CHAPTER 97: DATE [2]

Maya sat near the window, quietly fixing the buttons on her uniform.

The evening light spread across her desk, warm and soft. She could see her own reflection faintly in the glass, eyes uncertain, but steady.

Rihana, who had been leaning against the bedframe, spoke first.

"So, this is the day, huh?"

Maya nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

There was a pause, not awkward, just the kind that carried too many unspoken things.

Rihana pushed herself off the bed and walked over.

"You sure you’re ready for this?"

Maya took a deep breath.

"Honestly? No. But... I’ve been waiting for him to say something. Even if it’s not the answer I want, I just want to hear it from him."

Rihana crossed her arms.

"You confessed in front of the whole class. That’s brave. Not many people can stand there like that and mean every word."

"I didn’t even think,"

Maya said quietly.

"It just came out. I saw him zoning out again, like always, and before I knew it, I said it. The whole room went silent. And then... he just looked at me. No expression. No words."

"Classic Lyrium."

Maya gave a short laugh.

"Yeah. Classic him."

Rihana walked behind her, helping her tie her hair neatly.

"He’s not the type to avoid things. If he asked to meet you, it means he’s made up his mind. Whatever the answer is, he’ll say it directly."

Maya lowered her gaze.

"That’s what scares me."

There was another pause.

Rihana’s voice softened.

"You like him that much?"

Maya didn’t answer immediately.

Her tone was almost a whisper.

"It’s not something I planned. It’s just... he’s quiet, but when he talks, it stays with you. He doesn’t try to impress anyone. He’s just there, steady, unbothered, like nothing in the world can shake him. Maybe that’s why I fell."

Rihana tied the last ribbon gently.

"You sound like you already know your answer, no matter what he says."

Maya smiled faintly.

"Maybe. I just don’t want to regret anything. If he rejects me, at least I’ll know I tried. I’d rather feel hurt than keep wondering."

Rihana looked at her for a moment, then nodded.

"You’ve got a good heart, Maya. Whatever happens, don’t let this change that."

Maya stood up, brushing her skirt lightly.

"Thanks, Rihana. And... thanks for not teasing me today."

Rihana smirked a little.

"Don’t thank me yet. I’m still going to tease you if you come back crying."

Maya laughed softly.

"Fair enough."

As she picked up her small bag and walked toward the door, Rihana called out.

"Maya."

She turned around.

"Don’t force yourself to act calm. Be honest. If you’re nervous, let him see it. If you’re scared, let him know. Sometimes people understand sincerity more than confidence."

Maya’s eyes softened.

"I’ll keep that in mind."

She walked out of the dorm room, the quiet sound of her footsteps fading down the hall.

The sky outside had started to turn orange, and the wind carried a faint chill.

Maya stopped for a second on the stairs, looking up at the fading light.

’Even if it’s a no,’ she thought, ’I’ll still be glad I told him how I felt.’

Then she continued down, calm but trembling slightly, the kind of trembling that came when something real was about to happen.

*****

The evening sky had turned to soft amber, fading slowly into violet.

Streetlights flickered to life one by one, casting dim halos on the cobblestone path.

Lyrium walked quietly, hands tucked into his coat pockets, his expression calm but his mind far from it.

He wasn’t nervous.

At least, that’s what he kept telling himself.

"It’s just an answer,"

He thought.

"Nothing more."

But that simple thought felt heavier than any battle he’d fought.

As he turned the corner, the small café came into view, The Azure Lantern.

Atleast that was the only cafe in the entire world that has the old era setting and vibe and doesn’t have 4 dimensional space.

A quiet place, tucked between ivy-covered walls, its lamps glowing warm against the dusk.

Through the window, he could see her.

Maya.

She was sitting by the window, hands folded, staring down at her drink.

’When Did she reach, but Rihana said, she only leave just now?’

Her posture was tense, shoulders slightly hunched, the kind of nervousness that no amount of composure could hide.

Lyrium slowed his pace.

For a moment, he just... looked.

He didn’t know why he hesitated.

Maybe it was because she looked different, not in appearance, but in the air around her.

There was something honest, fragile, and brave about her sitting there, waiting for an answer she didn’t know how to predict.

"She’s actually nervous..."

He blinked once, exhaled softly, then pushed the door open.

Ding—!

The chime echoed softly through the café.

Maya’s head snapped up immediately, her eyes widening as she saw him.

