Chat with Ryan until Clara returns, being friendly but keeping boundaries clear since David will arrive soon.

You take a small sip of your pomegranate martini, the sweet-tart flavor spreading across your tongue. Ryan leans casually against your table, his own drink in hand.

"So what do you do, when you're not discovering new bars?" he asks, his smile warm but not overly familiar.

"I'm in... the arts," you reply vaguely, surprising yourself with how easily the lie forms. "Freelance work, mostly. What about you?"

"Financial tech," Ryan says. "Less exciting than it sounds, trust me. Mostly staring at spreadsheets and trying to make sense of market patterns."

You nod, maintaining a friendly smile while subtly angling your body away from his—a nonverbal cue that this is just casual conversation. Your phone buzzes again, and you take the opportunity to glance down.

The Perfect Girlfriend App displays a notification:

COMFORT MODE INFO

Level 2 - Active for 03:05 more hours

Effects:

• Reduces dysphoria by 75%

• Makes feminine experiences feel natural

• Enhances responsiveness to male attention

• Increases susceptibility to suggestion

⚠ WARNING: Extended use may cause permanent preference shifts

The last line sends a chill down your spine. Permanent preference shifts? What exactly does that mean?

"Everything okay?" Ryan asks, noticing your expression change.

"Fine," you say quickly, tucking your phone away. "Just a message from my... boyfriend."

Ryan's smile dims slightly. "Ah, I see. Lucky guy."

"He's meeting me here soon, actually," you add, the words coming out before you've even thought them through. Boyfriend? Since when is David your boyfriend? Yet somehow, the label feels right on your tongue.

"Well, I won't intrude then," Ryan says graciously. "Thanks for the company while it lasted, Mia."

He raises his glass in a small toast, and you clink yours against it politely. Just then, you spot Clara emerging from the back of the bar, phone in hand and a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"That's my friend," you tell Ryan, nodding toward Clara.

"Then I'll leave you ladies to it," he says. "Enjoy your evening, Mia."

As he steps away, Clara slides into the seat opposite you, eyeing Ryan's retreating form appreciatively.

"Making friends already?" she asks with a smirk. "He's cute."

"Just being polite," you reply, surprised by how important it suddenly feels that Clara doesn't get the wrong idea. "He bought me a drink before I mentioned David was coming."

"Mmm, speaking of David," Clara says, stirring her straw in what looks like a gin and tonic, "what exactly is going on with you two? Yesterday you were strangers, today he's cooking dinner for you and rushing to join you for drinks?"

You flush, unsure how to explain a relationship that you don't understand yourself. "It's... complicated."

"The best ones always are," Clara laughs. She checks her phone, then glances toward the entrance. "So he'll be here soon?"

"Around 7:15, he said."

Clara nods, a strange expression crossing her face. "Perfect timing."

Something about her tone makes you uneasy, but before you can question it, your attention is drawn to the entrance, where a familiar figure has just walked in. David scans the room, his eyes finding yours almost immediately. He's changed into dark jeans and a charcoal button-down that hugs his broad shoulders, and the sight of him sends an unexpected flutter through your stomach.

As he approaches your table, you're struck by the realization that you're genuinely happy to see him—and not just because his arrival might extract you from whatever Clara is planning.

19:30 | Sunday 3 August 2025 | Ember Lounge, London

[Comfort Mode Level 2] | 02:45 hours remaining