Before Kaizer stood a young woman, almost directly opposite him. Her long, fiery red hair cascaded down her back to her waist, contrasting sharply with her piercing green eyes, which scanned him from head to toe with a cool, calculated intensity.
Slightly shorter than Kaizer at 5'11", she possessed a voluptuous figure, her white jacket and black t-shirt stretched to the limit by her impressive bust. Her tight cream-colored pants emphasized her slim waist, wide hips, and pronounced backside, and she finished the look with a pair of stylish black-and-white sneakers. Standing with one arm akimbo, she gave Kaizer a disdainful stare as he stooped to glance back at her, his eyes narrowing slightly.
As the tension between them built, the surrounding students stopped what they were doing, sensing that something was about to unfold. The woman and Kaizer exchanged glaring looks for a few seconds before she sneered and broke the silence.
"I see you still have a poor sense of fashion, Older Brother."
The crowd's eyes shifted to Kaizer, who wore a black Polo t-shirt from a limited edition set, Burberry Elite green shorts, and a pair of black-and-green Nike Air Forces. On his wrist was a premium Rolex, and around his neck, a custom gold chain engraved with his name, 'Kaizer'.
Everyone in the crowd was speechless, exchanging looks of confusion and disbelief, wondering if the woman had lost her mind. Despite their reactions, she remained unfazed, patiently waiting for Kaizer's reply.
Kaizer frowned slightly. "I won't be able to go home with you today, Rina. I have a date."
Rina froze for a moment before shaking it off with a dismissive snort. She turned to leave but not before tossing one last remark over her shoulder.
"Make sure to come home safe. I don't want to have to explain to Uncle again!"
Her entourage of friends, previously sporting fierce expressions, quickly turned to fawning ones as they followed their leader out of the school gates. Kaizer scratched his head in mild frustration, wondering what exactly his cousin's problem was as he headed toward the car park.
Though it would be easy for Kaizer to connect with Rina's emotions, he had long ago made a rule not to do so with family or close friends, especially after an incident in sixth grade when he'd discovered his best friend's hidden envy after showing him his family situation. That innocent friendship had been shattered, which was why Kaizer now kept to himself. He had tried to open up before, but after that experience, he chose isolation.
Unfortunately, even when he did try to connect with his hot-headed cousin, she blocked him out entirely. The only response he could get from her was a look of disgust whenever he tried to initiate any sort of connection. Eventually, Kaizer gave up on understanding her and just dealt with her as she was.
Kaizer reached his car, which stood out among the others with its distinctive brand—a Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Executive. The sleek blue car, the same shade as his eyes, attracted curious glances from passersby and students leaving class.
He opened the car door, allowing the sensors to detect his key before getting in. He placed his bag on the passenger seat, started the engine, and connected his phone to the PCM system to play his morning playlist. Switching from hybrid mode to sport mode, the engine revved loudly as he stepped on the brake pedal and then quickly reversed out of the parking space. Without bothering to check his mirrors, he sped off onto the road.
Driving was one of the few times Kaizer didn't suppress his strange ability. It allowed him to intuitively sense everything around him, keeping him safe on the road without the need to look. It was an effortless form of "auto-driving," where his body seemed to move on its own, guided by instinct.
As he drove through the city's light traffic, he headed toward his destination—a small café near the entrance of the upper residential area. The pastries were top-tier, but what mattered more to Kaizer was the peaceful ambiance and low customer volume, which would allow him to spend time with his date in relative quiet.
Arriving at the café, he spotted a woman standing at the nearest bus stop, wearing an elegant red dress. He parked the car and paid for a ticket before walking calmly toward her.
When she saw him approaching, the woman smiled warmly, revealing her white teeth. She was a slightly older beauty, with a blonde perm, light brown eyes, and fair skin. Her dress revealed her shoulders and arms, and just enough of her shapely legs to be alluring.
"Hi, Kaizer~ You look good~" she greeted, her playful tone belying her actual age.
Kaizer chuckled. "Says you. I think I might be the proverbial frog before the swan. But you look absolutely stunning, Carla."
Carla giggled and extended her hand. "I hope the pastries here are as sweet as the words coming out of your mouth. I have a terrible sweet tooth."
Kaizer gently took her hand and led her toward the café, arm in arm. "To be honest, I hope so too. My reputation is riding on this. But tell me, if the pastries turn out to be sub-par, what kind of punishment do you have in mind for me?"
They entered the café and found a table for two by the window. Carla casually flipped through the menu, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"Punishment? Well, that depends. What do you dislike~?"
Kaizer gestured to the waiter, then leaned in with a playful, strange tone. "The things I would consider punishment from you can't be said in public. They'd have to be discussed—and executed—in private."
"Oh? Now I'm even more interested," Carla responded, her eyes glinting with curiosity as she made her choices.
They placed their orders and continued chatting, light-heartedly flirting until their meals arrived. After a while, Kaizer steered the conversation toward more serious topics, seeking to learn more about the woman before him and the real Carla beyond the playful exterior.