I might have dug my own grave after saying those words earlier. Because now, if I'm going to help Ari find her so-called Prince Charming, I actually have to… socialize.
And let me tell you, that's not something I'm even remotely excited about.
Sigh. Why do I always make impulsive decisions when I'm swept up by my emotions, only to regret them later? Sigh again. I mean, it's just socializing—what could possibly go wrong, right?
"A penny for your thoughts?"
I flinched slightly at the sound of Ari's voice, snapping me out of my spiral. Right. I was still sitting at the counter, supposedly waiting for her to finish laughing. Instead, it seemed I had completely zoned out.
"Huh?" I responded, blinking at her blankly.
"You've been zoning out and sighing a lot," she said, her lips quirking into a half-smile. "I can't help but wonder what's going on in that head of yours," she added, as if studying me.
Her gaze felt far too penetrating, and for the umpteenth time today, I questioned all of my life choices.
With a gulp, I tried to play it cool. "Oh, trust me, you don't wanna know."
"But I do," she countered with a smirk, leaning in slightly. "I actually do want to know what you're thinking right now."
Was it just me, or did her voice sound… sultry?
She continued, her tone light but teasing, "I especially want to know why you don't want me to go out with Jun."
Good lord, someone save me. Anyone. Please.
"I told you," I replied, trying to sound firm despite feeling my composure slipping. "He has a bad haircut. He looks like a potato next to you."
That sent Ari into another fit of laughter, loud enough that a few people glanced over at us. Her laugh was infectious, bright and unapologetic, and it made me feel both flustered and oddly pleased.
"You're really something, aren't you?" she said, her eyes still sparkling with amusement.
"That's what people always say when they meet me," I replied, still trying (and mostly failing) to sound composed.
But then her next words almost made my heart stop.
"So you find me pretty?"
"I never said that…" I blurted out, feeling my throat tighten. Wait—was she… flirting with me? No, that couldn't be possible. Absolutely not.
"Well," she said, her smirk widening, her eyes gleaming with mischief that made my knees feel suspiciously weak. "You did say—and I quote—'he looks like a potato next to you.' So, you do think I'm pretty."
Her logic was so flawless it left me momentarily speechless.
"I—" I stammered, fumbling for words before finally throwing in the towel. "Okay, you got me. I mean… you're not exactly difficult to look at."
Nice save, Yuu. Totally subtle.
"'Not difficult to look at'? Really?" she said with an exaggerated gasp, pretending to be offended but grinning at me all the same. "That's the best compliment I can get from you?"
"Well, if you're looking for something more, my services come with a price," I shot back, trying to sound smooth. Real smooth, Yuu. Just keep it together, and we might survive this.
"Oh, so we're talking business now?" she chuckled, her laughter soft and melodic. Oh, she's so cute. "How about this—can I pinch your cheeks as payment instead?" she asked, and gave me a dazzling smile, which clearly was an attempt to win me over.
"I—No, you cannot," I replied, caught off guard by her words and almost losing my composure.
"Why not?" she pouted, her lips forming the most unfair expression I'd ever seen. My heart felt like it might explode. "Just one little pinch," she teased, reaching toward my face.
"Oh, not you too!" I groaned, leaning back and covering my cheeks with my hands. "Why are you people so obsessed with pinching my cheeks?"
I could feel the heat rising in my face, and I just knew I was blushing furiously. This was absolutely not the time to let her see me crumble.