Side Story: Dite Cont

I took Valin's advice, and the next time I saw Zaikel—five days later—I approached him and said:

"Can we talk alone?" A cue for his entourage to catch the hint and leave. Zai smiled at me.

"Yeah, sure... come to my office." He waved the group off, and I followed him. Once we were inside, I closed the door behind me and blurted out:

"I'm interested in you!"

"Okay."What a dispassionate response.

"I mean... I heard you haven't had a proper relationship before..." I muttered. He tilted his head, and his eyes widened slightly—he looked angry despite the smile still on his face.

"From who?"

I cleared my throat and looked away to steady my nerves. I probably shouldn't throw Valin under the bus, especially if Zai's upset.

"Doesn't matter. It's just the word going around." I risked a glance back up and regretted it instantly. His smile was gone. His stare was sharp, narrow, calculated.

"What about it?"

His usual warm and friendly vibe had vanished. This conversation was taking a turn I didn't expect.

"You should probably give dating a shot... You never know, maybe you'll feel something later... and I'm willing to be your live test subject!"

After my declaration, his smile returned, and he laughed softly.

"Aren't you a little young to be offering yourself to me like that?" he teased.

"I'm past the age of consent!" He snorted, trying to hold in his laughter. I added, "You're only four years older than me... I looked it up."

Zai's eyes met mine, and he chuckled.

"You're bold... I do like that. But... how about in two years? If you still feel the same way, we can date then. Maybe."

Two years?? That's like… over 700 days. An actual eternity in teenage years.

"Yeah... I can do that," I agreed, reluctantly.

"Okay, good. You can go now."Then he turned to his computer and ignored me until I left.

Should I tell Valin about this? Technically it's a step forward, but it also feels like a mild rejection... Probably not worth mentioning. Plus... it feels weird bringing it up to him.

This was my second mistake.

I asked Valin to meet me for coffee during my lunch break. I dropped my location in a text.

He replied, saying he was busy. Fair. I got him an iced macchiato anyway—just in case.

When he showed up and slid into the seat across from me, my heart stuttered.

"I thought you couldn't make it," I teased.

"I said I was busy. I didn't say I wouldn't come," he replied coolly, his gaze flickering up. "Appreciate my time more."

I laughed awkwardly and pushed the coffee across the table toward him. His fingers brushed mine as he picked it up.

"What do you do... for work?" I asked. Valin had been helping me with dance routines, encouraging me in my dating life... and yet, I realized I didn't know much about him.

"Mainly data analysis right now. I'm also looking into investment options, working on a few software projects, and designing a game."

I blinked. That sounded like... a full-time adult job. "How old are you?"

"How old are you?" I'd assumed we were the same age, but now I wasn't sure.

"I'm sixteen."

I was right...

"Why don't you go to school with me then?"

His eyes met mine—just like Zai's earlier—but it felt different. Like he was looking through me. It made me feel exposed, so I looked away.

"There's no point. There's nothing left for me to learn in school. I already own a business."

Owns a business?! I wonder if he's more involved in Ziren Studios than I thought.

"Oh. Genius alert. So… that means you can help with my homework, right?"

I must've imagined it, but it looked like his eyes lit up at the word "homework."

"Yeah... anything you need help with," he said, sipping his drink.

Anything?! My brain went straight to inappropriate thoughts and I blushed. Why am I blushing so much around him lately? I feel like an idiot. I shouldn't have invited him out—texting is so much easier.

"I'm in Advanced Calculus, so it won't be easy."

Valin grinned. "Do you have any work on you right now?"

I told him no, it was all saved on my laptop—but I invited him to my apartment so he could take a look. By the time we arrived, I had only thirty minutes left on my break.

I can't believe I'm letting someone into my home. He wasn't shy about looking around either. Because of the time crunch, I rushed to get my laptop and opened the school website. Valin sat beside me on the couch, our shoulders touching as he leaned over to see my screen.

He's making me nervous.

Once I pulled up the first set of questions, I asked, "Do you know how to solve this?"

"Yeah... We just started learning this formula today, so it might take me a while. But I can do it. Are you impressed yet?"

"The answer is f′(c)=0f'(c) = 0f′(c)=0 and f′(c)f'(c)f′(c) is undefined. Do you understand, or should I review the steps in more detail?"

I selected the answer he gave and... wow. It was right. He really solved it mentally.

"That's cheating," I teased.

"I won't give you the answer anymore."He helped me through a few more questions, focusing especially on the ones I got wrong. Thirty minutes flew by.

