System Rewards

Amara tried to focus on the lunch in front of her, but it wasn't easy. Between her father's awkward glances, her mother's borderline obsessive adoration of Elara, and the fact that she and Elara were now a couple after less than 24 hours, she felt like she'd been thrown into a reality show she never signed up for.

Elara sat next to her, looking calm and collected as usual, even with all the eyes on her. Helena, Amara's mother, sat across from them, radiating joy. You'd think Elara had just announced they were getting married, not that they'd only started dating yesterday.

Gerald, her father, was… well, he was still trying to process everything. The poor man looked like he might faint at any moment, but he was holding it together barely.

"So, about earlier," Gerald began, clearing his throat for what felt like the hundredth time. He still couldn't look Amara directly in the eyes. "I just want to apologize again. I, uh, wasn't expecting to… walk in on that."