The first mistake Semiu made was mentioning your name. The second mistake was mentioning a girls night. Enjin meanwhile had only wanted someone to drink with.
“C’mon,” he complained, leaning against her desk. “Everyone else’s busy. You’re supposed to be my backup plan.”
Semiu looked up from cleaning her glasses and deadpanned, “I’m honored.”
“You should be.”
“You say that every time.”
“Because it’s true every time.” she rolled her eyes as Enjin continued. “You comin’ or not?”
“No.”
“No?”
“I already have plans.”
Enjin frowned. “With who?”
Semiu didn’t even look up as she mentioned. And the moment she said your name Enjin straightened, “Well, well, well.”
Semiu immediately regretted opening her mouth. “Well, well, well?”
“Well, well, well nothing.”
“That’s never nothing.”
“What kinda plans?” Enjin crossed his arms and squinted at her.
“Why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
“You absolutely do.”
“I don’t.”
“You’ve a crush on her,” Semiu accused.
“I don’t.” . . .he absolutely did.
“You stared at her for ten minutes yesterday because she tucked her hair behind her ear.” Enjin looked absolutely horrified. “You literally said, ‘wow, she tucked her hair behind her ear,’” she continued mercilessly.
“That’s not the point,” he gestured at nothing with a blush.
“Sure.”
“What are you doing together?”
Semiu smiled that evil little smile she for sure learned from Rudo. Enjin should’ve been warned by that. Still listened. “We’re going to an onsen and have a drink or two.”
Enjin’s entire body locked up. You in an onsen. Maybe wearing a cute bathing suit or going completely naked… yeah. No. Shut up brain. “Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“An onsen.”
“Mmhm.”
“Together.”
“That’s generally how plans work.”
Enjin’s eye twitched. He was jealous, because he wanted to go to an onsen with you too. Semiu watched Enjin’s expression turning from surprised to giddy to jealous and back. Hilarious.
“Y’know,” she continued casually, “We’ll probably spend hours there.”
“Hours?”
“Oh yes.”
Enjin looked like he had been attacked. “Doing what?”
Semiu pretended to think. “Well. Relaxing.”
“Okay.”
“Talking.”
“Okay.”
“Complimenting each other.”
“Why’d you do that?”
“Girls do that.”
“No they don’t.”
No one knew women apparently better than him. Sure. Semiu looked him dead in the eye. “Sometimes we brush each other’s hair.”
Enjin nearly choked. “You don’t!”
“We absolutely do.”
“Y’re making things up.”
“We also share beauty products.”
“Semiu.”
“And sometimes we sit really close together and discuss our feelings.”
“Semiu.”
She finally lost the battle against laughter. The expression on his face was priceless. He looked like a man watching his entire future collapse.
“Are you seriously telling me you’re going to spend the whole day acting like some romance novel?”
“Maybe.”
Enjin groaned dramatically and dragged a hand down his face. “This is torture.”
“You did this to yourself.”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You fell in love.”
“I’m not in love.”
Semiu barked out a laugh. “Right.”
Before Enjin could argue further she stood up and put her glasses on. “Anyway I should go.”
“Wait.”
“What?”
“What are you actually going to talk about?”
Semiu considered leaving him to suffer, then she decided one final jab wouldn’t hurt. “Oh.” her grin returned. “We were probably going to discuss whether Gris or you suits her better.”
Enjin blinked so slowly Semiu was worried he might had a stroke. “What?” he whispered.
“Interesting topic, right?”
“Gris?”
“Maybe.”
“Why’s Gris involved?”
“That’s for us to decide.”
“Semiu.”
“Bye Enjin.”
“Semiu!”
She started walking away and Enjin hurried after her. He got no fucks to give if he looked pathetic.
“Who’s winning?”
“Not telling you.”
“Semiu!”
“Maybe Gris.”
“Semiu!”
“Maybe you.”
“Semiu!”
“Depends on your behavior.”
Enjin looked seconds away from collapsing. He couldn’t lose you to Gris. Or someone else. His poor heart. “Please?”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“Just one hint.”
Semiu laughed as she disappeared around the corner. “Good luck.”
And just like that she was gone. Leaving poor Enjin alone who was miserable now. Also he obsessively wondered now if you preferred him or Gris.
By the time evening arrived, he had somehow convinced himself that there was an official scorecard involved…. Which was exactly the reaction Semiu had hoped for.
Cards on the table. Gris was never part of the conversation, because you were also in love with Enjin. But Semiu found he didn’t need to know that, considered his little late nights shenanigans. They had stopped yes, but Semiu was a good friend who didn’t want you to get hurt.
In conclusion: she told Enjin some bullshit so he’d finally fight for you.