"I have to go!" I said, closing my laptop and jumping up. I had been so focused, I forgot we were practically cuddled on the couch. Only after I moved did I notice the absence of his body against mine.

"Yeah... I'll walk you back to the studio. If you want."

I looked down at him sitting there, effortlessly attractive, and nodded quickly.

I looked at him—at how easily the words came from his lips, like he didn't want to say goodbye either—and nodded quickly.

When he stood, I kissed his cheek on impulse.

He turned to me, surprised. I don't know what possessed me, but I leaned forward again and kissed him softly on the lips, gently holding his shoulders.

This feels right.

I'm tired of fawning over someone I have to force to spend time with me—someone who won't even consider me for two years. Why wait when someone amazing is right in front of me?

Valin placed his hand on the small of my back and pulled away just a little, reading my expression.

"I'm sorry... I was impulsive... I shouldn't have kissed you like that. I was just caught up in the moment," I said, trembling.

"It's fine... You can kiss me whenever you want. As long as I can kiss you whenever I want."

My body felt like it was on fire. We were just doing homework—how did it end up like this?! Oh yeah, I guess that's my fault.

"You... you've wanted to kiss me?" I asked, fluttering my lashes before making eye contact.

"Yeah... a few times."He placed his hand on my cheek and kissed me again. It wasn't my first kiss, but it felt so passionate and intense I almost lost myself in it.

"Wow... um... okay..."Too bashful to say anything else.

Valin took my hand and laced our fingers together as he walked me back to the studio. At the entrance, he let go.

"See you later, Dite."

I still melt when he says my name.

"Yeah, see you."I felt like I was walking on air—even when my manager yelled at me for returning late. Everything was wonderful... until I got a text from Valin:

"So you proposed to my brother today?"

Proposed?! Oh—he means when I asked Zai out. For some reason, the vibe from that text made me anxious. I felt like I'd cheated, even though I hadn't.

"I did ask him out, but he turned me down," I replied.

"He gave you two years. That's better than anyone else has gotten. Is that why you kissed me—because you thought he rejected you?"

Would he be upset if I said yes? I would be.

"No, I kissed you because I wanted to kiss you."

After that, I didn't hear from him for the rest of the night.

Oh... he's mad. Definitely mad.

The next morning he only texted:

"Okay."

And then he ignored me for a week. Maybe "ignored" is too harsh. He replied to texts, but coldly. He turned down all my invites to meet in person. I ruined my manicure biting my nails from stress. I was close to giving up when I caught a glimpse of his hair in the parking garage.

I rushed over—Valin was talking with Zai.

I didn't know what to do. Talk to Zai? Or Valin?

"Hey, Dite."Valin was the one who cut his conversation short and acknowledged me.

"Oh, hey... you two..."It felt awkward asking to speak with Valin in front of Zai. I didn't want to give the wrong idea.

"Yeah, hi," Zai greeted.

"I'm leaving," Valin said, frowning.

He started walking toward his car, fast. I had no choice but to chase him—even with Zai watching.

"What's wrong? Why won't you talk to me?" I asked, grabbing the passenger door. He rolled his eyes, unlocked it, and I jumped inside.

He stayed silent, even after starting the car. A few minutes passed before he finally spoke.

"Are you serious about my brother?"

What a random question.

"Um... yeah," I answered.Another mistake, in retrospect.

"Then act like it. Don't shift to me because I seem easier or more convenient."

"I told you that's not true," I argued.

He gripped the wheel tighter, jaw flexing. Then, he pulled over abruptly.

"Don't lie to me. It pisses me off every time you do. You lie about the dumbest shit. I don't understand—do you do it to hurt me? Or do you think I'm stupid?"

I looked down at my hands. My voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry... I just... I got caught up because I was enjoying my time with you. I should've told you about Zai. I thought it'd be better not to."

"Why?"

"I thought... you might get jealous."

He laughed bitterly.

"Me? I'm not jealous. I'm pissed that you spent the whole day with me and said nothing. Then I had to hear that crap from my brother. It felt like you were playing with me."

"I'm sorry! I won't hide things or lie to you again…"

He sighed, and said, "Look at me."

When I did, he leaned in and kissed me deep, his hand gently cradling my chin, his tongue teasing mine. He pulled away slowly and whispered,

"Good. That's all I wanted to hear."

He drove me home. My legs wobbled when I stepped out. I could barely think.

"Good night, Dite," he said from the window.

"Night!" I squeaked. Then I sprinted up to my room, slammed the door shut, and collapsed face-down on my bed, muffling my scream of joy with a pillow.