Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Love or Hate ❯ Volume Three, Chapter Eighteen: Seeds of Emotion ( Chapter 18 )

Seeds of Emotion

“Excellent,” Raja said. “You are both here. Please take a seat.” Isao glared at his step-father. Raja held out his hand to the chair.

“Go on,” he said. “Take a seat.” He forced himself to smile. Isao rolled his eyes and sat down.

“Thank you,” Raja said. His niece and step-son glared at him. He clapped his hands together.

“Excellent,” he said. “I called you here today for the matchmaking lunch.” Mai and Isao looked at each other wide-eyed.

“What?!” they shouted. Everyone at their tables stared at them.

“Shhh,” Raja said. “Let's use our indoor voices.” The younger adults glared at him.

“Anyway,” he said. “This is a trial run. Let's start by ordering drinks.” Raja stuck his hand up in the air.

“Waiter,” he said. Isao sneered at his back. A tanned woman walked up to the table. Her uniform barely covered her thighs. She had to be about eighteen or nineteen tops. The waitress cleared her throat.

“Welcome to Keiko's,” she said. “My name is Mina and I will be your server today.” The young waitress bowed. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Sparkling water,” Raja said.

“Tea,” Mai said.

“Same,” Isao said. Mina wrote down the orders.

“Okay,” she said. “I will be right back.” The waitress turned and walked away. Raja turned back to his targets. They glared at him. Yet, they hadn't left. He wasn't going to let them.

“So,” Raja said. “You both make awful music. That's a start.” The younger adults saw fire. Why didn't they leave? All three sat silent. Raja looked at his targets. Hm… This wasn't going to be easy. Raja sat back in his chair.

“I'm curious about something,” he said. “Why do you not like each other? You both are pretty much the same. Your music is terrible. You both get on my nerves.” Isao raised his eyebrow.

“What's your point?” he asked. His step-father shrugged.

“I just want to know,” he said.

“You wouldn't understand,” the male vocalist said.

“Then help me understand,” Raja said.

“Why should we?” Mai asked. “I refuse to date this asshole!”

“Hey!” Isao said.

“Language! Watch your mouth!” Raja said. His niece sneered at him.

“No,” she grumbled at him.

“Excuse me?” the older man asked. Mai rolled her eyes. Raja cut her an icy look. Mina returned with their drinks.

“Here you are,” she said. The party looked up with bile in their eyes. The waitress nervously laughed.

“Is anyone ready to order?” she asked. Raja cleared his throat.

“Give us ten minutes,” he said. She looked at the younger adults. Isao and Mai just nodded.

“Uh… okay then…” Mina said. She turned and hurried away. Raja took a drink of his water. Okay, time to change tactics. He set down his glass.

“Since we aren't getting anywhere with this,” Raja said. “I am setting you both up on a date.” Isao and Mai stared at him.

“What?” they asked.

“This is non-negotiable,” he said. “You two are going on a date this Friday night.”

“Why would we do that?” Isao asked. Raja took another drink of his water.

“Because I said so,” he said. “I will not argue with you on this. My decision is final.” He took another drink of his water. Mai resisted the urge to scream. Isao gritted his teeth. Why didn't they just leave? Mina returned to their table.

“Uh… are we ready to order?” she asked uneasily. Raja perked up at her question.

“Why yes,” he said. Mai and Isao only glared at him as he spoke. Already, plans for revenge brewed in their heads. Meanwhile, Raja grinned to himself in his head. He still had his own plans after all. After all, the man had back-up on his side for his mission to fully take off.

Track Eighteen