I answered the phorying to hide the irritation in my voice. "Yeah?"

  "Hey, it's Mike. Just wao firm a few things about the deal," the real estate agent's voice came through the lihe guy sounds happy after ruining the mood.

  I gnced over at Jean, who had her back turned, looking out the window. She caught my eye and gave me a teasing smile, clearly still amused by our interrupted moment.

  "Sure, Mike. Go ahead," I said, walking to the far side of the room to focus on the call. He went over some final details—paperwork, payment schedules, minalities I o sign off on. I nodded along, giving short responses, all the while my mind was drifting back to Jean.

  "Got it, Mike. I'll send you the signed dots tomorrow m," I said, eager to end the call.

  "Great! grats again on the pce, man. We'll finalize everything soon."

  "Yeah, thanks," I replied before ending the call. I shoved my phone bato my pocket, cursing silently under my breath for letting such a small thing ruin the moment. I mean, he could have called tomorrow m or something. Fuck him!

  Jean turned around, crossing her arms with a knowing smirk. "That agent's got impeccable timing, doesn't he?"

  "Perfect timing, really," I said sarcastically, walking back over to her. "So, where were we?"

  She chuckled. "Well, we could pick up where we left off, or..."

  "Or?"

  "How about we take a break from this pce? Go out, catch a movie, grab some dinner?" Jean suggested, raising an eyebrow.

  I looked her up and down, pretending to think about her proposal.

  She smacked my shoulder pyfully.

  "Hey, watch it! I'm sidering!"

  "Idiot!"

  "Hmm... Alright, but no romantic movies. Those are b," I said, rolling my eyes.

  Jean grinned. "Alright. No romanow, let's get going before yent calls again and ruins the moment," she said, grabbing my arm and draggi the door.

  We booked a cab a straight to the theater. I'll buy a car ter. The movie wasn't that great. It was some a flick with explosions and gunfire every other minute. But Jean seemed to enjoy the plot. So, it was a win for me.

  After the movie, we stopped at a diner he theater. The waitress seated us, handed us each a menu, and disappeared to go refill our water.

  "So, what are you getting?" Jean asked while going through the menu.

  "Burgers sound good," I replied casually.

  Jean smirked. "You're so easy to please."

  "Hey, I like the cssics," I said, closing the menu and leaning back. "Besides, burgers and fries after a movie? That's basically the perfeight."

  She rolled her eyes pyfully, still studying her options. "You're right, though. After that much a, something simple sounds perfect." She shut her menu a aside. "Tsk. Call me a hypocrite, but I'll probably get the same. Just don't judge me if I wara cheese."

  I chuckled. "Extra cheese it is, no judgment."

  Jean ordered a cheeseburger with fries, and I did the same, plus added coke for the drink. Ohe waitress left, Jean leaned bad gnced out the window at the busy street outside. Her fingers drummed lightly oable, and for a moment, we sat there in a fortable silence, just taking imosphere.

  "I 't believe we waited this long to do something like this," Jean said, her voice soft as she returned her gaze to me.

  I shrugged, leaning forward aing my arms oable. "Timing's everything, I guess. We o figure things out first. Or at least, I o stop being scared."

  Her expression softened. "Scared? I thought nothing ever phased you."

  I smiled wryly. "Yeah, I might act like I have it all together, but when it came to you... well, yeah. I was scared." I rubbed the bay neck awkwardly. "I mean, the stakes were high, right? I'm a e and, well, you're..."

  "A hot mess?" She offered.

  I shook my head. "No, you're amazing. But you've had a lot going on, and I didn't want to mess that up. So, maybe it's better that we waited. At least, until things settle down. Until we have a ce to see where this is going."

  Jean nodded. "I suppose you're right."

  The waitress returned, setting our drinks down oable, interrupting our moment of hoy. Jean absentmindedly stirred her straw in her Coke, her gaze still fixed on me, as if waiting for me to say something else.

  I took a long sip from my drink and cleared my throat. "But yeah, I guess I just didn't want to mess things up."

  Jean leaned forward, resting her on her hand. "I get that. I didly make it easy for you, did I?"

  I ughed softly, shaking my head. "You? Difficult? Never," I said, grinning.

  She narrowed her eyes pyfully. "Liar."

  So, we ate while joking about everything and nothing. It felt so normal, just the two of us as if everything else in our lives didn't matter. And it was nice, sitting there, chatting and ughing, just being with her.

  After we finished eating, I paid the bill and we decided to walk back to the academy. It wasn't that far, just around a 30-minute or so walk from the diner.

  The cool air felt good after sitting in the warm dihe streets were still crowded with people, so we walked slowly, enjoying the night. But who would have thought that our awesome date would once agaierrupted by some fuckers again...

  So, as we passed the busy streets, the narrow road that was supposed to be a shortcut, suddenly grew darker. I mean, the street lights were still up, yet everything became dark before my eyes as if someone blindfolded me. It was a nice ability, blinding a person suddenly was a actic. But with my ice trol and psychitrol, I don't even need my eyes to see. I quickly stretched out my trol over the moisture around the area and found three humans closing in on us.

  "What the hell?!" I said, trying to shake the feeling. I felt a strong grip on my arm and a familiar voice saying: "This way."

  It was Jean, but she sounded worried, panicked.

  "Mago's men. Run!"

  Run? Why are we running? We defiake them on without any pressure. Heck, I'm fident enough to take them all alone! But why did she sound so afraid?

  "Jean, wait. Why are they here?" I asked, following her closely.

  "They're probably here for me. Phoenix to be precise," Jean replied.

  "Then isn't it better to take them down instead of running away? We 't let them report baago. They might have heard our versation and know things about us. Now, what do you think would happen if Mago learns about my existence?"

  Jean sighed, looking around frantically. "You don't uand. They're not just ordinary mutants. They are Omega level. That shadow armuy is Senyaka, dude's almost immortal and absorb life energy. He just doesn't die. And that red-haired girl is Amelia Voght, Professor's ex. She vert matter into vapor at will, including herself. With just a flick of her finger, she vaporize oxygen around us. Aal attack doesn't work on her, not to mention she teleport. As for the uy, I've no idea. Must be a new guy. So, run!"

  Those are some OP powers. I mean, abs lifeforce, snuffing out oxygen to kill your target, and teleportation, not to mention that uy's ability to make others blind or maybe more. This is a perfect ce to get more powers.

  I grinned. "Then we should fight, but I don't think they will give up that easily, right?"

  Jean nodded. "That's why we should run a closer to the academy."

  "Well, you go ahead. I'll keep them busy in the meantime. You have to reach the mansion fast, okay?"

  Jean frowned. "I 't leave you here."

  "No, just trust me. Go! We 't allow them to catch you."

  "But..."

  "You know what I do. Have some faith in me. Just go!" I pushed her away.

  Jean stared at me for a sed before nodding. "Okay. Please, be careful. I'll bring help..." She decided to fly away.

  "No worries." I turned around, smming my palm on the road, creating an ice zone around the pce.

  "Oh, my. A young man proteg his girlfriend," Amelia licked her lips with a sly smirk as her body began to turn to vapor. "This is gonna be fun."

  --

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