The Shards of War: Balancing Power

Chapter 83

As Calie and Marie settled into the comfortable lounge chairs, grabbing some snacks and drinks, they began to discuss their plans for the rest of the evening. Marie leaned back, munching on a handful of popcorn as she spoke.

"So, what do you think we should do later?" she asked, her eyes scanning the array of snacks on the table. "We could go grab dinner somewhere, or maybe catch a movie?"

Calie considered the options, sipping on her drink thoughtfully. "Hmm, dinner sounds good, but I'm not sure where we should go. Any preferences?"

Before Marie could reply, the door to the lounge swung open, and in walked the Tao Brothers, their presence immediately commanding attention. Calie and Marie exchanged glances, a hint of tension creeping into the air.

"Looks like we've got company," Marie muttered under her breath, her gaze flickering to the rival duo.

Calie nodded, her expression guarded. "Yeah, let's just try to keep things civil."

As the Tao Brothers approached, Calie and Marie put on polite smiles, preparing for the inevitable exchange. The leader of the group, Kai, offered a nod of acknowledgment, his expression cool and composed.

"Hey there, ladies," he greeted, his voice smooth and confident. "Mind if we join you?"

Calie hesitated for a moment before nodding, gesturing to the empty chairs nearby. "Sure, go ahead."

As the Tao Brothers settled in, the atmosphere grew tense, the underlying rivalry simmering beneath the surface. Calie and Marie exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to expect next.

Then Ren started to treat them nice compared to Kai who just ignored them and scrolled on his phone. Calie and marie were confused why Ren was suddenly acting nice to them, that is until he apologized for how he treated them in the past.

Calie and Marie exchanged surprised glances as Ren's unexpected apology hung in the air. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from the usually competitive duo, and they weren't quite sure how to respond.

"Um, thanks," Marie said cautiously, her guard still up despite the unexpected gesture. "That's... unexpected."

Calie nodded in agreement, her expression guarded. "Yeah, we appreciate it. But why the sudden change of heart?"

Ren shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his expression sheepish. "Well, we've been doing some thinking lately, and we realized that our rivalry with you two was getting a bit out of hand. We respect your talent, and we don't want there to be any bad blood between us."

Marie raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "And what brought about this sudden realization?"

Ren more earnest. "Honestly, it was our manager. He pointed out that our rivalry with you was overshadowing our own success. We've been so focused on trying to one-up you that we've lost sight of what really matters."

Calie and Marie exchanged a glance, processing Ren 's words. It was a surprising revelation, but they couldn't deny the sincerity in his apology.

"Well, we appreciate you saying that," Calie said finally, offering a small smile. "And we're willing to put the past behind us if you are."

Ren nodded, a hint of relief crossing his features. "Thanks. That means a lot to us."

As the tension between the two duos began to ease, Calie and Marie couldn't help but feel a sense of cautious optimism. Perhaps this unexpected encounter could mark the beginning of a more amicable relationship between them and the Tao Brothers.

Then Kai then gets angry as Ren shifted uncomfortably fidgeting with his hands and slapped him in the back of the head and told him to tell them already. Ren winced and Calie and Marie were confused, that is until Ren nervously asked Calie out on a date.