Etched In Their Minds

Quattuor: Development

A few birds were chirping and relaxing on a power line, while Isaac was having an all out war in his mind.

[What do I do.....]

It was about Ina.

[I'm attracted to her.... That was proven last night...]

He slicked back his hair with both hands and held them there.

[Ugh.... there's a good chance we would meet frequently from now on....]

Isaac was not ready to be in a relationship, nor was he ready to be friends with someone he was attracted to.

Such an odd individual.

-turn-

Isaac was in the shower, leaning his back on the wall while the showerhead made it rain on him.

He was still contemplating on what to do. One side of his mind wanted him to hang out with Ina more and get to know her better, while the other wanted to keep their relationship at a very low minimum and hoped that would make Isaac's attraction fade away.

[Ahgghh, what the hell am I thinking... She doesn't even like me that way. I'll just roll with the flow.]

-gun-

The afternoon had quite a lot in store for Isaac and Ina.

They both exited their apartment rooms at the same time, walked at the same pace, which was unusual for Isaac, and had the same posture.

They both entered an elevator and descended to the ground floor. The elevator doors open at the same time and they both walked out.

Ina recognized Isaac's brown hair and facial structure from her peripheral vision and looked at him.

[It's him.... again.]

Ina froze in place, staring at Isaac while he kept on walking.

She made a face that said 'Should I or should I not'. The mental question was answered by her fairly capable thinking capabilities and decided to choose the former.

She jogged up to Isaac as he was leaving the building.

"Heeey," Ina said in a whisper-shout voice. Isaac looked back without stopping, exhaling air from his nostrils.

"What?" he asked.

"Where are you going?" Ina asked with a friendly tone.

"Just walking about," he said and looked in front of him.

"You don't have work to do?" she asked, walking behind him on his left.

"I do, I just decided to take this afternoon off."

"Ohhh.... then wanna- uhh wanna go buy ice cream? I can treat you."

"....No thanks," Isaac said after a short pause.

"Awww..." Ina said in a disappointed whispered voice.

Ina looked around at the ground, not knowing what to say. Isaac had much material for casual talks, but he decided against using them.

[Quick Ina! Think of a topic to talk about!]

"Ah... how old are you?"

"25."

"Well, I'm in my 20s as well."

"Hm," Isaac hummed in response to her somewhat vague age reveal.

[What's up with him today...? A bad day maybe?]

"H-Hey, why are you not talking as much?" she inquired nervously.

Isaac stayed quiet, not knowing how to respond without sounding like an asshole or a douche.