[Music Recommendation: "A Sweet Smile" by Yu-Peng Chen (Genshin Impact OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

I pondered for a moment.

'Now why would they all be smirking? Well, except for Callan who looks as smug as he always had been. Hmm… Oh, right! I'm with Kaiden! Is that why? Because we arrived together?'

Not wanting to be interrogated—I mean, peacefully questioned, I went over to my seat quick. The maids served the warm food after and we all began eating.

"So," Mrs. Ma began the conversation as we ate, "it seems you two spent a considerable amount of time together? Alone?"

Oh my goodness… her tone sounded so skeptical and suggestive! As if we did something n-naughty. I tried to laugh it off but their curious gazes were piercing. I peeked over to Kaiden and he was eating peacefully. How lucky of him, having the ability to properly eat in such circumstances.

"I—ah, got lost and ended up in the west wing," I replied in a murmur. "I was originally planning on taking a walk because I couldn't write anything. I'm really not good with places and since there were maids all around, I thought I could just ask them the way back. But the west wing didn't have any servants. Good thing I bumped into Kaiden."

"Uhmmm… I see," Mrs. Ma nodded approvingly. "And what did you do after bumping to him that took you so long?" I thought I saw her smile mischievously but maybe I'm mistaken.

I gulped the piece of meat I just put in my mouth in one go. Didn't even get to chew properly. The question she asked was rather hard to answer. What was I supposed to say? That I cried and hugged Kaiden until I fell asleep? I wanted to bury myself somewhere real quick.

"Yes, tell us. I'm curious, too!" Crystal just added fuel to fire. She'd make a fair gasoline or charcoal or any flammable thing—always liting up flames.

I love you so much, Crystal. I gave her the "eye" but it seemed she was more eager to know than Mrs. Ma. And even Hora, too, seeing how she was waggling her eyebrows at me. Callan was the only normal person there. For the first time, I preferred his way of thinking than the others.

'Kaiden help me! I can't lie, I'm not good at it!'

I breathed heavily before answering her. Since Kaiden wasn't helping me explain, then I just told them the truth—of how I ended up on Kaiden's room's door, that he opened it and I thought he was a ghost, he helped me inside to calm me down until I fell asleep.

Yes, I left out the part they were all probably so eager to hear. How I hugged him until I fell asleep and how we ended up having a staring competition.

Their faces looked disappointed not hearing anything "juicy" enough for them. Well, that was good. At least, I was able to eat peacefully after.

Before dinner time ended, Kaiden finally spoke up.

"Mother," he called Mrs. Ma, "Since you're here, I have something I need from you."

"Is that how you ask your mother?"

"Ahm… please."

"There, good. What is it? Feel free to ask my dear son."

"I'll just go to your office and we can discuss from there."

Mrs. Ma's eyes lit up.

"Oh-hoh! Of course!"

Somehow her tone became so jolly. I wondered what it was that Kaiden needed? Unable to guess anything, dinner ended and we all went back to our respective rooms. Luckily, I got enough inspiration for the day so I was able to write the next chapter.

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[PS. This part is a mini Kaiden POV after dinner when he went to his mother's office]

I was about to open the door without knocking as I usually did, but then I remembered I needed something from my mother. I should be polite and kind for the mean time or else, she'd give me a hard time. So, I knocked.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in!" she said.

It didn't even take a second for her to respond. It seemed that she already knew what it was I needed from her. Hmm… that's good then. I wouldn't need to explain much.

I opened the door and went straight to the couch where she was already seated on the other side—with hot coffee prepared on the coffee table between us.

"You're prepared," I said. "I'm guessing you already know what I need?"

Mother chuckled as she slowly put her cup down.

"Of course, I know. What kind of mother am I if I don't know what my son needs even before he asks it?" she shrugged and smiled confidently. "But—I still want to hear you say it."

"Ugh. Seriously?"

"Of course. Go on, tell me. I promise not to record any words you say."

I squinted my eyes at her, doubtful. She always had something up her sleeve. It's harder to deal with her than my father. If only father wasn't stuck on a business trip, I wouldn't have gone to her.

But I'm impatient. I couldn't possibly wait for a whole month to get a resolution to my problem. I'm never the one to settle on waiting if there was a way to achieve it faster. Thus, the reason why I'm making a deal with this devil of a mother. Well, not in an actual evil manner but I knew her kind… we're the same—loves teasing people we liked.

I sighed and confessed the matter that I came for.

"I… I like Senara," I shyly admitted, scratching the back of my neck.

Ugh. I hated showing any of my weakness to my mother or she'd definitely use it against me. But I had no choice.

"Oh my! This is a huge tea!" Mother squealed in joy. See? She's already loving it. "I knew it! You like her! But of course! My son won't just speak to any girl if she's not someone he likes. Congratulations on finally reaching your adolescence! So, when did you realize it?"

"Ugh. I'm not here for the interview. I need help."

"Help on?"

"Come on! You already know what."

"But I want to hear it!"

"Ughhhh… I need help on how to court her!" Damn it. I felt my cheeks burn in embarrassment.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Mother laughed hard, obviously making fun of me.

Maybe I should have gone to Crystal. But what would she know about courting? She never had a boyfriend.

A few minutes passed with my mother just laughing.

"So, are you done laughing? Care to help me now?"

"Don't worry my son," she sounded so smug and confident.

"Just make sure your input is valuable or else I'm out of here."

"It definitely is."

"Then how?"

She smiled devilishly. Yes, that's the face she would always make when she came up with an ingenious idea—at least for her.

"Ever heard of the 'fake girlfriend' plan?"

Hearing that, thousand possibilities flooded my head.

"Ahh… I see," I smirked. "What a good idea, indeed. Tell me more about it."

And so, our devious—but legal—plan began.