TADC - Teenage Life.

Lending a hand.

The pair sat at a cozy little table nestled in the corner of a bustling café, where the bright chatter of customers mingled with the clinking of dishes. Jax was delightfully savoring his McFlurry, the creamy, swirled concoction melting slowly under the warmth of his excitement. He scooped up the cool, velvety dessert with a plastic spoon, a carefree smile lighting up his face, while Pomni, a little more reserved, held a To-Go bag filled with her untouched snacks, the faint rustle of the paper bag punctuating the air.

As Jax glanced thoughtfully at Pomni, he broke the calm with an unexpected quip. "Well, isn’t this quite the funny situation?" he remarked, his brown eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Hm?" Pomni replied, her brow knitting together in confusion as she turned her head slightly, curious about what he meant.

"Doesn't this look suspicious?" he continued, raising an eyebrow with a playful smirk.

"Suspicious? Huh? What do you mean?" Pomni asked, the line of her lips curving into a puzzled frown.

"You know," Jax said, leaning back in his chair, "if one of our friends walked in right now and saw us here together, they might think we’re on a 'date.'" His laughter, warm and infectious, danced in the air.

Pomni felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. "Please don’t say that! This isn’t anything like a date! We’re just two students waiting to head back to your place so we can get down to business." She emphasized the last words with a firm resolve, crossing her arms.

His chuckles deepened a lighthearted sound that only seemed to heighten Pomni’s irritation. “What’s so funny?!” she demanded, her voice rising just a notch as she leaned forward, challenging him with a steely gaze.

“If only you knew how that sounded out loud!” Jax replied, his eyes sparkling with laughter as he tried to suppress a grin.

“What’s wrong with how I say it?” she shot back, defensive, her arms firmly crossed in front of her chest.

“C’mon, don’t play innocent! Especially in this day and age, everyone has their share of awkward moments that teach us about life,” Jax stated, his tone light yet knowing, a teasing smile playing on his lips.

Pomni shook her head vigorously, her expression turning serious. “Sorry, but that’s just not me! My mind and body are pure, and I’m keeping it that way until I get married!” Her voice was resolute, the determination clear in her blue eyes.

Jax’s brow furrowed in confusion. “So you’re telling me that even after going to a different school as a freshman, you haven’t experienced any of those ‘inappropriate’ moments?” He leaned in, curiosity evident on his face, as he surveyed her with genuine intrigue.

“Not at all! My school was private; we had only 200 students. There were hardly any fights, let alone any 'inappropriate' moments,” she replied firmly, standing her ground with an unwavering sense of pride.

“Ahh! So you’re a virgin, I see,” he chuckled, a teasing grin spreading across his face as if he had just uncovered a delightful secret.

“Of course! I don’t see why so many people flaunt it like it’s something to be proud of. Wait, are you telling me you’re not a virgin?” Pomni’s surprise seeped through her carefully constructed facade.

“Of course, I’m not! I lost that before I even realized it was something special!” he declared, puffing his chest out proudly as if he wore a badge of honor.

'Ugh, another one with that mindset,' Pomni thought, irritation bubbling just beneath the surface as she stifled a groan.

“Anyway, kid,” Jax said, injecting a playful tone into his voice while lightly tapping Pomni’s shoulder, “I’m going to take a quick bathroom break, then we can bounce. Be right back!” He stood up, stretching his arms dramatically before making his way toward the restroom, the confidence in his stride catching the eyes of a few nearby patrons.