The iced coffee splashed across Kier's face, forcing his eyes shut. For a second, his brain short-circuited from the shock of cold. Still, a tiny mercy, he thought, thank the gods she didn't order a hot one.
"You pervert!"
The café wasn't exactly bustling. It sat on a quiet side street but the few customers scattered inside turned their heads, curiosity piqued by the drama brewing between a young man and an irate woman.
Mira's cheeks burned crimson, half from anger, half from mortification.
"You look like such a nerd! I should've known better than to judge a book by its cover! Who the hell asks someone to book a hotel room on their first meeting?"
This time, Kier's own face warmed but he kept his composure, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Do you think I'm joking?" she demanded.
"On the contrary," Kier replied smoothly. "I take you very seriously, Mira. Considering our parents already have marriage plans for us, wouldn't it be wise to skip the small talk? A woman should at least make sure her future husband's body meets her standards. Saves everyone some disappointment later."
He dabbed his face with a napkin, wiping the streaks of coffee from his neck. His tone dropped.
"Don't you know there are many women who end up with unsatisfying sex lives because they didn't sleep with their husbands before marriage? They should know a man's body first, to know if he's capable of pleasing her the way she wants before deciding to marry. I'm simply doing you a favor. Think of it as quality assurance."
Mira gaped at him, trembling with disbelief and fury. Whatever words she wanted to hurl, they tangled into a furious snarl.
"Get lost!" she snapped, grabbing her bag and storming out of the café.
Kier didn't move. He only watched her go.
Mission accomplished.
He glanced down at his stained white shirt and sighed. Coffee splatters weren't the best look, but they were a small price to pay. He had no classes today anyway. He could live with a little mess.
Pulling out his phone, he typed a quick message:
[It's done. Doubt she'll ever want to deal with you or your family again.]
A second later, a notification popped up.
[You've received $1000 from Loid Yagner.]
[You're the best, Kier!]
Kier shook his head with a faint smile and lifted his cup again. The coffee was already watered down, but he sipped anyway. He wasn't particularly fond of coffee but he'd paid for two overpriced servings, and wasting them felt like a sin he couldn't afford.
He wasn't his friend Loid Yagner, after all. Loid came from a well-off family. Kier, on the other hand, had to count every bill that passed through his hands. If he were Loid, he wouldn't be sitting here impersonating him on a blind date.
Loid hated these family-arranged meetups. But his mother had been relentless ever since he'd started his final year at university. She'd been on a mission to find him a wife he could marry shortly after graduation. Something about "wanting grandchildren before she withered from loneliness."
Rich people had strange remedies for everything.
Marrying right after graduation? Kier found the whole thing ridiculous. Then again, Loid had the luxury of wealth. Kier had... a student loan and a rented apartment with flickering lights.
"You angered that poor girl so badly, I thought she was going to faint."
A voice interrupted his thoughts. Kier turned, and his eyes widened.
A young woman approached, a cup of caramel-colored coffee in hand unlike his black coffee.
Ayla Reister.
She was practically a campus celebrity. Bright, charming, and far too radiant for this dim café. Her ginger hair, usually down in soft waves, was now tied high in a ponytail, the ends curling like flame-tipped ribbons. Curtain bangs framed her face, softening the sharpness of her smirk.
She took the seat across from him without invitation.
The truth was, they might have seen each other at school, but they had never talked or even been in the same room. Chrono University was a big place, and Kier wouldn't have been surprised if Ayla didn't know him. He didn't have the wealth or overrated looks to be famous for.
Of all people to run into. He had chosen this café precisely because it was outside their district, somewhere he wouldn't risk bumping into anyone from Chrono University. But fate, apparently, had a wicked sense of humor.
"Loid, right?" she asked, casually stirring her drink. "That's what the girl called you."
Kier froze for a beat, then let out a soft sigh. So she didn't know him after all.
Good.
If she didn't recognize him, she wouldn't know he was pretending to be Loid. She'd forget his face by tomorrow. That was fine by him.
"You could have turned her down in a simpler way," Ayla continued. "Instead, you made yourself look like a pervert."
Kier's hand stiffened mid-sip. How did she…
Ayla chuckled, dimples flashing. "You look so shocked that I know you didn't really intend to sleep with her."
He blinked, unsure whether to be impressed or annoyed. This wasn't his first time playing Loid's stand-in, and although his strategy was different each time, his acting had always been flawless. But Ayla saw through it?
She leaned forward, eyes glinting with amusement. "You're interesting. Want to grab a drink with me tonight?"
Kier almost choked on his iced coffee. She wanted what?
Ayla smiled like she'd just thrown a spark into a puddle of gasoline.
A few moments later, he finally replied "Sure," without knowing what was waiting for him that night.