First Date With Target II

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah, we know," I mumbled, but I couldn't help but agree. My mom's cooking was always something to look forward to.

We finished setting the table, and soon, a feast of Indonesian delicacies was laid out before us. There was nasi goreng (fried rice), sate ayam (chicken skewers), gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), and many other mouthwatering dishes.

As we ate, my parents asked IM about his day at school and his basketball game. He regaled them with stories of his impressive three-pointers and his newfound popularity among his classmates. I listened with a smile, happy to see him fitting in and making friends.

After dinner, IM and I retreated to our room, leaving my parents to clean up. We flopped onto our beds, exhausted but content.

"Hey IM," I asked as we settled in.

"Sup?"

"Tomorrow, can you go with me somewhere?"

IM stared at me for a moment, then realization dawned on him. "Oh, you're going out with Hanna?"

"Stop reading my mind," I replied, rolling my eyes playfully.

IM chuckled. "Sorry, can't help it sometimes. But yeah, sure, I'll go with you. It might be fun to see how you interact with a real-life idol."

"It's not a date," I protested, feeling my cheeks heat up. "We're just going shopping."

"Sure, sure," IM said, his grin widening. "Whatever you say."

I threw a pillow at him, but he easily dodged it.

"What's that for!?" he laughed.

"You're just going to stay at a distance. I want to make sure she's alone. I don't want any distractions," I replied.

He nodded. "Alright, alright."

The next day, after school, IM and I quickly changed into more casual clothes and teleported to the central city mall, where we were supposed to meet Hanna. The mall was bustling with activity, shoppers browsing the various stores and families enjoying a day out.

We arrived at the designated meeting spot, the main entrance, a few minutes before 3 PM. IM scanned the crowd, his eyes sharp beneath his sunglasses. "Any sign of her?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Not yet. But she should be here soon. I'm going to check somewhere... she said to meet at a nearby cafe..."

I opened my phone, reviewing the chat from that morning.

[Hanna: Don't forget today!]

[Hanna: Meet at the nearby cafe, okay!]

"IM, you go wait at the mall entrance. But don't stand right at the door, just keep an eye out for Hanna..." I instructed, then imagined creating a hat for him to help him blend in.

IM lowered his head, allowing me to place the hat on his head.

"Alright, I'll let you know telepathically," he replied, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

I sighed, scanning the mall directory. Which one? There were numerous cafes scattered throughout the mall, each one offering a tempting array of coffee, pastries, and light meals.

I decided to start with the most popular one, a trendy coffee shop with a long line of customers waiting to place their orders. I navigated through the crowd, my eyes searching for a familiar face. But Hanna was nowhere to be found.

I checked my phone, hoping for a message from her, but there was nothing new. I sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment. Maybe she had gotten held up or forgotten about our meeting.

Xian, she's here, wearing a mask, glasses, and everything to cover her face. Her friends are with her, but she's heading in a different direction. Seems like they came together but are splitting up, just like you and me, IM's voice suddenly appeared in my mind.

Okay, I replied telepathically, a sense of relief washing over me.

I got up and went to the cashier.

Should be more romantic. Let's see what she likes to drink, I thought to myself, looking at the menu.

Imagine I know her favorite coffee, I focused, channeling my power.

As I opened my eyes, I confidently placed my order with the cashier, including Hanna's favorite coffee. I returned to my seat, waiting for the order to be ready.

I quickly scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for a figure matching IM's description. And there she was, a petite girl in a casual outfit, her face hidden behind a mask and sunglasses. She was walking away from her friends, heading towards a smaller, quieter cafe tucked away in a corner of the mall.

I followed her discreetly, keeping a safe distance so as not to alarm her. She entered the cafe, her movements quick and purposeful. I waited a few moments, then followed suit, my heart pounding in my chest.

The cafe was dimly lit, with soft jazz music playing in the background. Hanna sat at a table near the window, her gaze fixed on the bustling mall below. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, then walked towards her.

"Hanna?" I called out softly.

She looked up, surprise flickering in her eyes. Then, recognition dawned, and a bright smile spread across her face. "Xian! You're here!"

She stood up and gestured for me to sit opposite her.

"Hey, how was the traffic?" I asked, trying to make some small talk.

"It was awful, totally packed!" she exclaimed, but then sighed and removed her mask and sunglasses, revealing her beautiful features.

"Why did you have all those on?" I asked, curious.

"Hehe~ so none of my fans would recognize me here!" she said with a playful wink.

