The Master Programmer-Chapter 72: A Million Secrets 1

Jason stepped out onto the busy street, the air charged with the evening’s warm glow. His conversation with Veronica had left his mind buzzing, but now he had to focus. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he noticed the time. Late. Again. A sharp curse escaped his lips.

"She’ll wait," Jason muttered to himself, shooting a quick text.

[Trouble finding a taxi. Be there soon.]

It wasn’t entirely untrue… his luck with cabs was as reliable as the weather. But even as he jogged along the cracked sidewalks, weaving through clusters of people, his thoughts remained calm and collected.

It wasn’t about being late. it was about the moment he’d create when he arrived. He would arrive there and she would be waiting for him, and she would sigh in relief after seeing him, her excitement washing all over heer and she saw him.

Finally, there she was, standing under the streetlamp’s golden glow, her figure wrapped in snug jeans and a soft blouse that caught the breeze just right. The way her hair cascaded over her shoulders made her look effortlessly enchanting. Her shyness was her charm, as though she didn’t realize how breathtaking she truly was.

When she saw him, she waved, her smile shy but sweet, her lips tugging upward in a way that warmed Jason’s chest. He waved back, quickening his pace. This was why he loved women. They came in all shapes and sizes and personalities... But they were all so special.

"Hey, you," Jason called, opening his arms wide. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a hug, drawing her close.

"I’m so happy to see you," he murmured, his voice low, laced with warmth and sincerity. He inhaled her soft, floral scent, a subtle touch that made him feel intoxicated.

When he let her go, she blushed, her eyes darting to the ground before she looked back at him. "Me too."

Jason stepped back, flashing a boyish grin. "Come on, let’s walk."

As they strolled down the bustling street, Jason struck a casual conversation, masking the tension that had been building inside him. "You’re brave, coming out here," Jason said, his voice light but edged with a hint of admiration. "Facing all the chaos, the crowds... your dad."

She smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I’m not a child, Jason."

Jason nodded, his smile teasing. "I’d hope not. Otherwise, I might be in trouble."

Her laughter spilled out, clear and soft, like a melody he wanted to hear again. Jason’s chest swelled with quiet satisfaction. It was a bit of a messed up joke but she got it. What did that mean? She was one of those people who hung out in the internet.

If that was the case, then it gave Jason a bit more ideas on how to handle her.

They passed a convenience store, and Jason paused, glancing inside. "Stay here for a sec," he said, motioning toward the door. "I’ll be quick."

When he returned, he handed her a juice and a small bag of snacks. She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curling her lips. "How’d you know I like this flavor?"

Jason chuckled, leaning in just enough to create a sense of closeness. "I pay attention," he said simply, his tone filled with intrigue. "A million secrets, remember?"

As they walked, Jason steered the conversation toward lighter topics, asking about her childhood and sharing stories from his own. When he spoke of his parents, his tone softened, each word deliberate.

"They passed recently," he said, his eyes scanning the ground as though searching for the right words. "I learned how to fend for myself. But you know what? Hardship makes the man."

Her eyes glistened as she whispered, "I had no idea, Jason."

He shrugged, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "It’s old news. I’m more interested in your story."

She hesitated, her voice tinged with self-doubt. "There’s not much to tell. I’m just... ordinary."

Jason stopped walking, turning to face her fully. "No one’s ordinary. Everyone’s got a story worth telling. You just have to find it."

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked away, a shy smile playing on her lips.

"I’m serious. You know I’ve always thought there was something fascinating about people who don’t say much right away. It’s like… they have this world of thoughts and feelings just waiting for the right moment to be shared. Don’t you think that makes things a bit more special?"

After saying this, he looked at her with a smirk, as he took a bite of his stuff. And when he did, she looked at him, her expression a bit dazed. Jason smiled, leaning in slightly closer as if he was sharing a secret.

"And you know what’s funny? Sometimes the quietest people end up being the ones who have the most fun… that is... once they let down their guard. Think about how amazing that is. It’s like discovering a hidden treasure. Have you ever had one of those moment where you just surprised yourself by how much fun you had?"

As she smiled at him, and nodded Jason nodded back, mirroring her. His patterns started the same everytime. He would pace her by validating her mental state of shyness, and then he would lead by suggesting that her thoughts make her special. Pacing and Leading.

