Part- 387:
Arriving at the café, he felt at ease in the cozy, familiar atmosphere, letting the coffee aroma and soft jazz soothe his senses. But the moment Mili walked through the door, she brought with her an ued spark. Dressed in a delicate, flowing white dress with a hint of makeup highlighting her natural beauty, she looked radiant. James, aced to her casual, id-back style, was caught pletely off-guard.
He almost fot to greet her, momentarily stunned, befaining his posure. “You look… great,” he said, his voice warm and sincere as he fshed her a smile.
Mili’s cheeks tinted slightly as she grinned back. “Thank you! I felt like dressing up a little. But you…,” she raised an eyebrow pyfully, gesturing at his post-training hoodie and joggers, “you look like you just fought a dozen goblins.”
James chuckled, scratg the back of his neck. “Hey, I didn’t expect a formal event. You caught me off guard.”
She winked. “That was the idea. Gotta keep you on your toes, James.”
They slid into their usual booth, and versation flowed naturally, filled with shared jokes, teasing, and the fort of their easy friendship. Iween sips of coffee and lighthearted chatter, James felt the tension from his week gradually melting away. Mili had a knack frounding him, a reprieve from his often intense life, even if she didn’t know all the details of his ret adventures. She was his quiet reminder of normalcy amidst all the chaos.
As they fiheir drinks, Mili leaned forward, an ued spark of curiosity in her eyes. “So… do you want to go for a walk?”
James raised an eyebrow, a little surprised but intrigued. “A walk? Sounds nice. Yeah, let’s go.”
The two strolled side by side through the park, bathed in the warm, golden light of the afternoon sun. The bright daylight gave everything a fresh, vibrant feeling, and the park was bustling with families, joggers, and a few kids pying socearby. James couldn’t help but notiili seemed even more striking in the daylight, her ughter light as it filled the air around them. Strangers passing by gave them occasional gnces, some smiling, perhaps mistaking them for a couple enjoying a romantic afternoon together.
“Do you think people think we’re on a date?” Mili mused, her tone pyful but with a hint of curiosity.
James gnced around, noting the amused expressions and occasional whispers directed their way. He chuckled, shrugging. “Probably. I mean, you look like you’re on a date.”
Mili ughed, rolling her eyes. “You’re right. I don’t think your thin white Tshirt quite says ‘romantic walk in the park.’”
“Hey, this thin white Tshirt is very versatile,” he protested, grinning. “Besides, I didn’t get the dress-up memo.”
They both ughed, sharing a moment of lighthearted teasing before their versatioled into a fortable silehere was something different about the air between them, James noticed. Maybe it was the way her arm brushed against his every so often, or the way her ughter lingered a bit longer. He wasn’t sure, but he felt something stirring—a curiosity, a sense of warmth he hadn’t quite noticed before.
After a few minutes, Mili broke the silence. “So, what’s been going on with you tely? You’ve seemed… distracted, maybe a bit tired?”
