Chapter 23: According to Guru Remy

Just as Ryder was about done with her dinner, a message popped up on her phone's screen. It was from Jasmine. And what that message contained was a photo and four words followed by a long string of exclamation marks.

Jazz: 【What is this situation! 】

Above that message was the photo. Ryder raised a brow and opened the photo. It was a picture of Remy sitting on the dining table at Jasmine's house. Next to him, with an arm around his shoulders, was Mr. Hassen with the biggest smile Ryder has ever seen on his face, lips parted as the photo was taken while he was talking. On the other side, Mrs. Hassen was filling Remy's plate with all sort of things with a devoted look in her eyes as if she was brought in this world for this sole purpose and her time had finally come.

She brought him to meet her parents! Ryder couldn't quite process this information. The Hasen men were so protective over Jasmine. What was going on?

Frowning slightly, Ryder wrote a short text to Jasmine.

Ryde: 【Did you tell them who he is? 】

Surely, Jasmine must have introduced him as her friend. There's no other possibility.

Not two seconds later, Jasmine replied.

Jazz: 【I didn't get to say shit. He introduced himself as my boyfriend the moment mom opened the door】

Ryde: 【And what did you say? 】

Jazz: 【…】

Jazz: 【I might… or might have not… nodded… when Remy asked me to be his girlfriend…】

So, she agreed to it. A smirk lifted the corner of Ryder's lips. About time. Then it hit her… Does this mean I have to pass my days as a third wheel? I mean… I have been doing this for a long time now, but now that they're officially together. Now I will be… a (third wheel) ². This isn’t good. This isn’t good at all. Midnight and I, and Remy with Jasmine… we all met at the same time. How come they're already a couple, but I have yet to see the face of the guy and know his name… what is THIS situation? I should step up my game. _:(´ཀ`」 ∠): _

As Ryder texted back to Jasmine asking her why her family seemed to approve of Remy so much, she also opened her conversation with Remy and wrote a quick text to him.

Ryde: 【Brother, help this sister in need. How can I pursue a certain someone? 】

Before Remy could reply, Jasmine's answer came first. There was no need to look at her to know that Jasmine was pissed at the moment. Ryder could even imagine her punching her answer on the phone, almost breaking the screen.

Jazz: 【They saw that he was weak and that I could beat his ass if he dared to hurt me, so they accepted him. Then mom and dad found out he wants to become a doctor and now they are all over him. I think the three of them are already planning our wedding. 】

After reading this, Ryder nodded in approval. Ah yes. It was the right decision to ask Remy for such matters. He's well-learned.

Sure enough, Remy's reply came and, Ryder almost threw her phone, cheeks blushing as if sprayed with red paint.

Remer: 【Kiss him. 】

I take it back. It was the wrong decision to ask him. Who does he think I am? I can't… I…

But as Ryder was trying to refuse such an idea, her mind filled with the image of Midnight and it was almost as if she could still feel the touch of his lips on her fingerprints from a few hours ago. Her stomach suddenly felt stuffy, as if filled with butterflies. Fluttering their wings and flying their way up to her heart. Her face turned even redder when she thought of kissing Midnight.

"Why are you blushing?” The sudden voice of her father snapped Ryder out of her trance and she was pulled back to reality.

"N-nothing. No reason." It's not like I'm daydreaming about kissing some weirdo who visits me at night while you guys are asleep. Nu-uh. Not at all. I'm the pure innocent Ryder.

Ryder looked down at her phone again. She hid it under the table before starting to type again.

Ryde: 【Where did you learn all this shit? 】

Remer: 【…】

Remer: 【I read some books…】

Ryde: 【Pass them on】

Remer: 【What do I get from this? 】

Bastard. Jasmine is right. He's unfilial. Wait… now that he is dating Jasmine… who acts like me mother… does that mean Remy will act as my father? Stepfather? Baba Bear? This shit is confusing.

Ryde: 【I have a video of Jasmine beating up a thirty-year-old man. 】

Remer: 【 】

Well, that was easy.

Putting down her phone, Ryder looked up, only to face her father's skeptical gaze. Michelle on the other hand was ignoring the two of them, eating her dinner with delight, even though dinner at this house was more like a lame breakfast. Toasts and milk or just peanut butter and jam sandwiches.

Under Henry's gaze, Ryder couldn't help but unconsciously shrink on her chair, in desperate need to hide herself, but unless she decided to hide under the table, there was no other way. Just as she was about to snap and just sprint to her room, her father suddenly exclaimed pointing an accusing finger to her. Mind you, not the middle finger or any other finger. Just the normal one, the one people usually point with.

"She has a boyfriend."

