CHAPTER 20: CHAPTER 20: WILL SHE DRINK OR NOT?

Zayden parked the car.

It was almost 3 in the morning.

In front of his car, there was a two-story house.

It was a common house in every sense.

The fence was small and the garage on the left side could fit only one car.

The house was white with yellow and red roofs.

Zayden looked at Haruka in the passenger seat.

She returned the look.

A charming smile adorned her seductive lips.

She pursed her lips and loosened: "Don’t you want to come in and have a cup of tea?"

An unexpected invitation.

He knew it wasn’t an invitation for sex, but rather, an indirect way to deepen their relationship by allowing him to invade her comfort zone. That is, her own home with the risk of her daughter seeing him.

"Of course, it will be a pleasure to accept." Zayden replied with a smile.

Getting out of the car, leaving it by the roadside in front of Haruka’s house, he entered with her, passing through the smaller iron gate.

A strange feeling took hold of him as he passed through the gate.

He felt more nervous than when he entered the motel for the first time with Haruka.

Perhaps because he believed that this action of entering the house of an older woman who has a child, although single, makes him more nervous than usual.

Even when he went to Catherine’s house, he felt that nervous. In fact, thinking about it, he barely felt nervousness when going to Catherine’s house.

When she opened the door with the key, to the sound of a click, she opened the door and turned around: "Make yourself at home, come in."

With such a welcoming invitation, Zayden smiled in response.

After entering, in the entryway, Zayden stopped with a strange expression.

The house slippers were all feminine and small.

"Ah, sorry, do you mind staying in socks?" She asked apologetically.

"I don’t mind." Zayden replied, taking off his shoes, staying only in a pair of white socks.

After entering, no matter how normal Haruka made it seem, in fact, she seemed more nervous than him.

The fact that she seemed a bit sneaky in her own home was even funny and cute.

Seeing her a bit confused when they entered the living room, he laughed discreetly.

"Ah yes, sit down, I’ll prepare the tea." She gestured.

Nodding, Zayden went and sat on the light brown three-seater sofa.

"If you want, you can turn on the television." She said.

"No, it’s fine. I’ll fiddle with my smartphone in the meantime." Zayden replied.

Without further half-words, she entered the hallway to the side. Possibly connected to the kitchen.

Zayden looks around with a touch of curiosity.

The living room was well-organized and had a sweet smell of flowers in the air.

On the table, there was a vase with water and three types of flowers of different colors: Blue, pink and white.

’She likes flowers, or is it her daughter?’ Zayden thought.

Picking up his smartphone, there were some unread messages.

He replied to all of them quickly.

There was even a message at eleven o’clock at night from someone that surprised him.

Zeroth (Dad): [Son, how are things? Need money?]

Even with few words, he could feel his father’s concern.

If it were before, he would think that his father just wanted to give him money so he wouldn’t make such a fuss. However, now it was different. He understood that his father was just clumsy and didn’t know how to approach him, besides being busy.

This became clear when he recaps the old memories of his interactions with his father.

He used to envy his older brother, Hyoma, for being able to get closer to his father. However, he now understood that their closeness came from Hyoma’s own initiative for his own interests. Remembering the times he saw Hyoma talking to his father, it was mostly flattery on Hyoma’s part.

A true bootlicker who would praise even his worst enemy as long as it brings him some profit.

He replied: [Yes, I’m fine. And, no, I don’t need money]

Ten seconds later.

Zeroth (Dad): [I see. If you need me for anything, let me know.]

Although surprised that his father was awake and replied so quickly, Zayden replied: [I will].

Haruka entered the living room with two cups of tea.

Putting the smartphone in his pocket, he got up and went to her.

Taking one of the cups, he said: "Thank you."

"Uh-huh." She asked: "Do you want to drink on the balcony?"

Looking in the same direction as her, he saw the transparent glass and a considerably large balcony with a round wooden table and two chairs.

"Of course." Zayden agreed.

