Volume 1: Ch.4

You have a secret

"So, this is where you wanted to go?" Wayne asked, looking around the Milk Tea café where Jill had brought him. It was a popular spot for couples, with its green matcha-inspired décor and round tables and chairs. Despite his initial discomfort, he had agreed to come here.

"I never go to places like this," he admitted, taking in the sights and sounds of people flirting around him.

"Well, it's good for our first date," Jill said with a blissful smile on her face.

"Who said this was a date?" Wayne raised an eyebrow in confusion. He had never been on a date before, and he didn't think this was one.

"No one. Hehe," Jill giggled, her confidence masking the anxiety she felt inside. She tried to make eye contact with him, but he was preoccupied with his surroundings. "You really find this uncomfortable?" she asked.

"Especially since this place is filled with couples," Wayne replied.

"But we're a couple, so there's no problem, right?" Jill teased him with a wink.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Wayne looked at her with disdain.

"Oh, come on! Play along...," Jill pouted.

"I'm not in the mood, and we're not even close," Wayne sighed. "But still, thanks for patching up my wounds, by the way. Where did you learn that?"

"Ouch, that's kinda mean. I learned it in the disaster preparedness class last year. I assumed you didn't attend?" Jill replied.

"Yeah, probably at home sleeping or something. I don't like school activities," Wayne explained.

"Well, there was a bonus grade, so I had to take it," Jill said.

"Two medium-sized Honeydew milk teas for Jill and Wayne," the waiter called out their names. "Can you take our order?" Jill asked Wayne.

"Of course," Wayne replied, getting up from his seat and heading to the counter. As he left, Jill checked the time; it was almost 5 PM. She felt a rush of anxiety as she realized she hadn't made much progress in their conversation. She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, reminding herself that this was a unique opportunity to spend time with a guy and go out for milk tea.

Wayne returned with their drinks, and they both took a sip of the green, alien-looking milk tea. The flavor was a combination of honeydew and sweetness, but it was obvious that the tea was being masked by the overwhelming sweetness. Jill and Wayne both made faces at the taste and ended up leaving the drink behind.

"It's a waste of money, though," Jill said, feeling a pang of guilt as she looked at the abandoned cups.

"Better to leave it and be honest about it than to pretend we like it," Wayne replied.

As they walked outside, Wayne asked where she was headed. "The southern terminal," she answered.

"I'll come with you," he offered. "It's getting dark out."

Jill felt relieved, sensing that there was still a chance for it to turn around.

Jill gazed at Wayne and thought that there was a possibility that he might be interested in her or he was just being polite. However, from the way he looked, she couldn't tell if he was a good or bad person. He spoke candidly but knew how to choose his words wisely. It was too early to make assumptions, but just being near him made her day. They walked towards the market, taking the shortest route, which was not what Jill had expected.

Jill approached Wayne, mustering all the courage she had in store. She grabbed the bottom of his polo and said, "Hey?"

Wayne stopped and turned around, responding with a raised eyebrow. "What's up?"

There was a moment of silence, but then Jill blurted out, "I want to get to know you better. Mind if I ask you some questions?"

Wayne looked taken aback. "Really? You want to know about me? There isn't much to tell, but go ahead, ask away."

Jill thought for a moment and then said, "You always seem to keep to yourself. What's your story?"

"I see," Wayne said, "but the truth is that there isn't much to tell. What you see is what you get, not what you imagine. What do you see in me?"

Jill looked at him. She had always wondered why he didn't socialize much and why he often looked down. She had been observing him since he started attending their school. He was always near the window, staring out at the sky as the hours passed by, leaving before anyone else and arriving just before class started. There was not much to say, so she simply said, "You have a secret."

Wayne's reaction was unmistakable. He was shocked by what he heard. Jill could sense that she had hit the bullseye. His eyes didn't seem to be lying. She felt the same way deep down, but couldn't show it to him.

"That's what I see inside you," she said. "You're mysterious to us, but there's more to it. I can feel it."

"Maybe you're right, maybe you're not," Wayne said with a frown, "but either way, it's none of your business." His expression changed to one of anger, as if he wanted to kill someone. Jill was familiar with that feeling, she was used to controlling her emotions and playing hide-and-seek with them. So she smiled mischievously and added, "Hehehe, don't worry, I won't pry for now..."

"For now?" Wayne quizzed in an irritable tone. “I would appreciate if you don’t...”

“Well, I kind of want to, hehe. I’m very curious about you,” Jill replied with a giggle.

He didn’t like what he heard and turned his back, attempting to walk away. But Jill stopped him, grabbing his two hands.

"Oh my god, calm down, Jill. This is the moment you've been waiting for! Don't let it slip away," she screamed inside her mind.

“Eyyyyy not fair, you said you would walk me...” she said out loud.

"I lost my mood, I know you can handle walking by yourself,” he said as he tried to pull away, but Jill held on tight. "Come on, Wayne, don't be like this," she thought to herself. She locked her hands, as if her life depends on it, feeling a sensation of bliss that she couldn’t express. The joy in her heart could not be contained as she played the tug of war with the person she likes. "I won't let you go, not yet," she said, holding onto him even tighter.

"Woman, why are you so insistent?" Wayne asked, frustration clear in his voice.

"Do you really want to know? But first, you have to promise to tell me all your secrets," Jill replied with a mischievous grin.

"Oh come on, just stop that already," Wayne groaned.

"No way! You promised to walk with me, remember?" Jill insisted.

"Fine, I give up," Wayne said, finally surrendering to Jill's persistence. They walked down the street, looking like a couple to anyone who saw them from afar. For Jill, it was the happiest day of her life, a moment she would never forget.

"Thanks, by the way. You're irritating, but I had fun," Wayne said with a genuine smile, making Jill's heart skip a beat. She could hardly contain her excitement as they walked, imagining what could come next.

"This is it," she thought to herself. "This is the moment I've been waiting for." And with that, she squeezed his hand a little tighter and smiled up at him.

When she got home that night, Jill could hardly contain herself. She was on cloud nine, floating on a sea of happiness. "This is it," she thought, "this is the start of something great." And with a smile on her face, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a future filled with love and laughter with Wayne.