CHAPTER 28: BUBBLE TEA

The incessant ringing of his phone finally succeeded in pulling Godfrey out of his sweet sleep. He sat up groggily, blinking as he looked around the dark room before picking up his phone, rubbing at his heavy eyes.

Leaning back, he planned to take just a glance and then return to his nap, but the moment he saw Isolde’s name on the caller ID, his eyes snapped open.

He shot upright like a soldier doused with cold water mid-sleep. ’We were supposed to go to the gym. Oh, man!’ He smacked his forehead and flopped back onto the bed. The phone buzzed again, its insistent ringing refusing to let him off the hook.

"Hello..." he answered at last, his voice thick with sleep. "I haven’t cleaned up my room, can we reschedule?"

There was silence for a few seconds, before a loud knock rattled his door.

"You can’t even give a proper excuse! We have cleaners!" Isolde’s voice thundered, echoing both through the phone and the door.

’She came here?!’ Godfrey’s eyes widened in alarm. He couldn’t believe the ridiculous excuse had left his mouth and now Isolde was at his door to hear it.

When he opened the door, there she stood, dressed in leggings, a fitted top, and a cap, her golden-orange eyes gleaming with annoyance. But as her gaze caught on his messy hair and sleepy look, her expression shifted, softening with surprise. For a fleeting moment, there was a glimmer of admiration in her eyes, at his dashing looks, though she quickly rolled them away.

"Go get prepared," she muttered, brushing past him and dropping onto his bed as though she owned the place. "I’m waiting."

***

"She’s coming today, right?" asked Dain, the tallest among a group of boys, mostly seniors of Evergreen Summoner’s High. He sat on a bench in the dumbbell area, his hands clasped together, eyes fixed on the entrance.

"Of course, she’ll come," replied another boy, the one wearing a yellow beanie as he curled a 30kg dumbbell in one arm, smirking at the flex of his muscles. Like Dain and the rest of their circle, he was eighteen, a final-year student. "She’s a bit late today, which is odd, but I know she’ll be here. That girl’s a gym rat."

The boy in the beanie turned to Dain, narrowing his eyes. "I know you’ve dated some of the rich girls in Manhattan, but this one’s different. You might not succeed."

"You’re joking, right?" one of the others scoffed.

"There’s no way Dain will fail to get a girl."

"It’s just a girl—!"

The last boy’s words cut off when Isolde stepped into the gym. The air shifted instantly, attention drawn to her. Though still young, her discipline and dedication to training had carved her body into a strikingly elegant shape, every movement graceful yet strong.

"Don’t act carelessly. She’s at least a High-Tier summoner," the beanie boy cautioned. Then his eyes narrowed. "There’s your crush... Oh? She’s with someone."

They all turned as Godfrey entered beside her. His curious glances at the equipment and scenery gave him away immediately, this was his first time here.

"Why’s he wearing a headband?" one asked.

"Are they siblings?" Dain muttered, his eyes narrowing as he took in Godfrey’s features.

Their hair color was close, golden locks catching the light, but while Isolde’s had a faint silvery-white at the tips, Godfrey’s was pure gold.

"Doesn’t seem like it," the beanie boy said, squinting.

They watched as the pair claimed a spot nearby. Godfrey, after a quick chat with Isolde, picked up two 15kg dumbbells and started hammer curls.

"That’s it?" Dain scoffed, rising to his feet. He cracked his knuckles and strode over, glaring across the rack at Godfrey. His friends leaned forward, eager to see what would unfold.

"Godfrey, are you not going to drop that dumbbell?" Isolde’s voice reached him as she approached.

Dain’s eyes widened. It was his first time seeing her this close.

"You’re not a normal human anymore," she added, her tone matter-of-fact.

’He just recently awakened? Hah!’ Dain’s lips curved in a grin.

"I know. I haven’t deadlifted in a while, so I was surprised how light it felt." Godfrey set the weights down and casually picked up 25kg dumbbells. His arms flexed smoothly, showing no sign of strain.

Dain’s smirk faltered.

Then Godfrey moved again, straight to the heavier racks. He gripped a 60kg dumbbell with one arm, flexing as he lifted it cleanly. Without pause, he grabbed the other, balancing the pair like they were nothing.

"I can manage this." Godfrey turned toward Isolde, who was calmly repping with a 500kg barbell. Dain’s jaw clenched as disbelief surged through him. ’He’s pretending... right?!’

It was one thing to be weaker than Isolde, but weaker than this newbie? Just how many monsters was Manhattan hiding?

"Hey..." Godfrey’s voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. He tilted his head, a frown forming. "I’ve noticed you staring. Is there a problem?"

Dain froze, then forced a smile before stumbling back. "N-no problem." Without another word, he turned and hurried for the exit.

"Where’s Dain going?!" one of his friends exclaimed in shock as the leader of their group bolted.

Godfrey made sure he was gone before turning back toward Isolde. He caught her mid-lift, her cheeks flushed. For a moment, she was dazzling. His heart skipped, before he quickly tore his gaze away, forcing himself back to his own exercise.

He was here to train, not to stare.

Isolde smirked faintly at his effort to hide it, the corner of her lips curling.

***

"Hmm..." Godfrey studied the bubble tea on the round table he shared with Isolde later that afternoon. The shop had a warm, modern charm, filled with soft lighting and the quiet chatter of customers.

"What’s inside this tea?" he asked, shaking his cup slightly.

"You don’t know what bubble tea is?" Isolde gasped, eyes wide. "Where have you been all this while?"

"In Amazon City," Godfrey replied calmly. "I don’t really eat out. My mom makes sure I take Oolong tea. I brought some leaves with me."

"Wow," Isolde mouthed silently, astonished.

Godfrey glanced around the shop, watching others sip happily at their drinks. With a shrug, he took a cautious sip of his own. His eyes widened as the sweet, creamy flavor burst across his tongue. He blinked, then took another sip, then another, before nodding in approval.

"It’s good."

"See?" Isolde laughed softly, her golden-orange eyes lighting up.