The next morning, Leo moved with the efficiency of a soldier on a critical mission. No hesitation, only execution. Using the school's (relatively) stable internet connection in the library before classes began, he accessed the P2P exchange platform he had prepared.
With steady hands—last night's nervousness replaced by cold focus—he converted almost all his Rp 134 million ($9,500) funds into Bitcoin. He deliberately left a small amount of cash in his account for daily needs and to avoid appearing too suspicious. The transaction was processed through several complex steps to maintain as much anonymity as possible in that era.
Finally, after several tense minutes, confirmation appeared. Around 38 BTC were now securely stored in a digital wallet he had encrypted with multiple layers.
Leo closed his laptop, letting out a long breath that seemed to release some of the weight on his chest.
"Yosh!" he murmured softly, a faint smile touching his lips. "Phase one complete. Key assets secured. Now... just have to wait for late 2017." He stretched his limbs. "Aghhh... what a relief."
Of course, 'relief' was a relative term. He still had a Rp 3.4 Billion debt hanging over his head with a three-year deadline and the threat of a dangerous organization. But the most crucial first step—locking in the potential exponential gains—had been successfully executed.
"For now, the debt situation should be resolved... assuming my future memory is accurate and no strange variables emerge," he thought, a hint of paranoia still lingering. But he pushed that worry to the back of his mind. Today was his last day at school. Farewell day. And for the first time, he felt like... celebrating? Or at least, experiencing it properly.
The school atmosphere felt different that day. There was a mixed aura of celebration and melancholy. Students exchanged yearbooks, took photos together, and talked about future plans with a blend of hope and anxiety. Leo, who usually would have walled himself off in a corner with earphones, this time tried to... be present.
He even let Fred drag him into a group photo with some other classmates (though Leo's expression in the photo looked as stiff as a mannequin). He signed a few yearbooks with brief, flat messages ("Good luck." - Leo), which only made his classmates laugh at how 'so Leo' the response was.
Amidst the commotion, his eyes searched for Liana again. She looked brighter today, laughing with her friends, the previous night's burden seemingly lifted slightly (though Leo knew the real problem wasn't over).
As the event began to wind down and students started saying their goodbyes, Leo saw Liana standing alone for a moment near the gate, gazing up at the afternoon sky. This was his chance. With an unfamiliar surge of courage, he approached her.
"Liana," he greeted, trying to sound normal.
Liana turned, slightly surprised to see Leo approaching again. "Oh, Leo. What is it?"
"I... uh... I know this is sudden again," he began awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "But... tomorrow's a holiday. Would you... want to go out with me? Walk around? Or... something?" Leo tried asking Lia out on a date.
Liana blinked, clearly taken aback by the invitation. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks. She looked at Leo, trying to read the intention behind the clumsy request. After a few seconds that felt like an eternity to Leo, she smiled faintly.
"Walk around?" she repeated. "Sounds... not bad!"
Leo felt a strange wave of relief. 'Mission successful? Outstanding.' "Good," he said, perhaps too quickly. "Tomorrow. At... ten AM? I'll pick you up?"
Liana chuckled at Leo's stiff enthusiasm. "Okay, ten o'clock. But no need to pick me up. Let's just meet at the city park, okay?"
"Ah, yes. City park. Strategic location, many entry and exit routes," Leo muttered unconsciously, his brain automatically analyzing.
"What?" Liana asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uh, I mean... yeah, a good place!" Leo corrected quickly. "See you tomorrow."
"See you, Leo." Liana smiled again before turning and walking home, leaving Leo standing stiffly, trying to process the fact that he had just successfully asked a girl out for the first time in two lifetimes.
The next day, Leo stood near the city park fountain ten minutes before ten. Unlike the usual pre-mission anxiety hidden behind feigned calm, this time his nervousness was almost palpable. He wore a pressed white shirt (his mother insisted) and a dark blazer that felt slightly too formal and stiff for the morning park atmosphere. He even wore dress pants, not jeans. His appearance was the result of a frantic closet search the night before under the theme "What Do Normal People Wear on Dates?". The result... was slightly excessive and made him feel like a lost real estate agent.
