Chapter Sixteen
"Yes. Installments."
Ren nodded, confirming Monica's words while his eyes were fixed on her face, waiting for her reactions. 'Is she going to resent me for asking her to pay me back?'
Monica got off Ren, returning to the passenger seat lost deep in thought.
The silence of Monica was making Ren feel suffocated as he opened his side of the door and got out of the car. 'Stupid Ren! Who the fuck asks a girl to pay back?! Are you fucking crazy!?'
Ren groaned, pulling out his phone from his pocket and dialing Alex's number. The ring went once… twice-
"Hello? Miss. Vance speaking."
Ren's body relaxed a little at the sweet voice, coming from the other end of the phone. 'Well, if Monica breaks up with me, I can still go after Alex. It's better than becoming a pathetic guy begging for love. And, Alex's bigger than Monica. It's not a bad deal, huh.'
"Miss Alex, I might be a little late to our appointment."
"Oh? And why is that, pretty boy?" Alex's voice dripped with amusement as sounds of scribbling performed as the background noise. "Did something come up?"
"Something like that. A couple of idiots in a black sedan decided to play bumper cars with Monica's car. We lost them, but the vehicle looks like it went three rounds with a tank. The windshield and the back glass are completely damaged as well."
The line went silent for a moment. Then—
"You're joking." Alex's disbelief was clear in her voice.
"I wish I was. I don't really know which one of us they wanted dead though." Ren tsked as he leaned against the car, staring at his calloused hands in nonchalance.
Alex's playful tone vanished completely, replaced by something sharp and cold. "Where are you right now? Are you safe? Is Ica okay?"
"Shaken but unhurt. I got a scratch on my cheek. Nothing serious. Though, I am afraid we might have to ditch this car here for safety purposes and buy a new one. Can you send us a vehicle to take us to a car dealer?"
The line went dead silent for a moment before shattering of glass killed it followed by Alex's voice.
"Send me your location. Right now."
Ren raised an eyebrow at the command in her voice but didn't argue. He pulled up his GPS coordinates and sent them to Alex's number.
"Sent."
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Don't move. And for the love of all that's holy, don't let Ica out of your sight."
The line went dead before Ren could respond.
Ren stared at the phone for a moment, then slipped it back into his pocket. 'She went from flirty to mission mode in zero point three seconds. Interesting reaction speed for just a gym owner.'
He walked back to the passenger side and opened Monica's door. She looked up at him with those ruby eyes, her earlier thoughtful expression replaced by confusion.
"What happened? Who was on the phone?"
"Alex. She's coming to pick us up. It's risky to take public transportation for now."
Monica's brow furrowed. "But what about—"
"Nothing, it will stay here. I'll ask Alex to have it towed to the scrapyard. Gather all your stuff that's important and come out."
Monica nodded at Ren's words, quickly gathering all her things inside the car, stuffing them into her purse.
Once Monica was done, Ren extended his hand, and after a moment's hesitation, Monica took it. He helped her out of the car, keeping her hand firmly in his as he led her toward the shade of a nearby awning.
They stood in silence for a moment, the adrenaline of the chase finally fading completely, leaving behind a bone-deep exhaustion that made Ren's limbs feel heavy.
"Ren," Monica's voice was soft, almost a whisper. "About what you said earlier... the installments..."
Ren's jaw tightened. "Forget I said that. It was stupid. A woman paying is a stupid idea."
"No, it wasn't." Monica squeezed his hand. "You were trying to find a way to help me without making me feel like a charity case. I appreciate that. I just..." She took a deep breath. "I don't want to be someone who takes and takes without giving anything back. I can't become that kind of person."
"I never thought you were—"
"I know." Monica smiled up at him, and despite everything that had happened earlier. Only now, did Ren felt his heart skip a beat at the sight. "That's why I'm going to accept your offer. But on one condition."
"Name it."
Monica's cheeks flushed. "I pay you back with interest. And..." She bit her lip. "I cook you dinner. Every night. Till the debt is paid. As a thank you for everything you've done."
Ren blinked. "Every night?"
"Every night," Monica repeated, her blush deepening. "Unless... you don't want me to..."
"I want you to." Ren pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist. "But a year is a long commitment, Miss Young. Are you sure you can handle seeing my face that often?"
Monica's hands found his chest, her fingers curling into his shirt. "I think I can even manage forever, Mr. Esper. A year is too short. Plus, you are my boyfriend too. It's something I should do."
"And if I want breakfast too?"
"Don't push your luck."
A laugh escaped Ren's lips as he squished Monica's cheeks into his palms and stared into her eyes. "You're so adorable."
"L-Let go off my cheeks, R-Ren. And, give me your phone."
Ren blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the request. "My phone? Why?"
"Just give it," Monica said, her voice carrying that particular tone that told him she wasn't going to explain until she was ready.
Ren fished his phone out of his pocket and handed it over, watching as Monica's fingers moved swiftly across the screen. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, her lower lip caught between her teeth in a way that made Ren's chest tighten.
After a moment, Monica pulled her phone out of her purse, scanning something then handing Ren's phone back to him.
Ding!
Ren stared at the screen raising his eyebrow as a new notification popped up.
[100,000 dollars have been transferred to your bank account ending with -XXXX.]
'System, status.' Ren sighed as he stuffed his phone in his pocket, trying to check if the money went to his actual account or the account that the system had opened for him.
[Name: Ren Esper]
[Age: 22]
[Profession: Professor]
[Current Planet: LHS100B]
[Current Location: Sydia City]
[Bank Balance: 100,119 Dollars]
'System, do the spending rules also apply to my actual bank account?' Ren grinned internally, waiting for the blue screen to reappear again. 'Please God! Please let the response be the same as my thoughts. Please let me earn a little money.'
[Negative, host. The money in your account can be spent freely by you without any system restrictions.]
'Fuck, yes!'