Aiah leaned back in her chair, absently stirring her iced coffee as the late afternoon sun streamed through the café windows. Across from her, Colet was scrolling through her phone, barely hiding the smirk tugging at her lips.
"You've been quiet lately," Colet said casually, not looking up.
"I've been busy."
"With work or with Mikha Lim?"
Aiah's stirring slowed for a split second before she forced herself to keep moving.
Colet glanced up, smirk widening. "Wow. That pause was loud."
Aiah sighed, setting the spoon down with a soft clink.
"She's a client, Colet."
"Uh-huh. And I'm a world-class violinist."
Aiah shot her a flat look.
Colet leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Come on. Spill. You've been dragging this whole property hunt out for weeks. I know Mikha Lim's picky, but even she's not that impossible."
Aiah exhaled slowly, eyes drifting to the window.
"She's... complicated."
Colet barked a laugh. "Complicated? That's rich coming from you."
Aiah gave her a sharp look, but Colet only grinned.
"Seriously, though. What's going on?"
Aiah hesitated, turning her iced coffee slowly in her hands.
"It started out normal. She was difficult, I was patient. Same as any client."
"But?"
Aiah's jaw tightened.
"But somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling like work."
Colet's smirk softened.
"And now?"
Aiah leaned back, staring at the ceiling for a moment.
"She's... not what I expected. One minute, she's cold and impossible. The next, she's taking me to some quiet gallery or pulling this... softer version of herself out of nowhere."
Colet raised a brow. "And you like that."
"I shouldn't."
"But you do."
Aiah groaned, running a hand through her hair.
"She makes everything complicated. She asks questions she shouldn't ask, looks at me like she's trying to figure me out. And it's... frustrating."
Colet grinned. "And kind of exciting?"
Aiah shot her a glare.
"Okay, okay! I'm just saying. You've been single for how long now? Maybe it's about time someone shook you up a little."
"She's a client, Colet."
"So quit being her agent."
Aiah blinked. "Excuse me?"
Colet shrugged. "If it's getting messy, quit. Problem solved."
Aiah's mouth opened, then closed.
She couldn't.
And that realization hit harder than she wanted.
Colet's smirk turned knowing.
"Exactly."
Aiah slumped in her chair, crossing her arms.
"She's still impossible."
"But not impossible enough for you to walk away."
