"What would you like to eat?" The waitress asks politely, bowing with a soft smile.
We're at an upscale Japanese restaurant, tucked into a private room chosen specifically to keep Daisy out of the spotlight.
The room is minimal, sleek—so perfect it almost feels too quiet.
I sit between Ben and Jack. Across from me, Jack is next to Daisy, who seems completely at ease here, like she belongs to a world I've only ever observed from the outside.
She and Jack order effortlessly, tossing out names of dishes I can barely pronounce—sea urchin with truffle foam, something that sounds more like art than food.
Ben leans toward me, his voice barely a whisper. "Did she just order sea urchin covered in gold?"
I fight back a laugh, pressing my lips tightly together.
When it's my turn, I stick to something simple. "Gyudon, please."
Ben nods and repeats, "Same for me."
The waitress bows again and disappears behind the sliding door.
I cradle the warm ceramic cup of green tea in my hands, trying to calm the tightness in my chest with a small sip.
Everything about this lunch feels off—like I'm playing a part in a play I didn't audition for.
And then Daisy leans in, her voice sweet but sharp.
"So… between the two of them, which one's your boyfriend?"
My throat seizes. I nearly choke, the tea catching in my chest as I cough violently, eyes wide in surprise.
Ben groans beside me. "Ugh, seriously? You're so clumsy."
He grabs a napkin and immediately begins dabbing the tea off my blouse with rough concern.
Jack leans forward, patting my back with a gentle rhythm. "Are you okay, Mia?" he asks, concern etched in his features.
My cheeks flare hot with embarrassment.
I nod quickly, still coughing, my heart thumping wildly.
Why would she ask that? Why now?
Kevin looks indifferent to everything happening, but the tension in his eyes tells a different story—like he's holding something back.
"Oh my! Are you okay, Mia?" Daisy asks, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. "Sorry, I surprised you with that question," she adds, her smile too wide to be entirely sincere.
I can't tell if she's being playful or sarcastic.
"It's… okay," I mutter, not meeting her gaze.
But she doesn't let it go.
"So, who is it between the two?" she presses again, her eyes flicking back and forth between Jack and Ben like she's trying to solve a puzzle.
Why is she so insistent? Why does she care?
Ben shifts beside me, his shoulders tense, the line of his jaw tight. The irritation is there now, clear in his posture, though his face remains composed.
Then, Kevin speaks, his voice low but firm.
"That's enough. Don't ask any more questions."
His tone is sharp, final.
Daisy blinks, clearly taken aback. "But I just wanted to kno—"
Before she can finish, the door slides open.
"Your food is ready. I'll serve it now," the waitress says, stepping into the room with a tray in hand.
I don't think she knows it, but she's my savior.
I let out a silent breath of relief.
Even if there's truly nothing between me and Ben—or Jack—I still wouldn't know how to answer her. Not when my heart's still tangled in questions I don't fully understand myself.
"Wow, the food looks delicious!" Daisy exclaims, her voice filled with so much excitement it's as if she's filming a commercial.
She claps her hands softly as the dishes are laid out in front of us, the scent of grilled meat and warm rice filling the air.
"Enjoy your food, guys. This one's on us," she adds, flashing a bright smile.
"Yes, thank you," we all say in unison, nodding politely.
Jack picks up a fresh pair of utensils and hands them to me with a calm, almost thoughtful expression.
"Here, Mia."
"Thanks, Jack," I reply, my voice soft, accepting the utensils.
Jack and Daisy both glance our way. I can't quite read what's going through their minds.
The meal continues in strange, almost suffocating quiet.
No one speaks much. The soft clink of chopsticks and the occasional murmur of polite conversation fills the silence, but it's like the air itself is heavy, thick with something unsaid.
We eat in peace, but there's an underlying tension that refuses to dissipate.
"Thank you for the meal," we all say in unison as we rise from the table.
I step away from my seat, but then I feel a light tug on my shoulder.
Ben turns me gently toward him.
"Mia, you have something…" he says quietly, his tone almost… casual.
Before I can ask what, or even react, he reaches out, brushing a grain of rice off my cheek with his thumb.
The motion is so effortless, so natural—it's like he's done it a hundred times before, and yet it leaves me completely frozen, off-balance.
My heart skips a beat, and for a second, it feels like the room has narrowed, like the space between us has collapsed.
"A grain of rice," he says softly, his smile lingering just a fraction too long.
"Oh… thank… thank you," I mumble, flustered, my face burning as I quickly step away.
I need air. I need space to process the moment.
I move toward the door, but I hear a shift behind me.
Ben starts to follow, but then he pauses.
I glance back, and see Kevin's eyes locked on him—sharp, unreadable, but there's something in the way he watches Ben that makes the air heavier.
The tension crackles between them.
Their gazes lock for what feels like forever—silent, loaded with unspoken words.
Then, without a word, Ben turns and walks out, his back straight, his pace steady, but there's something lingering in the air. Something unresolved.