Meant to Collide

26. Beyond the Breakfast

The quiet ambiance of the dining area is filled with a subdued, tense energy as Jules watches Sky Chandler's interaction with the chef from afar. His demeanor is enigmatic as always, prompting Jules to lean towards Sky's friends and ask, "Why is Sir Sky avoiding me and acting so strangely in there?"

Tee chuckles, leaning back. "He's always been peculiar. With him, you have to reimagine his every move. He'll never tell you what he wants; his method is to always keep things indirect. That's his way of showing authority without saying a word."

Jim interjects, nodding thoughtfully. "He was raised in a place where he couldn't express himself. As a child, he rarely got what he wanted."

"Exactly!" Kade adds, amused. "If he says something is tasty, it probably means he doesn't want to eat it. That's how he is—he never quite matches his actions to his feelings."

From the kitchen, Sky raises a knife in a dramatic gesture toward the chef, who looks understandably alarmed. Jules watches in confusion, murmuring to herself, "Is there really someone like that?"

All three friends chime in unison, "Yup, that's our Sky."

Jules can't help but be intrigued. "You seem to know Sir Sky so well," she observes.

"We've known him long enough," Tee says with a grin. "Teasing him is the best fun we have. He never takes offense, no matter what we say. Honestly, if he weren't my friend, I'd totally chase after him," Kade teases.

Jim rolls his eyes, smirking. "Oh, please, don't you go after everyone that's cute?"

Jules tilts her head, curious. "Why do you call him 'Hon'?"

All three laugh, and Jim explains, "When we first met him, none of us liked him. He seemed so deadpan, so... lifeless. 'Hon' just kind of stuck. But once we got to know him, he turned out to be a real sweetheart."

"Oh, by the way," Jim continues, "can I get your Line ID?"

"Of course." Jules hands over her ID, and Jim quickly adds, "Great! We'll make a group chat. Feel free to message us anytime."

Then Tee's eyes spark mischievously. "Now, let's have a little fun. Let's find out what 'Hon' really thinks about you."

Jules looks mildly surprised but nods, smiling. Jim saunters over to Sky, who is about to light something on fire. Sky freezes mid-action as Jim catches him. "Planning to torch the place, are we?" Jim jokes, guiding Sky back to the table.

"Sorry," Sky mutters, sheepish, and heads to join the others.

Seizing the moment, Kade grins and calls over, "Hey, Hon, do you think Mon is cute?"

Sky barely glances up. "Not remotely," he says plainly and continues eating, unbothered by the laughter that follows his blunt response. Jules hides her smile, blushing.

Tee tries again, "Don't you like her, Sky?"

Sky gulps down a bite, glancing at Jules. "No, I don't," he replies curtly, though the chorus of "Hmm..." that follows suggests his friends aren't convinced. Sky frowns. "What's everyone staring at?"

Jim grins. "Nothing, nothing. We're just enjoying the meal."

Sky softens, turning to Jules. "Here, try this," he offers, passing a plate her way. Jules feels her heart skip, feeling like his attention, however subtle, holds a little more weight.

After breakfast, Sky and Jules step out together, weaving through the bustle of the street. "Sir Sky, you like grey, right?" Jules asks out of the blue, looking up at him.

He nods, and she sighs, "That means I didn't know you at all."

"It's fine," he says gently. "You'll get to know me from here on out." His voice grows softer. "You've grown a lot. The kid from back then is all grown up now. You could have mentioned that you were my teacher's daughter sooner."

Jules reaches into her bag, smiling. "My mom told me to show you this." She pulls out a picture of a puppy—the very one Sky had rescued.

Sky's face brightens as he takes in the memory. "So cute," he murmurs, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "How's it doing?"

Jules hesitates. "It passed away... but it's been over ten years. I was very close to him, and I even got a puppy of the same breed. I named him Shiro."

Sky's gaze softens. "Whenever I saw Shiro, I thought of you," Jules confesses shyly. "He reminded me of how kind you were, like I saw your warmth in him."

Sky raises an eyebrow, smiling despite himself. "So, do I remind you of a dog?"

She laughs. "Not exactly. It's just... he made me think of your kindness."

Sky chuckles, looking at her with a mix of wonder and amusement. "Do you really admire me that much?"

Blushing, Jules nods. "So much that, if I could, I'd make a move," she admits, glancing down.

Sky is taken aback, not quite expecting this from the girl he once knew as a child. He stares at her with a newfound admiration, but quickly catches himself. "Walk ahead of me. Don't look back, or I'll dock your pay," he jokes, attempting to hide his own blush.

As they walk, he finds himself laughing genuinely, unguarded. They arrive at the car, where Sky opens the door for her. "You know I like grey, and I know you like pink. We're even," he says, a playful glint in his eye. "Let's get to know each other, bit by bit."

They drive off, both feeling the quiet thrill of new possibilities.