Twenty-five minutes had passed surprisingly quickly. It just went to show that time flew when you were doing something interesting.


    Juniper sent a text to Qadir: [Where are you?]


    Qadir replied almost instantly: [They took a wrong turn, I just found them. If you''re hungry, go ahead and eat, Juniper.]


    Eat first? Juniper lifted the lid of the pot, and the fresh scent of wild mushrooms mingled with the rich aroma of chicken. It smelled divine. But her friends hadn''t arrived, so naturally, she couldn''t start without them.


    Still... a little taste of the broth wouldn''t hurt, right? No, better not.


    A few secondster, Juniper put down her phone, picked up a spoon, anddled a small amount of broth into her bowl. She took a sip, and her eyes lit up. It was delicious.


    Well, since she''d already had one sip, another wouldn''t be too much to ask, would it? Not at all.


    Having convinced herself, she poured arger portion this time, holding the bowl with both hands and blowing on it as she took small, satisfying sips, her eyes narrowing with pleasure.


    Before long, Qadir walked in with Queenie and Dolce.


    "Perfect timing, we can eat right away," Qadir announced, busying himself with serving everyone.


    With exams in two days, this meal was meant for rxation, so no one mentioned studying.


    "Juniper," Qadir said after a while, putting down his fork and knife. He looked at her with keen interest. "So, after graduation, are you and Mr. Schwartz going public?"


    "Public?" Juniper, who was nibbling on a bone, froze and looked at Qadir in confusion. She and Shanley were justndlord and tenant, right? Besides, he had never even confessed his feelings to her.


    "What are you prying for?" Queenie smacked Qadir''s arm and quickly changed the subject. “Juniper, Mr. Schwartz ising to pick you up, right?"


    They had overheard her phone call earlier.


    "Yeah."


    "Then we''ll get going," Queenie said, standing up. Qadir and Dolce followed suit, waving goodbye.


    "Okay,” Juniper didn''t press them to stay. "Good luck on the exams."


    After they left, Juniper rested her chin on her hands, her head feeling woozy. What was going on? Did she eat too much?


    Once they were out of the restaurant, Qadir sidled up to Queenie. "Why''d you cut me off back there?"


    "I don''t think Mr. Schwartz and


    Juniper are officially together yetet


    Queenie exined seriously. "It seems like he hasn''t confessed his feelings


    "Really?" Qadir scratched his head. “Why not? I think Juniper likes him a lot.”


    All that was missing was the official gesture.


    "It''s about timing,” Queenie said, rolling her eyes. "With emotional intelligence like yours, you''ll never find a girlfriend."


    “Are you cursing me?" Qadir''s expression soured. “Just you wait. If I can''t find anyone, I''ll just have to bother you instead."


    Queenie''s head snapped up. She


    suddenly realized how close they were standing. Her heart started racing, and her cheeks grew inexplicably hot.


    Qadir stared back at her, a newyer of awkwardness settling between them.


    "What''s with you two?" Dolce leaned between them, a mischievous grin on her face. "You don''t need to be


    this close to argue, do you?! Any _closer and you''d be arguing with s your mouths... literally!"