Prologue
“Bro, I don’t care. I’m calling dibs on this one.”
Ray nearly choked at Nico’s words. He turned to the man sitting beside him, one eyebrow raised. “Since when did we start playing dibs?”
“Since I saw her.”
“Oh, come on.” Enzo scoffed. “You can’t see a pretty girl walk past without wanting her. You want them all.”
“This one’s different.”
Ray followed his friend’s gaze towards the entrance. And that was when he finally understood.
A group of girls had just walked into the café, laughing among themselves. Nothing unusual. The café was always frequented by girls, especially on Friday afternoons.
But one of them?
She was different from the two girls walking beside her.
The girl walked in the middle of the group, her long blonde hair falling past her shoulders. Her outfit was simple yet elegant. There was something about the way she carried herself that made people look twice.
A beautiful face. A perfect smile. The kind of woman who knew she was beautiful without having to ask anyone.
Ray leaned back in his chair, a smile slowly forming on his lips.
“No wonder,” he remarked.
Nico immediately straightened up. “See? I told you. I called dibs first. Don’t you two dare interfere.”
“May the best man win, bro,” Ray replied with a laugh.
“Okay, fine. Let’s all give it a shot first. Whoever gets her number and dates her for two months wins.” Nico conceded a little.
“Just running your mouths isn’t fun, bro. A thousand each. I’m in.”
The challenge was ridiculous. The competition was even more ridiculous. Still, Ray played along with his friends. He deliberately wanted to liven things up a little more.
“Deal,” both his friends said in unison.
Ray set his cup down before getting to his feet.
“Oi, where are you going?” Enzo asked, furrowing his brows at Ray’s sudden move.
“To show you how a real pro gets the job done.”
Their laughter followed Ray as he made his way towards the counter, dressed in an oversized graphic T-shirt, loose jeans, sneakers, and a chain hanging casually around his neck. His cap was worn backwards, completing the hip-hop look that was his usual style.
The girl was busy gossiping while waiting for her coffee when Ray approached. Her gossip came to a halt, as though giving him room to speak.
“Hey, gorgeous. Ray.” He introduced himself with the smile that had always helped him win over women.
“Nova.”
The eyes of the girl standing beside the blonde-haired girl widened, and her mouth fell open as though she wanted to say something. However, she let out a pained groan before she could utter a word. Ray simply ignored her, keeping his eyes on Nova, whose gaze remained fixed on his.
“So, I’m guessing you want my number?” the girl guessed casually. Clearly, Ray wasn’t the first.
Easy job. No need for any more small talk when two attractive people crossed paths.
“Correct. So, your number?” Ray took out his phone.
“Ivy, lend me your phone. I don’t have my number memorised.”
The girl who had groaned in pain earlier looked at Nova with a furrowed brow but still handed her phone over.
Nova’s fingers danced across Ivy’s phone screen before she handed the device to Ray.
“That’s my number. I left my phone behind. Just WhatsApp me when you get home, okay?”
“Is this really your number?” Ray raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
“It’s my friend’s phone, isn’t it? What, do you think it’s your number instead?” Nova retorted.
Ah, whatever, Ray muttered inwardly as he saved the girl’s number on his phone.
“Thanks,” he said, handing Ivy’s phone back to her.
“Don’t forget to text me, okay?” Nova called out, waving at Ray as he walked away to rejoin his friends.
Ray placed his phone, now containing the girl’s number, on the table.
“Transfer.”
“Hey! That’s cheating, bro. We agreed that you’d only win if you managed to get her number and date her for two months,” Nico objected.
Ray merely shrugged. “The best man will always win.”
His eyes drifted towards the three girls, who had stood up from their table with their coffees in hand.
“Nova? Are you serious? You actually gave that fat girl your phone number?” Ivy asked as the three of them left the café.
“Have you still not figured Lyra out, Vy? A hip-hop guy like that isn’t her type. That guy probably can’t even afford to buy one of Lyra’s shoes,” replied the girl who had been silent all this time.
“Bingo! See that, Vy? Astra knows me better than you do, even though we’ve known each other since we were in diapers,” Lyra declared.
She didn’t feel the slightest bit guilty about her lie earlier.
“You’re so mean, Lyra.”
“Whatever. Lyra’s already done enough by helping Nova find a boyfriend. Otherwise, who would even want her?” Astra retorted.
“Right? You’re the best, Lyra.”
They walked away, laughing together, unaware of the fate that was about to unfold.
