Chapter: 0.144 first date II

Rena finished singing, silence swept through the private karaoke room.

Her breath was still catching, cheeks flushed a vibrant rose under the dim amber lights. She looked toward Jin, expecting a snide comment, a sarcastic applause, anything but the look he gave her.

Jin leaned forward lazily, that infamous half-smile tugging at his lips. His crimson eyes shimmered with mischief.

"Well, well," he said, voice lilting with exaggerated wonder. "Was that a *love song*, dear wife? Are we confessing feelings through lyrics now?"

Rena 's eyes widened. "What—no! It's just a song! There's nothing to read into, nothing at all!"

Jin pressed a hand to his chest, mock hurt. "So, not a secret serenade? Not even a little? How disappointing."

"I *told* you it's just a song!" Rina snapped, clutching the karaoke mic like a sword.

"Sure, sure," he said, nodding solemnly, only to add with that maddening grin, "Still feels like a confession to me."

"You're impossible!" she hissed, tossing the mic aside and reaching for the nearest pillow.

She hurled it straight at him.

He dodged it with inhuman ease, laughing. "And now you assault your husband? Tsk tsk. Such a violent woman. Tell me, are you regretting our wedding night already?"

Or like that night 

Rena's eyes narrowed. "Don't you *dare* bring that night up again."

"Oh come on," Jin said, tilting his head. "You hugged me. You cried on my shoulder. That was basically a vow of eternal loyalty."

Her face exploded in color. "It was an emotional moment! And you—you just sat there like a smug cat!"

"Would you prefer I kissed you?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

"I would prefer you had a *filter* on your mouth!"

"But imagine the drama," he said, feigning a romantic sigh. "The beautiful redhead throwing herself at her brooding husband."

Rena grabbed her drink and threw the entire glass at him.

With a flick of his finger, Jien conjured a mana barrier. The juice splashed harmlessly and puddled on the table.

"Really?" he said, examining the wet table. "I was going to offer you a hug or maybe a kiss, but now I feel *wounded*."

"You're *mad*!" she shrieked. "This is a date, not a circus!"

He leaned closer. "So you *do* admit it's a date."

"I—I *refuse* to answer that!"

Jin leaned back with a satisfied nod. "Good. That means yes."

Then he got *that look*. The kind that made Rina instantly go on high alert. Mischief. Arrogance. Danger.

"Wait," he said, voice a little too curious. "You refused a hug, a kiss… is it because… you're into girls?"

Rena nearly knocked the table over.

"WHAT?!"

He grinned. "It would explain a lot. Like how you were so tender with Leona earlier."

"I was HELPING her! She was *drunk*! She could barely walk!"

"I'm just saying," Jin murmured, swirling the straw in his juice. "Two girls. One private room. A lot of tension. Who knows what happened?"

"Nothing happened!"

"Not even a little curiosity?"

"Jin!"

He raised his hands. "Fine, fine. But did you know she kissed a dog?"

Rena blinked. "...What?"

"She thought it was a stuffed toy. Turns out it had a tongue."

For a second, her brain tried to process it. Then the image hit.

Leona. That white-haired disaster. Holding a dog like a plushie. *Kissing it.*

Rena gagged.

And then—

She turned to the side and *vomited*.

Jin blinked, then let out a low whistle. "Wow. I think that's the first time a story made someone literally throw up."

"You're disgusting," she gasped, wiping her mouth and immediately using a flick of mana to incinerate the mess on the floor.

"Careful, sweetheart," Jien said sweetly, placing a hand on her belly, "all this stress isn't good for the baby."

Her jaw dropped. "WHAT BABY?!"

"Our imaginary baby," he said casually. "The one you'll pretend isn't real for the next few months while secretly planning baby names."

She slapped his hand away. "You're insane!"

"And you're adorable when you're furious."

"Stop joking!"

"I could kiss you right now."

"Don't you *dare—*"

He suddenly stepped closer, and for a wild moment Rena thought he *might*. Her heart stuttered in her chest.

But then—he stopped.

They both paused. The air between them pulsed.

And then, Jin did the unthinkable.

He asked: "By the way, are your... you know.... your nipples pink or red? ?"

Rena exploded.

She lunged, shoving him so hard he stumbled backward.

"You PERVERT!"

He laughed—full, rich, infuriating. "Just curious! You said I could find out myself!"

"I DIDN'T MEAN IT LITERALLY!"

Jin's smirk widened. "So you admit it's tempting."

Rina was about to conjure another fireball.

But then something unexpected happened.

He stepped forward.

She didn't move.

He lifted his hand—slowly, teasingly.

And just when both of them thought the other would pull away, his hand grazed—*accidentally* or not—her side.

Not skin. Not anything truly scandalous.

But it was enough.

Enough for her to freeze, cheeks ablaze, thoughts scattering like dandelions in the wind.

A tiny sound escaped her lips—something between a gasp and a squeak—and that alone was enough for Jin's eyes to widen.

And then he stepped back.

Silence.

They stared at each other.

Rena's heart pounded in her ears. Jin's smirk had softened, ever so slightly. The air between them was still.

Finally, she whispered:

"...You're the worst."

Jin gave a low chuckle. "I know."

---

Heat: Do you know what Jin touched?