Zain let a week pass. With his business finally not in the toilet, he had things to do. In that time, he finished collecting the money owed to him, but he did not take on any new loans. He wouldn't call this a permanent thing, but he needed to think. Zain inherited this business from his father. It wasn't that he particularly cared for it, but rather it was all he knew. If he wanted Miki though, he might have to change. She probably had her own dreams and love was...this odd thing that required comprise and mutual respect. Maybe next time he'd really talk to Miki and learn more about her. This wouldn't be all about him. Sitting alone in the kitchen, he wondered if he could change and into what?

At the end of that week when he'd finished his work, Zain called Miki again.

Miki was busy for the hole week. with work as well having keeping her own home clean. she had even been looking in to colleges. that have art programs for people. wanting to be a art teacher at a high school,knowing not many schools. have art class's do to budget cuts with the school system. yet wonder how many years it would take? to become a teacher yet today she was at home.

She hears her cell phone ringing by the computer. then picks it up seeing it was Zain calling."Hi Zain how have you been?" Miki ask in a soft voice in the phone. it had been sometime since they last. had spoke with each other over the phone like this.

Zain found it hard to respond for a second. His throat went dry and he had to clear it. "Hey. I'm good. Are things still well with you? No...trouble at work?" he asked. The small talk felt unfamiliar to him, but he did want to try it, this getting to know people thing. He found himself glad they talked over the phone because he'd surely look as awkward as he felt. While some of it surely colored his voice, he could at least keep his nervous tapping fingers to himself.

"Work has been normal no trouble there. I been thinking about going to college. things are going just fine for me,thanks for asking." she says to him but wonder what he would say. about her going to college? that is if she chose's to do so after. finding a other job besides wondering how many years of school. it would take for her dream job,besides the cost of money.

Zain blinked, surprised at what Miki said. "College? You interested in that? To study what?" he asked a little hesitantly. He never went himself and had a low opinion of the institution, but it seemed to do good for normal folk. He just grew up looking down on normal folk and had to try to remedy that now. He laughed slightly, running a hand through his hair. "I never knew you were the sort for school-ish things."

Miki listens to what Zain had to say before starting. to speak again about the reason why she wants go to college. "I want to become a art teacher. it would take some years to even. get what I need first bachelor's degree,as well other things. plus it was one of my dream job. to be a teacher be able teach students about the arts. Miki says to Zain as she wonder if he would laugh? at her so called dream job knowing it would. be a long road for her college wise. he had heard him laugh a little before.

"Oh," Zain said, a little stunned. He furrowed his brow, but he couldn't remember Miki every saying anything about art. He didn't know she liked it, let alone wanted to teach it. Had she really not mentioned it or had he not been listening? "So uh...do you draw then? That's...interesting. But I guess I can see you teaching art better than studying something bookish. Yeah. You'd probably be good at it." He knew his small talk sounded awkward and forced, but he didn't know what else to say. It made him feel a little strange inside just thinking about Miki in a classroom full of young students. It did suit her.

"Yes I draw at times but I like to paint too. I never told you before until now. cause I thought you would laugh at my idea of a dream job." she says to her ex-boss in a calm yet collected voice. but wonder if Zain ever wanted to do something else then be a lone shark? Miki giggles softly hearing what he said to her. it made her smile even if they could not. be around each other in person yet. "Thanks I hope I can be a good teacher. but on a other note,I heard something. at work I may not have by mistake while I was cleaning. I had overheard that Bruce is trying to get a hold of other people clients. some of them left the country for a while." Miki says to Zain in a slightly worried voice. she wonder if Sara had notice what had been going on?

Zain probably would have laughed back then, so he didn't blame Miki for staying quiet. Now he found the idea of her drawing interesting. Letting out a little chuckle, he said, "Maybe you can draw me sometime?" He wasn't sure why he wanted that all of a sudden, but once he thought it, he decided it would be nice if not for any good reason. The smile fell off his face a second later when Miki told him more about Bruce. "Does he know you know this? Don't let him catch you passing info on to me," he chided. Bruce wouldn't like it. Zain sighed and nodded his head. "But thanks. Maybe I'll just let him poach my clients after all. Why should I bother fighting for things like that?" He asked the question aloud, but it was as much for himself as for Miki.

