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Kineta was wiping on the table when the bell of the restaurant rang, signifying someone's entrance. His brows raised in amusement when startled eyes met his.
He welcomed Maia and settled her into the seat silently, amused by her act of indifference. Giving her the menu, he waited by her side with his notepad ready.
Maia waited for him to announce that he was ready to take her order, to no avail. She parted her lips to call for him when she realized that he never introduced himself.
"You're pretty quiet today," she pointed out.
Kineta grinned cheekily. "You told me not to talk to you, didn't you?"
She flushed, looking away. "This is an exception."
He chuckled, eyeing her attire. God blessed him. "Nice costume."
She sighed. "It's just a casual dress. Most girls wear these things these days."
"I don't look at most girls."
"That's such a lie."
"Maybe it is," he teased.
"You're such a pervert," she huffed.
"At least I'm not a liar."
He caught her lips twitching slightly in a ghost of a smile.
Kineta took her order joyously and kept up his professional facade throughout her meal. It seemed to catch her off guard but she wasn't displeased. His cheeky grin turned to a polite smile and his mischievous eyes turned stern.
"You're rarely like this in school," she said as he took her plates.
"You've only seen me once in school."
Maia quietened. "You don't seem like the serious type, though. You're usually playful."
He ceased himself fro. "Find you a guy that can do both."
She stepped on his leg, brows furrowed. "I'm not joking around."
He flinched before his eyes softened at her frustrated expression. She was sadistically cute at times like this. It gave him the urge to pinch her cheeks. She didn't have to know that, though.
"Frankly, you have to know how to act in certain situations. People who can't adjust to the environment are a bit immature, don't you think?" he asked rushingly.
She released his foot coldly. "How witty."
Kineta checked on his foot, face scrunched in concern. "You're going to destroy both of my feet at this rate."
"Good."
"As consequences, I would forcefully walk you home to make sure you get there safe," he continued on playfully.
"Eh? I never asked you to."
"It's your punishment. It's getting late and my shift is ending in five minutes anyway. Wait here."
Kineta came back dressed in his casual clothes, his gelled back hair ruffled in his usual style.
Mai gave him a once over. "I liked you better in your uniform."
He shoved his hands in his pockets. "What about a trade? I'd use my uniform for you and in return, you'd use the bunny costume for me," he suggested.
She stared at him, unamused before trotting away.
He caught up with her swiftly but she didn't slow down. "Damn. Are you always this fast?"
"Keep up."
After a while, she finally slowed her pace. He savored the sensation of having her near him as the wind pushed her loose hair onto his skin. It was softer than it looked.
Her eyes were fixed onto the stars, the moonlight reflecting onto her pale skin enchantingly.
"You never told me your name," Maia muttered, looking down rather timidly.
He instantly brightened. "Kineta. Kin for short."
"Maia. Mai for short," she replied, chuckling softly as she fixed her bangs.
She stopped in front of a rather familiar apartment. His eyes widened in realization. "You live here?"
Mai nodded. "Yeah, I just moved. Why?"
He laughed. Damn, he should start going to church more often. He was being too spoilt. "I live here, too." He grinned maliciously. "Don't tell me you live at the empty slot beside mine."
She tilted her head. "What's your room number, anyway?"
