Rivals Redemption

chapter 36 : The flirt

Tina Diaz

As the tension between Sevia and Louis began to settle, a new dynamic emerged at our table. Aiden, ever the flirt, turned his full attention to Lemi, a playful grin spreading across his face.

"Hey, fashionista," he said, leaning closer to her. "I've been dying to see those new designs of yours. Maybe you could give me a private fashion show?"

Lemi rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a smile. "You mean you want me to dress you up in something ridiculous so you can show off?"

"Now that sounds like a challenge I'm willing to take," Aiden replied, his tone flirtatious as he leaned back in his chair, giving her an exaggerated look of admiration. "I think I could rock a nice floral print."

"You'd look like a walking garden," she teased, her laughter ringing through the café, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy for her ability to banter effortlessly with him.

Just then, another male voice chimed in, and I turned to see one of Lemi's classmates-Dylan, a tall guy with tousled dark hair and a laid-back vibe-joining our group. "Hey, Lemi! I heard you've been working on some incredible pieces lately. I'd love to hear about your inspirations."

Aiden's playful demeanor shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing as he watched Dylan engage with Lemi. I could sense a hint of jealousy brewing beneath Aiden's usual cocky facade. Lemi seemed oblivious to the tension, her excitement lighting up her face as she began explaining her latest project.

"Thanks! I've been experimenting with sustainable fabrics and bold colors," Lemi said, her eyes sparkling as she spoke passionately about her designs. "It's been a lot of fun pushing the boundaries."

Dylan nodded, genuinely interested, leaning in to hear more. "That sounds amazing. I'd love to see how that translates into your collection."

Aiden crossed his arms, a slight scowl forming on his face as he listened to their exchange. "Yeah, well, I bet my floral print idea would blow your designs out of the water," he shot back, trying to regain his playful edge but sounding a little defensive.

"Floral prints are so last season, Aiden," Lemi replied, a teasing smile on her lips. "You'd need to step up your game to keep up with my work."

"Touché," Aiden conceded, but I could see the annoyance simmering just beneath the surface. His usual charm seemed to falter as he watched Lemi and Dylan engage.

"You know, if you ever want to collaborate on a piece, I'd love to help out," Dylan suggested, his tone sincere. "It could be a cool way to mix engineering and fashion."

Aiden scoffed, shaking his head. "Please, I'm pretty sure I could design something way better with my eyes closed."

"Are you sure about that?" I chimed in, unable to resist teasing him. "Last time I checked, you struggled to match your socks."

"Hey! Those socks are a statement," he shot back, his voice light but clearly trying to mask his irritation.

The banter continued, but I could see Aiden's attention shifting more toward Lemi and Dylan. It was as if a switch had flipped, and he was desperate to regain the spotlight.

"Lemi, let's go for a coffee sometime. I want to hear more about your designs, away from the noise of this place," Aiden suggested, his tone suddenly serious.

Before Lemi could respond, I jumped in, wanting to steer the conversation away from the brewing jealousy. "So, Aiden, what's your next project in computer science? Still working on that app to calculate how many times you can flirt in a day?"

Aiden smirked, appreciating the distraction but glancing back at Lemi. "Funny you mention that. I think I might need a fashion consultant to help me look good while doing all that flirting."

"Good luck getting Lemi to help you with that," I quipped, unable to hide my amusement. "She's way too busy making actual fashion statements."

Lemi laughed, and Aiden couldn't help but join in, albeit reluctantly. "Alright, alright. I'll take my ego down a notch," he conceded, but his eyes still flickered with a mix of admiration and frustration as he watched Lemi and Dylan chat animatedly.

As I observed the dynamics shifting around the table, I felt a familiar unease settle in my stomach. It was hard not to notice the way Aiden's mood swung with Lemi's attention elsewhere. While I appreciated their chemistry, it made me wonder if Aiden would ever truly recognize Lemi's worth without resorting to his usual cocky antics.

"Hey, guys," I interrupted, trying to lighten the mood. "How about we all go for karaoke later? I hear Aiden has a hidden talent for belting out pop ballads."

"Pop ballads? More like R&B, but I'll consider it," Aiden replied, the tension slowly easing as he attempted to regain some footing.

Lemi nodded, clearly excited at the prospect. "I'm in! I need to show off my skills. I'll even wear one of my new designs."

"Count me in too," Grace said, glancing at Nash, who grinned and nodded in agreement.

Rowan leaned back in his chair, watching the exchange with amusement. "You all better be prepared for my epic performance. I'll make sure to steal the show."

"Please, as if anyone could steal the spotlight from my Lemi," Aiden teased, nudging her playfully.

The banter continued, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all teetering on the edge of something more complicated. As laughter filled the air and excitement bubbled among my friends, I found myself lost in thought. I couldn't deny the electric chemistry between Rowan and me, but Aiden and Lemi had their own spark.

How would our friendships evolve as we navigated these uncharted waters of relationships, jealousy, and desire? All I could do was hope that we'd find a way to stay connected, even as everything around us began to shift.