Liana arrived punctually, her steps light, her smile as bright as the morning sun. She wore a soft yellow summer dress that contrasted beautifully with her dark hair. Seeing Leo standing rigidly in his formal blazer near the fountain, her smile wavered with surprise, then morphed into an irrepressible grin.
"Hey," Liana greeted, her eyes sweeping over Leo's attire from head to toe.
"Hi," Leo replied, feeling increasingly aware of how odd he must look. An awkward silence immediately descended.
Liana approached, trying to stifle her laughter. "Wow, Leo. You look very... sharp today. Got a job interview after this?" she teased.
"Heyyy, this is called youth fashion!!" Leo answered with misplaced confidence. This was the logical conclusion from his analysis last night: First impressions are important, formal wear shows seriousness. Logic that was clearly misguided for a park date.
"The impression you give is that you might try to sell me insurance... or maybe offer a Ponzi scheme," Liana laughed. "But it's okay, let's go 'inspect the grounds' of this park."
"So, Leo," she began, "Besides this cool suit, your secret investment plan, and terrifying martial arts skills... what else?"
Leo thought for a moment. "I can tie a double Windsor knot in seven seconds. I know the weak points of most standard door lock models. And I'm pretty sure this blazer makes me look charismatic." That last admission slipped out, honest and blunt.
Liana laughed again, louder this time. "Okay, maybe the last one is true," she conceded with a wide smile. "But I appreciate your brutal honesty. What about me? What do you know?"
Leo looked at her, his formal blazer feeling incongruous in the relaxed park setting. "What I know about you," he began slowly, "is that you're talented, strong..." He paused, looking directly at Liana. "...and you are my future wife."
Liana stumbled again. "Good grief, Leo! Even with the blazer?!" Her face flushed crimson. "We talked about this! That's not how normal conversations start!"
They began walking. Leo walked a bit too formally, his hands clenched stiffly at his sides or tucked awkwardly into his dress pant pockets. Liana, conversely, walked casually, pointing out different types of flowers or commenting on people exercising.
"Look at those ducks," Liana said, pointing to a small pond. "Cute, right?"
Leo observed the swimming duck formation. "V formation. Efficient for reducing water resistance for the ducks behind. Aerodynamic strategy applied to fluid dynamics. Interesting."
Liana stared at him, then burst out laughing. "Only you, Leo, would analyze duck aerodynamics on a date."
"Is that... not normal?" Leo asked, genuinely confused.
"What kind of person thinks that's normal?" Liana replied, smiling widely. "But somehow, I don't really mind... maybe because it's you."
They continued their 'ground inspection'. Leo offered comments on the pedestrian path design ("Suboptimal for mass flow"), the structural integrity of park benches ("Potential weak point at joint X"), and even the moss growth pattern on rocks ("Indicator of local humidity levels and air quality"). Liana listened with a mixture of amusement and amazement.
"Okay, Mr. Architect," Liana said finally. "How about we proceed to 'Phase Three: Consumer Product Evaluation,' aka eating gelato?"
At the gelato shop, the queue was quite long. Leo started getting restless. "Crowd. Inefficient waiting time."
"Relax, Leo," Liana said. "Consider it patience training. Besides, we can talk." She started asking about his favorite mecha anime. Leo immediately became animated (in his flat way), explaining the technical details of Gundam Exia versus Zaku II, differences in power sources, and the effectiveness of beam sabers versus heat hawks. Liana, though not understanding much, listened attentively, occasionally asking basic questions that forced Leo to simplify his explanations.
When it was their turn, Leo ordered pistachio, Liana ordered chocolate. They sat at a small table outside the shop.
"So," Liana said, digging into her gelato. "Besides firearms, anime, and architectural knowledge, what's your favorite food?"
Leo considered. "I don't have a 'favorite'. Food is fuel. But the fried rice you made last night... had a very high satisfaction-to-energy input ratio."
Liana blushed. "It was just normal fried rice."
"No," Leo countered seriously. "The balance of salty, sweet, savory flavors and the texture of the rice were optimal. Your egg cooking technique was also efficient, resulting in even distribution without being too dry."
"Did you really analyze my fried rice?" Liana laughed disbelievingly.
