"I should've checked with her to see if she got it. I'm such an Idiot," Dan facepalm himself as he pretended to be upset at the blunder. "Sorry, Imane."
Even Bastion was shocked at the development. He placed his hand on Ryder's back and gently patted him.
"You want to leave?" he whispered in Ryder's ears.
' I want to, but if I do, I'll be thought of as a scared kid. Also, I need to finish Janus' new task as well. Making Imane cry without using any items,' Ryder thought as he frowned while looking at Imane.
He wanted to leave this place and not even see her face, but he had reasons to stay, which made it tough for him to leave. Not coming here was a different matter but leaving after arriving is an entirely different field of play, which would only make it seem like he was still petty about what happened in the past.
Everyone present in the room was stunned since they hadn't expected Imane was coming here, but all of them started greeting her politely after she was here. The girls were more friendly with her than the guys, though.
"Come sit; the food has just arrived. Let's begin our reunion celebration," Dan told Imane as he gestured for her to sit near the girls.
Imane walked to the girls and sat on the couch near them.
Ryder and the others also sat down. Dan looked at Ryder with an apologetic look on his face. Ryder didn't reach and just took a sip of his drink.
While they were all eating, they also started talking. The first question was, how was everyone but the second question was more inquisitive.
" May I ask what everyone is doing nowadays related to work? I heard that some of you hit really big," One of the girls chuckled as she asked everyone.
"Let's start from the left. Imane, you go first," She asked.
"Work? I don't work. I stay with my boyfriend, who works in Necrosis Corporation," Imane replied as she nodded her head.
'That guy works at Necrosis? It has been pretty tough finding Necrosis Scientists. Is he a Necrosis Scientist or a normal worker in marketing or something?' Shu wondered as he looked at Imane.
Ryder, on the other hand, was still thinking about how he could make the girl cry. Did he really have to act petty in front of all his friends? he wondered.
"Oh, so you're living a queen love. That's incredible. The guy must be pretty rich if he works at Necrosis," one of the guys exclaimed. He knew a little bit about Necrosis and knew that it was a company that was hitting it big in the market.
"Alright. Your turn," The girls asked another girl.
"Me? I work as a translator for tourists and got online websites. It's a decent paying job," another girl replied.
"I work at Marketing in Koko construction. I'm not the head honcho in the marketing department, but I'm quite good," the next girl answered.
After her, the next girl in line started speaking about her work.
"I work with Kia in the marketing department as well. We're both part of the same team."
One after another, the girls kept replying until soon, it was the turn of the guys to answer.
"I work in the sales department at BWM motors. It's a pretty high paying job. I also get to meet a few rich people when they come to buy cars," The first guy replied as he chuckled.
"Does those rich people include girls too? That's a really good place to find a wife and enjoy life with her," One of the girls laughed as he teased the man.
"Meh, It's not as easy as it sounds. The Rich ladies that come to our showrooms come with their boyfriends. The ones that come single don't show any interest at all," The man replied as he sighed.
"Don't worry, man. Keep trying. One day, you'll find your woman," A guy comforted her.
"Hahaha, yeah. I won't give up. I'll definitely find my sugar mamma," the man laughed out loud as he replied.
"Man, I doubt that. You've been saying that since college days. Just give up and find a decent wife. It's not easy to get a sugar mama with that face. Bastion, Ryder, Dan, and Arkun have the greatest chance of finding a rich lady with their faces. You, on the other hand, will have a tough time," One of the girls started teasing the man.
"Meh, You're just jealous that I didn't chase after you when I was in college. Just say if you want me. I might be willing to give up on my dream to date a rich woman and start dating you. It's worth a shot if you're willing," The man replied as he winked at the girl.
"Hah, was that supposed to be a joke? I'm sorry I forgot to laugh," The girl replied as she rolled her eyes.
"You guys aren't going to learn. You keep bantering like this since the college days. Why don't you guys just date? It's clear that you're both close like that," Dan smiled as he tried to play a wingman to get some laughs and to lighten Ryder's mood.
"Since when did you start playing cupid?" The girl inquired as she looked at Dan.
"It's not most me that thinks that. What do you say, Ryder? Aren't I right?" Dan asked Ryder.
Ryder looked at the man and the woman, nodding his head.
"They do look good together. Let's not force anything, though. It's not good when the girl or the guy doesn't genuinely like each other, though. Just let them decide. It's better never to be together than to go with someone you're going to leave in less than a week without even telling," Ryder replied as he closed his eyes.
Everyone understood the direction he was pointing in. They knew the person at was specifically subtly directed at, but no one said anything. The atmosphere suddenly turned silent.
Imane lowered her head but didn't say anything. She pretended not to understand his words.
Looking at this suddenly awkward atmosphere, the guy who was answering changed the topic.
"Don't worry. I'll get my sugar mommy sooner or later. Let's get to the next person. Reili, it's your turn," the man told his friend.
"Me? I'm not going anything big. I'm a writer. I got seven books published already, and four of them are already the best sellers," Reili replied as he casually talked about his work.
"Seven books? I'm an avid reader. I've read all the best sellers, but I don't think I've heard your name. Did you really write a book?" One of the girls asked Reili.
"That's because I don't use my real name. I use my Alias to publish to keep my privacy," Reili replied with a calm smile on his face.
"What's your Alias? Tell me," The girl asked with an interested look on her face.
Most of the people here weren't interested in reading books, so they didn't take much interest, but there were a few that were really interested in it and wondered if they actually read Reili's book without knowing.
"I'll tell you if you promise that you all won't tell anyone," the man told her with a concerned look on her face.
"I promise. I won't tell anyone," The York replied.
The other girls also promised.
"It's not that big a deal to brag anywhere. You're just an author who sold well. Who would even care about telling anyone. Don't worry. We won't tell anyone. Whatever happens here tonight will stay here," Bastion replied as he smiled.
Even though most of the guys here were members of book club that loved to read books in their younger days, they had grown out of it a few years after graduating. Only a few of them were still crazy about books and followed the trend about them.
"You read My Triple Soulmate?" Reili asked the people present in the room.
"My Triple Soulmate? The current bestseller? Written by the great Drei? Are you Author Drei? It can't be!" the girl was instantly shocked as she heard the name of the book.
"He can't be Drei! Drei must be an old writer! How can someone as young as him be that good? No chance!"
"He's messing with us."
"It's not possible!"
All the girls looked at Reili in disbelief.
" It is possible. I don't follow the books anymore, but you all know Drei appeared just a few years ago," Dan told the girls as he thought about it seriously.
"Drei uses complex words but the prior outside him for keeping simplicity while mixing complexity without making it difficult. The things that Reili wrote while he was in the club also had a similar style," He said to the girls.
"That… Are you really Reili?" the girl asked him.
Reili looked at all of them and smiled as he nodded his head.
Ryder didn't look impressed, though. Instead, he looked at Reili weirdly.
