The Shopping Trip

Mia had just finished doing the laundry when she began putting away the dishes. Then, she turned off the lights and headed to her bedroom. Upon entering, she noticed neatly folded men's clothes on her bed. She frowned slightly before shrugging.

— It must be Cid who left them for me, she murmured with a small smile.

After a long day, a hot bath was in order. The warm water relaxed her tired muscles, enveloping her in a pleasant sensation of well-being. Once clean, she put on the clothes Cid had left—pants that were a bit too wide and a loose t-shirt—before lying down on the bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she drifted into a deep sleep, enjoying the well-earned rest after days of exhaustion.

The next morning, while Cid was still sleeping soundly, Mia was already up and moving. She dusted, mopped the floor, and tidied every corner of the house. Even though it was large, she had no trouble keeping it clean. Housework was second nature to her.

Satisfied with her work, she headed to Cid's room.

— Wake up, lazybones! she called, shaking him.

But Cid groaned and buried himself deeper into his pillow.

— Let me sleep... he mumbled sleepily.

Mia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.

— You promised to come shopping with me, remember?

— Go by yourself, he replied, turning onto his side.

But in his movement, he accidentally nudged her, causing her to stumble backward. Mia, initially furious, was about to retaliate… until a mischievous idea sparked in her mind. A sly grin spread across her lips.

Without a sound, she left the room and returned a few minutes later, armed with two large metal pots. Holding back a laugh, she crept closer to the bed. Then, with a sharp movement, she clashed the pots together near Cid's ears.

— WAKE UP, SLOTH!

The deafening noise startled Cid so much that he rolled out of bed and crashed onto the floor. Groaning, he sat up and shot a murderous glare at Mia, who was clutching her stomach, laughing uncontrollably.

— You're insane! he grumbled.

— Finally awake? she smirked triumphantly.

— I'm going to kill you…

— You have one hour to get ready and come with me, or else… she teased with a wink before leaving the room.

Still in shock, Cid rubbed his head and muttered:

— That girl is going to drive me crazy…

An hour later, Cid joined Mia in the living room. When his eyes landed on her, he froze. She was wearing one of his t-shirts, cleverly adjusted with a chain at the waist to turn it into a trendy dress.

He raised an eyebrow, impressed by her ingenuity.

— Done checking me out, or can we go? Mia teased, crossing her arms.

Caught in the act, Cid quickly looked away, a slight blush creeping onto his face. He quickly recovered, walked past her, and led her to his car.

— Get in, let's go, he said, starting the engine.

Soon, they arrived in front of a popular fashion and beauty boutique. Cid stepped out first, followed by Mia. The moment he entered, a feminine voice rang out.

— Cid, darling! exclaimed a flamboyant brunette as she rushed toward him.

Rose, the store owner, flashed a mischievous smile and placed her hands on her hips.

— Don't tell me you're here for your asparagus, because that's out of the question!

Cid sighed, visibly annoyed.

— Rose…

He said her name in a reproachful tone, but the young woman merely shrugged.

— I'm kidding, I'm kidding!

However, her gaze soon landed on Mia, and an amused smile played on her lips.

— Oh… and who is this beauty?

Mia opened her mouth to respond, but Cid was quicker.

— Just a friend.

Rose raised a skeptical eyebrow.

— Just a friend? Really, Cid? A girl this stunning, and you just call her a friend? Disappointing…

Cid let out a long sigh, pinched the bridge of his nose, and said:

— Whatever. I'm leaving her with you. Find her some clothes and anything she needs. I'll wait in the lounge.

— Understood, boss! Rose replied with a playful wink.

She grabbed Mia's arm and pulled her deeper into the store.

— Don't worry, gorgeous. We're about to unleash the goddess within you! she declared enthusiastically.

Mia simply chuckled softly, curious to see what Rose had in store for her.