Miki keeps quite yet was shock by what he had said. "I don't think so but,why are you not worried? You're a lone shark too if you lose too many clients you'll go out of business. do you even have a backup plan if that ever happens?" she ask Zain in a worried sounding voice. but knew better not butt into his own type of work. even if she help him out in the past. get some new clients for him as the casino before. but wonder how he would want to be drawn? there are many ways to draw a person.

Zain didn't have a back up plan. He probably should considering how he felt about his job these days. "I think I want to change, but I don't know what else I can do. This was my father's business and his father's before him. We've never been anything but cheap money bastards." He shook his head. "It's good you have dreams and plans for your life. I don't have anything like that. I mean..." he trailed off and almost didn't continue. When he didn't, his voice came out quiet, almost a whisper. "...you don't really want to be with a loan shark do you? Some standard career man suits you better."

"Zain why not try go to a local college? try find something you like that you want to do. as a other kind of job,I understand. that your family has been lone sharks since before you. for you it is sort of like a family tradition." Miki says to him in a soft voice. she was thinking about what he had said to her. what should she chose a guy with a stable career path? are Zain since she already told him that she love's him. Miki bites on her lower lip trying to think. after a five minutes she stops chewing on her lower lips. then smiles at herself before speaking into the phone. "I really want to be with you. even if it will be a bumpy road ahead of us. I'll be happy to help you if you want some help that is. she says to Zain in a cheerful voice trying to make him. feel better instead of being down in the dumps.

"Yeah...? I guess even if I don't know what to do with myself, I can go to school." He knew for sure he didn't know what to do now and a part of him thought it'd be silly to go to school as old as he was and still without a plan like a teenaged brat. His father would laugh him right out of the room, but Zain supposed he could care less about that. When Miki fell silent, so did he. Did she suddenly want to reconsider because of what he said? Of course he kept second guessing her love as if he wanted to push her away, but it hurt to think that she might. Damn he loved her and he didn't think he could ever get another girl to love him like she did.

When she spoke again, he couldn't keep back his sigh of relief. "Thank you, Miki. Thank you for loving me...and saying that. I want to become the sort of person that you deserve, if you'll be patient with me. You're worth it." He couldn't believe the cheesy words coming out of his mouth, but he meant every one of them.

Miki listened to what he had to say about school. "You just need to think about it. maybe look up some class's see which ones. sound's inserting to you then try pick a crouse's. that will work with what you like." she says to Zain trying to give him some ideas. even if she was unsure how much he learned all ready. but maybe a business would be a good choice for him? yet she started to blush when he said those words to her. about that he loves her as well thanking her. "I am happy hear you say that. I'll be patient and I feel the same way about you. I love you too Zain,but some time. if we are both not busy let's hang out." Miki says as her voice was happy sounding. she meant each word of what she said to him. even knowing it would be hard for them. to start dating when they chose to do so.

Any other person he would have snapped at for trying to give him advice, but since it was Miki, he welcomed it. It only went to show how much he'd fallen in love like a total fool. He chuckled to himself at what she said despite feeling a foreign swell in his heart. Just hang out? As childish as the idea was, it sounded wonderful. "Yeah, I think that sounds great. We should do real couple things, I mean...when things are good for it. I really want to have you at this house again. It feels weird with you gone." He missed her cleaning and he missed her food. Cheap noddles got old fast after a person got a taste of a woman's cooking.

"Zain if your free one weekend maybe. we can go out the city go to a town. that no own knows us their to have some fun." Miki suggested to him at least it was a idea. but was blushing when speaking her cheeks felt hot. she wonder why she felt shy when just hearing his voice. yet the idea of being at his house again made her happy. yet wonder about if there relationship would grow. into something else later on in the future for them? Miki was unsure how tell her parents she was is in love. with their former lone sharks son. how would they responded to such news?

