Standing still with his feet planted and gazing out the window, Jared welcomed the approaching dawn while scratching the back of his head.
A new day is ready to start.
[Ding!
Good morning, host. Today marks a new day. Would you like to sign in?]
He stretched his body in response. "Yes."
[Ding!
Congratulations, host, you have earned 1,000GC.
The funds have been credited to your account.]
He rubbed his neck and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. His eyes remained fixed on the mirror for a few moments as he questioned, "By the way, System. Why didn't I receive your prompt yesterday? Is there something wrong with the System?" He asked while examining his reflection.
[The System was processing data from various interfaces, and minor errors occurred, such as delays, lagging, or missed communications.]
He nodded in understanding. For just an instant, a thought crossed his mind.
The question he never anticipated to appear in his mind.
"System. Are you from the future? Another dimension or from an alien planet? Who created you?"
There was a heavy silence before the voice responded in his mind. [Error! The host is not yet authorized to receive answers to specific questions.]
He gazed at his reflection, brows knitted, upon hearing an answer that stirred his curiosity.
"Does that mean? Can I ask questions when the System is upgraded?"
The System replied succinctly. [Yes.]
He exited the bathroom and changed his clothes. He chose not to dwell on matters that would yield no answers. Despite his desire to uncover the truth, he was merely an amateur without the authority to learn specific answers to his own questions. The more the System answered in error, the deeper the curiosity filled inside of him, but the fact that it was not yet time for him to know, he could only tossed the curiosity at the back of his mind...
But only for the meantime.
"Nevermind."
He stepped outside, leaving the staff tending to his home, and drove without a destination in mind. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. After only a few rings, the call connected, and a sleepy, groggy voice came through the line.
"Who?"
He couldn't suppress his frown, though a slight smile crept onto his lips. "Monica," he replied briefly, and the person on the other end opened her eyes. She quickly sat up, her drowsy expression vanishing like a burst of adrenaline, fully awake now that she heard his voice.
"Did I wake you? Sorry."
She got up, pacing back and forth, unconcerned about her messy hair and unpolished morning look. She shook her head repeatedly as if the other person could see her. "No. What's up?"
Jared glanced at his watch for a moment before looking back at the road. "Do you want to come with me? I don't have any plans today."
Instead of spending the day idle at home, he figured it would be better to get outside and enjoy the sun.
Monica beamed, a broad smile spreading across her face. She eagerly nodded and responded without thinking. "Yes!"
"Great. I'll come pick you up."
Monica started to feel anxious. She was thrilled that Jared would be coming to get her, but her family was home and she didn't want them to discover him. Who knows what might happen? What if he faced humiliation, and that reflected badly on her? What if he ended up disliking her? She definitely didn't want him to distance himself in the future.
"O-oh. Um. Let's just meet up. Where should we get together?"
"Moonstone Café on Yellow St."
Her breath hitched in her throat. That café's owner was her sister. What actions would she take if her sister were present? What reason would she provide? Today was her day off from her job at Moonstone. Even though it was only a temporary position, everyone is aware that she is the youngest sibling of the owner.
What excuse would she offer her sister if she caught her with a stranger, despite being engaged to someone she didn't care for? Would they assume that someone as reserved and modest as Monica would secretly date an unknown man, which could pressure her father to hastily arrange her marriage to someone she didn't like?
After a flurry of anxious thoughts, she hung up and hurried to the bathroom. She quickly showered and tossed aside clothes in her wardrobe, getting ready much more swiftly than usual for her meet-up with Jared. She bolted out of the house, ignoring her mother calling her for breakfast. They didn't ask or seem particularly curious about her unusual behavior; they simply brushed off her quick departure as if it were normal.
Jared arrived at the café, greeted by Minerva's welcoming smile. He approached the drinks menu, pondering his options.
"Good morning, Mr. Hale," said Minerva.
He returned the greeting with a smile, his gaze shifting back and forth. He knew what he wanted, but not what Monica would prefer. "Um, I'm waiting for someone, so I'll order later," he replied, feeling uncertain about what to do next. Minerva nodded in acknowledgment, and he took a seat to wait. Passersby couldn't help but admire his perfect features; he ignored their curious glances and focused on the scene outside the glass window.
As usual, Yellow St. was teeming with people preoccupied with their own affairs. Amidst the bustling crowd, Jared contentedly nodded, unaware of Monica rushing toward the entrance.
Monica paused at the door, checking her reflection in the glass. She wore a white shirt paired with high-waisted denim flare shorts skirt and white sneakers. Her hair was pulled back, and she had on light makeup on her natural beauty. Taking a few deep breaths, she pushed the door open and scanned the café with relief when she noticed her sister wasn't around.
She greeted the staff in passing, who greeted her back, and then spotted the man looking outdoors with a slight smile. Tapping her cheeks, she walked over to him. Jared glanced up to see who was approaching and smiled. "Hey, sorry I'm late," Monica said as she took a seat. He shook his head, reassuring her that it was fine since he hadn't waited long.
