"What would you like to eat?" the waitress asks politely, bowing with a soft smile.
They sit in a private room of an upscale Japanese restaurant, chosen with Daisy's preference for privacy in mind. The walls are pale wood, the lighting soft and indirect. Everything about the space speaks of elegance—and distance.
Mia sits between Ben and Jack. Across from her, Daisy lounges next to Jack, looking as if she's done this a thousand times. She rattles off her order with ease—sea urchin, truffle foam, something Mia doesn't even know how to spell. Jack follows suit without missing a beat.
Ben leans slightly toward Mia, lowering his voice. "Did she just order sea urchin covered in gold?"
She presses her lips together, trying to stifle the laugh that bubbles up.
When it's her turn, she sticks to the familiar. "Gyudon, please."
"Same for me," Ben says immediately.
The waitress bows again and slips quietly out of the room.
Mia curls her hands around her ceramic cup of green tea. Its warmth grounds her slightly, but the unease lingers—like the quiet before a storm. This isn't a casual lunch. It feels more like performance art, and she's still trying to figure out her role.
Then Daisy leans forward, her voice silk and steel. "So… between the two of them, which one's your boyfriend?"
The question hits like a slap. Mia chokes, coughing hard, tea sputtering from her mouth.
Ben groans. "Ugh, seriously? You're so clumsy." He grabs a napkin and dabs at her blouse, his touch brisk but careful.
Jack leans in too, concern flickering across his face. "Are you okay, Mia?"
She nods, cheeks burning. The cough fades, but the room's attention doesn't.
Daisy gasps theatrically. "Oh my! Are you okay, Mia?" Her hand presses against her chest. "Sorry, I surprised you with that question."
Her smile is wide—too wide.
"It's… okay," Mia mutters, eyes lowered.
But Daisy isn't finished. "So, who is it between the two?" she presses, eyes scanning from Jack to Ben and back again.
Ben stiffens beside her. His jaw clenches, but his voice doesn't rise.
Kevin, silent until now, finally speaks, his voice firm. "That's enough. Don't ask any more questions."
The steel in his tone slices clean through the tension.
Daisy blinks. "But I just wanted to kno—"
The door slides open.
"Your food is ready. I'll serve it now," the waitress announces as she steps inside, tray in hand.
The interruption is perfectly timed. Mia exhales slowly, as though she's been holding her breath for minutes.
Daisy claps her hands softly as the food is laid out. "Wow, the food looks delicious!" she says, voice sparkling. "Enjoy your food, guys. This one's on us."
"Yes, thank you," the group echoes, nodding politely.
Jack slides a fresh set of utensils toward Mia. "Here, Mia."
"Thanks, Jack," she replies, taking them gently.
Jack and Daisy share a brief glance, unreadable.
They eat in near silence. Conversations are muted, the occasional polite remark fading quickly. The clink of chopsticks is louder than the words. Beneath the surface, tension simmers.
"Thank you for the meal," they all say in unison as they rise.
Mia steps away from the table, her movements quick and clipped. But before she can make it far, a hand touches her shoulder. She turns.
Ben stands close, voice quiet. "Mia, you have something…"
Before she can respond, he reaches out and brushes a small grain of rice from her cheek.
The motion is simple. Unhurried. Intimate.
"A grain of rice," he says, his fingers lingering for a fraction of a second longer than necessary.
"Oh… thank… thank you," Mia stammers, her face flushed as she steps back.
She turns toward the door, desperate to break free from the lingering heat in the room.
Behind her, Ben moves to follow.
But then he stops.
Kevin watches him. His gaze is sharp, unreadable—but it holds. A silent challenge. A question. A warning.
The space between them tightens. Neither speaks. But something heavy passes between their locked stares.
Then Ben turns. Without a word, he walks out, his shoulders squared, his pace even. But the silence he leaves behind says more than words ever could.