Just then, a waitress brought over two drinks. One was for me, some kind of coffee, but it looked more like chocolate. I was a bit confused. The other drink, for Hanna, was a matcha latte.

"Woah... matcha! You knew what I wanted, huh..." she said, surprised.

I chuckled. "I knew it. As soon as I heard your name, I figured you'd like matcha."

Hanna's eyes widened in surprise, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "That's pretty impressive," she admitted. "Are you some kind of mind reader?"

I shrugged, taking a sip of my drink. "Something like that," I replied, enjoying the warmth of the chocolate-flavored coffee. It was surprisingly delicious.

"So," Hanna started, leaning forward slightly, "what did you want to buy today? You said you needed help with something."

"Oh, right," I said, setting my cup down. "I'm actually looking for some new clothes. My wardrobe is getting a bit stale, and I could use some fashion advice."

Hanna's face lit up. "Ah! I also want to buy some clothes! We can do it together, hehe!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.

"Let's just stay here for a bit. You seem tired," I said, noticing the slight bags under her eyes.

"Yeah, a bit... Thanks for the matcha, by the way. I'll pay you back later," she offered, a hint of guilt in her voice.

I chuckled. "No need. I bought it for you."

"...Are you sure? I mean, you're still in high school. You don't have a lot of money, right?"

I nodded. "I'm fine, don't worry about it."

Hanna smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Xian. You're so kind."

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, sipping our drinks and watching the people milling about in the mall. It was a simple moment, but it felt special. Being with Hanna, even in a casual setting like this, made me feel happy and at ease.

"Enjoying the matcha?" I asked, breaking the silence.

She nodded. "I love matcha, especially the sweet ones... not like real matcha. I've tried that, and it tasted awful," she confessed with a grimace.

I chuckled. "I think I need you to show me what tastes good, sugar," I said, trying to be playful.

Her eyes widened in surprise, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Oh wow, young man, you're quite bold today? What a sudden pick-up line, huh?" she chuckled.

I chuckled, enjoying the playful banter. "Can't help it if you said you love yourself, a 'sugar' that tastes good."

"Woah, woah!" she laughed again, playfully swatting my arm.

"Haha... so, what kind of clothes are you looking for?" I asked, steering the conversation back to the original purpose of our outing.

"It's for my next performance... we have two outfits, one we choose ourselves and then the endorsement clothes," she explained.

"So you're buying something fancy today?" I asked, trying to gauge her style.

"Oh no, just some clothes without any brand... If I remember correctly, there's a store here that sells that kind of stuff."

"It is? So that brand is actually not a brand?" I asked, confused.

"Yeah, yeah! Something like that. It's a brand, but without a brand..." Yolan explained, waving her hand dismissively.

I chuckled. "Okay, that makes perfect sense," I said, sarcasm lacing my voice. "Lead the way, then, fashion expert."

Hanna giggled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Follow me!"

We left the cafe, leaving our unfinished drinks behind. The mall was still bustling, but Hanna seemed to know exactly where she was going. She led me through a maze of corridors and escalators, finally stopping in front of a store called "The Blank Canvas."

The store's interior was minimalist, with white walls and simple displays. The clothes were arranged neatly on racks, their colors ranging from muted pastels to bold, vibrant hues. There were no logos or brand names in sight, just the clothes themselves, speaking for themselves.

"This is it," Hanna announced, her voice filled with excitement. "They have the best selection of unique and stylish clothes, all without any branding."

I nodded, impressed by the store's aesthetic. "It's definitely different," I admitted.

Hanna grinned. "That's what I love about it. It's all about the clothes, not the labels."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the racks, her eyes scanning the various items. "Okay, let's see what we can find for you."

As we browsed through the clothes, Hanna offered her expert opinions on colors, styles, and fits. She had an eye for fashion, and I found myself trusting her judgment completely.

"How about this one?" she held up a dark green bomber jacket with a unique asymmetrical zipper.

I shrugged. "I don't know, it seems a bit too... flashy."

Hanna rolled her eyes. "Come on, Xian, live a little. You can't wear black all the time."

She held the jacket up against me, assessing the fit. "Trust me, it'll look great on you."

I reluctantly tried it on, surprised by how well it actually looked. The color complemented my complexion, and the style was both modern and edgy.

"See?" Hanna said, beaming. "I told you."

I grinned, feeling a surge of confidence. "Okay, I'll take it."

< Chapter 137 > Fin.