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She is the number one beauty and fashion designer of the Okhema. A spitting image of a goddess.
Yet somehow got stood up.
Everything seems to be a waste of time. She barely has any time to spare, as her schedule does not allow it. The only reason she agreed this time was the pressure that her friend was putting on her.
Tribios.
She wanted Aglaea to find love. She already looks cold and was so focused on her career that Tribios stepped up and helped her arrange a blind date. Unfortunately, her date never came.
She has been sitting in their reserved seat for an hour, but still no sign of her date. Out of frustration and not wanting to waste more time, she decided to leave. But someone pushed her back to her seat slightly. She was about to take the person's arm and show them what she learned in self-defense.
"Don't waste your reservation." A familiar voice calmed her. "So, trying your luck in blind dates now?" The sarcastic, prideful tone she always hated.
Aglaea could only roll her eyes. Not only did her date stand her up, but now her archenemy since they meet is in front of her seemingly enjoying her current situation.
"Finally ran out of hobbies, Anaxagoras?" She crossed her arm, eyebrow raised.
Anaxa laughed. "Please. I'm here because of a request from a friend."
She couldn't find the right reaction. Is she supposed to be thankful or more embarrassed. Is he the blind date? Tribios would not dare to set them up on a date, would she?
"We've known each other for years, don't tell me..." Aglaea was about to ask every question running through her mind, but their waiter came up asking for their order.
She has been waiting for an hour and despite her strict diet, her stomach betrayed her. Loud enough for Anaxa to hear and decide himself.
"Order away." Anaxa handed her the menu before looking in himself as if he was really supposed to be there.
He looks natural for someone who's on a first date even though they never had lunch nor dinner together before. They never had any normal conversation.
They always yell at each other whenever they see each other. Bickering like everything around them is the cause for the argument. Always finding reasons to hate each other, to throw insults at each other.
They always find one another annoying for no reason other than wanting to be better than one another.
But he now acts like they've been close friends all this time.
Noticing how Aglaea was just starting at their table, he ordered for her. Simply to not make the waiter wait for longer and for them to have somewhat of a talk.
Anaxa did not waste any moment as soon as the waiter left and initiated. "Are your too shocked that anyone could just stood you up?" His tone changed in a rather concern friend. "You certainly can't please everybody, huh." He took a quick sip of water as to lessen the feeling of awkwardness in front of him.
He answered one of her questions at least. Even though she didn't ask anything. "You're not the blind date that Tribios sent?"
Anaxa almost choked, he unintentionally slammed the glass of water on their table and almost stood up but knowing it will bring unnecessary attention he stopped himself. "Y-you think your friend set you for this?"
While Aglaea retains her almost expressionless face, not flustered or even shocked, she just looks directly black face at him. "I would not be surprised as Tribios and Hyacine love playing cupid too much."
Despite her blank face, she made Anaxa laugh. "Just because they achieve their goal with Phainon and Mydei and... Castorice and Cipher." That's literally everyone... A thought came into his mind for a moment as he paused after listing their mutual friends who are currently in their healthy relationship. "Okay maybe they did succeed in playing Cupid. I didn't realize that it's everyone..." He muttered to himself.
Watching him seemingly panicking, made her smile a little. It does bring her joy seeing him suffer or even being proven wrong.
Though he looks entertaining pondering on himself, she doesn't really have the time to waste to play catch up.
She takes out her card and was ready to call the waiter when Anaxa came back to his senses and stopped her.
He took down her hand and glared lightly at her. "What are you doing?"
"Paying." She said nonchalantly.
He was taken back as there is no food present in front, what would she be paying for?, "Paying for what? Our order hasn't arrived yet. We haven't eaten yet."
She rolled her eyes, sighing. "Anaxa, I don't have time for this."
She was about to forcefully remove his hand but his firm hold did not let go. "Aglaea, don't you want to try this just this time?" He sounded so sincere. His tears are the only ones missing and he would fit to be an actor. He is a great performer.
This man... Since when did he become pathetic?
Amused, she leans in and lifts their hand just to make their hand intertwined. "Should I?" She used her teasing tone.
His sudden change in demeanor also affected her in a rather good mood.
Anaxa finally lets her hand go. Raising his own as a sign of defeat while looking away from her. That's a first.
"I did not come here to be your date." He admitted. "I was just passing by from buying pet food as per Hyacinthia's request when I saw you here waiting. I thought that someone finally had the guts to ask you out and I got curious to know who the lucky guy was. So, I stayed."
