Stalked, he did II

"Lol, not even a girlfriend yet, and you're already calling her your future wife," IM teased, shaking his head in amusement.

"Shut up..." I mumbled, feeling my cheeks flush slightly.

Closing my eyes again, I focused on a new image.

A small portion of spicy chicken appears in front of me, I imagined.

I got up from my bed, the snacks and spicy chicken still floating in mid-air. "I should grab a bag," I said to IM and Kuro, then headed downstairs.

I found a suitable bag in the kitchen and carefully placed the snacks and spicy chicken inside. I made sure to grab some drinks as well, knowing that movie nights always required plenty of refreshments.

"Where are you going, Xian?" My mom asked, looking up from her knitting.

"Just going to a friend's house to watch a movie," I replied casually, trying to hide my excitement.

"Oh, that's nice. Have fun, but don't stay out too late," she said with a warm smile.

"I won't, Mom," I promised, giving her a quick hug before heading back upstairs.

I grabbed my phone, checking the address that Hanna had sent me.

"Hmm, I think I should wait for about 30 minutes... since she knows my home is pretty far away..." I said to myself.

***

Meanwhile, at Hanna's home in the cluster, she was hurrying to tidy up her bedroom, fixing her sheets, folding clothes in her closet, and doing everything she could to make a good impression on Xian when he arrived.

She stopped and looked at her closet, hands on her hips, when she noticed her maid walking past the door from the hallway.

"Sis!" she called out.

The maid looked at her, "Yes, Miss Hanna?"

"A... my friend will be coming over. If he's here, just let him in, okay!"

The maid nodded in understanding.

Hanna continued her cleaning frenzy, her heart fluttering with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She had never invited a boy over to her house before, let alone someone she had feelings for. She wanted everything to be perfect, to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere for their movie night.

She fluffed the pillows on her bed, arranged the snacks and drinks on a small table, and even lit a scented candle to add a touch of ambiance. As she surveyed her room, a satisfied smile spread across her face. It looked perfect.

Suddenly, a wave of self-consciousness washed over her. "Xian's house is far from here; it must take an hour to get here... Should I change into something nicer? No, this shirt is already nice," she mumbled to herself, glancing at her reflection in the mirror. She adjusted her hair, smoothing down a few stray strands, and took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

She paced around her room, her mind racing with thoughts. "Should I prepare some tea? Or maybe offer him a drink? But what if he doesn't like what I have? Oh, what if he thinks my room is messy? I should probably tidy up a bit more..."

Hanna's anxiety grew with each passing minute. She wanted to make a good impression on Xian, but she was also afraid of coming across as too eager or desperate. She wanted him to see her as more than just an idol, as a normal girl with her own hopes and dreams.

She glanced at the clock on her wall. It was almost 3 PM. Xian should be arriving soon. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

Just be yourself, Hanna, she told herself. He likes you for who you are.

With a newfound sense of resolve, she sat down on her bed, smoothing out her clothes and taking one last look in the mirror. She was ready.

She couldn't help but constantly check her phone, seeing if Xian was online or not. He always seemed to be away from his phone and replied to her messages quite late, making her curious about what he was doing and when he would arrive. She was also anxious about what they would do once he got there.

She opened her idol group chat and started typing.

[Hanna: Aaaaaaaa help me guys, I'm nervous!!!]

Her message was met with a flurry of responses from her fellow idol group members, Cherry, Charlotte, Sophia, and Annie.

[Cherry: What's wrong, Hanna? Spill the tea! ☕]

[Charlotte: Are you okay? Did something happen?]

[Sophia: Don't worry, Hanna. We're here for you. 🤗]

[Annie: Tell us everything! We'll help you calm down.]

Hanna hesitated for a moment, then typed out a quick reply.

[Hanna: Xian is coming over to my house today! 😱]

[Cherry: Xian? The guy on that save the concert?]

[Charlotte: Oh my god, that's so exciting! Is it a date?]

[Sophia: Awwww, that's so cute! You like him, don't you?]

[Annie: Spill all the details! What are you guys going to do?]

