It was the last class day of the week. Somehow, Dan and Midori eluded each other. For the past days, Dan had notify Midori that he cannot eat lunch with her. He was consistently pulled out from class on breaks. Midori was surprised at first, but made the necessary adjustment for the food. She was also busy with cheer practice. Of course, they would have their unspoken academic competition every now and then, but never really talked like before.
Just when Midori was to go for practice, Dan stopped her, holding her wrist along the hallways. She turned to face him, closed in on their gap, then held her bag to cover the wrist being held. She scanned the surroundings for watchful eyes. When she was sure there was none, she turned to look at him.
"What do you want?" She raised her left brow, looking straight through his hazel eyes.
Dan pursed his lips then sighed. He took a card from his pocket and placed it on the hand he was grasping.
"Inform me what time tomorrow. I will wait for it until midnight." His eyes were serious. Then he let go of her and walked away.
There is a rule in their school prohibiting students to bring cellular phones. So students can only check and use their phones at home. This way, they can focus more on school activities. Any emergency notification will have to go through the staff and faculty.
Midori stared down on the card on her palm. It was neatly printed with Dan's full name and contact details. At the bottom was the fine print of ZFC.
She looked up to his retreating figure and sighed.
At home, Dan was turning his closet upside down. He raises one outfit towards his torso, frowning, then tossing it out for another.
"Tch...too tacky! Why do I even have these things?!"
A tall, fair girl in her early twenties was leaning on the door frame with a big grin.
She coughed to call his attention. He turned to her with surprise in his eyes.
She giggled. "Let's go shopping!"
He walked to follow her.
She drives a red Audi RS7. While not looking away from the road, she interrogated him.
"So, how old is she?"
"What?!" Dan was startled. He was not prepared to answer questions.
"It's a SHE, RIIIGHT?" she said through gritted teeth while giving him a side eye.
"Van-jiè..." He furrowed his brows.
"Why are you so annoyed? I'll be paying for your clothes. Won't you feed Jie-jie some gossip? Just this once..." her voice was jokingly pleading.
Dan sighed heavily. "Of course it's a she. I am 7 months, 12 days older than her."
Vanessa Zhou is Dan's only sibling. She is 5 years older than him, but they are very close. However, puberty made her brother a little shy towards certain topics such as girls. Still, she tries her best to gossip about his personal life every now and then. Don't get her wrong though. Her concern towards her brother extends to his preference for her future sister-in-law. Unlike other elite ladies, she wanted him to find someone naturally, rather than succumb to an arranged marriage, just like her engagement.
It was not long until they arrived at the mall.
"So, where do you plan to take her on your first date?" Vanessa intently look at her brother.
She is of the same height as him, well for now. He still has years to grow to his maximum height.
"It's not a date!" He blurted out, irritated. "Well, I think..." he mumbled.
She laughed heartily. "You think?" She laughed more, amused. "It's a date alright!"