Y/N's POV
Kayden: "Give me your hand." 😑
I looked at him, confused. "Why?" 😲
He arched his right eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with my hesitation.
Kayden: "Y/N, just give me your hand." 🤨
I hesitantly extended my right hand, but he shook his head.
Kayden: "Not this one, Y/N." 😐
Before I could react, he gently took my left hand in his. That's when I noticed the red marks on my wrist.
"Aah, that must be—" 😌
Kayden interrupted me.
Kayden: "Yeah, your friend did that to you." 🤨
I looked up at him, realizing he was talking about James. And, well, he wasn't wrong. James had grabbed my wrist tightly when he pulled me away from that tall guy earlier.
"Ah—SSS!" 😖
I winced as Kayden dabbed alcohol on the marks.
"He was helping me, okay?" 😌 I defended James quickly.
Kayden rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." 🙄
I sighed and decided to change the subject.
"Umm… You never answered my question." 🤔
Kayden: "W—" 🙁
I cut him off before he could say anything.
"I asked you why you're here. What are you doing in this café?" 🤔
Kayden hesitated for a second, then cleared his throat.
Kayden: "I—uh, I actually own this café. I'm working on a project here, so…" 🙂
Before I could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.
???: "Y/N… Umm… Can we talk?" 😒
I turned my head and saw James standing there.
"Aah, yes, come here! Jamie, let me introduce you to Kayden." 😄
James sighed but nodded and pulled out a chair beside me.
"James, this is Kayden. Kayden, this is James, my best friend." 😀
The two men locked eyes. The tension was immediate.
"Umm… You guys should say hello or hi or something…" 😅
They both cleared their throats at the exact same time before speaking.
Kayden: "Hmmm… Hello, I'm Kayden. Kayden Scott." 😏
James: "Hi, I'm James. And her best friend. James Wilson." 😏
They shook hands, still staring each other down like rivals in a duel.
"Guys…" 😅
They finally broke eye contact and looked at me.
James: "Y/N, be ready by 8 PM. I'll pick you up. Oh, wait, we're going together, right?" ☺️
"Aa-aah, yes, I know… Umm, Kayden, actually, we're going to watch a movie tonight. Do you want to join?" 😅
Kayden smiled at me and nodded.
James: "WHAT— I mean, he looks like a busy person, Y/N. I don't think he has time for a movie." 😒
I turned to James. "Jamie, I thought your girlfriend was coming with us?" 🤔
James gulped and looked like he wanted to say something, but Kayden beat him to it.
Kayden: "Ah, right… I don't mind going with you. I mean, I'd love to watch a movie with you, Y/N." ☺️
James: "But I already said that she's not coming, so—" 😑
I cut him off.
"Jamie, please invite her. I mean, remember what I told you that day?" 😉
James sighed dramatically. "Okay, fine. I'll… find a way to bring her with me." 😔
I smiled. "Okay, then let's—" 😄
James: "BUT I'm picking you up, okay?" 😏
I sighed. "Okay." 😄
I turned to Kayden. "Kayden, I'll send you the address."
Kayden nodded. "Fine. I'll wait for you." ☺️
He stood up from his seat. "I should leave now. I'll call you later, Y/N." ☺️
James and I stood up as well and waved goodbye. When Kayden left, James looked at me and smirked.
James: "Y/N, boss wants to see us. Let's go." 😒
"Okay… Wait, is he mad at me?" 😲
James: "Don't worry. I'm with you. If he says anything, I'm gonna punch him, just like I punched that guy earlier." 😏 He laughed.
"And I'll punch you then." 🤨
I lightly punched his shoulder.
James: "MY GOD! I'M HERE TO SAVE YOU AND YOU— JUST WAIT!" 😱
I laughed and ran inside the café. James started chasing me, but I quickly pushed open the boss's office door and froze. James skidded to a stop beside me.
Boss: "Ah, you're here! Please, have a seat!" 😄
'Did I hear that right?!' 😱
I looked at James, but he had already sat down. That meant… I had to sit too.
James: "Tell me what's the matter, boss." 🤨
He sounded so arrogant.
Boss: "Hahaha… I just wanted to ask about your relationship with Mr. Scott. I mean, are you two… related?" 😅
I shook my head quickly. "No, sir! We're just friends." 😅
Boss: "Ah, really? Y/N, you're a very talented and hardworking person. I've known that from the start… You two are very lucky for my café. Tomorrow, you can take a day off! Go and have some fun. That's all I wanted to say. You can leave now." 😁
He smiled and even waved at us as we left his office.
James: "Y/N, go change quickly! We have to leave for the movie!" ☺️
"Yeah, yeah." 😄
After changing, we started walking.
James: "What a tiring day." 😌
"Yeah… By the way, don't you have to pick up your girlfriend?" 🙂
James suddenly froze. I turned to look at him.
James: "Y-Yeah, she has a car, so she'll meet us directly at the theater." 😅
"Aah… But why don't you go with her? I mean, what if she feels weird about us?" 🤔
James started walking again, and I followed him.
James: "No, she's really open-minded. She knows about you and me." 😅
After a few seconds, he suddenly stopped again.
"What now?" 🤨
Before I could react, he grabbed my wrist.
"AAH—SS!" 😖
He quickly let go and gently held my hand, his eyes locked on the red marks.
James: "Y/N… What is this?" 😲
"Aah, remember? You pulled me from that tall guy… Mr., you grabbed my wrist really hard. Look!" 🙄 I joked, hoping to lighten the mood.
But he didn't laugh. He just looked at me with guilty eyes.
James: "I did this to you?" 😰
"I—" 😌
Suddenly, he pulled me into a tight hug.
James: "I'm sorry… So sorry. I don't know what I was thinking at that time—" 😓
I cut him off.
"Hahaha, why are you sorry? You saved me, you idiot." 😅
But James shook his head.
James: "No, Y/N… I don't ever want to hurt you." 😓
Was he… crying?
"James, don't be sorry. Look, I'm fine!" 😅
I tried to pull away, but he just tightened his arms around me.
"Ja—" 🙂
James: "Say it. Say that you forgive me." ☹️
I chuckled. "Hahaha, okay, okay! I forgive you, James. Now let me go!" 😄
He finally let me go, but then he smirked. He turned his head to the side and pointed at his cheek.
James: "Now give me a kiss here." 😏
---