Hanna's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she read their messages. She hadn't told them about her feelings for Xian, but it seemed like they had already figured it out.

[Hanna: It's not a date! We're just hanging out and watching a movie. 🙈]

[Cherry: Sure, sure. Whatever you say. 😉]

[Charlotte: Just relax and have fun, Hanna. You deserve it.]

[Sophia: And don't forget to tell us all about it later! 😁]

[Annie: Yeah, we want all the juicy details!]

Hanna chuckled softly, feeling a wave of warmth wash over her. It was good to have friends who supported her, even in matters of the heart. She closed the chat, her anxiety replaced by a sense of anticipation. She couldn't wait to see Xian again.

She quickly added another message to the group chat, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

[Hanna: Don't tell the manager, okay! I don't want to get in trouble for breaking the Sacred Rules!]

Hanna smiled, feeling a sense of relief. She knew she could count on her friends to keep her secret. She put her phone down and took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

Meanwhile, back at my home, I was still lying on the bed, checking the time to make sure it had been 30 minutes, but it still wasn't quite there.

"Damn, why is the clock so slow..." I complained, impatience creeping into my voice.

"You're just going to teleport, aren't you?" IM asked, a knowing smirk on his face.

"Yep," I replied, already visualizing Hanna's house in my mind.

With a deep breath, I focused my imagination, picturing the familiar layout of Hanna's house. Teleport, I commanded silently.

In an instant, the world around me blurred and shifted, and I found myself standing in front of Hanna's house. The afternoon sun cast a warm glow on the elegant facade, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves of the trees lining the street.

I took a moment to compose myself, smoothing down my hair and adjusting my clothes. Then, with a newfound confidence, I walked up to the gate and pressed the doorbell.

The sound echoed through the quiet late afternoon, and I waited with bated breath for Hanna to answer. A few moments later, the gate creaked open, revealing the smiling face of the maid.

"Ah, you must be Xian," she said warmly. "Miss Hanna is expecting you. Please come in."

I stepped inside, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The maid led me through the manicured garden and into the house, the scent of fresh flowers filling the air.

We reached the livingroom, and the maid yelled gently. "Miss Hanna, your friend is here," she announced.

"Coming!" Hanna's voice called out walking downstaris.

A moment later, the door opened, and there she stood, her face radiant with a smile. "Xian, you're here!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Hey, Hanna," I replied, my own smile mirroring hers.

"Hey... you came here by train?" she asked, walking closer, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

I nodded. "Yeah, it was pretty fast today," I lied smoothly, not wanting to reveal my teleportation ability.

"Come on in... take a seat," she invited, gesturing towards her couch in the living room.

I put the bag on the table.

Hanna's eyes widened in surprise. "Woah... there's a lot of food here..." she exclaimed.

"Haha, just a few snacks," I replied casually.

"Oh, come on, you didn't have to spend your money. You're still in high school; I already have plenty of snacks here!" she protested, a warm smile on her face.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "It's no big deal, Hanna. I wanted to bring something to share."

She hesitated for a moment, then her smile softened. "Thank you, Xian. That's very thoughtful of you."

I took a seat on the couch, and Hanna joined me, leaving a comfortable distance between us. The living room was tastefully decorated, with modern furniture and pops of color that reflected Hanna's vibrant personality. A large window offered a view of the cluster house, the twinkling lights creating a magical backdrop for our evening.

"So, what movie do you want to watch?" I asked, reaching for the bag of snacks.

Hanna's eyes lit up. "I was thinking we could watch a comedy," she suggested. "Something light and fun."

"Sounds good to me," I agreed.

She grabbed the remote and turned on the television, navigating to the smart TV interface.

I slowly arranged the snacks on the table, making sure to highlight the spicy chicken.

"Oh wow, what's that chicken?" Hanna asked, her eyes drawn to the crispy, golden-brown pieces.

"Fried chicken, the spicy kind, but not too spicy," I replied.

"Oh, you have good taste, Xian," she chuckled, reaching for a piece.

"Are your parents around?" I asked casually.

"No, no, they're both out of town for work," she replied, taking a bite of the chicken.

< Chapter 153 > Fin.