Riya didn’t pay the whispers surrounding her much attention.
She’d been referred to as beautiful since childhood and long ago she had learned how to ignore the glances and whispers.
But that didn’t equate to a good mood.
"So frustrating..." she grumbled to herself.
"My Appa doesn’t speak to me for weeks, but now he suddenly wishes me to get married?!"
Her cheeks bulged with annoyance, making a ridiculously adorable pout. That only served to make the café audience nearby gawk harder, though. A few of the boys almost spilled their cups, wordlessly gasping.
This afternoon, she’d been dragged here literally.
Riya’s dad, Mr. Raghavan, had shut off her water, electricity, and Wi-Fi at home to ensure she’d come for this blind date.
That’s not strict. That’s literally villain-level parenting!
As she pouted her phone rang.
It was him. Her Appa is calling her.
Riya sighed, rolled her eyes, and picked it up, "Yes, Appa?"
"Riya, did you make it to the café?" boomed her father’s deep voice the kind that could make CEOs break out in a sweat in boardrooms.
"I’m already here," she muttered. "Appa, for real? I just graduated! Isn’t too early to begin ramming boys into my life?"
Raghavan laughed. "Would you have come if I hadn’t shut down the power supply at home?"
"You literally blackmailed me with basic human rights."
"You sit around the whole day watching anime and playing video games. Do you expect Prince Charming to enter your living room?"
Riya opened her mouth... then closed it.
"Just saying," he went on, "You’re my only daughter. I want to see you married to someone decent. The boy you meet today. he’s the son of an old friend of mine. Educated, well-mannered, stable. He just came back from London after finishing his law degree."
"You never cared that much before," she breathed.
Then Raghavan spoke softly, "I know."
That single word stung more than any lecture.
"I’ve been running after success for so long... I forgot to glance back and notice how alone you could’ve been. When your mother died, I did not know how to cope with it. I immersed myself in work. I thought providing you with everything else was sufficient."
His voice softened, a thing that was not common to him.
"I lost out on so much of your growing up, Riya. Perhaps this is my awkward attempt at catching up. I’m not going to make you marry anyone, Riya. But meet him once. That’s all I’m asking."
"...Okay," she said eventually. "I’ll meet him. But no guarantees."
"That’s all I had to hear."
As the call broke, Riya gazed out the window lost in thought.
In the back of her mind, a recollection glimmered about the boy she had encountered in the basement the other day.
Peaceful eyes. An unobtrusive presence. The type of individual that made all the rest slide into the background.
If only Appa had brought me into contact with someone like that...
Riya sighed in her heart.
A spark of sudden fire filled the air around them.
Alex blinked in shock. "It’s you?!"
Riya’s eyes went wide. "No way—I didn’t know I’d see you here!"
They gazed into each other’s eyes, both shocked.
Neither of them had been prepared for this.
Running into each other ... at a blind date?!
What are the chances?!
Riya’s heart started racing. She asked hesitantly, "You’re here today... for what?"
Alex scratched his head, smiling helplessly. "Some super-enthusiastic Auntie told me to come for a blind date."
"I’m also here for a blind date today!"
Riya suddenly leaned in, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Don’t tell me... I’m your blind date?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
Could it really be...
Was this fate arranging things for her?
Just when she had secretly guy but hadn’t yet mustered up the courage to talk to him but now he was the one sitting across from her?!
Her heart burst with happiness.
Riya at that moment felt more than content with her dad’s decision.
She was so happy that he insisted she attend this date.
Alex, on the other hand, was just as shocked. He glanced over at her again, and finally realized who she was.
She was the same girl from the parking lot. The JK-uniform girl who like a look like someone stepped out of an anime.
Alex just sighed in his mind.
They sat face to face at the same table.
And talked and laughed.
The words flowed as smoothly as water.
Alex learned very soon that Riya wasn’t just pretty. She was also interesting.
She wasn’t one to merely go with the crowd. She was a thinker. She was quick, self-assured, even witty.
Her company came so easily.
She exuded a type of peace that was uncommon.
A pure stream in the chaotic river of life.
She too was learning things.
Alex wasn’t cold, by any means. He was relaxed, low-key, modest, but with copious amounts of stored-up energy. There was gentleness in his tone. Kindness behind his relaxed demeanor.
Ever since she’d helped him that day in that underground parking garage, she’d always had the notion he had a good character.
He was the kind of fellow she had always waited for.
The two of them talked for roughly half an hour.
Then, suddenly—Riya’s phone rang.
She took it and examined the screen.
She picked up without thinking much.
"So?" her father replied at once. "Did you meet the boy? Do you Like him?"
His tone remained thick with that president-style dominance just straight of a Korean drama....
But when it came to his daughter, he really did care.
Riya’s voice went gentle. Her cheeks colored slightly.
"I met the boy... and I like him a lot."
"Appa, your judgment today is first class."
Then, out of the blue, Raghavan laughed.
"Haha... good! As long as you like him."
For once, the wealthy businessman did sound really pleased.
He hadn’t anticipated things going so easily, and to know that his daughter was content made him proud.
Riya suddenly recalled something else and threw in:
"Also, Appa... do you know? He’s the same fellow who rescued me a while ago in the underground parking lot. If he hadn’t intervened, I could’ve been seriously hurt!"
Raghavan’s tone immediately erupted.
"Someone had the courage to lay a hand on you?! I’ll kill them!"
"Why didn’t you tell me?! I’ve told you a hundred times to take a bodyguard when you’re going out! Why do you always go by yourself?!"
This was his darling daughter and someone had attempted to intimidate her?
Riya hastily attempted to pacify him. "Appa, relax! It was in the past. And thanks to Alex... nothing happened."
Raghavan’s demeanor changed.
"...Wait a second," he said suspiciously. "Did you just say... Alex?"
"Yes?" Riya asked, confused.
Raghavan sounded confused now.
Riya blinked. "My blind date?"
"No, kanna," Raghavan said sternly. "The name of the boy I fixed up your blind date with is Ravi,"
"Ravi!" her father repeated. "That’s the boy I chose!"