?As soon as Harker got out of the room carrying a stic bag with all the beer cans and snacks they ate, he saw Mina.


    "Wow….. You look…." He couldn''t find the words again.


    "I look what?" Mina batted those longshes again in visible confusion and apprehension.


    He really wasn''t the best at givingpliments or ttering people. It just wasn''t his style. He also didn''t like lip service much, given his experience with girls who praise him a lot. It felt so empty and pretentious.


    But how will he be able to show Mina how he feels without words?


    Harker felt that he really was hopeless when ites to the games of flirting. He was good at the game of rejecting, but never having mutual interest with someone. He easily gets flustered when it''s her, and loses his cool at times. It''s so unlike him that its making him lose his mind, truly falling for someone for the first time.


    ''UGH! This is harder than any exam I took for my finals!'' Harker wanted to go punch a wall or something.


    But then, he remembered what Rnd said. Why was he treating this like an exam where there was only one right or wrong answer?


    He needed to study her. It''s a continuous on-the-spot studying exam. He needed to observe what Mina was like when ying this type of game. Then, he needed to match her level, while acknowledging his own limitations and capabilities.


    Empathy was the best strategy he could use. So he had to put himself in Mina''s shoes…..


    She just came from a make-over with Alejandro the bodyguard, looking like an absolute goddess once more but a different type. Now she looked more demure and professional, like a stewardess on a ne or a librarian. But still a hot librarian.


    Mina wore a very professional looking tight top, showing off her ample bosom, and skirt that goes to her knees. Harker couldn''t help but notice that the skirt hid the curves of her rearpared to the other dress, but it still looked ssy and elegant to him.


    Her blonde curly hair was tied neatly in a ponytail with a blue ribbon. Her face is made up gently, with neutral colors and not too much blush, her lips are soft pink, and there was another pink neckerchief on her neck again.


    She must have spent hours just for this get-up. Having a sister made Harker learn just how long it takes for women to prepare themselves like this. It was not just the clothes and the hair, there was also the preparations like shaving, powdering, wearing perfume, and putting all kinds of things just to make them look perfect from head to toe.


    A measly remark wouldn''t do her justice. But since words weren''t Harker''s forte, actions and emotions might be the key.


    He went closer, and smiled at Mina while putting his hand around her waist. "You''re so beautiful."


    Using even just minimal words with the right expression and nuance, Harker managed to express just how stunning she looked for him and how badly it made him fall.


    Mina had received this enormous passion from subtlety, and her cheeks flushed from it. "T-Thank you."


    Harker just acted as his genuine self, but still remembered to observe Mina''s reactions. "How was the shopping trip? Did you have fun?"


    Mina leaned a little on his hold of her. "I did, though it was pretty exhausting. How about your ''bro time''? Was the game fun?"


    "It was." Harker said. "Have you eaten anything yet? I can go prepare dinner. Rol doesn''t mind, I did it a hundred times already."


    "Sure."


    They went to the kitchen downstairs. With a huge mansion like this and thick cobblestone walls, it was hard to listen to anyone outside the kitchen and dining room area, much less people from the upper floor.


    Harker didn''t know why his thoughts strayed that way, and he shook it off.<novelnext></novelnext>


    He talked some more with Mina, preparing them some dinner of mashed potatoes, steak, and some vegetable sd. Mina had the salmon as he didn''t want to eat something savory and had garlic for some reason. Harker made a joke if she was a vampire, and they bothughed.


    "No…. I just want my breath to stay fresh. I do have a breath freshener on my purse, but I just prefer it if my lips wouldn''t taste like mashed potatoes and steak." She exined.


    "But vegetable sd with no dressing almost tastes like nothing, and you even told me not to add spices…. Did you suddenly gain Rnd''s nd taste buds too?" Harker chuckled. "Rol sure enjoys eating tasteless and even bitter things. He''s like an old man, I tell you."


    "Haha…. I enjoy tasty food too. This is just for tonight." Mina wore a meaningful look.


    Harker knew what that look could mean, and reddened because of it while eating his meal. He suddenly wished he didn''t eat garlic sauteed steak too.


    "About one month….. It''s just next week, right?" Mina said.


    "Yeah. Rnd''s dad would also be going home. They''d have to transfer you somewhere else, but Rnd''s people would still supervise you."


    "I know. Alejandro told me. That''s not really what I''m bothered about." Mina fluttered hershes. "I wondered if you''ll ever be ready for us to exchange DNA."


    Harker almost choked on his food, and drank water.


    Mina then added. "I find myself anticipating it more. Wondering how you''d feel about it, since it''s my first time to kiss a man…."


    "I-It''s my first time too, so don''t worry. We''re just both as inexperienced at this." Harker tried to assure her.


    "Really?" Mina''s eyes brightened. "You never kissed a girl…. Not even once?"


    ''Well, there was a time that Rnd and I knocked our teeth by ident, but we don''t talk about that.'' Harker thought. Yet considering Mina''s quick jealousy, he decided not to mention that funny story.


    "Nada. I don''t even know how to initiate it or how to do it right." Harker thought.


    Mina rubbed her chin. "But with you being such a fine gentleman, you might have some girle over and kiss you soon. It''s not impossible at all. And once you do, you might like her so…."


    Mina ced her hand on hisp again. "I''m scared of that."


    Harker felt something steadily rising within him, a sort of tingling sensation. "Scared that someone would just steal my first kiss?"


    "Scared that someone else would have it…..and then when you kiss me, you find yourself thinking it''s not that special and you enjoyed kissing her more than me."


    She drew closer, and breathed from those soft lips of hers.


    "So... Before that happens, I want to have it now. Your first kiss."


    ---------------------


    A/N: Next chapter would be semi-R18. ;)