Chapter 6: Lunch (Richard's POV)

As I made my way back to my apartment from the gym, my phone began to ring. It was Cain, my dear friend. I answered, "Hey Cain, what's up?" He responded, "Hey man, you never call me first, you know that?" I apologized and asked what he wanted.

"Do you realize you never invited me to your new home, when most of it was thanks to me?" he jokingly remarked. It was true that I ended up living in this apartment thanks to an ad that Cain had posted on my behalf. Besides, there was no reason why I couldn't invite my friends over, so I said, "Yeah, you can come today if you're free." He agreed, telling me to send him the address, and that he would be there for lunch. Typical Cain, always moving at his own pace.

Upon entering the apartment, I saw Haze pouring herself a glass of water, so I mentioned my friend's upcoming visit. "Good morning," I greeted her. She replied with a simple "Morning." "I invited my friend over today; he'll be here for lunch," I informed her. Judging by her reaction, she didn't seem to care much, merely responding with an indifferent "Okay."

Suddenly, her phone beeped, signaling a new message. Just as I was about to head to my room for a shower, she said, " It seems like my friend will also be coming today. The housekeeper won't be here, seems like you have to cook for one more guest." With that, she headed back to her office, leaving me to prepare for the arrival of both my friend and hers.

After taking a shower, I began preparing for lunch. I made Cain's favorite mac and cheese and Haze's preferred risotto, which I found out when I was reading one of the magazines Haze bought, it was marked with some stars. As I was almost finished cooking, the doorbell rang. Since I hadn't given Cain a passcode to this apartment, I assumed it must be Haze's friend. To my surprise, I opened the door to find a tall, handsome man dressed in a fashionable suit. He had mischievous eyes and a grin on his face. After a moment, he said, "Good to finally meet you, inspire less writer."

I immediately realized that he was the one who had set Haze up. "Hello, I assume you're Haze's friend. I'm Richard. Come on in. Lunch is almost ready," I invited him inside. He introduced himself as Ren and confidently made his way to Haze's office room. I was taken aback by how easily he invaded her privacy, considering I had never entered her office room myself. Just then, my phone began to ring—it was Cain. I informed security through the intercom, and he was allowed to come up.

"Wow, man, you're living in an impressive apartment," Cain remarked without even offering a greeting. "Well, you know, I got lucky," I replied, and we shared a brief hug. We entered the apartment, and I started setting the table for lunch. As I was about to call Haze and Ren, they emerged from the office. Haze didn't look pleased, which wasn't surprising, but it seemed that her friend had said something to her.

"Lunch is ready. Have a seat," I invited everyone to the table. Cain's eyes lit up as I placed the mac and cheese on the table. "Oh man, how did you know I missed your mac and cheese?" he exclaimed with a laugh. "Haze, this is Cain. We've been friends since high school," I introduced Cain to her. She nodded, and then it was Ren who began speaking. "Hello, Cain and Richard. I'm Ren, and Haze is my muse. I met her two years ago." Cain, true to form, asked thoughtlessly, "Hello, Ren, muse. An interesting way to describe a relationship."

"There's no other way to describe our relationship," Ren explained with conviction. "To put it simply, I design, and she wears. Today, she must wear one of my creations at the gala." Ren's words revealed the symbiotic nature of their connection, where his designs found life through Haze's graceful presence. I found myself taken aback, realizing that Haze's role extended beyond being a mere model.

"I didn't know Haze was a model," I remarked, my surprise evident.

"Because I'm not a model," Haze clarified, dispelling any misconceptions. Her response held a tinge of resignation, suggesting that she must fulfill the obligation of wearing Ren's dress despite her true intention.

As we sat together, a quiet atmosphere enveloped us, and we finished our lunch in silence. Once the plates were cleared, Ren rose from his seat, signaling the imminent departure. "It's time to go, Haze," he declared, his tone firm. Then, with a gesture of inclusiveness, he extended an invitation to Cain and me.

"By the way, if you two are free, you can come along too," Ren proposed, his gaze shifting between Cain and me. Before I could express my thoughts, Cain, quick as ever, responded on my behalf, eagerly accepting the offer.

In a moment of pause, Ren seemed to think of something. Then, without warning, he exclaimed, "Actually, I believe I have some clothes that both of you can wear. Although I rarely design for men, there are a few pieces I created but never had the opportunity to wear myself." The thought of wearing Ren's unique creations filled the air with a sense of anticipation and curiosity.

"Let's go, Ren. We don’t have all the time in the world" Haze said to Ren, her voice tinged with a hint of drowsiness. Surprisingly, Ren seemed anxious, urging us forward as if Haze's weariness posed a threat to his designs. I couldn't fathom why Ren was so adamant about Haze wearing his dresses when there were plenty of professional models available. Haze was undeniably ordinary and may be considered cute but not stunningly beautiful. She preferred the comfort of casual attire at home and seldom bothered with makeup. I couldn't help but recall our initial encounter, where she greeted me in her pajamas, her hair disheveled and carefree.