The bedroom door creaked open. Her older brother, wearing a black T-shirt and plaid pajama pants, looked at her curiously.

• "Hey… Why are you giggling so loudly? I can hear you across the house."

Layla sat on her bed, holding her phone, her smile growing wider.

• "Nothing! I just got some great news!"

• "Should I be worried?"

• "Remember our trip to the marketplace?"

• "Yeah. What about it?"

• "Maja is coming with us!"

Shin froze for a moment.

• "Oh… That's nice."

• "That's all? I thought you'd be more excited!"

• "Why would I be?!"

Layla grinned mischievously.

• "Maybe because you'll spend more time with your favorite maid? The sweetest maid at Kitty Maid Café!"

Shin's face turned bright red.

• "STOP IT!"

• "Hehehe! Maybe you'll accidentally call her sweet again, just like last time!"

• "THAT WAS AN ACCIDENT!"

Layla burst out laughing. Shin grabbed a nearby pink pillow and threw it at her.

• "TAKE THAT!"

• "AAAA! Hahaha!"

• "You're so annoying…"

• "And you're in love!"

• "NOT ANOTHER WORD!"

A few hours later, Shin left the house wearing a black T-shirt and light-colored jeans. The evening streets glowed beneath the streetlights, their reflections shimmering on the wet pavement.

He walked toward their meeting spot, occasionally checking his phone.

Layla and Maja would arrive soon.

• "I hope Layla keeps her mouth shut this time…" he muttered.

Just thinking about seeing Maja again made his cheeks turn slightly pink.