On the balcony, Zayden sat in the chair next to Haruka.

Her hand naturally went to his thigh.

Looking a bit surprised at her, he saw a touch of mischief in her provocative gaze.

’She seems to have thought a lot while preparing the tea.’ Zayden thought.

When she placed the cup of tea on the saucer and leaned toward him, Zayden did the same and they kissed.

It was a different kiss from the other times, slow, gentle and without all that sexual tension, just a kiss of two lovers in love, so to speak.

When her lips separated from his, she smiled charmingly: "This isn’t bad at all~"

It seemed that she craved it – Craved something more common in a relationship besides sex.

That’s when Zayden thought: ’So it’s not just me.’

He smiled: "Yes, it was good."

He placed his hands on hers under the table and they intertwined their fingers, holding hands while they went back to drinking the tea while looking at the dark sky outside the balcony.

It was a residential area, away from the city center, without many buildings. Because of that, it was still possible to contemplate some stars in the sky, as well as the moon.

Looking at her side profile while she looks at the sky, Zayden found himself thinking: ’Should I offer her one of the attribute potions?’

It wasn’t a matter of greater love for her than what he felt for Catherine or Erika. But Haruka, being older, could benefit even more from the extra attributes: strength, speed, intelligence, luck... or recovery.

If it were recovery, she could endure more. If it were strength, she could protect herself alone. Luck, it was also a very good attribute, it could help her get out of a very unfavorable situation.

The main reason for his choice: Zayden knew that predators chose fragile targets. And Haruka, no matter how strong she showed herself, had her vulnerability. By his side, she seemed safe. But... what about when he wasn’t there?

Zayden didn’t want her to be an easy target. He wanted to change that.

’Deep down, I feel like I’m just trying to find an excuse to give it to her one of the potions...’ Zayden shook his head.

"What are you thinking about?" Haruka’s voice brought him back to reality.

Without further hesitation, he took the potion out of the inventory while he had his free hand in the pocket of his blazer.

From the pocket, a 100 ML flask with liquid of several colors is placed on the table.

It looked like a dangerous substance, nothing that makes one think that something like that could benefit someone.

Haruka’s first reaction was fright.

The second was curiosity, caution and surprise.

"What is this?" She asked.

"Something almost magical." Zayden said carefully, thinking of every word: "No, maybe magical is the right word. If someone drinks the liquid in this flask, they will have a random magical increase. I can’t say for sure, but it could be an increase in strength, intelligence or even recovery. Do you believe me?"

"My first thought upon hearing all that was: What is this boy talking about?" She admitted laughing a little. But, soon her soft expression grew serious: "However, seeing your expression and the way you introduced this, I don’t think it’s a mere joke you’re trying to pull on me, so... I think I believe a little. But, I’m confused. Why did you tell me all this?"

"I won’t lie. I want you to drink this and with luck, it will improve your strength." Zayden revealed calmly without hiding: "I don’t want something like that to happen again. And well, I have another selfish reason for doing this. But, believe me when I say that my reason is to hurt you. I don’t even want to treat you like a guinea pig. This is 100% reliable."

He paused while she digested what he said, when she looked back into his eyes, Zayden continued: "Now, the choice is yours to believe me or not and drink this potion. And, you don’t need to hesitate if you believe me and think it’s too rare to accept. Believe me, I have something to gain, although I can’t reveal it. Again, I just hope you believe in my sincere thoughts towards you in offering you this."

"I..." She pressed her plump red lips, opened and closed again.

She seemed confused and indecisive.

Of course Zayden could understand all that.

If it were him, he himself would want to shout something like: What is this madman talking about? Something so magical doesn’t exist and if it did, why not use it on himself?

However, his good intentions towards her were real. Deep down he knew if he offered this to Erika for example, she would drink without hesitation.

Catherine might hesitate a little, but he believed she would also drink.

Zayden then saw Haruka pick up the potion flask.

{Author: Well, this is the last Chapter of volume one: [A New Beginning]}