The night showed 19:29 when Lira glanced at her phone screen for the umpteenth time. The glow from the flat object accentuated the lines of exhaustion as well as anger on her face.
Her brows furrowed tightly. Her finger tapped lightly on the back of the phone. A rhythmic gesture that signaled her patience had reached its lowest point. She stood upright in front of a nearly lifeless bus stop, accompanied by the dim streetlight that flickered faintly, as if about to give up to the darkness.
"Twenty… nine minutes," she muttered softly in a tone that had gone cold. "Impressive."
She took a deep breath, trying to restrain the irritation that was starting to overflow.
"I've already sent the location. Already gave time. Even arrived early," she continued quietly, more like a sharp whisper to herself. "If they're still late…"
Before that threat could be fully spoken,
A sleek black car cut through the silence, slowing down gracefully, and stopped right in front of the bus stop. Its headlights glowed softly, illuminating the body of the car that looked luxurious and elegant: the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
Lira glanced briefly with a flat look. She immediately recognized who owned such an excessive style.
The driver's door opened. A driver stepped out swiftly, walked around, then opened the rear passenger door with formal respect. From the cool cabin, Arven stepped out first. His face looked calm as usual, although the trace of fatigue in his eyes could not be hidden.
However, that calmness immediately broke when Garin appeared. The girl jumped out of the car with energy that felt out of place.
"LIRAAAAA!" she shouted cheerfully, breaking the silence of the night.
Without hesitation and without warning, Garin immediately approached and was about to throw herself into hugging Lira.
However,
Tok.
Lira stopped Garin's forehead with just one index finger. She pushed the girl's head slowly to keep her away. Her expression was flat, but the intimidating aura emanating from her was enough to make anyone shiver.
"Don't touch me," she said coldly, each word emphasized.
Garin froze, her hands still hanging in the air, as if she were hugging oxygen.
"…so cruel," Garin muttered softly, putting on a pitiful expression that was clearly forced.
The driver bowed respectfully before taking his leave. "Miss Garin, I'll excuse myself."
"Yes, thank you, Sir!" Garin replied, returning to being casual as if she hadn't just been bluntly rejected.
The driver got back behind the wheel. The luxurious vehicle slowly drove away, leaving the three of them at the bus stop that fell back into silence. As soon as the car's taillights disappeared around the corner,
Lira immediately shot a sharp gaze at Garin.
"Explanation," she said shortly, but demanding.
Garin blinked innocently. "Huh? What explanation?"
"You," Lira's voice rose an octave, her tone growing sharper, "are twenty-nine minutes late."
She raised her phone high, showing the digital numbers on the screen as if it were absolute proof of a crime.
"I'm not the type of person who considers time flexible," she added with a final tone. "So, I want a clear reason. Now."
Garin grinned awkwardly. Her hand automatically moved to scratch the back of her head that wasn't itchy.
"Hehe… well… actually…"
Arven, who had been nothing more than a spectator, finally let out a long sigh beside Garin.
"It's all because of her," Arven cut in with a flat tone full of resignation.
"HEY! Why are you immediately sacrificing me?!" Garin protested, offended.
Arven didn't budge. His gaze stayed straight at Lira. "She forced me to leave together using her new car."
Lira glanced cynically toward the road where the car had gone. "Oh. So this is a show-off event?"
"NOT SHOWING OFF, LIRA!" Garin immediately became defensive, her hands moving wildly in the air. "This… this is called sharing happiness! So we can both experience the feeling of a new car!"
Arven ignored that ridiculous defense and looked back at Lira.
"She told me earlier to go together. So I picked her up at her house," Arven continued. "At first, I thought she was ready."
Lira crossed her arms in front of her chest, waiting for the continuation. "And it turned out?"
Arven stared blankly ahead, as if replaying a traumatic memory in his mind.
*Flashback
Arven stood in front of the grand house belonging to Garin's family. He pressed the bell several times with his usual neutral expression. As soon as the door opened, he stepped inside… then his steps stopped instantly.
In the spacious living room, Garin was sitting casually on an expensive sofa. The girl was only wearing a loose T-shirt and shorts. Her hand was busy reaching into a bag of chips, then chewing them loudly.
Arven stared at that sight for several seconds in suffocating silence.
"…what time did we agree on?" Arven asked flatly.
Garin turned casually, as if she had no burdens in life. "Seven, right?"
"What time is it now?"
Garin glanced at the wall clock briefly. "…six fifty-five? There's still time, relax boss!"
"And you haven't even showered, not ready at all."
Garin only shrugged, then put another chip into her mouth. "My clothes are still being washed, Ven. Relax."
Arven let out a slow breath, trying to keep his heartbeat stable. "Wear something else. You have a whole closet."
"Can't," Garin refused stubbornly.
"Why again?"
"Because from the start I already intended to wear that one. The feeling matches with that outfit," Garin answered firmly.
"…you have a lot of clothes, Garin. Many that are better."
"But I want that one. Period."
Silence filled the room. Arven rubbed his temple which was starting to throb painfully.
"So what are we supposed to do now?"
"Well… wait until it dries. It'll be done soon."
However, the word "soon" for Garin was a huge lie. A few minutes turned into dozens of agonizing minutes.
After the clothes dried, they still had to be ironed to be "perfectly smooth."
After being ironed, they still had to be worn with full style in front of the mirror.
After being worn, Garin still had to do a long hair styling session.
Arven could only sit silently on the sofa, staring blankly at the wall, while his patience was being tested at the highest level. And somehow… with what kind of strength… he was still able to hold himself back from throwing Garin with the flower vase nearby.
*End of flashback
"And that's the story," Arven concluded briefly.
Lira looked at the two people in front of her without expression.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Smack!
A solid punch landed on Garin's arm.
"IDIOT!" Lira snapped, no longer able to hold back.
"Ouch! That hurts, Lira!" Garin winced while rubbing her reddening arm.
"You really have no concept of time, do you?!" Lira continued in an exasperated tone. "Someone has been waiting for almost half an hour in a quiet place like this!"
Garin could only grin sheepishly, even though her arm still felt hot. "Hehe… sorry, I promise I won't be late again… maybe."
Lira let out a long breath, trying to get rid of the remaining anger while adjusting her glasses. She opened the map application on her phone, stared at the screen seriously for a moment, then raised her hand and pointed toward a small road hidden beside the bus stop.
"That way," she ordered.
Garin and Arven followed the direction of Lira's finger. They saw a narrow road that could only fit one car. The lighting was dim, and the atmosphere was far more eerie than the main road.
"Seriously through here? It looks really creepy," Garin asked doubtfully.
Lira nodded firmly. "I already checked the route."
Arven turned, slightly curious. "Where did you get the information?"
Lira answered casually, as if it wasn't a big deal, "I went to the teachers' room earlier."
Garin blinked in confusion. "What were you doing there after school?"
"Getting Sia's data."
"…huh?! Are you serious?!"
"I saw her full address in the main registry book," Lira continued without the slightest guilt. "It's not difficult if you know how to divert the attention of the duty teacher."
Garin immediately gave two thumbs up. Her eyes sparkled in admiration. "That's crazy… sneaky but really cool! You really are exemplary, Lira!"
Arven only gave a small nod, acknowledging. "Efficient. A smart way."
Lira didn't care about the praises. She started walking first, leading the way into the narrow passage.
"Come on, don't waste any more time," she said briefly without turning back.
Garin and Arven looked at each other for a moment, then without saying much more, they followed Lira's firm steps. Going deeper into the increasingly quiet street, heading toward Sia's residence.