Shin was walking towards the meeting spot, occasionally glancing at his phone. Suddenly, he received a message from Layla.

Layla: "Hey! Turns out I won't be able to make it today after all. Have fun with Maya! ❤️"

Shin stopped and read the message twice.

• ...What?!

He let out a heavy sigh, slipping his phone into his pocket.

• That little brat... I'll get her back for this...

Which meant he was going to be alone with Maya. Just thinking about it made him feel a little nervous. He would have much rather turned around and gone home, but he couldn't just leave the girl all by herself. Besides, he knew how bad that would look.

A moment later, he arrived at the meeting spot.

He immediately spotted Maya standing near the entrance to the marketplace. She was busy looking at her phone. She was wearing a cute pink sweater, a black pleated skirt, and pink knee-high socks.

Shin slowed his pace for a moment.

She looks really cute...

• Hey, Maya!

The girl looked up. The moment she saw him, her heart started beating faster.

• O-oh! Hi, Shin!

She smiled shyly before looking around for his sister.

• Where's Layla?

Shin scratched the back of his neck.

• Well... She texted me saying she wouldn't be able to make it after all.

• Oh? Really?

Maya looked surprised.

• So Layla isn't coming today?

• Yeah. Looks like it's just the two of us.

Silence fell between them.

Maya stared at him for a moment, trying to process his words.

Just the two of us...?

Her cheeks instantly turned an even deeper shade of red. She lowered her gaze, nervously gripping her phone.

• O-oh... I see...

Shin also felt his face getting warm.

• I hope you don't mind...

• N-no! Of course not!

She answered much faster than she had intended.

Both of them fell silent, unsure of what to say next.

Great... This is going to be a long evening... Shin thought.