Time passed, and soon there were no more customers left in the café.
Ben stood up, walked to the entrance, and flipped the Open sign to Closed.
"Mr. Parker, what are you doing?" Maya asked in confusion.
Instead of answering, Ben walked toward her.
Instinctively, Maya took a step back.
Another.
And another.
Before she realized it, her back was pressed against the wall, with Ben standing right in front of her.
"Maya..."
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Ben asked.
Maya’s face instantly turned red.
"W-What... what are you saying? I..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ben leaned forward and kissed her.
His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer.
Maya’s eyes widened in surprise.
For a brief moment, her mind went blank.
Then she slowly closed her eyes and returned the kiss.
I don’t know what’s happening...
But isn’t this what I wanted?
She kissed him back with all the feelings she had been keeping hidden.
Meanwhile, Ben finally sensed it.
Now that he was so close to Maya, he could clearly feel the same aura he had sensed from Vanessa.
It was faint, but unmistakable.
The Tester Potion remained inside his body for twenty-four hours, allowing him to temporarily perceive traces of Celestial Energy.
Now that he was standing this close to Maya, he could sense the Celestial Energy flowing from her.
I was right.
She really is the one who put the Tester Potion in my coffee.
Ben slowly broke the kiss.
Keeping one hand around her waist, he gently held both of her wrists and raised them above her head against the wall.
Maya looked at him with a shy but seductive smile.
"Mr. Parker..."
"Do you like being this rough?"
Ben let out a small chuckle.
Instead of answering immediately, he leaned close to her ear and whispered,
"Celestial Energy."
Maya’s body froze.
Her expression changed instantly.
"I was right," Ben said.
"Did you put something in my coffee this morning?"
He released her wrists and took a step back before sitting on one of the nearby tables, quietly looking at her.
Maya lowered her head.
Guilt filled her heart.
Damn it...
I ruined his normal life because of my selfishness.
She thought Ben was angry with her.
"Did you?" Ben asked again.
Maya bit her lip before slowly nodding.
"I’m... sorry."
"I..."
Before she could finish apologizing, Ben walked over again and gently kissed her once more.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
A few moments later, Ben pulled back and smiled.
"Thank you."
"You have no idea how much this means to me."
He gave her another quick kiss.
The guilt inside Maya’s heart disappeared almost instantly.
As long as he isn’t angry with me...
That thought alone made her smile.
Ben noticed the smile on her face and couldn’t help but laugh.
"So, you’re not going to deny it anymore?"
Maya shook her head.
"No."
"I was the one who put the Tester Potion in your coffee."
She looked at him apologetically.
"I’m sorry."
"I should have asked for your permission first."
"But the Association has strict rules."
"If I told you beforehand, the test wouldn’t have been valid."
Ben nodded.
"I understand."
"I’m not angry."
"In fact..."
"I’m grateful."
Maya looked at him in surprise.
"Grateful?"
Ben smiled.
"If you hadn’t given me that Tester Potion..."
"I would never have seen Vanessa."
"I would never have discovered the hidden world."
"And I definitely wouldn’t have learned that magic... or rather, Celestial Energy... actually exists."
Maya blinked.
"I thought you would hate me."
Ben shook his head.
"No."
"I’ve spent an entire life writing about magic, I always desired it." Ben said caressing her cheeks as he said " I am really grateful to you from the deepest bottom of my heart"
"This morning changed everything."
"So thank you."
Maya let out a relieved sigh.
"I’m glad."
"I’ve been worried ever since you left the café."
"I thought you had figured it out and would never come back."
Ben smiled.
"I came back because I wanted answers."
"And now I have them."
Maya nodded.
"Then..."
"Welcome to the hidden world, Ben."
She extended her hand toward him with a warm smile.
Ben looked at her hand before shaking it.
"Looks like my ordinary life is officially over."
Maya laughed softly.
"It ended the moment you drank that coffee."
She then looked around the empty café before speaking again.
"Since you’ve passed the test, I’ll be your guide for the time being."
"I’ll teach you the basics of the hidden world."
"I’ll also report your successful awakening to the Association."
Ben raised an eyebrow.
"Will they come looking for me?"
"They probably will," Maya replied.
"But don’t worry."
"As long as you haven’t broken any rules, they won’t make things difficult for you."
Ben nodded.
"Good."
"Because I already have enough strange things happening."
He thought about Vanessa recovering in his guest room.
Then about Morbius, who was probably sitting on his sofa watching television.
His life had changed completely in less than a single day.
Maya noticed his expression and smiled.
"I have a feeling..."
"This is only the beginning."
Then Maya gently pushed Ben back onto the chair before climbing onto his lap.
"You said you’re grateful to me from the bottom of your heart, right?" she asked with a playful smile.
Ben nodded.
"I did."
A mischievous smile appeared on Maya’s face.
With a wave of her hand, all the curtains in the café closed on their own, shielding the inside from anyone outside.
"Then..."
"Show me a little more of your sincerity, Benjamin Parker," she said seductively, deliberately calling him by his full name.
She leaned forward, her body pressed against his, before capturing his lips in another kiss.
It was a deep, passionate kiss, and Ben happily returned it.
As they kissed, Ben wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her a little closer while his other hand rested gently against her side.
Neither of them spoke as they remained locked in the embrace, enjoying the moment together.