Michelle choked on her toast.

"No, I DON'T!” … yet… hopefully… I don't know okay!

As if he hadn't accused Ryder like in those dramatic movies where the detective points out the murderer, Henry took a bite from his half-eaten toast and chewed on it leisurely. "Then you like someone."

Michelle turned her gaze on Ryder with a rather surprised look. Her cavewoman of a daughter… likes someone? Where did she find this guy? As a thought crossed her mind, a furrow appeared between her brows as she frowned unapprovingly. "Is it someone from the internet? Don't believe him, honey. Those guys are scams. What if he turns out to be a bald divorced man?”

For a moment, Ryder was unable to follow the flow of the conversation and instead of denying everything like she intended to, accidentally she denied the wrong thing.

"He's not a friend from internet!”

[insert face-palm]

Michelle and Henry froze at the raise of their daughter's voice, blankly blinking at her as if they had entered a loading process that needed time to complete. That time was enough for Ryder to realize her mistake and want to eat herself alive.

This is Remy's fault okay! He… he told me to kiss Midnight… I…

Tears welled up in Henry's eyes. "My daughter… my sweet precious daughter… she grew up and now she will leave this old man behind."

He was fucking sobbing. Ryder wasn't sure what was going on anymore. Her father was literally crying, her mother had pulled her chair closer to his so she could give him a side-hug for comforting, while Ryder was at loss for words.

"I WILL DUEL THIS MAN WHO DARES TO STEAL MY DAUGHTER FROM ME!”

Rolling her eyes, Ryder sighed feeling tired. "Dad, this isn't the medieval times nor Yu-Gi-Oh."

Henry blinked. "But I have my cards prepared… Besides, this is the perfect time to use that sword you made me for birthday."

Ryder looked at her mother for help, but surprisingly this traitor as nodding.

How come, Mr. Hassen who owns a boxing gym and is like an angry bear protecting his cubs, accepts Remy just like that, while my father who is a graphic designer wants to fight Midnight with swords? AND WE'RE NOT EVEN DATING? No, wait. It makes sense. His geek is coming out.

"Dad… we're just friends."

"That's what I told your mother when I 'accidentally' kissed her so she wouldn't slap me."

Michelle smacked the back of his head. "Pervert!”

"We're married! We have a daughter. I think we're way pass that now, honey."

Ryder covered her ears. "Alaa, I don't want to hear it." She stood up from the chair and walked out of the kitchen, but Henry wasn't willing to let go of it.

"Bring that guy over. We will duel! I won't accept any boy who isn't worthy of my daughter!”

Midnight the guy who comes over every night: “…” But let's keep this unimportant fact a secret from this pair of parents. The less they know the better.

"We're not dating!”

"But you might one day!

"So, what if we do?”

"LET ME MEET HIM THEN! Tell me his name!”

Sudden silence fell in the hallway. Dad… this useless girl of yours… doesn't know such information herself. How am I supposed to tell you?

However, Henry thought Ryder was just being stubborn. "Then tell me his age!”

I just happen to don't know that either.

Henry frowned. "Then… then… tell me what he looks like?”

Wish I knew it myself.

"WHY ARE YOU SO STUBBORN? YOU GOT THAT FROM YOUR MOTHER!”

Another smack hit Henry right on the head, the sound echoing through the hallway. "This stubborn friend will let you sleep on the couch tonight." Michelle glared at her husband. "Ryde, honey, just let us meet him if things get serious."

Ryder went back to her room. Only when the door closed behind her back, did she let out a long sigh and relaxed. She hasn't even said anything to Midnight about her feelings yet and her parents want to meet him already. She wasn't even sure if she should confess to begin with. It's not liked their relationship was a normal one. For some reason all this mystery, suddenly, looked like a step away from heartbreak. What if what Midnight was hiding from her was what will keep them apart? What if Midnight never decided to tell her who he is and just suddenly disappeared one day?

Those two weeks of absence had scared Ryder to death. She had never felt so helpless in her life before. What if she was thrown into the depths of that feeling again? Her heart had started beating for someone but she couldn't even see his face or call his name.

Ryder sighed. It truly hurt to feel this way for a person who was one thought away from disappearing from her life with no trace left behind.

Sighing again, because once just wouldn't do it, Ryder looked around her room and frowned. The whole place was a mess. When she came back home, the first thing she did was to start the mask she promised Midnight to do, but by the time that was done, the room looked as if a bomb had exploded and everything was scattered everywhere.

With a lazy feeling making her body feel as if it held the soul of a sloth, Ryder began to tidy her room. She wouldn't want Midnight to come in and step on a bucket filled with undried cement or something. Once she was done, she sat on the poorly made bed and brought her laptop to her lap to open the link Remy sent.

