Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 30 - Sure of You

Chapter 30 - Sure of You

It was a bright and calming Saturday morning, the kind where sunlight poured gently through the leaves, painting the streets with dappled light and a promise of ease. I woke up far too early today, forgetting that I didn't have any classes, and the lingering fog of sleep still clung to me. 

Groggy and slightly disoriented, I drifted on autopilot to the upscale coffee shop I'd discovered on my very first day here. It had become something of a weekend ritual, though today held a different anticipation.

I ordered a cappuccino, the aroma of roasted beans lifting my spirits as I took a slow sip, feeling the warmth and slight bitterness sharpen my senses. To kill time, I idly scrolled through videos on my phone, letting the soft clinks of cups and low hum of chatter fill the space around me. 

Today was the day I'd meet Myrrh for our very first "Friendly Date." Of course, there was a certain irony to it: technically, we weren't friends, and this wasn't really a date. My high school friends would be relentless if they knew I was here with Myrrh of all people. But, no strings attached, as we agreed. For me, it was partly the thrill—and partly the promise of Myrrh picking up the tab for all our "dates" from here on out.

I was just about to return to my scrolling when a shadow appeared at the glass door beside me, drawing my attention. There stood a striking figure: a woman with an hourglass silhouette, her presence bold and impossible to ignore. 

Myrrh. Her long, lime-green hair was swept up into a ponytail and fastened with black ribbons, the color so vibrant it seemed to shimmer in the light. She wore a frilly green dress that hugged her frame, accentuating the curves of her shoulders and waist. Against the backdrop of the café's muted tones, she looked like some ethereal, vibrant vision—though, amusingly enough, the thought flitted through my mind that she resembled a particularly alluring cabbage.

She studied her reflection in the glass with a serious expression, smoothing her bangs and running her fingers through her ponytail with a delicate touch. Something about the way she fussed over her hair was endearing; I felt a pang of admiration, a spark of warmth. 

But the moment was cut short when she suddenly noticed me just on the other side of the glass. Her blue eyes went wide, and in an instant, her cheeks flushed a vivid shade of pink. Her mouth dropped open in surprise, though no words came. I couldn't help but smile, watching her caught in the act of adjusting herself, her usually composed demeanor slipping away, if only for a second.

I immediately slipped into my well-practiced poker face, an expression of calm indifference settling over me. Taking a long sip of my coffee, I fought to keep my reaction in check even as the searing heat stung my tongue. I forced myself not to wince, determined to play it cool.

Myrrh hurried into the café, her footsteps quick and a bit flustered, before taking a seat directly across from me. Even now, a faint pink lingered on her cheeks, her earlier embarrassment evident. Her gaze hardened as she looked at me, a hint of annoyance lacing her voice.

"Spying on a lady while she fixes her hair is downright creepy," she grumbled, crossing her arms.

"I didn't see anything," I replied coolly, taking another casual sip from my too-hot coffee, hoping my casual tone would add weight to the lie.

She glanced around, visibly relieved to find only a handful of other customers scattered across the cozy café. The atmosphere was quiet and serene, a slow-paced Saturday morning scene—but Myrrh's embarrassment pulsed in the air between us, making it hard not to smirk. That flustered expression, that fleeting vulnerability, would be etched in my memory, no matter how coolly I played it off now.