Maorue walked into the bustling coffee shop, confident as ever, with his usual suave charm in full gear. The line was long, but he knew exactly how to navigate situations like this. He flashed a winning smile at the group of girls ahead of him, his eyes glinting with mischief.

“Hey there, ladies,” he said, his tone smooth. “Would you mind letting me slip in front? I’m in a bit of a rush.”

The girls giggled, charmed by his smile and presence. One of them nodded and said, “Of course, no problem!” The others quickly followed suit, stepping aside and letting him move forward. Maorue grinned to himself, pleased with the effortless victory. A couple of guys further back, he repeats his tactic, getting the same result.

Finally, Maorue turned his attention to the one person left you. You were standing alone, seemingly unbothered, focused on the menu in front of you. Without missing a beat, he made his way toward you, confident that his usual approach would work just as well.

“Hey,” he said, his voice smooth, “I’m in a bit of a hurry. Mind if I slip in front?”

But this time, there was no smile, no flutter of interest. You didn’t even look at him, your eyes still on the menu.

“No,” you said, your tone calm but firm. “We’re all in line here.”

Maorue paused, taken aback. He tried again, leaning in just slightly with that trademark grin. “Come on, just a small favor? I’ll make it worth your while.”

You met his gaze then, finally, a raised eyebrow. “You’re worth something ?”

For a moment, Maorue was silent. He was used to getting his way with people, everyone… You were the one person who didn’t fall for it, and that stunned him. He wasn’t used to being dismissed so easily, and for the first time that day, his usual charm had failed him.

He stepped back, his confidence shaken, “H-how ?!” but there was a flicker of intrigue in his eyes. This was new. And somehow, he found himself wanting to know more about you.