Chapter 17: Excitement Before the Date.
...
They sat by the riverside, legs stretched out toward the water, the sky slowly shifting from golden orange to dusk blue.
The river shimmered beneath the fading light, catching flecks of pink and gold like a moving painting.
Luke and Sani sat in easy silence for a while, sipping on cold drinks and munching on spicy skewers from a nearby food stall.
Their talk shifted from anime theories to video games, and then to nothing in particular—just quiet laughter and the kind of peaceful comfort that only comes from old friendship.
Eventually, they stood and said their goodbyes, walking in opposite directions under the deepening sky.
The evening had arrived gently. The sun was almost gone now, hiding behind the rooftops, leaving behind a violet hue.
A soft breeze rustled through the neighborhood. Street lamps blinked to life, one after another.
Children headed home with the last of their energy, and elderly couples walked slowly, arm-in-arm, returning from their evening strolls. Windows began to glow with warm light.
Luke made his way back home.
His steps were unhurried. His heart, however, wasn't quite so calm. Tomorrow was the day. The day.
A real date.
With Sarah.
His chest fluttered just thinking about it.
He reached home and pushed the door open quietly.
Inside, the cozy scent of the Whitmore house wrapped around him instantly—fabric softener, lavender hand soap, and the faint warmth of dinner in the oven.
Lily was sprawled on the living room couch, hugging a pillow and watching some variety show. She perked up as soon as she saw him.
"Good evening," she said, waving lazily.
"Good evening," Luke replied with a tired smile, slipping off his shoes.
Lily sat up, blinking. "Hey… where were you? I didn't see you at home after lunch."
Luke grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and leaned against the counter.
"I was hanging out with Sani," he said simply.
"Ohhh… with Sani?" Lily pouted just slightly. "You went out with him? I wanna go out too!"
Luke raised an eyebrow, amused. "Alright, alright. Next week, let's go out for dinner in the city. My treat."
Lily blinked.
Then beamed.
"Really?! Yay! We haven't hung out in forever!" she cheered, bouncing slightly on the couch.
But in the next second, her expression changed—her eyes narrowed, her smile curled into something… different.
Somewhere in that bubbly head of hers, a little fire lit.
I can't let my precious brother fall into the claws of some sneaky vixen, she thought. This dinner will help me keep an eye on him. I'll protect him.
Luke tilted his head.
"…Why do you look like you're about to start a war?" he asked warily.
Lily blinked and snapped out of her intense thoughts, cheeks turning pink.
"N-No reason! Just… looking forward to dinner! Totally normal excitement!" she declared, hugging the pillow tight and burying half her face into it.
Before Luke could press her further, a familiar voice called out from the kitchen.
"Luke, can you come help me with the vegetables?"
It was Sarah.
Luke's heart did a polite little backflip in his chest.
"Coming!" he called back.
He shot Lily one last confused glance—she was now humming loudly to pretend she hadn't said anything weird—and made his way to the kitchen.
Sarah stood at the counter, sleeves rolled up, cutting board in front of her. The soft kitchen lights made her golden hair look like candlelight. She smiled when she saw him.
"Can you wash the spinach for me?" she asked gently.
Luke nodded, rolling up his sleeves. "Sure."
They worked side by side for a while, comfortable in their rhythm.
Luke didn't talk much, but his eyes kept sneaking little glances at her—how she moved, the way she hummed under her breath, the soft glow of her expression. She looked… happy.
He hoped tomorrow would make her even more so.
An hour later, dinner was done, eaten, and cleaned up.
Luke returned to his room, full and tired, but his mind still running.
He sat at his desk, pulling out his homework with a small groan. He didn't want anything school-related hanging over him tomorrow.
If I finish it all tonight, I can relax with her properly, he told himself.
So he worked—math, a short essay, and reviewing flashcards for a quiz next week.
By the time he finished, it was nearly midnight.
He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His body was exhausted, but his thoughts swirled with nervous anticipation.
Tomorrow. I'm taking Sarah on a date. An actual date. Just me and her.
His heart thumped a little louder with each thought.
He tried imagining how it would go—her smile, the sound of her laugh, the moment on the Ferris wheel where he'd finally gather the courage to confess. Would she blush? Would she smile and say yes? Would she…
His thoughts drifted, softened, blurred.
Sleep came slowly, but it came.
And as Luke's breathing steadied, a quiet smile remained on his lips.
Tomorrow was the beginning of something new.
The night passed slowly, filled with dreams Luke wouldn't remember, but would wake up from with a flutter in his chest.
And then—
Morning.
In Brisden, mornings weren't loud. They were soft, like the opening pages of a favorite book.
The sky stretched wide and blue, brushed with cotton clouds. Birds flitted across rooftops, their wings catching the early light. Somewhere down the street, a dog barked lazily.
It was the kind of morning that made the whole town feel like it was part of a slow-burn romance novel.
A sunbeam slipped through the narrow slit in Luke's curtains, crawling gently up his bed sheets until it brushed his face. His eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, he lay there.
And then he remembered.
Today.
His body shot up with a quiet jolt. He blinked at the ceiling, heart racing.
It was the day of his date with Sarah.
The thought alone made his entire chest tighten and buzz with nervous energy. He sat up fully, running a hand through his messy, jet-black hair.
The sunlight pouring through the window lit it with a soft sheen, giving his deep hazel eyes a warm glow. Even half-asleep, Luke looked... different this morning.
More awake.
More alive.
Almost like he was the protagonist in his own romance story.
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching the sleep from his limbs. Today wasn't just any day. He had to look good—no, perfect.
He grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom, brushing his teeth with the kind of focus reserved for people heading into battle.
Every movement was quiet but purposeful. Shirt, pressed. Hair, combed. Skin, fresh. He took a second to look at himself in the mirror.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
Just as he was tugging on the last bit of his outfit, a gentle knock tapped at his door.
Knock knock.
"Luke?" Lily's voice floated in. "Breakfast's ready! You better not still be in bed or I'm eating your toast!"
"I'm coming," Luke called back, opening the door.
Lily blinked when she saw him.
Then blinked again.
Then stared.
Luke stepped out of his room, a little confused. "...What?"
She looked him up and down slowly, her mouth slightly open.
"You... you look kind of handsome today," she muttered.
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Kind of?"
"Well, don't get used to it," she huffed, cheeks puffing as she turned around, arms crossed. "It's probably just the sunlight tricking my eyes."
But her ears were pink.
Luke smiled faintly, closing his door behind him as they walked toward the kitchen together.
"I'll take it as a compliment," he said softly.
"You better," Lily mumbled.
The day had begun—and it was already something special.
...
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By Ecstasy Crown