Chapter 1
“Let’s Go to Seiyu!” Pieter eagerly invited Varnit to their usual lunch and grocery shopping trip. Amidst the sterile lab equipment, they stood side by side, their breaths creating delicate fog on the windowpane. Outside, snowflakes pirouetted in the crisp air, while inside, their gazes lingered on the enchanting winter wonderland beyond. The day was exceptionally beautiful, with snowflakes dancing in the air. Warniett! Pieter’s enthusiasm for a snowball fight was contagious.
Varnit, glancing through the door-sized windows, sprang from his chair. “Let’s go, let’s go!” he exclaimed. It was his first experience of snowfall, and he felt right at home—reminiscent of wintry days in the Netherlands.
Pieter noticed Varnit’s joy. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it,” he said. A girl, standing nearby, chimed in. “Could you take some pictures, please?”
Pieter raised an eyebrow. “Do you know her?” he asked, surprised.
Varnit shook his head. “No,” he replied. “I just waved because she was looking at me. She stopped, so I said hi.”
Pieter frowned. “I think that’s fine,” he said. “But maybe not.”
Varnit chuckled. “Apologies,” he said. “Let’s get back to business.”
Pieter clicked away, capturing Varnit in various poses and spots. “Man!” he exclaimed. “You seriously didn’t know her?”
Varnit grinned. “Exactly!” he replied. They both burst into laughter, repeating those two words for reasons known only to them. “Why would I lie to you, Pieter?”
Pieter shrugged. “Who knows?” he mused. “People do strange things sometimes, even without reason.”
“Maybe… Varnit… maybe. If you say so,” Pieter replied, as if there wasn’t even an iota of belief in Varnit’s explanation.
“Boy! Her bright pink overcoat wrapped around her stood out against the snowy backdrop. Her olive-green clutch added a touch of earthiness, contrasting beautifully with the white landscape. And those white combat boots—bold and fierce, ready to conquer the cold! But it was her shiny stone dangle earrings that truly captivated me. My eyes were glued to her shiny stone dangle earrings. You already know I could virtually die for curly hair. Those shiny blond curls plunging over her shoulders. Occasionally, things appear so apt, charm personified.”
“God made her custom for you,” Pieter replied annoyingly. “How do you learn these adjectives? You were so seamless as a screen test.”
“That mesmerizing pair of kohl-black eyes set my heart thumping,” Varnit added after giggling for a while.
Pieter: “Then why didn’t you talk to her? Where did you learn these adjectives? Didn’t you notice her nail polish?”
Varnit: “I stopped looking at nail polish now.”
“Now? What? What happened, Varnit?!” he asked with a mixed feeling of astonishment and suspicion.
Varnit: “I just don’t want to, please. Let’s go to Seiyu,” Varnit said with deep disappointment in his voice.
Pieter: “But why?”
Varnit: “It’s a long story and…”
“Well, we have an hour at least. I want to listen to what happened to you.” Pieter interrupted Varnit.