Feeling a little mischievous, she leaned in more, arm in the table while her cheeks rested on her palms.
"Aw, our dear professor knows how to be jealous?" She teased, not expecting that his face could get any redder despite his best try at looking away from her.
"I-If you think you're right, then think again." He tried his best to retain his straight face, but to no avail, as even his ears turned red outing him.
Unfortunate timing, but their order finally arrived, and it gave Anaxa the chance to at least act normally again.
"You ordered this?" Amaze on how her favorite dish is right in front of her without her ordering. The specifics are also placed.
It's like, it's organized.
Anaxa cleared his throat, seemingly back to normal, ears still red. "How could I forget the very thing that you kept repeating as your favorite food?"
Aglaea could only stare at him in awe. A smile is slowly creeping in her.
Observant... Or simply a coward...
She ignored her thoughts as it's rude to keep the food waiting. "Tribios did not send you?"
"She didn't. Neither does Hyacinthia."
As he was hungry as well, he did not stop himself from enjoying the food in front of him. And she does the same.
"I did not expect you to keep me company for the night." Aglaea suddenly spoke, breaking the tense barrier between them after they started eating. "I was ready to have my own dinner at my place."
He snickered. "Should I have waited longer and accompany you at home instead-" He immediately stopped, regretting his statement but it's too late to take it back.
Aglaea stopped eating for a moment, giggling. Unexpectedly enjoying his company and even his side that no one knows.
No one has seen the great professor stammering on his words or even be flustered in front of them. He looks like he's been possessed by someone who is in love.
"You would accompany me throughout the night?" Her playful teasing tone was once used again.
Flustered again, he looked away but not wanting to misunderstand her he had to address it. "T-that's not what I meant woman! Don't start assuming."
An argument starts again.
"What kind of man doesn't desire a woman? Are you really a man?"
"Here I thought you're a witch not a woman."
"Says the man that begged me to stay here a minute ago."
"That's because I already ordered and I wouldn't be able to finish the food."
"I thought something was brewing already. Maybe that's just me~"
"Can you leave the sarcastic tone for a moment?"
"Can you shut up again? It's quite beautiful when you do."
"I thought we were getting along."
"Are we not? I don't remember us staying this long without any argument."
"Probably because the great dress maker always see what I do is wrong."
"You got that wrong. You just happened to be in my vicinity back then."
"Up until now, apparently. Should I be glad to have that position?"
"You can do another posi-"
Before they could continue, a waiter came up to them. "I apologize for interrupting, but could you tone it a little? Other guests are complaining..."
It's enough to keep them both quiet. Both of them apologized and continued to eat their meal instead.
Aglaea was the first one to take out her card after eating, refusing Anaxa to pay even though he wanted to pay in the first place as he forced her to stay. It's not going to change any of her funds anyway.
They left the restaurant side by side.
"Thank you for accompanying me for the night." Aglaea said ready to leave and head to her apartment.
But Anaxa took her hand. "Can I walk you there?" He asked for visible pink on his cheeks.
She was caught off guard. Her face flushed the moment he touched her. "Don't you need to go back to Hyacine with that pet food?"
He doesn't care. She is his priority now. "She can wait. It's not safe walking alone this late."
Aglaea lets him. Both of them walked hand in hand to her apartment. People would be surprised to see them acting like a lovely couple even though they are arguing earlier.
They have been arguing for the most time they meet each other, and people would be surprised to see them walking while holding each other's hand.
Both of them suddenly let their guard down just for now. The sudden change in the air also changed their mood towards each other.
But before they could reach her building, her phone rang. It's Tribios.
"So~ how's the date?" Tribios asked giggling on the other side.
Aglaea sighed before looking at Anaxa patiently waiting beside her while still holding her hand. "It went great."
"Oh, do tell! Did you find him attractive the first time you saw him?" Her tone was already so giddy as if her being Cupid worked once again.
She signals Anaxa that they could keep walking so as not to keep them longer in the streets, and he obeys.
Glancing towards her partner, who looked oblivious and focused on walking, she smiled. "I actually do. But my pride against him stood high for a while." Aglaea held him tighter. "But now I think I can compromise."
Anaxa noticed her feeling that made him look at her. She's smiling while on the phone. Answering using a few words, but her face is noticeable.
She's blushing. She looks like she's happy talking to that other person on the phone while glancing at him before proceeding to answer the other person.
She looks more beautiful.
"We're heading to my apartment at the moment. Do you want to talk to him for a moment?" Aglaea asked, glancing at him again, but this time with smugness on her face.
