Chapter 30 - Sure of You

It was a bright and calming Saturday morning, the kind where sunlight poured gently through the leaves, painting the streets with dappled light and a promise of ease. I woke up far too early today, forgetting that I didn’t have any classes, and the lingering fog of sleep still clung to me.

Groggy and slightly disoriented, I drifted on autopilot to the upscale coffee shop I’d discovered on my very first day here. It had become something of a weekend ritual, though today held a different anticipation.

I ordered a cappuccino, the aroma of roasted beans lifting my spirits as I took a slow sip, feeling the warmth and slight bitterness sharpen my senses. To kill time, I idly scrolled through videos on my phone, letting the soft clinks of cups and low hum of chatter fill the space around me.

Today was the day I’d meet Myrrh for our very first “Friendly Date.” Of course, there was a certain irony to it: technically, we weren’t friends, and this wasn’t really a date. My high school friends would be relentless if they knew I was here with Myrrh of all people. But, no strings attached, as we agreed. For me, it was partly the thrill—and partly the promise of Myrrh picking up the tab for all our “dates” from here on out.

I was just about to return to my scrolling when a shadow appeared at the glass door beside me, drawing my attention. There stood a striking figure: a woman with an hourglass silhouette, her presence bold and impossible to ignore.

Myrrh. Her long, lime-green hair was swept up into a ponytail and fastened with black ribbons, the color so vibrant it seemed to shimmer in the light. She wore a frilly green dress that hugged her frame, accentuating the curves of her shoulders and waist. Against the backdrop of the café’s muted tones, she looked like some ethereal, vibrant vision—though, amusingly enough, the thought flitted through my mind that she resembled a particularly alluring cabbage.

She studied her reflection in the glass with a serious expression, smoothing her bangs and running her fingers through her ponytail with a delicate touch. Something about the way she fussed over her hair was endearing; I felt a pang of admiration, a spark of warmth.

But the moment was cut short when she suddenly noticed me just on the other side of the glass. Her blue eyes went wide, and in an instant, her cheeks flushed a vivid shade of pink. Her mouth dropped open in surprise, though no words came. I couldn’t help but smile, watching her caught in the act of adjusting herself, her usually composed demeanor slipping away, if only for a second.

I immediately slipped into my well-practiced poker face, an expression of calm indifference settling over me. Taking a long sip of my coffee, I fought to keep my reaction in check even as the searing heat stung my tongue. I forced myself not to wince, determined to play it cool.

Myrrh hurried into the café, her footsteps quick and a bit flustered, before taking a seat directly across from me. Even now, a faint pink lingered on her cheeks, her earlier embarrassment evident. Her gaze hardened as she looked at me, a hint of annoyance lacing her voice.

“Spying on a lady while she fixes her hair is downright creepy,” she grumbled, crossing her arms.

“I didn’t see anything,” I replied coolly, taking another casual sip from my too-hot coffee, hoping my casual tone would add weight to the lie.

She glanced around, visibly relieved to find only a handful of other customers scattered across the cozy café. The atmosphere was quiet and serene, a slow-paced Saturday morning scene—but Myrrh’s embarrassment pulsed in the air between us, making it hard not to smirk. That flustered expression, that fleeting vulnerability, would be etched in my memory, no matter how coolly I played it off now.

Calling the waitress over, Myrrh ordered her coffee, then picked up her cup, stirring in a measured spoonful of sugar. The silence between us settled, thick and expectant, until she finally broke it.

“I heard from Neil that you wanted to take his job at the ramen shop,” she said in a breezy, almost indifferent tone, though her eyes were watching me closely as she mixed her coffee with slow, practiced movements. “When are you starting?”

I forced a grin, the irony of it all settling in. “Unfortunately, my parents are dead set against me working a part-time job,” I replied, giving a small, resigned shrug. “They think I should ‘focus on my studies,’ so... no ramen cooking for me.”

I watched her for a reaction, feeling the weight of her gaze. She didn’t say anything immediately, but her expression softened, maybe just a little. We both knew I didn’t want to be here under someone else’s thumb, bound to rules and expectations—but here I was.

“That’s actually a relief,” Myrrh replied with a smirk, her gaze steady and unapologetic. “I can’t have you slacking off like Neil. My scholarship’s on the line here, you know. If you fail, I fail.” She raised her coffee cup in mock toast. “Kudos to your parents for keeping you on track.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Ha-ha, you selfish woman,” I shot back, unable to hold back a grin. “I just wanted to make some extra cash… for my hobbies.”

She raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye. “And what would you be doing with that part-time money? Gambling, maybe?”

I frowned, feeling my cheeks flush. “Why does everyone think that? What makes you assume my hobby is gambling? Do you and my parents exchange notes or something?”

“Maybe we just know you too well,” Myrrh said, flashing a smug smile. With a graceful flick of her hand, she tucked a strand of lime-green hair behind her ear, then casually cut into a stack of pancakes. She lifted a forkful to her mouth, her movements deliberate and elegant, savoring each bite. “Mmm,” she murmured in approval, taking a sip of her cappuccino afterward. “The coffee pairs perfectly with pancakes soaked in maple syrup.”

