chapter 2: A date that should have been disaster

Niki sat at the reserved table, adjusting his tuxedo.

He looked like he was attending a business gala. And the worst part? His mother and sister were on a video call, watching everything.

The phone lay flat on the table, slightly angled, the screen dimmed but still running. His mother had muted herself, only watching, while Aria sat beside her, smirking.

Niki sighed. This wasn't a request. It was an order.

Then, Kyara walked in.

Niki's first thought wasn't about her appearance.

It was about the hospital bench.

It's her.

The girl from that night. The one he had given his jacket to.

His second thought?

Should I ask for my jacket back?

Of course not. Mom would grill me. He shook his head.

Kyara, settling into her chair, caught the movement. Already judging me, huh? she scoffed internally.

Silence stretched between them. Niki grabbed the menu, flipping through it like it was a legal document. Kyara did the same.

Niki could feel his mother and sister judging him through the screen. He wanted to ruin this date. Say something stupid, act completely disinterested.

But he couldn't.

Because of this freaking video call.

Who invented this shit?

Then, Kyara spoke, breaking the silence.

Her first attempt to ruin this date.

"So, I have some conditions before marriage."

Niki glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, go ahead. I'm all ears."

Kyara leaned forward, squared her shoulders, and said, "I don't want kids."

Niki nearly spit out his water.

He wanted to say something outrageous to ruin it completely. But instead—his real self answered.

Awkwardly smiling, he said, "No uterus, no opinion. Your body, your choice."

Shit. Plan A failed.

No worries. I have more conditions.

Kyara straightened. "I have a lot of male friends in college, and I do hang out with them."

Niki blinked but stayed silent.

"And when it comes to my college, my job, my salary—no one will interfere in my decisions."

She laid it all out.

But Niki just blinked. "Yeah, okay."

Kyara's mind raced. What the hell?

Her final attempt.

Be shameless, Kyara. This will definitely work.

"So," she said, leaning in with a smirk, "don't expect me to have any physical relationship with you just because we're married."

Niki choked on his water.

This was it. The perfect opportunity to ruin the date.

But he couldn't.

Because of this damn video call.

Instead, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair and sighed.

"What do you think I am? A rapist?" he said dryly. "Of course, I'm not. Your body, your choice. Same with your life."

On the video call screen, Aria and Richa exchanged proud looks.

Niki clenched his jaw. I need to end this call. NOW.

Just then, the waiter arrived with their drinks.

Without missing a beat, Niki "accidentally" spilled hot coffee on his phone.

RIP, my phone.

He sighed dramatically, staring at the mess. "Damn. Looks like the call got disconnected."

Then he put on his best "this wasn't intentional" face.

Finally. They were alone.

Kyara exhaled, looking at him. "I'm being forced into this marriage. I was forced into this date too."

Niki's eyes lit up. "ME TOO!" he said, almost too enthusiastically. "Whoa, I was scared for no reason."

Kyara raised an eyebrow. "So… do you have any plans?"

Niki thought for a moment. Then sighed. "Nope. I don't. But hey, at least we're on the same side. That's something."

He grabbed what was left of his phone. "Let me call my best friend. He's my brain."

Kyara giggled.

Seconds later, the call connected.

"Yo, Rohan, I need you," Niki said.

"For what?" Rohan sounded half-asleep.

"For handling my brain because I'm about to do something stupid."

Rohan groaned. "What now?"

"I'm getting married."

Silence.

Then—

"What the fuck?"

Kyara choked on her drink.

This was going to be interesting.

Niki and Kyara quickly explained everything to Rohan.

Rohan sighed heavily. "Look, I don't think you guys have an option to say no. But bro, just think about our invest—"

"Shut up," Niki cut him off.

Kyara raised an eyebrow. Investment? But before she could think much about it, Niki's expression shifted, suddenly guarded.

Rohan hesitated, then cleared his throat. "I mean, bro, if your parents find out about this, I don't need to spell out how badly that'll go."

Niki winced. He had a point.

Kyara frowned slightly but let it go. Not my business.

Rohan continued, "But hey, I have an idea. Don't call me crazy, okay?"

Niki rubbed his temples. "Just say it."

"Why don't you both... do a contract marriage? When the situation settles, you can just get a divorce."

There was a beat of silence.

Then Rohan chuckled nervously.

"Just kidding! I know it's insane—"

The call hung up.

Kyara and Niki looked at each other.

Niki shook his head in denial. "This is ridiculous."

Kyara nodded in agreement but sighed. "So is our situation."

Neither of them took it seriously.

But neither of them took it as a joke either.

Niki's phone rang. He answered—it was an emergency at the hospital.

He stood up, grabbing his things. "I have to go for now, but hey, at least we are on the same page. Let's discuss it later."

They were about to leave when Kyara suddenly asked, "So, the question you answered in the beginning… why didn't you just say straight up that you weren't interested?"

Niki smirked.

"Well…" he said while putting his card for the bill on the table. "Before I spilled coffee on my phone, it was on a video call."

Kyara frowned. "So?"

"My sister and mother were watching the entire time."

Kyara froze.

Then—

Secondhand embarrassment hit her like a truck.

She thought about everything she had said.

❌ I don't want kids.

❌ I have male friends.

❌ No physical relationship.

Her face burned.

Niki simply enjoyed the moment, sipping his drink like nothing happened.

Kyara closed her eyes in frustration but quickly shook her head. She grabbed money from her purse and slammed it on the table.

"I'll pay my share, you pay yours."

Niki frowned, then smirked. "Well, I was only paying mine."

Kyara scoffed. This bitch.