Chapter 16: How Do You Date a Woman Like That?!
...
Luke's room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of his laptop screen.
The faint whir of the ceiling fan mixed with the emotional background music of the anime he was watching—a gentle piano melody that tugged at the heart.
On the screen, a nervous high school boy with messy hair and wide, innocent eyes stood trembling at the gates of a sparkling amusement park.
Beside him stood an elegant, older woman—flawless in every frame, her long hair swaying in the breeze, her smile calm and devastatingly warm.
They walked together under pastel skies, rode teacup rides, ate fluffy cotton candy, and shared glances so charged they practically sparked.
Luke watched as the anime boy fumbled his words, spilled his drink, and tripped over nothing—but still managed to make the woman laugh.
And in the end, under the flicker of fireworks and soft glowing Ferris wheel lights, he finally said it:
"Will you… go out with me?"
She blushed.
Smiled.
Nodded.
The screen faded to credits as stars blinked across the background.
Luke sat frozen.
"…That was beautiful."
Then, slowly, his face contorted.
"—and completely useless!!"
He groaned and slammed his forehead against the desk.
"What the hell was that? How is that supposed to help me?! I don't have sparkles in the sky! I don't have a perfect amusement park conveniently glowing in the background! I'm not even good at talking!"
He slumped deeper into his chair like he was trying to merge with it. Arms dangling. Soul evaporating.
"How do people just… do this?" he muttered. "How do you date someone who's, like… Sarah?"
His cheeks flushed instantly just saying her name in this context.
This wasn't just a random girl from school. This was Sarah Whitmore. The woman who raised him. The woman who smiled so gently his chest hurt. Who could destroy him with one soft "Luke?" in that voice of hers.
And somehow, tomorrow, he was going to take her on a date.
A real one.
Like in anime.
Or real life.
Or whatever terrifying hybrid this was.
He reached for his notebook, flipped to an empty page, and began scribbling a plan with trembling hands.
– Go for a walk near Westbridge Park
– Find a cozy café and get coffee
– Amusement park date
– Ride stuff. Smile. Don't puke.
– Ferris wheel = confession opportunity
Luke stared at the list.
"…This feels like it was written by a virgin author who's never even touched grass."
[A\N: Heyy..(❝_❝)]
He could practically hear Sani's voice in his head:
"You're overthinking it, man. Just vibe with the moment."
Well, too bad. He didn't have vibes. He had panic. And shaky anime logic.
Luke tossed the notebook on his bed and ran both hands through his hair. "I feel like I'm writing fanfic about someone else's life."
But time was running out. He had less than 24 hours to prepare.
He paced his room a few times, stared at the ceiling, then dropped onto his bed again like a dying fish.
"I should go see Sani again."
He paused.
"No. If I go over there like this, he's gonna know I'm losing my mind."
Luke sat up and grabbed his phone.
"I'll just… casually hang out. That's all. Chill. Normal. Totally not desperate."
He started typing.
@Luke_Harriś★
— dude did you have time? Let's hangout.
He hit send.
[Sani's Room, Simultaneously]
Inside a dim room cluttered with game cases and snacks, Sani sat cross-legged on the floor, gripping a game controller in one hand and a half-eaten bag of chips in the other.
A boss screamed on the TV as his character got yeeted off the map. "BRO?! I dodged that—wait, what?"
Then his phone pinged.
He glanced at the message.
@Luke_Harriś★
— dude did you have time? Let's hangout.
Sani blinked. "Luke messaged first?"
He smirked, leaned back, and typed:
@Vrave_Sanny
— It's been a while. If you pay for drinks, I'm in.
He hit send, licking chip dust off his fingers.
[Back in Luke's Room]
Luke's phone buzzed instantly.
@Vrave_Sanny
— It's been a while. If you pay for drinks, I'm in.
Luke smiled a little. Relief.
He typed quickly.
@Luke_Harriś★
— Okay deal. Come to Riverside stools.
The Riverside stools. Their old chill spot—outdoor benches by the riverbank, just quiet enough to talk without anyone bothering them.
Seconds later:
@Vrave_Sanny
— Deal. I'm coming, little rich boy.
Luke rolled his eyes but laughed.
He grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, heart just a little steadier.
[5:43 P.M., Riverside Benches]
The sun was halfway down the sky now, bleeding orange into the river's surface.
Luke arrived and spotted someone already standing there, facing the water.
Tall. Hoodie on. Snack in hand.
Sani turned slightly, one eyebrow raised. "You're late."
Luke raised his hands. "I walked."
"That's a crime in 2025."
They sat down on the bench, letting the breeze pass between them.
For a while, neither spoke. Just quiet sounds—the ripple of water, the laugh of kids across the park, a distant birdcall.
Then:
"So," Sani said, side-glancing at Luke. "What's the emergency?"
Luke didn't answer immediately.
He leaned forward, elbows on knees. "…I'm scared, man."
"About?"
"The date. Tomorrow. With—her."
Sani blinked. "Her as in—?"
"Yeah."
"OHHHH." Sani slapped a hand to his mouth, dramatic gasp. "THE her?!"
Luke nodded miserably.
"You madlad. You're actually doing it."
"I just… don't want to mess it up."
Sani leaned back. "Alright. Lay it on me. What's the plan?"
Luke pulled out the wrinkled paper from his pocket and handed it over.
Sani read it in silence.
Then snorted.
"…Bro, this is literally the plot of 'Springtime Sugar Panic: Season 2.' You even wrote 'Ferris wheel = confession.'"
"It worked in the anime!"
"Yeah, well, so did falling into someone's boobs during a typhoon. Doesn't mean it's real advice."
Luke groaned and slumped.
Sani tossed the list back. "Look, you don't need to be perfect. Just be honest. Be you. If she's going with you, it means she already wants to spend time with you."
Luke blinked. "…That sounds too reasonable."
"I know. Hate it too."
Sani smiled.
"Listen, I've watched more romance anime than is socially acceptable. The ones that hit hardest? It's not about fancy stuff. It's when the guy just shows up. When he listens. Tries. When he's there, even if he's awkward."
Luke looked up, eyes thoughtful.
Sani pulled out two canned coffees from his bag and tossed one to him.
"Here. To courage."
Luke cracked it open and took a sip.
"…I'm still terrified."
"Good. That means you care."
They sat there for a while, watching the river glimmer under the changing sky.
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By Ecstasy Crown