Lucca's POV
"Bro, I like her," Dominic said while staring at the woman he had noticed earlier.
So that was the cute little woman he had been talking about. Dominic had been a bit flirty a while ago, and although I didn't see the woman's exact reaction, she seemed uncomfortable.
"Now we finally met her," Damian stated.
Dominic looked at me and frowned. "Would you really dare say that in front of the woman I like? That was a bit off, bro."
I didn't mind his scolding. I only did it to help that little, fragile woman escape the uneasiness Dominic had created. If I hadn't stepped in, he might have insisted on eating at the same table. That woman felt familiar to me, but I couldn't remember where I had met her.
Damian called the waiter to order our dinner. Dominic kept talking about his crush, who was only a short distance away from us. While listening to him, I turned my gaze toward the woman sitting at the other table. As I looked at her, our eyes met.
It lasted only seconds, but her eyes were filled with sorrow. She looked away first, yet I didn't immediately break my stare. In that brief moment, I felt that something about her was off.
"Hey, Lucca. What are you staring at?" Dominic asked from across the table. Damian, who was sitting beside me, followed my line of sight. Dominic did the same.
"Why are you looking at them?" Dominic asked. "Did you regret not eating with them, too?"
I looked away and focused on the menu. I didn't answer, just pointed to the food I wanted. I hoped they would forget the way I stared at that table.
But Dominic kept pushing.
"Now tell us. Why are you looking at them? Or should I say, why are you looking at the woman I like?"
I wanted to tell him that his crush's eyes held deep sorrow and pain. But I chose not to. If he truly liked her, he should be the one to discover it.
"Nothing," I answered.
Both of them frowned.
"You're really a man of few words," Dominic said. "Don't scare her."
I wanted to say that he was the one scaring her by flirting too much, but I kept it to myself.
"I'll go to the restroom. I need to pee," Dominic said before leaving the table.
Only Damian and I were left.
"You're interested in her, too?" Damian asked.
"Who?"
"I'm asking you."
"Why would you say that?"
"I saw you staring at her."
"So?"
"That means you're interested in her."
"If I stare at you, does that mean I like you too?" I asked sarcastically.
He laughed. "You're impossible to understand, bro."
"Then try harder," I said, hoping to end the conversation.
But he continued. "Dominic may not understand some parts of you, but I do."
I didn't respond. His words sounded unsettling, though I understood what he was trying to imply.
I avoided looking at the woman's table, knowing that once Damian caught me, he wouldn't stop asking questions. A few minutes later, Dominic returned. I thought he might head straight to his crush's table.
Without thinking, I glanced over. The waiter was serving their food. Since the restaurant was wide and spacious, I could observe her freely, and they could see us too. What started as a glance turned into a slow stare.
They began eating. The friend beside her giggled as she spoke. The little woman listened quietly, smiling as she ate.
"Ahhh, what a cute scene," Dominic commented, making me realize how long I had been staring.
I looked at Damian, who was giving me a confused look, clearly trying to read my thoughts. I ignored him. I didn't owe him any explanation.
Dominic continued watching the "cute scene" he had mentioned. I couldn't help but feel pity for the little, fragile woman.
A few minutes later, our food arrived. The three of us ate in silence, though the enjoyment never quite showed on my face.
***
Seraphina's POV
After the main course that Mira ordered, the waiter served our desserts. Mira chose a matcha Basque cheesecake, which she said was her favorite, along with crème caramel pudding and strawberry almond ice cream. We both indulged, and I could honestly say that every bite was worth it. Everything was delicious, sweet, and full of flavor. All my life, I had never experienced desserts like these.
"We still have more," she said, which made me look at her in amazement. But since she hadn't spent anything and the one paying the bill was the rich man I was working with, I didn't stop her.
After we finished the desserts, Mira called the waiter and asked him to bring it out right away. Curious, I waited for her surprise.