"Heading to your apartment!? Aglaea, I didn't know you moved that fast! But I do want to check in on him while he can still talk." Tribios joked.
Aglaea gave her phone to him. Confused, yet he still took it.
"Hello?" Anaxa asked in confusion.
Tribios did not answer. She stayed quiet for a moment.
He looked at her phone to check if they were still in a call, yet no one still spoke on the other end. "Hello? I think the person on the other end left." He handed the phone back to her, making her laugh a little.
Did Tribios go out for a moment?
Either way they continued walking while Anaxa basically guided her.
"Teacher, are you still there?"
After a long pause, her teacher came back. "Aglaea Goldweaver! Why is Anaxa with you!?"
Aglaea let's go of his hand only to wrap her arm around his. Anaxa did not mind her and instead continued walking. "The one you set me up with never came. Then Anaxa came in and accompanied me. He told me that he's just passing by from buying pet food for Hyacine's pet."
Tribios sigh is loud enough for Aglaea to hear and made her smile a little. "... Apparently, our love matchmaking only works if the two of us are involved. Hyacine was against setting you up with another person other than Anaxa. But she unintentionally delivered him to you."
Aglaea laughed. "Funny how you two work. Anyway, I want to talk to him more in depth about this."
Tribios did find them amusing as well but knowing how easy they tend to get in each other's throats, she is concerned. "Just please talk properly. I'm not in a position to tell you what to do and what not to do. I know he's a great guy for you, but he probably has reasons why he didn't make a move all those years."
That made her look at the man beside her once again. Today, he looks like a different person than he normally does. "Of course, teacher. I am curious about his reasoning, too."
"Do update us after!"
"I will. Good night."
She then hangs up. Turning her full attention back to Anaxa, who is patient enough to walk in silence beside her.
"Mind staying with me for a while?" Aglaea asked, slowly lowering her hand to meet his. Holding his hand tightly once again. "I would like to talk to you more. If you would."
He looked away. Not wanting her to see his flustered face once again. "You enjoyed that first date too much."
"Exactly. I didn't know I could enjoy your company after that horrible hour."
Once they reached her building, Aglaea did not let him go and instead dragged him inside. Despite his protest of being too embarrassed.
It's not like she's going to do anything he doesn't like.
She just rather have a private conversation as it's too personal. They couldn't possibly have a proper conversation outside in the lobby or on the streets.
He sat down on her couch while waiting as she headed to her kitchen to grab a wine. "You don't want to be sober in this conversation?" Anaxa asked, leaning back on the couch.
She walked up to him and handed him a glass before pouring wine. "It's not a strong wine. Quit complaining." She then sat down next to him. "Tell me, do you want to continue?" She swirls her glass while waiting for his reply, as he's just staring at his glass.
"Are we not going to regret this later?" A question that has been bothering him for a while. He has been aware of his feelings towards her, but always denies them in front of everyone. His pride doesn't let him be with her, as they always saw each other as rivals in everything.
Seeing her waiting for another man made him make his move.
If he hadn't done anything earlier than he would've regretted it even more.
"How can we know that? Nobody knows what will happen tomorrow." She took a sip from her glass. "We won't know what happens next if we don't try."
Anaxa laughed as if it were all comedic timing. "Funny how all we did throughout the years was to argue, but now we're having a normal conversation."
"We never had the chance to have any proper conversation, unlike earlier. And thank you for initiating." She smiled. She blushed. Again.
Enough to clear his mind of any thoughts or regret.
Has she been smiling for him before, too? Was she waiting for him to do the first move?
He clenched his fist out of frustration. How could he be asking so childishly while being fully adult for years? He always thought to himself that those relationships are just for young people.
Forgetting that he is one too. He's not too young to be called a teenager, yet not old enough to have his own family. Then again, his thoughts at the moment seem like he's a teenager again.
He set his glass on the table to lean back on the couch, hands on his face. "Have I been too dense all these years?"
Stop being a coward!
Aglaea turned towards him, leaning on the side while observing him. "Not really. I would not be the first one to admit anything after all." She then drinks her wine empty.
Anaxa saw her enjoying the wine, yet his courage is flowing through his brain that he wanted her to hear him. He took her hand and stopped her.
He took away the wine and glass from her hand. "I prefer you stay sober for this." He caresses her face and slowly leans in. "I love you. I always have. Seeing you alone earlier made me angry. Not only that someone asked you out but that someone left you waiting. If I'm that guy, I wouldn't waste your time. I'm not lying when I tell you that I have feelings for you."
