AILUROPHILE [✓]

Dream on

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

❝ to express skepticism and say that something is unlikely to happen ❞

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥

"This is certainly... a very surprising surprise."

I was not in the position to talk to any person right now, with my face and hair slightly dishevelled by the wind and exhaustion. But of course, when I was looking like a piece of shit, someone incredibly attractive had to stop by and take in my disastrous state.

The only thing I wanted to do was pass out after quietly slipping out of my workplace the moment the hours were over.

There was absolutely no reason for Rindou to show up in front of the restaurant with a goofy grin on his face.

So that was what he meant when he texted me to ask me where I was.

"Sorry for the sudden visit, but I felt bad when I had to just... walk away like that. It's been a while since we met, so I thought...."

He was still hung up on that? I didn't even remember my glorious falls and all the embarrassing stuff I said when I bumped into Rindou out of excitement.

"Oh, that's alright! Um... I'm just leaving, do you wanna go somewhere.... quieter? This restaurant is a disaster, a couple is celebrating their four-year-old's birthday."

He nodded, talking about places he liked going to. And I was blank, because most of them were from the areas I never went to, or was unfamiliar with. Still, for his sake, I smiled and pretended I knew what he was talking about, while silently typing in the locations on Google maps.

"What did you do all these years?" I asked, hoping it was a good enough conversation starter.

"Anything but study, yeah." He let out a short laugh, "No, but really, I'm kinda interested in tinkering and stuff these days because of my brother."

My face involuntarily contorted into an uncomfortable expression at his brother's mention.

"How's that.... menace doing?"

Needless to mention, we never really got along. In seventh grade, he dared me to meet him in the boys' washroom for a fight and I actually showed up and punted him.

The reason for the fight? Rindou decided to share his sandwiches with me and not him.

"Ran is well, I'm sure you were really worried about him." He put noticeable emphasis on really, sarcasm dripping down his words.

"Why wouldn't I be? Weren't we such loving best friends?"

We stopped short in front of a cozy diner, making our way inside as we discussed about Ran. It was shocking how he ended up being seriously invested in mechanics, bikes, and all that. If he was any less of a pain now, I'd like to meet him too. I'd forgotten what he even looked like, except his extraordinary braided hair which I was jealous of.

"So, how's your love life going?"

I had to bite back the immediate snarky response I was so close to letting out. He really went there.

"Dry."

"Ouch, did I hit a spot?" He chuckled, before giving our orders to the waiter.

I ignored his amused reaction, trying to steer the conversation back to him, "What about you?"

"Pretty flowery, if you ask me. I have a girlfriend."

"God.... I see what you're doing for others." I made a quick cross, feeding more to his already huge haughtiness.