Jenna giggled softly.


    "Let''s not," Mirabe said calmly, and then under Jenna''s puzzled gaze, she added, "I''m already taken."


    Jenna gasped in shock.


    She understood; it wasn''t just a boyfriend, but a significant other, the kind you end up marrying.


    "Have you, the academic achiever, already nned out your entire future?" Jenna finally managed to say, sounding almost wistful.


    It had only been half a year, and there was already a serious rtionship announcement.


    This made Jenna, still single, feel quite inferior.


    "I can''t speak for others, but at least I won''t fail," Mirabe repliedzily.


    Jenna pped herself on the forehead.


    That''s what you get for running your mouth.


    Soon, the waiter brought their afternoon coffee.


    The two sat in the café, chatting leisurely for over an hour before paying the bill and leaving.


    "How did you get here?" Mirabe asked Jenna as they stepped out of the café. "I took the subway," Jenna said, pulling out her phone, ready to call her cousin. Mirabe nodded, "Heading home or somewhere else? I can give you a ride." "Oh, it''s okay, I''ve messaged my cousin, he should be here soon," Jenna said with a smile.


    Seeing this, Mirabe waved her off, "Alright, then I''ll head off first."


    "Sure."


    Jenna watched Mirabe walk towards the parking lot until she disappeared from view. She then lowered her gaze, about to make a call, when suddenly someone stood in front of her, casting a shadow over her.


    Immediately, Jenna looked up to see it was Dn, her cousin, looking a bit


    confused, "Cous, how did you know I was here?"


    Dn gave her a disdainful look, "Are youing or not?"


    Feeling somewhat insulted, Jenna touched her nose, "...Let''s go."


    Considering her cousin''s attitude, it was probably for the best that he hadn''t met


    Mira today; it might have affected their friendship.


    Jenna hurried to keep up with Dn''s pace.


    **


    For the next while, Mirabe stayed


    at home, enjoying herzy


    thoroughly, until a call from


    university prompted her to prepare for the new semester.


    On the tenth day of the month, she booked a flight back to Riverdale for one in the afternoon.


    She arrived at 3:30 PM.


    James, who knew she wasing back today, was already waiting at the airport.


    Mirabe hadn''t even reached the exit when she saw a man standing outside the crowd.


    He wore a dark coat and a ck


    mask that covered most of his face, his features sharp andmanding, radiating an aura of deterrence that kept bystanders at bay, let alone daring to look at him directly.


    Mirabe passed through the exit, dragging her suitcase closer, "How long have


    you been waiting?"


    "Not too long," James said as he


    took the suitcase from  o naturally taking


    hers,


    adding, "You look much better."


    Mirabe hummed in response, following him outside while looking up at his


    profile, "Have you been very busytely?"


    At a nce, his brows were etched with exhaustion.


    "A bit, but it''ll ease up after this period," James exined.


    Mirabe nodded, "Busy or not, you must take care of yourself."


    James simply squeezed her hand slightly, acknowledging her concern.


    The car was parked at the airport''s temporary parking spot outside, and after


    cing the luggage in the trunk, they got in.


    Soon, they were driving back to their ce.