I sighed, leaning back as she enjoyed her meal, her teasing making it clear that sharing my true plans would only lead to more judgment. My parents, Myrrh, everyone seemed convinced they knew my every thought. But I kept my dreams close—saving for a cyberpunk gaming PC, a vision of neon lights and endless gaming hours in my mind. On Earth, I’d seen endless ads for those, and here on Xyraxis, they were cheaper thanks to the planet’s abundance of microchips and minerals. Still, if Myrrh or my parents got wind of that goal, I’d be in for a lecture on “priorities” that would last a lifetime.

Trying to shift the focus, I turned the question back to her. “So, how’s the licensure examination tournament application coming along?”

Myrrh glanced up, wiping her mouth with a napkin before replying. “Fei and I grabbed the application papers yesterday. Those two lovebirds filled out their forms as well,” she said with a slight roll of her eyes. “I finished mine too, and we’re all set to submit everything by Monday.”

Her expression softened a bit as she mentioned her plans, and I could sense the excitement beneath her composed exterior. She wasn’t one to show it openly, but this tournament was a big deal for her.

“Oh, okay,” I said, trying to mask my own curiosity as I sipped my coffee. A stretch of silence settled between us, thick and awkward. I shifted in my seat, glancing up only to catch Myrrh’s piercing gaze. Her azure eyes locked onto mine, studying me intently, as if trying to pull the truth from my thoughts without a word.

“So, I guess you’re not applying for the tournament,” she finally said, her tone casual but her eyes probing.

I couldn’t resist a smirk. “Oh, what, are you waiting for me to suddenly announce that I’m dying to join?” I teased, leaning in just a little to watch her reaction. “Or maybe you’re hoping I’ll beg—something like, ‘Oh, please, Myrrh Alicent, let me be your partner for the upcoming tournament!’”

She quickly turned away, a faint blush rising in her cheeks, and crossed her arms with a small, indignant pout. “Not really,” she muttered, her voice barely hiding the sting of pride. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be just fine in the tournament, no matter who my partner is.”

“Are you, though?” I pressed, giving her a smug, knowing grin before taking another casual sip of my coffee.

“Yeah, totally,” she insisted, though her voice sounded shakier than before. “Besides, you don’t need the scholarship from that internship with Agent Feena anyway.”

“Oh, really sure?” I repeated, leaning back, letting my question hang in the air.

Her cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, and she shot me a glare, her lips pressing into a tight line as though she was holding something back. Her eyes flickered with emotion—something between frustration and hurt, a tremble at the corners of her mouth giving her away. Her gaze grew glassy, as if she were close to breaking, and for a moment, I almost regretted pushing her.

But this was Myrrh, proud and stubborn, and for whatever reason, she wanted me to be her partner.

“Fine then! I’ll swallow my pride just this once!” Myrrh burst out, her voice trembling with frustration. She clenched her fists, her blush deepening as she forced herself to meet my gaze. “I want you to apply for the licensure exams too. I want you to be my partner in the tournament,” she admitted, her words spilling out in a rare moment of vulnerability. “I even asked Neil to help convince you to join, but you act like you don’t care at all. What’s in it for you anyway? It’s not like you need the license or the scholarship.” Her voice softened, her confidence waning. “But… I’d still really prefer if you join us.”

I couldn’t help but smirk, leaning in as I delivered my jab. “See? Wouldn’t it kill you to just not act like a total tsundere once in a while?”

“Shut up, goon,” she huffed, her cheeks puffing out in irritation as she looked away, only to shyly glance back at me a moment later. She swallowed hard, her voice softening. “S-so… are you going to apply with us, then?”

“Why me?” I asked, searching her face, curious to know why she was pushing this so hard.

She took a steadying breath, her blue eyes meeting mine with a newfound intensity. “Because I’m already sure of you,” she said, her gaze unwavering, the depth of sincerity there catching me off guard.

The words hit me like a punch to the chest, straight to the heart. I blinked, feeling a rush of warmth I hadn’t expected. Sitting up a little straighter, I let a small, genuine smile break through.

“Got it,” I said softly. “I’ll apply.”

“I know this might be a hassle for you, so I was planning to compensate for—wait, what?!” Myrrh froze, her mouth dropping open in shock. “What did you just say?”

“Go on,” I replied with a smirk. “You were just getting to the part about my ‘compensation.’”

“No! You said you’d apply!” Her face lit up, her disbelief giving way to excitement. “No take-backs, no oopsies! You promised!”

I sighed, leaning back as I looked at her. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll help you get that license and land that internship. Just leave it to me.” I couldn’t help the small smile that slipped through, knowing I’d managed to throw her off guard.

“Great!” she cheered, clapping her hands together with a gleeful grin. Without missing a beat, she reached into her sling bag, pulling out a folded piece of paper and presenting it to me with a flourish. It was the application paper. “Here! I already filled it out for you—you just need to sign it!”

I blinked, trying not to cringe as I took the form. She really had thought of everything, one step ahead, meticulously prepared. Myrrh Alicent, always the planner.

The truth was, I’d already decided to apply for the license yesterday, after my parents squashed my hopes of getting a part-time job. But I’d wanted to see her push for it, to get her to break her usual, arrogant composure and admit she wanted me as her partner. Watching an untouchable Mary Sue like her practically begging, her pride faltering just a bit—it was worth it. Turns out, I was two steps ahead.