"L-Lyrium!"

Her voice cracked slightly. She stood up too quickly, almost knocking over her drink.

Lyrium raised a brow.

"You don’t have to stand."

"I-I wasn’t—! I mean, I was just—uh—never mind!"

She stammered, sitting back down with her hands pressed on her lap.

He quietly took the seat across from her.

For a few seconds, neither spoke.

The sound of the clock ticking behind them filled the silence.

Finally, Maya tried to speak.

"So... you came."

"I said I would,"

He replied simply.

"Right. Yeah. Of course. You did say that. Totally."

Lyrium’s lips twitched faintly, the ghost of a smile.

"You’re... nervous."

"Wha, me? No, no, not at all! I’m completely calm, totally fine! Just breathing like a normal human being, yup."

He leaned back slightly, studying her.

"You’re talking fast."

Maya froze.

"...Am I?"

"Yes."

"...Right. Sorry."

The silence returned, but it wasn’t heavy this time.

More like two people standing on the edge of something they didn’t know how to name.

Lyrium finally broke it.

"Maya."

Her eyes immediately met his, uncertain but waiting.

"That day... when you confessed in front of everyone."

Her breath caught slightly.

"Yeah?"

He looked down for a moment, his voice steady, low.

"I didn’t answer right away because I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting it. I’m... not used to things like that."

Maya bit her lip, nodding slightly.

"I figured."

"I thought about it,"

He continued.

"And I realized something. I don’t dislike you."

Her eyes widened a little.

"You... don’t?"

Lyrium shook his head.

"No. You’re honest. Brave. You say what you feel. It’s rare to see that. But..."

Her heart skipped at the pause.

"...I don’t know what love feels like."

The words came quietly, almost uncertain, something rare for him.

Maya blinked, her voice soft.

"You mean... you’ve never felt it before?"

He nodded.

"Maybe I have, but if I did, I didn’t understand it. I’ve been through too much, and my emotions... they don’t always work the way they should. I don’t want to give you an answer that isn’t real."

Maya stared at him, speechless for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"You’re honest too, you know that?"

He looked up at her, slightly surprised.

"Most people,"

She said quietly,

"Would’ve just said yes or no to end it. But you’re trying to make sense of it. That’s more than I expected."

"...You’re not mad?"

She shook her head.

"No. I didn’t confess to force you to like me back, Lyrium. I just wanted you to know. That’s all."

He stayed quiet for a moment, then said,

"You still wanted to go on this date, knowing I might say that?"

Maya laughed softly, a little sad but sincere.

"Yeah. Because even if you don’t love me back right now... I still wanted to make one memory where I got to sit across from you like this."

Lyrium’s expression shifted, a faint crack in his calm, something almost gentle in his eyes.

"She really means it," he thought.

The two sat quietly again, this time more at ease.

The café around them hummed softly, clinking cups, low chatter, the sound of rain starting faintly outside.

Lyrium spoke again, voice low but firm.

"I can’t promise anything right now. But... if it’s okay with you, I want to understand what this feeling is. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but someday."

Maya looked at him, her eyes softening.

"So... you’re saying I still have a chance?"

Lyrium hesitated, then gave a small nod.

"...Maybe."

Maya’s smile returned, small, quiet, but bright enough to reach her eyes.

"Then I’ll take maybe,"

She said gently.

Lyrium leaned back, finally relaxing a little.

"You’re persistent."

"Vice President’s duty,"

He replied with mock seriousness.

"We never give up easily."

He gave a quiet laugh, rare and fleeting, but real.

The rain outside grew louder, tapping against the window like a soft rhythm.

Maya leaned her chin on her palm, watching the droplets trail down the glass.

Lyrium followed her gaze.

For the first time in a long while, he felt something shift inside him, something unfamiliar but not unwelcome.

"Maybe..."

He thought,

"This is what she meant."

Then, a female waiter approached their table with a polite smile.

"Sir, what would you like to eat?"

She asked.

Lyrium opened his mouth to answer—

BOOM—!

The entire café trembled, the windows shaking violently as a deep echo rolled through the air.

People gasped, plates fell, and Maya instinctively covered her ears.

Without thinking, Lyrium stood up, his chair screeching behind him.

He sprinted toward the door, pushing through the panicking crowd.

As he burst outside, his eyes widened,

Smoke.

Fire.

Chaos.

And then—

Boom—!