Love In The Mist

Chapter 9 - The First Glimpse of Rivalry Part 4

Ethan's POV

I spot Ji-ah the moment she walks into the café. She's easy to notice—even in a crowd, there's something about the way she moves, effortless and unhurried, like she belongs wherever she goes.

She scans the room briefly before her gaze lands on me, and for a second, I wonder if she's about to change her mind and walk out. But then she offers me a small smile, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and I know she's staying.

I push my chair back slightly as she reaches the table. "You came," I say, leaning back with an easy grin.

Ji-ah raises an eyebrow as she slides into the seat across from me. "I said I would, didn't I?"

"Yeah, but you seemed hesitant," I point out, watching as she sets her phone on the table. "Was it the 'ridiculously charming' warning that scared you?"

She huffs a small laugh. "More like the overconfidence."

I smirk. "You'll find that it's well-deserved."

She rolls her eyes but doesn't argue. Instead, she glances toward the counter. "Have you ordered yet?"

"Was waiting for you," I say, then motion toward the menu. "Pick your poison."

She hums, studying the options before standing. "I'll get a caramel macchiato. You?"

I rise to follow her. "Black coffee."

Ji-ah wrinkles her nose. "Boring."

"Classic," I correct, stepping beside her in line. "I like to keep things simple."

She tilts her head. "Is that your whole philosophy? Simple and classic?"

I grin. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

She laughs softly, and I take that as a small victory.

Once we have our drinks, we settle back into our seats. For a moment, it's quiet between us, but not awkward. She stirs her coffee absently, watching the foam swirl, while I study her, taking in the way her expression shifts between contemplation and curiosity.

"So," I say, breaking the silence. "I feel like I should get to know you beyond our accidental walk."

She looks up, her eyes bright with amusement. "Oh? What do you want to know?"

I rest my elbows on the table. "The important things. Favorite movie, weirdest habit, best book you've ever read."

She snorts. "I work in a bookstore, Ethan. Do you really expect me to choose just one book?"

"Fine, top three."

She thinks for a second before listing them off, and I listen, genuinely interested. The conversation flows easily—just like it did during our walk. She's funny in a way that catches me off guard, sharp but never cruel. She teases, but she also listens, and I find myself talking more than I expected to.

And then, as we're mid-conversation about the worst TV endings of all time, she drops something that shifts the entire mood.

"So, your brother wasn't too thrilled when I mentioned I was meeting you," she says, taking a careful sip of her drink.

I pause, fingers tightening around my cup. "Oliver?"

She nods, watching me over the rim of her mug. "He tried to play it off, but I could tell he wasn't exactly excited about the idea."

I scoff, shaking my head. "Sounds about right."

Ji-ah studies me. "You two don't seem that close."

I exhale, leaning back in my chair. "That's an understatement."

She doesn't press, but I can see the curiosity in her eyes. I could tell her everything—the years of tension, the unspoken resentment, the way Oliver always keeps people at a distance while I do the opposite. But instead, I shrug. "We just... see the world differently."

Ji-ah doesn't look convinced, but she lets it go. "Well, he seemed... I don't know. Almost protective?"

I bark out a laugh. "Protective?"

She shrugs. "I don't know, maybe that's the wrong word. He just acted weird about it."

Of course, he did. Oliver isn't the type to say what he wants outright, but I know him well enough to recognize when something is bothering him. And if Ji-ah noticed it, that means it's worse than I thought.

Interesting.

I take a slow sip of my coffee. "And what do you think?"

She raises an eyebrow. "About what?"

"About me."

Ji-ah huffs a laugh, shaking her head. "You're really not subtle, are you?"

I smirk. "Not my style."

She sighs, tilting her head slightly. "I think you're... interesting."

I feign offense. "That's it?"

"For now."

That 'for now' lingers between us, teasing and open-ended. And for the first time in a while, I find myself intrigued not just by the chase—but by the possibility of something real.

And if Oliver has a problem with that?

Well, that just makes it all the more fun.