The moment the link opened, Ryder squealed, her face turning bright red. Her cognac dyed eyes widened and her lips were parted from the sequel, unable to close again.

What is this? Remy you rascal, what the fuck have you been reading?

The first title that jumped up was that of a bright red covered book with the words "Conversation Casanova" written over it in capitals. And that was the most decent title… or book. The other ones had titles that shall not be said with contents that shall not be mentioned. Is this… this is how he got Jasmine? No way. These… Wattpad books were better than these.

Ryder couldn't look away from the books on her laptop's screen, her lips twitching, reconsidering some decisions she had taken lately.

She had been staring at the screen unblinkingly for quite a while when a knock against the window brought her back to reality. Jumping in surprise, Ryder looked at the window, behind which a familiar dark silhouette squatted.

Maybe it was because of Remy's text… whichever one of them… or maybe because of the fact that he actually came back, her Midnight returned to her… that made her heart thump in her chest in a way it had never done before. It wasn't wild or fast… it just simply skipped a bit, softened the look in her eyes, turning them into puddles of lava. It beat in such way it made every heartbeat feel sweet and warm, as if this was the first time Ryder realized how the young man in front of her made her feel.

Totally forgetting about the laptop with the concerning contents on display, Ryder turned off the light in her room, only a little lamp casting a somewhat yellowish dim light in the corner of the room and walked to the window.

"Burr, it's so cold outside." Midnight jumped inside the moment the window opened. The familiarity of those words almost welled Ryder's eyes up. However, before she could get a chance to, Midnight slithered his ice-cold hands on the sides of her neck. A violent shiver ran down Ryder's spine as she trembled. "Oh, you're cold too? Let me warm you up." Midnight smirked under his hood and pulled Ryder into a tight hug.

"Midnight, you asshole. You did that on purpose!” Ryder cursed at him, punch his arm and trying to push herself away from him but it was useless. However, she felt relief wash over her body, seeing him behave like this. Earlier in front of the bookstore, he sounded tired and downcast. It wasn't obvious, but Ryder could tell. Unable to see his face, his voice had become the center of her focus. It was impossible to not tell if something was wrong with him or not as long as he said two words. But Midnight was trying to hide it. So, Ryder could only respect his choice and not make him feel uncomfortable.

"MH. Are you warm now?” Midnight didn't even try to deny it.

Ryder bit her lower lip, not replying right away. Warm? Her heart was boiling! "… I'm still cold." The thick face of this girl even surprised her herself.

A chuckle vibrated through Midnight's chest, making Ryder suddenly realize how close they were. Her face turned red, but by no means did she want to let go. However, her thoughts went astray and the famous two words of guru Remy made a surprise appearance in her head, written in bright red capital letters. KISS HIM.

Frightened by such words, Ryder struggled to release herself from Midnight's embrace. Holy shit, holy chocolate chip cookies of Santa Claus! What the hell am I thinking about?

"I-I'm warm now." Ryder barely managed to mutter with a somewhat raspy voice.

"Are you sure?” Midnight didn't want to let go.

By the time he and his friend had driven back to his house, his friend had managed to brainwash him back into the right mood, forced two pizzas in his mouth and sat him down on the couch to hear a well-prepared pep talk. And he bought him ice-cream…

After all this brainwashing and intense treatment, Midnight suddenly had a spark of wicked urge in his heart. The urge to don't hide his feelings anymore. To be bolder.

"I'm sure." Ryder answered.

"Good. I'm still cold though. Now you warm me up."

I'm fucking losing my mind here, you idiot. Remy yelled in her heart. Her brows furrowed as she continued to struggle. "You're hot enough."

"Thanks, I get that told a lot."

Ryder's knees weakened in embarrassment. Immediately she tried to cover her face and push Midnight away. "I didn't mean that! I meant your body… NO! NOT THAT. I MEAN YOU'RE WARM!” Chuckling Midnight finally felt sorry for the flustered Ry and let go of her. Once she was out of his embrace, Ryder ran to her bed to hide herself under the quilt. "I fucking hate you."

Midnight was unfazed by her words, but her actions were so cute and adorable, his heart softened. "Lies."

I KNOW IT'S A LIE, OKAY? CAN YOU LEAVE ME SOME FACE PLEASE? THANK YOU.

Midnight walked to the bed and sat on it, taking the laptop on his lap to see what his cute Ry was trying to do this time. However, as the blinding titles of the books on the screen burned his eyes, Midnight froze, not knowing how to react. What is this? What happened to the fantasy books she used to read? Is this a new hobby?