Zain thought on that and decided that Miki was right. As long as there were no enemies or friends to see them, it wouldn't be hard to date. A few places came to mind and he nodded his head before realizing she couldn't see the gesture. "Yes, we should do that. I'll call you when a chance comes up," he said. He hesitated on the line for almost a minute, not wanting to hang up despite not having anything else to say. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, I should probably get going. I'll call you then? Bye Miki." He hesitated once again before finally hanging up the phone.

Miki listens and was happy with what he said. "All right that sounds good talk to you later." she says to Zain before he hung up the phone. once he did she sighs out softly holding. on to her phone before walking over to her computer to look some colleges up. mighty as well try get a start on finding one. but wonder how many years it would take? to become a art teacher? even one to teach kids about the wonderful world of art. Miki wonder about what kind of ideas,dose Zain have planed out for a date? she knew she would have go shopping for a new outfit. at least for there first date something comfy would work.

Zain found himself unable to forget the phone conversation and his thoughts went around his head in circles. A date huh? It sounded nice, but he never did anything like that before. He wasn't sure what exactly to do. He spent a few days tying up things with work and getting everything under control again as he pondered this. Finally, he decided that even if he didn't have any ideas, he would call Miki anyway. He'd started to crave her voice. He sat on his couch, ignoring the clutter that piled up around it, and called the girl. "Hey there. Are you free any time this week?" he asked first thing.

Miki was busy cleaning up her house when. she hears her phone starts to ring so she turns to vacuum off. then takes her phone out her pocket. lucky for her it had been on vibrate this time. she notice he was calling her so she picks it up. "Oh hi and yeah I'm free on Thursday this week. work has been slowing down sine I told them,I wanted go to college. so they are going to start to try. find a new maid on my days off I'd don't mind it. the other day I have off is Saturday." Miki says to Zain letting him know what was going on. it had not even been a month yet. but knew her boss's were okay with her going off to school.

So she can find better work but had laugh a bit. when she said it was to become a,art teacher. Miki had hold her tongue back to not. say anything wrong to make them think she now longer. wanted to work for them any longer than the fact. she does want go to college for her own reason's. Miki was slightly scared to even talk with Burce's wife. but was more scared of Bruce unknowing what he could. be planning if he was going after Zain's business are not.

Zain smiled to hear that. Miki would be leaving her job and going to school and he could meet with her soon. All wonderful things. "Oh good. I was thinking that we could go on a...date Saturday." He coughed a little, still struggling to say such a word like 'date'. This would be his first time every to properly ask a girl out after all. He found himself anxious, looking forward to seeing Miki and hearing her voice without the phone between them. "We can do whatever you want to."

"I just want to be alone with you. maybe we can rent some movies to watch? besides that I could try cook us something to eat. but you have to pick out what you want this time." she says to her Lover while thinking about. if they would just be somewhere nobody knows them. would it be best to stay in a place he own's are could rent for a day? heck to bad she did not have Sunday off. if Miki would have that day off she would. try spend more time with Zain then just one day.

Zain smiled at that. He did love Miki's cooking and would be happy to have some after all this time. "Alright. I'll pick the food if you pick the movies?" That way, both of them could be happy and he didn't know much about movies anyway besides the cheap action flicks that were always on tv. He didn't think that accounted much for taste. As much as he would like to go out in public with Miki, staying home would probably be for the best.

Miki listens to what he has to say first before speaking. "That sounds fair. what time should I come over for? I'll try pick out a bunch of movies I promise only two romance movies. besides some comedy,action may be a sc-fi movie." Miki says while trying her best. to think about what Zain would like to watch. some lady's know guy's sometimes are not into. a lot of romantic type movies unless it's a mix with other movie genre's. she was smiling glad that he agreed pick out the food. Miki would be able to get a better idea. what he likes to eat besides what she had last cook for him.

Zain thought for a brief second though he didn't dwell too long and just said the first ideas that came to mind. "Let's meet say...4:30? That way we can have an early dinner before we sit down to watch the movie." He'd never done this date thing before, but he thought he managed things pretty well. These plans actually made sense. "I'll text you what I want for dinner before I guess so we can make sense we have the ingredients? Yeah, that makes sense."