Emilia’s phone vibrated against the wooden table.
She looked up from her textbook.
For the last twenty minutes, she’d been sitting in the library with one elbow on the table and her cheek resting against her palm, staring at the same page.
She hadn’t absorbed a single word.
She reached for her phone, and the screen lit up.
Adrian: Would 8 pm work?
Emilia stared at the message.
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Today was Friday.
Adrian was supposed to drive to the university later and take her to his penthouse. They had spoken about it earlier in the week, but neither of them had settled on an exact time.
Apparently, he had decided to do that now.
Emilia glanced at the time.
She already had plans. Ethan had asked her to have dinner with him at seven. She had agreed.
Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
She typed.
Emilia: Not really. I have dinner with Ethan by 7 pm.
She sent it.
Almost immediately, three dots appeared, then disappeared. They appeared again.
Emilia waited.
Finally, his reply came.
Adrian: 9 pm?
She smiled.
She could already imagine his face.
She typed back.
Emilia: 10 pm.
This time, the typing indicator didn’t appear immediately.
Emilia waited.
She placed the phone down when she saw nothing. She picked it up again, and there was still nothing.
She smiled to herself.
A few seconds later, her phone vibrated.
Adrian: Three hours of dinner?
Emilia pressed her lips together. She could hear the exact tone in his head.
She typed:
Emilia: Maybe.
The reply came almost immediately.
Adrian: Sounds... sounds okay.
She chuckled quietly.
A student sitting two tables away looked over. Emilia lowered her voice.
Emilia: You sound very bland.
Adrian: Ten.
Emilia smiled.
Emilia: Ten.
She waited for another message, but none came. She frowned slightly.
Then, her phone vibrated in her palm.
Adrian: I’ll see you then.
Emilia stared at the screen.
She smiled, then locked her phone and placed it beside her textbook. She tried to return to her reading.
It lasted approximately thirty seconds.
Her phone vibrated again, and she picked it up.
Adrian: Ethan?
Emilia blinked.
She typed:
Emilia: Yes?
His response came.
Emilia waited. She got no response, and then, she shook her head and placed her phone down.
A few seconds later, she picked it up again.
Emilia: Are you mad?
She stared at the message before sending it. She pressed send, and the three dots appeared immediately.
Then, it disappeared, appeared again, and then disappeared.
Emilia smiled. She stared into her phone intensely. She could tell that he was thinking.
Finally, his response came.
Adrian: No.
She laughed softly.
Emilia: Can’t wait to see you.
Adrian: Ten, Emilia.
Her smile widened.
She typed:
Emilia: Yes, Professor.
The typing indicator appeared.
Adrian: Don’t start.
She laughed.
Emilia: I’m not starting anything.
Adrian: Good.
She stared at that single word, then she smiled and turned her phone face down. She finally looked back at her textbook.
This time, she actually read the full Chapter.
....
By six fifteen, Emilia was back in her room.
She stood in front of her wardrobe, staring at the clothes hanging inside. Her dinner with Ethan wasn’t supposed to be anything complicated. It was just dinner.
That was what she’d told herself when she’d agreed.
Still, she’d changed twice already.
She pulled out one dress, looked at it, and put it back. She considered jeans, then decided against them.
Finally, her fingers stopped on a red dress.
She pulled it from the wardrobe.
It was simple.
A short bodycon dress that followed her figure without needing much else. She held it against herself and looked into the mirror.
"Too much?" She tilted her head, then shrugged.
It was just dinner.
She put it on.
The dress hugged her curves neatly, fitting around her waist before falling a little above her knees.
She turned sideways, then looked at herself from the other angle.
Her hair was loose, falling over her shoulders. She added small earrings and a simple bracelet.
Nothing excessive.
She picked up her phone. There were no new messages from Adrian. She stared at the screen for a moment, then shook her head.
He’d see her at ten.
She wasn’t going to spend the next three hours wondering what he was thinking.
She slipped her phone into her handbag.
A few minutes later, there was a knock.
Emilia looked at the clock.
Six fifty-seven.
She smiled, grabbed her bag and walked toward the door.
Ethan stood outside. The moment Emilia opened the door, he looked at her, and stopped.
Emilia raised an eyebrow. "Hi."
Ethan blinked. "Hey." He said with a soft breath.
She waited, and he continued staring.
She laughed softly. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Sorry."
Emilia searched his eyes. "What?"
"I was just..." He looked away for a second. "You look really nice."
Emilia smiled. "Thank you."
His cheeks had turned slightly pink.