When the waiter approached, I finally understood what she was trying to give me. It was a mango cheesecake topped with fresh mango slices and almond nuts. She knew mango was my favorite, and on my birthday, she made it happen.
"Blow your candle," she said.
The candle showed the numbers two and six, indicating that I was already twenty-six years old. I blew it out and smiled at Mira. I wanted to cry, but I held it in. Not here, especially with so many people around us.
"Happy birthday," Mira said, her eyes sparkling with tears. I was grateful to have met her and to call her my friend.
"Thank you, Mira," I said as I gently touched her hand. I wasn't used to showing my emotions, but since it was my birthday and I had been emotional since morning, I let it slide. I wouldn't cry in front of her, but I let my teary eyes show how much I appreciated her.
After that sentimental moment, which, oddly enough, made me smile, we started eating the cheesecake she had ordered for me. It wasn't too big or too small, and I was confident I could finish it in one sitting.
As night fell, the city lights slowly came alive. I couldn't help but feel amazed by how beautiful everything looked. It was my first time seeing the entire city from this view. It felt as if I were flying, looking down at the buildings below. My problems seemed to ease, even just a little. The sight healed me and made me forget, if only for a moment, everything I had been dealing with.
I would never get tired of saying how thankful I was to Mira. How could I ever repay her with the little money I had?
"Mira… now I understand why you said this is your favorite place," I said while still gazing at the city lights. "Aside from the food you love, the scenery is superb."
"Would you come here again?" she asked.
I looked at her and shook my head. "I couldn't afford it. One meal here is equivalent to my one-month food budget."
She chuckled. "My treat."
I shook my head again. "This is enough. Once is enough," I said, then turned my gaze back to the glass window.
***
Dominic's POV
The whole time, I was staring at the woman I had started to like. She looked cute as she ate her desserts, biting and licking her spoon as if she didn't want to waste a single drop. I was amused by her gestures and found myself liking every movement she made. I rested my right hand on my chin so I could keep watching her properly. I wanted Damian and Lucca to switch seats with me so I could see her more clearly, but they refused.
"She's melting, dude," Damian said, noticing how I hadn't taken my eyes off her.
I smiled. "I can't help it. I like staring at her."
Lucca made a disgusted face, clearly telling me I was being cheesy.
We had finished eating and were now just sipping the expensive wine we'd ordered.
"I have more reasons to go to the office often now," I said.
"You don't even like working," Damian replied. "You just let your vice president handle everything."
"Maybe it's time for me to get serious about making money."
Lucca rolled his eyes, making me laugh. I knew they didn't believe what I was saying, and honestly, who would? It was a sudden decision I had made just seconds ago.
I kept staring at the woman I liked. She was gazing happily at the glass window, where the lights of the bustling city shone brightly outside.
"She likes mango cheesecake. I'll buy her one of these days," I said, still watching her. Lucca and Damian followed my gaze. To anyone watching us, it probably looked like we were viewing a live movie.
"What's your crush's friend's name?" Damian asked out of the blue.
"Why do you ask? Do you like her?" I said.
"No. But I sometimes catch her staring at me," he replied confidently.
"Someone's going to like you? You're just as cold as him," I said, pointing at Lucca with my lips.
Damian and I chuckled while the man we were teasing didn't even bother reacting, as if he were in his own world.
"Lucca," I called, my tone turning serious.
He looked at me, waiting for me to continue. "Someone I know updated me about the ring."
His expression changed from indifferent to attentive.
"They'll give me a report tomorrow. Hopefully, it's good news."
The hope on his face faded. I wasn't teasing him; I was simply informing him. Damian also told him that he was working on it.
"You don't have to help me. I can do it on my own," Lucca said. But knowing him, I understood he didn't want us to be bothered by his problems. Deep down, he wanted to find that ring more than anything.
People might see him as gloomy, dark, dangerous, whatever name they wanted, but he had a good heart. If he didn't, I wouldn't have stayed friends with him for so long. He could be annoying at times, but when problems came, we only had each other. We shared one thing in common—parents who were too busy getting rich.
