CHAPTER 24 — “Unexpected Variables”

A rare thing:

A day off.

Kari (Alone… at First)

She hated days off.

Didn’t trust them.

Didn’t know what to do with them.

So she wandered.

Aimless.

Annoyed.

Hungry.

Him

A street-side food stall.

Music playing too loud.

Someone arguing with a broken machine.

“…It’s not that hard,” Kari muttered, stepping closer.

“It is when it hates you,” the guy replied.

She looked at him.

Younger.

Messy hair.

Grinning like the world wasn’t constantly trying to kill him.

“…Move,” she said.

He did.

She fixed it in seconds.

First Interaction

He blinked.

“…Okay, that was cool.”

“I know.”

“I’m—”

“I didn’t ask.”

He laughed.

“…You’re intense.”

“You’re loud.”

“Fair.”

Something Different

He didn’t flinch.

Didn’t overthink.

Didn’t try to match her.

Just… stayed.

“…You want food?” he asked.

“…Is it free?”

“…For you? Yeah.”

“Good.”

Time Passes (Strangely Easy)

They talked.

Not deeply.

Not dramatically.

Just… easily.

And that was new.

First Kiss (Kari Style)

“You’re staring,” he said.

“You’re not dead yet,” she replied.

“…Should I be concerned?”

“Probably.”

A beat.

Then—

she grabbed his jacket and kissed him.

Fast.

Direct.

Certain.

Pulled back.

“…Okay,” she said. “Yeah. That works.”

He blinked.

Then grinned.

“…Yeah. It does.”

Later

Kari walked back home.

Different.

Slightly.

Jenny spotted it instantly.

“…Oh no.”

“What?”

“You found one.”

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“…Maybe.”

Jenny clutched her chest.

“It’s spreading.”