She found that adorable. She smiled widely. "You look nice too."
Ethan glanced down at his shirt, and jacket combo. "Really?"
"Yes."
He smiled.
Emilia stepped out and locked the door behind her. Ethan waited until she was done.
"Ready?"
She nodded. "Ready."
They walked toward the elevator together.
For a few seconds, neither said anything.
Ethan glanced at her. "You know, I spent an embarrassing amount of time deciding where to take you."
Emilia turned to him. "Why?"
"Because I didn’t want to choose somewhere too fancy." He took in a shallow breath. "Or too cheap."
She laughed again. "So you were worried about the price?"
"No."He paused. "I was worried about you judging me."
Emilia blinked. "I wouldn’t."
He gave her an apologetic nod. "I was still worried."
The elevator doors opened.
They stepped inside.
Emilia looked at him. "You could have just asked me what kind of place I liked."
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
She smiled. "That’s sweet."
He looked away. "Don’t say that."
"Why?"
"It makes me feel like I did something impressive."
"You did."
He laughed. "Okay."
The elevator doors opene, and they stepped into the lobby.
...
The restaurant was small.
Not luxurious, and not crowded. It had warm lighting, simple tables, and soft music playing somewhere in the background.
Emilia looked around. "I like it." She said genuinely.
Ethan’s shoulders relaxed. "Really?"
"Really."
"I was hoping you would."
He pulled out her chair.
Emilia sat down gently. "Thank you."
He sat opposite her.
For the first few minutes, they talked about the menu. Neither of them could decide what to order.
"You’ve been reading that menu for five minutes," Emilia noticed.
Ethan looked down. "I haven’t even turned the page." He finally closed the menu. "I’ll just order what you’re having."
Emilia looked at him. "That’s.... Alright."
She smiled and gave her order.
Ethan ordered the same thing.
Once the waiter left, Emilia leaned back. "So."
"So...." Ethan playfully picked up.
"Tell me something I don’t know about you."
Ethan thought for a moment. "I hate bananas."
Emilia stared at him.
"That’s what you came up with?"
"It’s important information."
She laughed, and nodded. Taking in a mental note.
"Okay. Your turn."
"Something you don’t know about me?"
"Yes."
She thought. "I used to be terrified of birds."
Ethan’s eyebrows rose. "Birds?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I don’t know."
She smiled thougtfully. "I always thought they were going to attack me."
"Did one attack you?" He asked.
"No."
"So you were afraid of something that never happened."
"Anticipated harm." She shrugged.
He laughed. "That’s actually adorable."
Emilia narrowed her eyes. "Don’t call me adorable."
"Why?"
"I don’t know."
Their food arrived before he could agree with her. The conversation came easily after that.
They talked about their assignments, and the ridiculous amount of reading they had been given.
Ethan told her about a professor who had once forgotten his own lecture notes and spent twenty minutes pretending it was intentional.
The conversation revolve around them.
...
It was almost nine thirty when they finally had deserts, and prepared to leave. Emilia hadn’t realized how quickly the evening had gone.
They walked outside.
The air was cooler now.
Ethan glanced at her. "Cold?"
"A little."
He immediately took off his jacket.
Emilia shook her head. "No."
"Take it." He urged. "I’ll be fine."
"Ethan."
"Emilia."
She smiled, and accepted the jacket. "Thank you."
He smiled. "You’re welcome."
They walked toward his car.
When they reached the car, Ethan stopped. Emilia turned toward him.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"Dinner." He smiled. "I enjoyed it. I thought you would turn Me down.
Emilia looked at him. ’Why would I? We are friends."
Ethan seemed nervous.
She smiled. "Goodnight, Ethan."
"Goodnight."
She turned to leave.
"Emilia." He called.
She looked back, and he hesitated. Then, he stepped closer. He leaned forward and pressed a quick, gentle kiss against her cheek.
The kiss lasted barely a second. Then he immediately stepped back.
Emilia froze.
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly. "I’m sorry."
She touched her cheek. Her expression remained unreadable for a second beofre she finally smiled.
"You don’t have to apologize."
His shoulders relaxed. "Okay."
She smiled. "Goodnight." Tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, she looked towards the building. "Actually, I’ll wait in there. I’m waiting for someone."
Ethan nodded. He but back what he had to say.
Emilia turned and walked toward the building. After a few steps, she glanced back. Ethan was still standing beside his car. He lifted a hand, and she waved back.
Then she disappeared inside.
She looked at the time.
9:57.
Her fingers instinctively touched her cheek. She smiled. It had been a good evening.
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