"But we're helping you because we want to," Damian replied.
Lucca didn't answer. He simply sipped his wine.
Our conversation was interrupted when the two women approached our table. My heart jumped when the woman I liked looked at me and smiled.
"Thank you for treating us, sir," she said, flashing a genuine smile.
I smiled back, wide and sincere.
"I hope you enjoyed your birthday. If I had known it was your birthday today, I would have prepared a present."
***
Lucca's POV
"I hope you enjoyed your birthday. If only I had known it was your birthday, I would have prepared a present," Dominic said, speaking as if they had known each other for a long time.
I glanced at the little woman. She looked like she wanted to make a disgusted face, but forced herself not to. She was clearly uncomfortable with every word Dominic said. Maybe she had come here only to thank the man who treated them to a nice meal. Though, honestly, Dominic didn't have to. The little woman's friend looked rich enough on her own, judging by the way she dressed and carried herself.
I then looked at the little woman's friend, who was staring at Damian. Damian, on the other hand, was watching Dominic and the little woman as they talked. So, she liked Damian. How amusing. In just one meeting, attraction was already in the air.
I shrugged, which made them look at me.
I looked back at them, my gaze settling on the little woman, who was now looking at me. Those eyes… they needed help. They looked a lot like mine.
"Well then, let's meet at the office. I'll give you your present there," Dominic said.
The little woman nodded awkwardly. Maybe she thought declining would be pointless.
"We won't stay long, sir. Thank you again," she said. Her voice was calm, yet hollow, as though she spoke merely to satisfy the other person.
"Let me drive you home."
At those words, the little woman's expression slipped. She couldn't hide it. I could feel how uncomfortable she was with everything Dominic said. Even with Dominic openly showing his status, she wasn't impressed. If she were, she would have made the first move by now.
"Aren't you going to my house?" I interrupted, helping the little woman escape Dominic's persistence.
She looked at me. Her face was emotionless, just like mine.
"I can go after sending them home," Dominic insisted.
"Sir, we're grateful that you treated us, but we can't take up more of your time. You should spend it with your friends. We'll be fine," the little woman explained.
Dominic looked slightly disappointed, but he quickly masked it with a smile and looked at her again.
"Alright, Seraphina," he said, still flashing that wide grin.
So her name was Seraphina. It suited her.
"Goodbye, sir," Seraphina's friend said, waving to Dominic, then to me, and finally to Damian. Her farewell to Damian lasted a bit longer than the rest. I almost chuckled at the gesture but kept my composure.
When the two women left, Dominic chuckled.
"I should try harder next time."
"Can't you tell? She doesn't like you," I said bluntly.
Damian shot me a warning look, telling me not to ruin Dominic's daydream.
"What? I'm just stating the facts," I replied, meeting Damian's stare. Was he really siding with this flirty idiot?
Dominic laughed. "Don't worry. That was just the first step. I'll find her soft spot soon. I just need to try harder."
I wanted to roll my eyes, but stopped myself. Doing so would completely ruin his mood.
We finished our wine and headed straight to the parking lot. As we reached our cars, Dominic spoke again.
"We'll continue the wine session at your mansion?"
"What?"
"You told the girls I couldn't drive them home because we were going to your place."
Right. I had said that earlier, not because I wanted them to come, but because I wanted Seraphina to escape Dominic.
"I'm tired. I want to rest," I said truthfully. The medicine I had taken earlier was starting to take effect, making me sleepy.
Dominic was about to protest, but Damian signaled him to let me be.
"You're a liar," Dominic said, making a face before getting into his car.
I got into mine as well and drove off. I was exhausted.
When I arrived home, I went straight to the bathroom and took a shower. It helped calm me and prepare for sleep. After fifteen minutes, I headed to my walk-in closet, changed into my pajamas, and went straight to bed.
I closed my eyes, and just before sleep claimed me, the image of that little, fragile woman flashed through my mind.