He then would anchor that in, making sure she understood that letting down her guard would be a fun thing. Associating such an idea would make her create a positive emotional response between letting down her guard and having fun. The nice thing was that she was a bit quiet, which meant that Jason could continue talking, yapping onwards.

Jason bumped into her playfully, taking the excuse to touch her. "I don’t know why, but I feel like you’re one of those people who could totally light up a moment… with just the right person. You know what I mean?"

Jason turned his body to her, making a gesture with his hands of two wires connecting. "It’s like when you find someone you really connect with… thing just feel natural, like you’re completely in sync. Have you ever felt that with someone before?"

In saying this, Jason had embedded commands into his speech. Saying "feel natural" and "connect with" and "in sync" guided her subconscious to associate those feeling with him.

She took a moment to think about it, and then shook her head. "I’ve had friends… but they… have different interests from mine. I’ve always liked anime and manga.. They like partying and having fun. So no, not really…"

Jason paused as if considering something. "You understand, right? Just how rare it is? That feeling of being so at ease with someone that you can be yourself and know that they see the REAL YOU. I think that’s why moments like that are worth exploring. Don’t you think life feels so much better when you take little chances on something that might be amazing?"

Emily nodded. "Yeah, it would!"

Jason looked at her, and then smirked, opening up his arm and then looking at her suggestively. She then put her arm around his and they continued walking along like that with a sweet smile on her face. She was so innocent... Jason almost felt bad. Almost.

"Speaking of taking chances, I was thinking… we should do something fun together sometime. Nothing too crazy, just a chance to relax and enjoy ourselves. What’s something you’ve always thought would be fun to try, but haven’t yet?"

Jason turned to her with a curious expression, acting like he had not just created an open loop to create curiosity inside her by asking about her untapped desires, while simultaneously tying them to spending time with him. So subtle... and yet, when she thought of these things she would automatically asssosiate them with him.

Emily was way more comfortable now, even without knowing why and she put her finger to her lip, saying, "Hmm… I’ve always wanted to go to a buffet and just eat! An unhealthy, messed up cake buffet!"

Jason leaned in, his tone softer than ever. "I can already picture it… Just the two of us, laughing about something silly, and completely forgetting about everything else while stuffing our faces full of the sweetest treats. Doesn’t that sound kinda… perfect?"

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She smiled when she heard this, leaning in to Jason just as much as he was leaning in to her. Jason gave her a reward for letting him in like this by giving her a smirk. He was using her ability to visualise to create an appealing scenario that she would love more than anything.

"Let’s make it happen then. I promise you, it’ll be worth it. And who knows? Maybe we’ll end up with one of those moments where you’l look back and smile about it. What do you think?" Jason said, playfully bumping into her and then making her giggle shyly as she nodded.

Jason had phrased the idea as if she had already agreed to it, making it easier for her to agree. After all, people hated making decisions. It was ten times easier if the decision was made for them.

As they neared a quiet alley, the energy shifted. She hesitated at the entrance, her steps faltering. "I don’t like dark places," she admitted softly.

Jason reached for her hand, his touch firm yet gentle. "You’re with me," he said, his voice steady, reassuring. "Nothing’s going to happen to you."

Her expression softened, her trust in him evident as she allowed him to guide her. The tension between them grew, electric and unspoken, until Jason stopped and turned toward her.

"I like being around you," he said, his voice dropping, each word carefully placed to hold her attention. He wasnt stopping unreasonably. He was making sure she would never run away. It was a bit messed up, but she would stay and that was all he needed.

Her blush deepened. "I had no idea you were so... good at talking."

Jason smirked. "I’m good at a lot of things. Want to find out?"

Her eyes widened slightly, and she looked away, flustered. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Jason stepped closer, his voice lowering to a whisper. "It means I’m good at kissing people I care about."

Her breath hitched, and she glanced up at him, her vulnerability evident on every line of her face. "Jason..."

He didn’t wait for permission. His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her skin as he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers. It was soft at first, tentative, as though testing the waters. Then, as she melted into him, it deepened, their shared warmth igniting a fire that neither could ignore.

When they finally broke apart, she stared at him, her eyes wide with wonder. "That... that was my first kiss," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

Jason tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Then you’ll need practice," he said, his tone teasing yet firm. "Good thing you’ve got the perfect partner."