A café.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
Jay walked in.
Simple dress.
Hair loose.
Eyes scanning.
"Where is he…"
She checked her phone.
"Late."
"Of course."
She sat down.
Annoyed.
Muttering.
"I knew this would happen."
Meanwhile…
Outside.
Keifer rushed in.
Fixing his shirt.
"Great."
"First impression ruined."
He entered.
Looked around.
His eyes landed on her.
Jay.
Calm.
Beautiful.
Slightly angry.
He walked closer.
Slowly.
Jay looked up.
Their eyes met.
Silence.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three…
Keifer spoke first.
"You look… scary."
Jay blinked.
"What?"
Keifer sat down.
"I mean… pretty."
"Very pretty."
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"You're late."
Keifer nodded.
"I know."
"Traffic."
Jay leaned back.
"Classic excuse."
Keifer smiled slightly.
"Classic situation."
A pause.
Awkward.
Very awkward.
Jay crossed her arms.
"So."
"So."
Both spoke together.
They stopped.
Looked at each other.
Then…
They laughed.
Unexpected.
Light.
Real.
Jay looked away.
"Okay… this is weird."
Keifer nodded.
"Very."
Another pause.
Then Jay spoke.
"Let's be clear."
"I didn't agree to this."
Keifer nodded instantly.
"Same."
Jay looked at him.
"Good."
Keifer leaned forward.
"So… we survive this meeting…"
"And say no?"
Jay smiled slightly.
"Exactly."
Keifer smiled back.
"Deal."
They shook hands.
For a moment…
It felt easy.
Comfortable.
Then suddenly—
A waiter came.
Slipped.
Juice spilled.
On Keifer.
"Sorry sir!"
Keifer jumped up.
"What the—"
Jay burst out laughing.
Loud.
Uncontrollable.
Keifer looked at her.
Seriously.
Then…
He started laughing too.
"This is perfect."
Jay wiped her tears.
"Your first impression."
Keifer smirked.
"Memorable."
Jay nodded.
"I'll never forget this."
They sat again.
Still smiling.
Still laughing softly.
Something changed.
Just a little.
Conversation started flowing.
Easy.
Natural.
Jay spoke about random things.
Keifer listened.
Then teased.
Jay rolled her eyes.
Then smiled.
Keifer joked.
Jay laughed.
Time passed.
Without them noticing.
The "deal"…
Slowly forgotten.
Jay looked at him.
"You're not that annoying."
Keifer raised a brow.
"That's a compliment?"
Jay nodded.
"Yes."
Keifer smirked.
"You're not that dramatic."
Jay gasped.
"Take that back."
Keifer laughed.
"Never."
They argued.
Playfully.
Lightly.
Beautifully.
Then silence again.
But not awkward this time.
Comfortable.
Jay looked down at her hands.
Then at him.
"So…"
"So…"
Keifer smiled softly.
"What now?"
Jay hesitated.
Just a little.
"We were supposed to say no."
Keifer nodded slowly.
"We were."
A pause.
Longer this time.
Then Jay said quietly…
"But…"
Keifer leaned slightly.
"But?"
Jay smiled faintly.
"This wasn't that bad."
Keifer smiled too.
"Not bad at all."
Their eyes met again.
This time…
Different.
Warmer.
Softer.
What started as chaos…
Turned into something else.
Something unexpected.
Something… beautiful.