Ryder was still under the quilt and her embarrassment had pushed the contents of the link Remy sent to the back of her head. Even when she felt Midnight sitting by the lump under the quilt that was her, Ryder didn't even think about what could happen. Even when silence filled the room, her only reaction was to be confused. In such state, Ryder peeked from under the quilt.

What she saw almost made her faint from embarrassment.

Midnight had her laptop on his lap, the lower half of face was lit up by the light coming from the laptop's screen giving Ryder a clear view of his sharp jawline and his soft looking lips that were tightened in a straight line. Such view would make her heart flutter and her gaze focus on the lips… however the laptop ruined the atmosphere. Ryder immediately paled and yelled a long "No!” before slapping the laptop shut and snatching it away from Midnight. She hugged the laptop to her chest, holding it with a death grip, not willing to let go of it if Midnight decided to fight for it.

But Midnight didn't try to get the laptop back. Assured that the light coming from the desk lamp wouldn't betray him, he pushed the hoodie off his face and rubbed his face, looking like he was trying to rub off those titles that were carved on his eyelids. Let alone Ryder, Midnight himself found his cheeks turning red.

Ryder cursed Remy in her heart, then she realized it was her fault, so she cursed Remy for not being guilty of this charge.

"Are you…” The words stuck in between his teeth and Midnight had to clear his throat before continuing talking. "Is this a new hobby?”

"It's not like that!” Ryder cried out in defense, but she found it impossible to explain herself. What could she possibly tell him? That she wanted to pursue him? No way. That was supposed to be done in a low-key way.

"It's okay, I can respect that."

"I SAID IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!” Ryder cried louder.

Midnight believed her, but the desire to tease her was too much to bear. So, with the corner of his lips lifted in a subtle grin, he kept up his act. "You don't have to be ashamed of it."

Reaching the point where she couldn't endure anymore, Ryder put the laptop aside and shoved Midnight hard. Much to her annoyance, the jerk chuckled.

"Asshole!” She shoved again and again, and Midnight kept chuckling. "Why are you being so heartless, making fun of me!”

Just as Ryder finished saying that, Midnight grabbed the hand she was shoving him with and pulled Ryder closer.

"I'm not heartless. I just missed you."

Ryder frowned. "It's your fault. You decided to disappear."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Don't leave like that again."

"I won't."

Being so close her nostrils filled with his scent, making her heart shiver. Ryder chewed on her lip for a second before talking again. "You… you showered."

Midnight's lips twitched, his body freezing for a second before his eyes darkened. Ryder didn't even have time to react when out of the blue, she was pushed down on the bed, the warm breath of Midnight crushing on her face. Her head blanked, her brain malfunctioning to such extend she couldn't even blush.

Midnight's face shortened that bit of distance between them, bringing his face near her ear. "Go out with me tomorrow." The words were said in a low and somewhat hoarse voice.

Ryder gulped once.

Holy.

Moly.

Ravioli.

Macaroni.

Ryder couldn't even answer. She literally forgot how to speak, her heart was out of control and all her energy was wasted on trying to control her heavy breathing that sounded so loud in her ears.

A gentle soft kiss landed right beneath her ear. "Hmm? Will you?”

After that… how could Ryder be in the right state of mind to answer him? Her thoughts were all scattered, her breath heavy… I was the one supposed to pursue him, how did things turn this way?

After not receiving an answer again, Midnight didn't feel disheartened at all. Instead, with a soft smile on his lips, he landed another kiss on Ryder's jaw, enjoying every second. He couldn't even remember how much he had wanted to hold his Ry on his arms, to kiss her and never let go of her. Before, he had only had a crush on her. But now? Now his whole heart was devoured by the love that was burning his soul bit by bit. Yet after all this time, only now was he entirely given to his heart, not allowing his mind to ruin anything with sick thoughts. Maybe it was because of the yearning or the loneliness he had felt during these weeks, maybe he just came to realize he couldn't leave Ry even if he wanted to…

Midnight pulled back his head, their noses almost touching. While his self-control was to be praised, in Ryder's empty, head a voice echoed repeatedly the two words. Kiss him. Kiss him.

"Let me take you out just for a night."

Seeing how she was unable to use her voice anytime soon, Ryder instead nodded.

The slight movement of her head made a smile spread on Midnight's face, a smile that was hidden by the darkness of the room that the dim light from the desk lamp could barely subside.

"We will have fun, I promise you." Midnight beamed like a little kid and for a second, he forgot himself. With his brain momentarily shut down, he kissed Ryder's face one more time, his lips grazing the corner of her lips.

Ryder shivered violently thinking of only one thing:

… This scene seems familiar…