Romance Tastes Like Vanilla

Lunch, a little later than usual, was at another café - this one leaning heavily toward savory rather than sweet. As usual, it was impossible to tell what Sayang was trying to test this time.

Since Quinn had already made her stance on ordering clear, Jarel stepped up to do it for both of them.

Or tried to.

“No, I’m ordering. Do you have any allergies, dearie?”

Quinn shook her head. Jinxia, standing nearby, suppressed a smile. Sayang smiled brightly.

“Good to know. Go find a table. I’ll be right with you.”

Jarel obeyed, weaving through the café with Quinn in tow as they searched for somewhere to sit. She pointed to a four-seater near the window.

“That looks nice.”

He guided her over, helped her into the window seat, and took the seat beside her. She looked up at him with a soft smile.

“Thank you.”

He returned it.

“What for?”

She shrugged slightly.

“Everything, I guess.”

He laughed under his breath.

“Then I should be thanking you.”

She blinked. Her ears drooped.

“Why?”

“Because you’ve made me so happy…”

He trailed off when he saw her expression change.

The warmth drained from her face, replaced with something far darker. Despair. Deep, crushing despair.

“I’ve made you happy?”

He nodded cautiously.

“Well… yeah.”

She wrapped her arms around herself.

“Happy? Are you sure?”

“Of course. Are you alright?”

She didn’t answer that.

“But… I’m supposed to ruin your life.”

Ah.

He lowered his gaze slightly, choosing his words.

“You did very well-”

She shook her head sharply.

“No, I didn’t. You just said you’re happy. I’ve failed.”

Her breathing quickened.

“What am I supposed to do? I’ve failed. I’ve failed.”

“I don’t think-”

“A demon who can’t ruin someone’s life? What’s my purpose?”

Her thoughts were spiraling too fast. So he did the only thing he could think of - he grabbed her shoulders gently and held her steady.

“No. You haven’t failed.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

“Yes, I have!”

“No, you haven’t.”

She grit her teeth.

“Prove it.”

He smiled.

“Look how lazy I am now compared to before.”

He almost saw the words hit her.

“But… your life isn’t ruined.”

“Does it need to be?” he asked softly. “You’re the Demon of Sloth. You’ve made me so lazy I don’t want to work anymore. I forget to lock the front door. I sleep in. I procrastinate everything.”

She blinked.

“But I was told to ruin your life…”

“Maybe,” he said. “But if your plan was to ruin my life by making me lazy… you were never going to win.”

“What do you mean?”

He smiled wider.

“Would you believe me if I said it was my dream to quit working and live lazily long before I met you?”

She stared at him like he’d just confessed to arson.

“You… wanted to be lazy?”

He nodded.

“And you did your job perfectly.”

She processed that.

“So… you’re happy because you wanted to be lazy… and I made you lazy.”

“Exactly.”

She went very still.

Then she looked up at him with wide red eyes.

“So I’m still the Demon of Sloth?”

He chuckled.

“I think so.”

She beamed - pure sunlight - and suddenly tipped sideways, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.

“Thank you again.”

He froze, then awkwardly tried to return the hug, hampered by her angle. After a few seconds she shifted upright again, clearly uncomfortable but reluctant to let go, still smiling like she’d just saved the world.

A voice made them both jump.

“That’s very sweet, but perhaps save the proper embracing for home, dears.”

Sayang was already sitting across from them.

Her expression made it very clear that she did not, in fact, want them to wait until they got home.

Jinxia was nowhere to be seen.

Jarel recovered first.

“H-how long have you been there?”

Sayang smiled sweetly.

“Since dearie first said she failed.”

To know that was the first time meant she’d been there longer than that, but Jarel decided not to pursue the logic.

“Are you satisfied?”

She touched her cheek lightly and nodded.

“Yes. Thank you.”

He wasn’t sure whether to feel embarrassed or relieved.

Then the food arrived.

And he had never felt more nervous in his life.

It was all shared.

Quinn had spoon-fed him breakfast earlier - only a couple bites - but this was different. One plate of scrambled eggs on toast. One milkshake. Two straws.

He slowly looked up at Sayang.

Her innocent smile said everything.

“What?” she asked lightly. “Did you expect something else?”

He sighed.

“No.”

“Didn’t think so.”

He sighed again and turned to apologize to Quinn - only to find she was already eating.

She looked at him with complete innocence, cheeks full.

“Wharmf?”

He chuckled.

“Nothing.”

Determined not to give Sayang ammunition, he picked up a fork and awkwardly began eating from the same plate.

When Quinn reached for the milkshake, Sayang darted forward and snatched it away, placing it out of reach as she waggled a finger.

“No, not until you’re both having it at the same time.”

Quinn only shrugged.

Jarel, however, very much minded that Sayang was watching them with predatory focus over her own meal - a simple cheese toastie.

Now that he thought about it, scrambled eggs on toast was a strange lunch choice.

He chose not to question it.

Most of the food disappeared into Quinn. He attributed that to her demon nature.

She pushed the plate away and stared intently at the milkshake.

Or so he thought.

Then he realized she was actually staring at Sayang’s cheese toastie.

Her nose twitched.

He silently begged her not to dive across the table.

Sayang must have noticed too, because she hastily shoved the milkshake forward before desperately cramming the last of her sandwich into her mouth.

Quinn immediately wrapped her lips around the closer straw and began inhaling the vanilla liquid.

Sayang shot Jarel a frantic look.

Slow her down.

The milkshake level dropped alarmingly fast.

Suppressing the riot in his chest, Jarel leaned toward the second straw. The threat of Sayang’s disappointment was somehow stronger than his nerves.

The moment his lips touched it, the milkshake stopped draining.

Quinn’s eyes flicked to him.

She was close.

Very close.

He took a careful sip. It was sweet. Cold. Vanilla.

The straw lightened as she resumed drinking too - much slower now.

Sayang swallowed the last of her toastie, wiped her lips, and finally allowed herself to observe properly.

Her nephew. And his - in her mind - wife-to-be.

Faces inches apart. Sharing a drink. Staring into each other’s eyes.

It was absurdly romantic.

She rested her chin in her hands, delighted.

They were completely encapsulated by each other, whether they realized it or not.

She briefly considered willing them into a kiss.

Alas.

The milkshake emptied. Neither of them moved right away. Their eyes remained locked, neither able to explain why.

Sayang chuckled.

“You’re both doing very well.”

They jumped in perfect sync as reality snapped back into place.

She smiled slyly.

“Ready for the next test?”

Jarel groaned.

Quinn nodded nervously.

Sayang clapped her hands together.

“Alright. The next place we’ll be going is…”

She paused dramatically.

“…wherever you two want.”

They blinked.

“What?” Jarel asked.

Sayang stood, nodding.

“That’s right. Cooking lessons begin tomorrow. But if I catch you home before sundown, they won’t. Understood?”

They nodded together.

She giggled.

“Good luck, dearies.”

And just like that, she was gone.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then Jarel turned to Quinn and smiled.

“So… what do you want to do?”

Her answering smile warmed something in him he hadn’t known was cold.

Her lips parted.

“Love.”

His heart stopped.

Completely.