He paused. Observing how her eyes seem to glow and how her lips look softer. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. I truly do love you."
Aglaea pulled him closer.
Their lips met. Anaxa immediately melted and so as Aglaea as she wrapped her hand around his head, pulling him even closer.
He pulled away for a moment as they are not done having their conversation. "I want this to work. Can we?"
Aglaea being half sober looked straight to his eyes but glanced on his lips, seemingly wanting more. "Of course. I was waiting for you."
"I'm sorry for making you wai-" He couldn't finish as Aglaea pulled him in once more.
He was unsuccessful in properly apologizing but succeeded in getting her answer.
Before anything escalated even more, he pushed himself away from their kiss as Aglaea was already trying to lift his shirt.
Confused, she only tilted her head and waited for him.
Anaxa who's already red enough just pulled her into a hug. "L-let's have more conversation before that..."
Aglaea looked up at him, hand on his chest. "What else do you want to talk about?"
You're killing me...
Her rather cute demeanor is making his thoughts scramble. But one thing he's sure of. He wants to know her more than what he already knows.
He let her go and cleared his throat before pulling out his phone. "Introductions are not in order, but I would love to get to know you more."
"And that's necessary?" She pointed at his phone.
"For now, yes. I would like to list it down to not forget. It would help me to get used to everything." He leaned in his phone, opening his notes and setting up what he needs.
While Aglaea stares and laugh. "You're so stupid."
Both of them laughed. They continued their conversation throughout the night. Talking about their careers, their day, and even what they need to compromise for their relationship to work. Casually stopping only for a quick kiss. Either one of them is initiating.
All they did was to talk and have the conversation both of them desired for a long time.
And after a while of talking, tiredness came in Aglaea. She slowly drifted to sleep as they put on a movie to stay up late.
Anaxa wanting her to be comfortable moved her to her bedroom. He stayed in her living room and slept there.
But by the time he woke up, he was in her bed. The first thing he saw was her chest as she was hugging him tightly. Arms wrapped around his head, while her legs are wrapped around his waist.
He feels like getting choked in the best way possible, yet he wasn't ready. And it's early in the morning. He's not used to having any girl waking him up in surprise.
"A-aglaea..." He tapped her back and called her softly, as he didn't want to startle her. "You're choking me."
"Hmm..." She hummed lightly and let his head go. But he's not free from her, as her legs are tightly wrapped around his waist.
Not until her phone rang. She unintentionally released him to take her phone. Sitting up, she answered it, not knowing who was on the other side. But that was quickly answered.
"Aglaea! I've been calling you! Why are you not answering!?" Tribios' faces are displayed on her screen fully. Clearly stressed as she was worried about her friend.
Aglaea instead flopped back on her bed. Anaxa, not knowing that it's a video call, took the advantage of a payback. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
She dropped her phone to turn to him, but only managed to turn her head lightly, arm on his head, pulling him closer. "Your hair smells nice." He said as he buried his face behind her head.
"..."
"Is that Anaxa with you again!?" Hearing his name, he looked up to see Tribios glaring at him. "You only went on one date! I told you to talk to him, not take him to bed!"
Very unfortunate timing yet again but her apartment door busted open as one of her friends came rushing in.
"Agy! I brought breakfast." A familiar voice, Anaxa heard.
That kept Aglaea's attention for a while, forgetting to hang up on her friend, who instead went quiet.
"I heard that big sis Tribios set you up yesterday." The voice dangerously comes in closer and closer to her room. "So how was it?" She opened Aglaea's bedroom door wide open.
Anaxa is still wrapped around Aglaea while she is basically falling asleep again. The girl who came rushing in was left frozen in front of her bedroom door.
"Cipher, I told you not to run! You know I can't keep up." Another familiar voice for Anaxa. One that he ditched orders from just to have a date with Aglaea. "What happened to you-" Her question was immediately answered in front of her as she walked up to Cipher.
"O-oh... That's why you never came back with pet food..."
He finally removed himself from Aglaea and sat up to give a proper explanation, but that didn't stop her from turning in his direction and snuggling on his side. "I-I can explain later... Can you two just close the door and let Aglaea sleep more?" Hyacine pulled Cipher back as she was still in shock and was not moving at all.
While the two girls gave them their privacy, Anaxa rubbed his temple out of stress. The person next to him sounds asleep and oblivious on the chaos that they didn't expect.
"Sleep tight. I'll talk to them." He leaned down and kissed her forehead before leaving her room to address their mutual friends.