a twist of irony, Jacob found himself doing the exact same thing—scrolling aimlessly on his phone. The alternate world's most popular video-streaming platform, NoTube, had his full attention as he browsed through countless videos, his face betraying a growing boredom.
The weight of the previous day's unresolved conflict loomed over him, but Jacob was currently in no mood to think about it. He knew he had to come up with a plan to handle the issue between Henry and Sam. He'd been telling himself that since yesterday, yet his mind was still drawing a complete blank.
"This is going to be shit," Jacob muttered under his breath as he leaned back on the bench, his head tilting skyward. He stared at the azure sky, dotted with drifting clouds, looking as if he were waiting for divine inspiration to strike. His phone rested on his thigh, forgotten for the moment as his frustration grew.
What was he supposed to do? It's not as though he could just barge in, guns blazing, and end things the way a real mob boss might. He wasn't a mob boss—he was just pretending to be one.
"Fuck it, I'll just think of a plan later," Jacob sighed, letting the procrastinator in him take over. With that decision made, he grabbed his phone again and resumed watching short, mindless videos on NoTube.
Minutes passed, and Jacob found himself chuckling quietly at a particularly absurd video when, out of nowhere, a pale, delicate hand darted over his shoulder and snatched the phone from his grasp.
"Hey!" Jacob snapped, his voice sharp with annoyance as he twisted around to see the culprit. But the irritation drained from his face in an instant, replaced by a mix of surprise and awkwardness.
Standing there, holding his phone, was Mira. She wore a pink sports bra that left her toned midsection exposed, paired with snug leggings that accentuated her figure. The sight made Jacob's face heat up in an instant, embarrassment creeping over him like wildfire.
Control yourself, damn it, Jacob scolded himself internally, taking a deep breath in an attempt to master his thoughts. This was no time to act like a hormonal teenager.
Mira tilted her head in confusion at his strange behavior before realization dawned on her. A mischievous grin spread across her face as she teased, "Wait a second… Could it be you've never been this close to a woman before?"
Jacob's face turned even redder, his composure crumbling. "Eh, let's not talk about that," he mumbled, clearing his throat in an attempt to redirect the conversation. "More importantly, what are you doing here?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Mira replied with a laugh. "I'm jogging. Morning exercise. Daily routine."
"Jogging?" Jacob furrowed his brow, his eyes drifting over her—not out of any impure intention, he swore to himself—but because he noticed the small details. Beads of sweat dotted her exposed skin, glinting faintly in the sunlight. Her hair was tied back neatly, leaving her face clean and fresh, despite the sheen of effort.
"Wow," Jacob murmured, his lips quirking into a faint smile. "Well, good for you."
"Of course," Mira said with a satisfied grin, planting her hands on her hips like a victorious athlete. "It's important to stay active, especially in the morning." Her eyes flicked to Jacob, narrowing playfully. "Which brings me to you. What exactly are you doing here, sitting on a bench and scrolling on your phone?"
"Me?" Jacob gave a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Oh, hahaha… well, you know…" He trailed off, his embarrassment reaching its peak. The truth was, he wasn't doing anything productive—just wasting time and avoiding the responsibilities that were piling up. And now, thanks to her question, he felt downright pathetic.
When Mira saw Jacob's flustered reaction, she couldn't help but laugh. The amused smile on her face only deepened as she teased, "You know what? You're really cute, aren't you?"
"What? Oh, well… thank you," Jacob stammered, completely caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. Before he could process her words or formulate a response, Mira moved gracefully from behind the bench and sat down beside him. Her proximity made him acutely aware of her presence, and his nerves began to spike.
She leaned slightly closer, her gaze locking onto his with an intensity that made him shift uncomfortably. To his surprise, her lips pouted, making her look both adorable and oddly intimidating. "Uh… what exactly do you want, Miss Mira?" Jacob asked, his voice uneven, feeling the weight of her scrutiny.
"You said you'd just talk to the couple yesterday, didn't you?" she asked, her tone light but carrying an unmistakable hint of accusation.
"Maybe…" Jacob hesitated, his brow furrowing as he tried to recall the exact sequence of events leading up to the chaotic confrontation with Sam and Henry. A bead of sweat slid down his forehead.
"I've been waiting for you," Mira said, her pout deepening. She pulled her legs onto the bench, hugging her knees as she rested her chin atop them. Her cheeks puffed slightly in a way that Jacob found frustratingly cute. "And you just abandoned me! Can't believe you'd do that. Aren't you supposed to be a man?"
"Hahaha… uh, well, you see…" Jacob faltered, his words trailing off as he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. Why does this feel like I'm the one in trouble now? he thought. "Never mind."
Mira didn't let up, though. Instead, her expression shifted into something sly, her lips curling at the corners. "But, you know… I found something interesting."
Jacob froze. "Uh… what's that?" he asked cautiously, feeling an inexplicable sense of doom creeping in.
"You've been playing pretend, haven't you?" Mira said, pointing a finger at his face. "You don't have your beard on anymore."
Jacob blinked, then chuckled nervously as the realization hit him. Of course, he thought. Without the fake beard, his disguise was laughably easy to see through. "Oh… right," he said sheepishly, scratching his head. "Yeah, you caught me. I was pretending."
"Well," Mira said, tilting her head slightly and turning her gaze to the park where a group of children were playing in the distance. "I don't really care about your background, whatever it is. I just wanted to say… thank you."
Jacob blinked again, this time in surprise. "You're… welcome," he said softly, nodding his head. He hadn't expected her to say that. For some reason, her gratitude felt genuine, and it left him momentarily disarmed.
For a moment, a heavy silence settled between them. The only sounds were the faint laughter of children playing with toys in the distance and the chirping of birds overhead. Despite the idyllic atmosphere, Jacob began to feel suffocated. The silence felt too heavy, too loud, and he wasn't sure why.
Mira was the one to break the quiet. "So," she began, her tone casual but with a mischievous undertone, "we'll be having dinner later at Bobby's BBQ Restaurant. As punishment for abandoning me at that party, you're coming with me."
"Is that so?" Jacob arched an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Who's 'we'?"
"Just my sister," Mira mumbled, her voice almost shy for once. "She's been nagging me to introduce her to a friend anyway. Especially since I told her I've been trying to change myself lately."
Jacob's mind raced with questions, but before he could respond, a familiar ding! resounded in his mind. His body froze as the telltale panel of the Infinite Aura System materialized in front of him.
Here we go again, Jacob thought, sighing internally.