"So, what do you want to do? Should we go for a walk?" she suggested, noticing Jared seemed lost in thought. He nodded, "Yeah, let's order a drink first, and then we can stroll around to see if there's anything interesting."
She smiled and nodded in agreement as they approached the counter. Anxiously glancing around, she felt her nerves rise. She looked up when Jared called her name. "Huh?"
Jared gestured towards the drinks menu displayed behind the counter. "What would you like to drink?"
Monica glanced up and ordered her usual strawberry frappe. The female staff couldn't resist stealing a glance at the pair as they engaged in quiet conversation.
When Minerva emerged from the storage room, she spotted her sister chatting with Jared. A frown crossed her face as she approached the counter. When Monica caught her sister's questioning stare, she quickly diverted her gaze, unwilling to meet her sister's eyes. Jared noticed Monica's unusual demeanor. "What's wrong?" he asked.
She constantly shifted her gaze away and focused on the design adorning the wall. "It's nothing. I just enjoy the cozy ambiance of the store," she replied softly. Jared appeared oblivious to the underlying tension between the sisters and nodded in agreement. Minerva noticed her sister's demeanor and saw her clearly avoiding eye contact. Jared looked over at Monica and, perhaps because she hadn't eaten breakfast, he examined another item on the menu board. "Please add a waffle with whipped cream and strawberry filling."
Minerva looked at Jared and responded, "Of course," then turned her attention back to Monica.
She couldn't help but wonder what her sister was doing there with the boss of Yellow St. What kind of relationship do they share? How long have they known each other? Does Monica realize that Jared is the boss?
These questions lingered in her mind, but she kept them to herself and simply shook her head as she took the order. After preparing the waffle, Minerva delivered it to Jared, who then handed it to Monica. Monica, appearing out of place and lost in her thoughts, was taken by surprise when the warm waffle was presented to her.
"For me?" she questioned, indicating herself. Jared nodded and placed the waffle in her hands. "You didn't have breakfast, so eat it while we walk," he said with a smile.
Monica beamed at him, but her smile quickly faded when she caught sight of her sister's raised eyebrow and piercing gaze, silently demanding an explanation. She could only muster a forced smile and tugged at Jared's sleeve. "Let's go," she whispered. Jared took the drink from Minerva and nodded before heading out. Monica stole a glance at her sister's skeptical expression. She swallowed her nervousness and quickened her pace to leave the store.
Minerva crossed her arms, her squinted eyes fixed on the closed door as she muttered, "Just wait until we get home. I'll make sure to squeeze every last drop from you."
Unaware of Minerva's ominous words, Monica let out a sigh of relief. They strolled from shop to shop, hoping to find something worthwhile, but to no avail.
Throughout the day, the two wander through the various shops on Yellow St., looking for anything of value. The previous awkwardness and anxiety have vanished. Monica and Jared enjoy their time together, walking with genuine smiles and laughter lighting up their faces. It's a whimsical yet significant experience, as a sense of peace and normality envelops the pair in their own little world.
However, the cheerful and radiant smile on Monica's face quickly faded when she entered their home.
Minerva squinted at Monica, who felt like she was trapped under a fierce eagle's sharp claws. Monica swallowed her unease as Minerva stood in front of her, arms crossed over her chest. "Hello, sister."
The intensity of Minerva's gaze made Monica increasingly anxious. She could only manage a forced smile and scratch the back of her head. "S-sister."
A woman descended the stairs, observing the scene before her. There seemed to be some invisible tension between her two daughters. "What's going on?" she called out. From her perspective as a mother, Monica's averted gaze suggested that she had done something wrong that Minerva had discovered. Though she was uncertain, she suspected it might be work-related.
What misstep had her youngest daughter taken?
Minerva shook her head and grasped Monica's wrist. "It's nothing, Mom. I'm just going to have a serious discussion with her. It's work-related, nothing significant," she said with a smile as she led Monica upstairs.
Their mother dismissed it, knowing how capable her eldest was when it came to work ethics. She thought it would be a good opportunity for her youngest to learn proper behavior from her older sister and avoid making foolish mistakes. With that, she brushed off the incident and left the house.
Once Minerva shut the door, Monica collapsed onto her bed, still evading her sister's probing gaze.
"So?" Minerva said, pulling a chair closer to Monica, crossing her legs and arms as she regarded her. "Care to explain what that was all about? You know what I'm referring to," she added with a serious tone.
Monica sneaked a glance at her sister's intense eyes. She could only purse her lips and turn away. Sitting up straight, she opened her mouth but struggled to find the right words when her gaze landed on the drawer. She stood, retrieved an album, and returned to her spot on the bed.
She held the album close to her chest as if it were the most priceless treasure she owned.
"If it's you, sister, you'd understand."