⇝ starter for @edithong !
“Deep breaths,” he reminds himself. Mentally, he counts to four while inhaling, then repeats the process on the exhale. “Surely this cannot be the strangest request she’s ever gotten... With some of the company she keeps I am positive other-- odd requests have come up.” Shiohn takes another step towards the cafe’s entrance before hastily turning around.
“No, no, this is too strange.” He mutters, already walking back towards where he had parked his car. “She’d never agree to this, in any case. I should send her a message and cancel this meeting instead.”
TO: EDITH HONG [1:07PM] -- Edith, my apologies for the short notice, but I am unable to make it to our arranged meeting this afternoon. [1:07PM] -- I know I had previously stated I wished to ask you for a favour but it is nothing to worry about, I promise you. I shall deal with things on my own. [1:08PM] -- Again, please accept my apologies for cancelling our plans. I hope this endeavour did not put you out of your way.
He quickly hides away his phone within the glove compartment as he enters his car, determined not to look at it again at least until he got home. Maybe longer. Probably a few hours from now, if he was being honest with himself. Nothing’s even happened, yet he still feels himself getting flustered -- heat is building under the collar of his shirt and high on his cheekbones despite the frigid temperature outside. “This is fine,” he tells himself as he pulls away from the cafe. “Hopefully Edith will be able to simply put this whole ordeal behind us and forget about it entirely.”
