When I arrived at their table, Irah looked surprised to see me. I didn’t expect her to know me at all.

“Ciel” she said and immediately stands up.

She checked her phone to see that it’s already 12:10 am.

“Is everything okay? I didn’t know Cyrus would let you go out this late.”

That’s the thing about Irah. She’s nice and everyone liked her, even me though we never hang out or talked like this.

I hold her hand, “Irah, I need to talk to you outside.”

I sensed that she had an idea of what I’m talking about. The guy just watched us. She smiled at her date.

“I’ll just accompany her. Her brother is Eun’s bestfriend.”

Hyun nodded and we left. Her hands were trembling as we walked outside. She stopped when she saw Cyrus’ car.

“Ciel…”

I turned to her, “he deserves to know the truth.”

She frowns, “How did you---“

She was cut off when Cyrus walked to us. “Come on, Irah.”

I couldn’t hear them clearly since Cyrus said I waited in the car. I can see Irah and Eun crying.

“She denied it” Cyrus said as he hopped in. I turn to the couple who are now talking outside.

“But it was obvious” I replied.

He chuckled, “after a while, she admitted it. She can’t resist seeing Eun cry.”

I looked back at the couple. Eun was wiping her tears while she slowly moved away.

“What do you think will happen?” I asked.

Cryus pats my head, “I’m not sure but I do hope Eun will choose what’s best for him.”

After that night, I did not to see Eun. Cyrus rarely went home too. I guess Eun needed him more.

“Ciel?” I turned to Cloud, he’s my younger brother. We’re 2 years apart.

“Yes?” He cutely moved closer to me. I adore my younger brother more because he’s just irresistible.

“Cyrus told me that you helped his friend” I nodded though I never expected Cyrus to open up what happened that night.

“I have a friend who needs your help too.”

Since then, I started helping other people. It started with Cloud and Cyrus’ friends, then to their classmates. Eventually, my classmates learned about my consultations too, thanks to Sophie.

“You should consider asking a fee” Cyrus said one day as he drove me and Cloud to school.

Cloud nodded and moved closer since he’s in the backseat. “I agree. I can help you with that. I’ll be your PR since I’m the one organizing most of your schedules.”

I raised an eyebrow and turned to them. “What are you guys saying?”

Cyrus sighed. “It’s going to be a small business for you. You help people and they pay you a small fee. It’s like you’re a relationship consultant.”

Cloud nodded in agreement. “You could be famous.”

I sighed, “But I just like helping them.”

Cyrus looked at me. “Dad started a delivery service when he was in college and look at him now.”

I laughed, “so you’re saying that I’m going to be a famous consultant?”

Cloud agreed again. “oh come on, Ciel. Imagine earning by doing what you like.”

In the end, I lost. Cloud announced to our clients and potential clients that they need to pay me $5 per hour of session. The fee increased when I have extra tasks to do. It was cheap for a consultation and surprisingly, no one mind and I got to earn.

Now, everyone in school knows me. Even in Cyrus’ college, I am popular. The number of clients increases every week and there are times when Cloud and I need to find a way to sneak everyone in my schedule. Of course, I give them a portion of my income. I treat them dinner and so far everything is great until he came.

Kaleb is the MVP of our basketball team. He’s tall, hot, and gorgeous. He plays various musical instruments and is part of the student council. A lot of girls admire him because he’s basically the ideal boyfriend. I know him since we were kids. We are in the same grade until now.

Today, Cloud and I are on our way home after my last schedule when Kaleb approaches us.

“Ciel, can we talk?”

I don’t know what to say. I am about to respond when Cloud nods and says me he’ll just wait for me at home.

Kaleb looks like he just finished with their training. He’s sweating his shirt and his hair is a mess too. He notices me looking at me so he tries to fix himself. We walk towards his car. He has his license earlier since he’s older than most of us.

“Where are we heading?” I ask.

Instead of responding, he starts removing his shirt. I immediately look away even if I have a picture of how he looks like: tall with perfect abs. It’s not that I check him out, I just heard a lot of girls talk about him, including Sophie.

I am waiting for him to fix himself when he chuckles. “Sorry about that. I forgot that you hate seeing shirtless men”

I roll my eyes and turn to him. “I have two brothers, remember?”

He smiles, “right. Let’s go?”

You might be thinking that I’m a stupid girl for riding someone’s car like that. But this case is different: it’s Kaleb. I treat him as one of my childhood friends.

“So do you need my expert advice or something?” I ask him as he drives.

He smiles and holds his nape. “Well, not really. I just need to talk to you, Ciel.”

I turn to him, “about what?”

He turns to me, “I’ll tell you when we get there.”

I am dying in curiosity. I keep on thinking of various reasons for us to talk aside from my “work” but I can’t think of anything.

We arrive at a small coffee shop after a couple of minutes. I remember that this is the shop where we first met. I glare at him but I am so confused as to what’s happening. He leads me to the table in the corner and the waitress gives us the menu.

I continue to stare at him, hoping that he’ll give me a clue but he isn’t saying anything. What a jerk.

“What would you like to drink?” The waitress asks us.

I watch as Kaleb orders his usual frappe. He turns to me while I immediately respond, “hot chocolate”.

Once the waitress leaves, I grab his hands. His eyes becomes wide in surprise.

“Tell me what the hell is happening” He chuckles and holds my hands tighter, this time, surprising me.

“Well, we’ve known each other since we’re kids, right?”

I nod, letting him continue. “My parents know your parents and vice versa.” I nod once again.

He takes a deep breath, “they think I should have a girlfriend by now so my future will be secured and you’re the only person I know who they’ll like.”

I can’t help but frown. All my life I imagined how my future partner will confess to me: under the rain with an umbrella covering us. I imagined that he will express his feelings genuinely and even cry if he can but not like this.

“What are you saying?” I ask as I move my hands away.

Before he can respond, the waitress comes back with our orders. Kaleb looks down, “I like you, Ciel. I was planning to confess to you but after graduation. But my parents wanted me to be committed so they can talk to your parents or something like that”

He said those words: I like you. My mom told me when I was young that when my dad confessed, she felt butterflies in her stomach. I don’t feel anything.

“So, you’re doing this just for our business?”

He chuckles and tries to hold my hands again, “No. I really like you. Why would follow you around when we’re young?”

Kaleb will forever be Kaleb. I know I like him too and I know him so well. I know he’s telling the truth but why am I not feeling anything? I have to make a decision. Kaleb is a nice guy, he’s handsome, he’s smart, and he’s athletic. His family is great too so I guess my future will be secured if I date him.

“Okay” I answer.

His eyes widen and his smile grows. “So, we’re really dating?” I nod.

He holds my hand in happiness. I still didn’t feel the butterflies in my stomach, but I guess they’ll appear soon, right?