Chapter:10
Chapter 10: Missteps, Feathers, and Flustered Feelings
Location: A Cozy Café in the City
For once, the setting wasn't an office or a formal event. Kai had insisted on meeting in a small café tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. Leo didn't understand why he agreed—this wasn't his usual scene. The scent of freshly baked pastries and coffee filled the air as Leo sat at the corner table, his suit looking almost out of place among the casual crowd.
Beside him, perched on a specially designed portable stand, was his beloved grey parrot, Lucio.
Lucio let out a sharp squawk, attracting the attention of a few patrons. "Boss is grumpy! Boss is grumpy!"
Leo glared at the bird. "Shut it, Lucio."
Lucio tilted his head, looking unbothered. "Grumpy! Grumpy!"
When Kai arrived ten minutes late, carrying a bright red umbrella despite the sunny weather, Lucio was the first to react. "Who's this? Who's this?" the bird chirped loudly.
Kai smiled at the parrot as he slid into the seat opposite Leo. "Your parrot has excellent taste. Hello, Lucio."
Lucio flapped his wings, squawking again. "Pretty boy! Pretty boy!"
Leo groaned. "Fantastic. Now he likes you."
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The Innocence Act
As they sipped their coffee, Kai spoke animatedly about random topics—the café's décor, the weather, a stray dog he saw on the way. There was something so ordinary about him that it made Leo uneasy.
"You really don't know how to shut up, do you?" Leo said, trying to sound annoyed.
Kai grinned. "I'm just making conversation. Isn't that what normal people do?"
Lucio chose that moment to mimic Kai's tone perfectly. "Normal people! Normal people!"
Leo sighed, massaging his temples. "I'm surrounded by lunatics."
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The (Not-So) Smooth Moment
At one point, Kai leaned forward, accidentally knocking over his coffee cup. The contents spilled all over the table, narrowly missing Leo's suit.
"Oh no!" Kai yelped, grabbing napkins to clean up the mess.
Lucio squawked again. "Disaster! Disaster!"
Leo jumped back, glaring at the spreading stain. "Can't you go one minute without causing chaos?"
Kai looked genuinely mortified. "I'm so sorry! Here, let me help—"
In his haste, Kai bumped into the table, sending Leo's plate clattering to the floor. The entire café turned to stare as Kai froze, holding a dripping coffee-stained napkin.
Leo pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to suppress a groan.
Lucio tilted his head. "Big mess! Big mess!"
Kai gave Leo an apologetic smile. "Uh… I'll pay for the dry cleaning?"
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Leo's Inner Conflict
As they left the café, Lucio perched on Leo's shoulder, occasionally muttering phrases like "Grumpy boss!" or "Big mess!"
Leo couldn't help but glance at Kai out of the corner of his eye. Despite the disaster he caused, there was something endearing about the way he genuinely tried to make things better.
"Why do I even put up with you?" Leo muttered under his breath.
Kai pretended not to hear, walking beside him with his usual cheerful energy.
When they reached Leo's car, Kai stopped suddenly. "Leo, can I ask you something?"
Leo raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Kai hesitated, then smiled. "Do you ever take a day off? You seem… tense."
Lucio squawked. "Tense! Tense!"
Leo snorted. "Tense? You'd be tense too if you had to deal with people like you."
Kai laughed, the sound light and carefree. "Maybe you just need better company."
For a moment, Leo stared at him, caught off guard. Even Lucio went silent, as if sensing the sudden shift in mood.
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A Suspicious Encounter
As Kai waved goodbye and walked off, Leo stayed rooted in place, watching him disappear down the street. Lucio broke the silence with a soft whistle. "Pretty boy…"
Leo scowled. "Don't start."
But as he drove away, something nagged at the back of his mind. Kai had avoided every meaningful question Leo had asked that day, steering the conversation away from anything serious.
Maybe he was just harmless. Maybe not.
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