"Analysis is the key to understanding," Leo replied flatly. He took a spoonful of his pistachio gelato. "Hmm. Smooth texture. Strong nutty aftertaste but not bitter. Sweetness level 7.8/10. Recommendation: Yes."
Liana pulled out her phone. "Okay, Mr. Food Critic. Since you seem to be enjoying the pistachio 'data' so much, how about we document this historic moment?" She aimed the front camera. "Let's take a selfie!"
Leo stared at the phone screen with a confused expression. "Selfie? Procedure for self-imaging capture? Purpose?"
"For memories, Leo!" Liana said, exasperated but amused. "Smile!"
Liana beamed at the camera. Leo, attempting to imitate, produced something more akin to a stiff grimace or someone enduring dental pain.
Click!
Liana looked at the result. "Oh my goodness, Leo! You look like you just saw a ghost!" She burst out laughing. Leo just stared critically at the photo. "My facial expression was indeed suboptimal."
"It's okay," Liana said, saving the photo. "That's exactly what makes it funny and... 'Leo'."
After the gelato, Liana dragged Leo to a used bookstore. Leo, in his formal blazer, looked starkly out of place amidst the dusty books and narrow aisles. Liana excitedly browsed the art section, while Leo automatically scanned the store's layout. 'Inefficient shelving system. Poor lighting in some sectors. Potential fire hazard from old wiring in that corner.'
Liana found him staring suspiciously at an electrical outlet. "Leo? You okay?"
"Just... identifying potential risks," Leo answered.
Liana pulled his hand. "Never mind that. Come look at this." She showed him a book on anatomy for artists. They spent a considerable time discussing human proportions—Liana from an artistic perspective, Leo from the perspective of biomechanical efficiency and combat weak points. Somehow, their strange discussion worked.
Later, Liana spotted an old photobooth in a corner of the nearby mall. Her eyes lit up. "Leo! Let's try that!"
"Photobooth?" Leo looked doubtful. "A confined enclosed space with unpredictable light flashes? Sounds like a trap."
"It's fun, not a trap!" Liana pulled him inside before he could protest further. Inside the cramped space, they sat side-by-side. Leo's awkwardness reached new heights.
"Okay, pick a background!" Liana said cheerfully, pointing at the screen. Leo just stared blankly at the absurd options (tropical beach, outer space, pink hearts). Liana finally chose a starry night background.
"Ready? Three... two... one!" The first flash made Leo flinch slightly. Result: Liana smiling, Leo looking startled.
"Again!" said Liana. Second flash: Liana made a peace sign, Leo still looked stiff.
"Come on, Leo! Another expression!" Third flash: Liana stuck out her tongue playfully, Leo attempted a smile but the result remained awkward.
Fourth flash: Liana suddenly leaned close, planting a brief kiss on Leo's cheek just as the flash went off.
Leo froze completely. His face in the final photo captured an expression of absolute shock, eyes wide, utterly clueless how to react. His cheek tingled where her lips had touched. Liana herself laughed looking at the final photo, her own cheeks slightly pink.
"This... this is the best one!" Liana exclaimed, pointing at the last picture as the photo strip emerged from the machine. Leo could only stare at the picture of himself looking like he'd been electrocuted.
As the sun began to dip lower, they found themselves back in the park, walking without specific purpose. Liana held the photobooth strip.
"Today was really fun," Liana said sincerely, looking at Leo. "Thanks for putting up with all my weird ideas. And for wearing the blazer."
"You're welcome," Leo replied, still slightly reeling from the photobooth incident. "Although I still feel the blazer was a tactical error."
Liana smiled. "Maybe a little. But it made today more... memorable." She stopped walking. "So... my future husband..." She said it teasingly, but there was a serious undertone in her eyes. "What's the next 'phase' in your plan?"
Leo looked at Liana. The golden sunset light illuminated her face. He thought about the debt, the Bitcoin, the dangerous organization. But looking into Liana's eyes, all of that seemed to fade slightly.
"The next phase," Leo said softly, "is ensuring you're safe. And maybe... trying for a second date? If you weren't traumatized by the first one."
Liana laughed quietly. "I think I can handle one more date with you, Leo. As long as you promise not to analyze animal aerodynamics again."
"No promises," Leo replied flatly, but there was a hint of warmth in his eyes.