Odie watched as Sophie fell for his little trick, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. This was more like it. Finally, a chance to pull one over on Sophie.


    "I could really go for a milkshake right now," he said.


    "And where am I supposed to find you a milkshake with ss about to start?" Sophie replied, exasperated.


    "Ugh, I''m in such a bad mood. Maybe I''ll just jump off a building," Odie teased, turning dramatically toward the rooftop.


    "Alright, alright, I''ll get you a milkshake!" Sophie quickly interjected, reaching out to stop him. She recalled there was a café on campus, but it was about a half-mile away.


    After a brief pause, she added, "But you have toe with me. I need to make sure you don''t try anything crazy."


    "I promised I wouldn''t do anything drastic as long as you''re with me," Odie agreed, adding with a yful tone, "But if you want me to tag along for a milkshake run, I''m all in."


    "Fine! Let''s go together," Sophie conceded, trying to ignore the teasing glint in his eyes.


    They set off, with Sophie walking slightly ahead and Odie trailing just a few steps behind. Students around campus gave them curious looks as they passed by.


    Sophie noticed Odie in her peripheral vision, always maintaining that perfect distance—not too close to make her ufortable. But why keep such a gap? From a distance, he almost looked like her bodyguard.


    The half-mile to the café felt longer than any walk Sophie had taken before. When they finally arrived, Sophie pointed at the menu. "Which one do you want?"


    "A chocte milkshake," Odie replied.


    "Hi, two chocte milkshakes, please," Sophie said to the café owner.


    Odie chimed in, "Make mine extra sweet."


    Sophie remarked, "Their shakes are already pretty sweet, you know."


    "I like sweet things," Odie said with a shrug, hands tucked casually in his pockets.


    The café owner nced between Sophie, who was fishing for her wallet, and Odie, who lookedpletely at ease. Her eyes seemed to say: Is he really making his girlfriend pay? What a freeloader!


    "That''ll be ten dors," she announced, directing her gaze at Odie.


    Without missing a beat, Odie took Sophie''s wallet, pulled out a twenty, and tossed


    it over. "Keep the change."


    In real life, Sophie had spent plenty


    of his money. Twenty bucks for


    milkshakes seemed like a smal


    e of generosity


    himo


    The café owner was not impressed, though, and handed Sophie ten dors back


    with a sigh. "Sweetie, this one''s on me."


    "Thank you so much!" Sophie beamed, her smile bright enough to light up the


    room.


    Odie nced at her, amused. Was she really this thrilled over a milkshake?


    Soon, the café owner ced the two milkshakes in front of them. Odie picked up his cup, stuck in a straw,


    and


    took a sip.


    "How is it?" Sophie asked, curiosity in her voice.


    "It''s not bad," Odie said nonchntly.


    "Not too sweet?"


    "Sweet is good," he replied. Noticing her curious gaze on his milkshake, he


    offered, "Want to try?"