As soon as the lecture ended, the students poured out of the classroom, the low hum of chatter filling the hallways. Dalian barely had time to gather her books before Lydia hooked an arm around hers, practically dragging her along.
"Come on," Lydia grinned. "We're going to the cafeteria, and you have a lot of explaining to do."
Dalian sighed but didn't resist. Diane, as always, walked a step behind them, quiet but present.
By the time they reached the cafeteria, the tables were already filling up with students, the smell of warm food drifting through the air. They managed to find an empty table near the windows, and the moment they sat down, Lydia wasted no time.
"Alright." She leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Tell me everything."
Dalian picked at the corner of her tray, suddenly feeling the weight of both Lydia's excitement and Diane's silent gaze.
Lydia wasn't going to drop this, and Diane… well, she still hadn't said a word about it.
Dalian exhaled, shifting in her seat. "What do you want to know?"
Lydia scoffed. "Everything, Dalian. How did he confess? What did he say? How did you react? And most importantly—" she narrowed her eyes dramatically, "what's your answer?"
Dalian hesitated. "I—"
Diane, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke.
"You didn't tell me," she said simply, her voice calm but firm.
Dalian's stomach twisted. She knew this was coming. She glanced at her sister, unsure how to explain.
Lydia, sensing the shift in the mood, sat back but still looked between them with curiosity.
Dalian met Diane's gaze and, for the first time since yesterday, she felt an odd nervousness settle in her chest.
She wasn't just deciding for herself. She was deciding for the people around her, too.
And Diane was waiting for her answer just as much as Jack was.
Diane held Dalian's gaze, her expression unreadable. Then, after a brief pause, she sighed and leaned back slightly.
"Well," she said, her voice measured, "whatever you decide, I'll support you."
Dalian blinked. "Really?"
Diane nodded, but then her eyes sharpened just a little. "But," she added, "you better make sure you know exactly what you're getting into."
Lydia, who had been watching the exchange like a drama unfolding before her, sat up straighter. "Ooh, that sounded like a warning."
Diane ignored her, her focus still on Dalian. "Jack is nice, sure, but don't just say yes because of the moment. Think it through." She exhaled. "Feelings aren't something to play around with."
Dalian felt a small weight settle on her chest. She knew Diane wasn't scolding her, but her words carried weight.
"I know," she murmured.
Diane studied her for another moment, then nodded, satisfied. "Alright, then."
Lydia, on the other hand, groaned. "Ugh, you two are making this way too serious. Can't we just focus on the fact that Jack finally confessed?" She turned to Dalian with a playful grin. "So? What's your answer, huh? Are you gonna make the poor guy wait forever?"
Dalian opened her mouth, but—
"I haven't decided yet," she admitted, closing it again.
Lydia groaned dramatically, but Diane just gave a knowing nod, as if she expected that.
Dalian poked at her food, suddenly feeling the weight of everything again.
Because soon, she would have to decide.
And Jack was waiting.
The lunch bell rang, echoing through the cafeteria, signaling the end of their break.
Dalian exhaled, pushing her tray slightly forward as she grabbed her bag. Diane and Lydia followed suit, gathering their things as the three of them made their way out of the cafeteria and back to class.
The next lecture felt like it stretched on forever. The steady tick of the clock was slow, each second dragging as if time itself had decided to test her patience. Dalian rested her chin on her palm, eyes flicking toward the window before forcing herself to focus on the lesson.
But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept slipping—back to yesterday, back to Jack, back to the way her heart had raced when he stood in front of her, waiting for her answer.
A small sigh escaped her lips.
The moment the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, students began packing up, the room quickly filling with the rustling of bags and quiet chatter. Dalian moved to stand, shouldering her bag as Diane and Lydia stepped beside her.
As they made their way out of the classroom, Dalian felt it—the slightest pull against her wrist.
She stopped.
Gently, she turned, her eyes meeting Jack's as he held onto her wrist—not tightly, not forcefully, but just enough to stop her from leaving.
Lydia beside her took it all in, a knowing smirk creeping onto her lips.
Jack swallowed, his grip loosening slightly but not letting go completely. "Can I walk you home?"
Dalian parted her lips, but before she could answer—
"Oh, you two should go ahead," Lydia cut in, practically beaming. She waved her hand dismissively. "Take your time. Enjoy your date." Her teasing tone was impossible to miss.
Dalian turned to shoot her a look, but Lydia only grinned wider, winking before grabbing Diane's arm and pulling her along.
"We'll wait for you," she called over her shoulder.
And just like that, Dalian was left standing there, Jack in front of her, his hand still lingering on her wrist.
Jack led the way, his pace unhurried as they walked side by side. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, the quiet hum of students heading home filling the air.
Dalian's hands were tucked into her sleeves, her fingers curling and uncurling as she focused on each step. There was a subtle warmth in the air, but beneath it, a nervous energy lingered between them.
Jack stole a glance at her, a nervous energy in his voice. "About yesterday..."
Dalian's fingers twitched.
"What do you think?" he asked, his voice careful, patient.
Her chest tightened painfully, her thoughts a jumbled mess, the world around her narrowing until all she could see was Jack's hopeful gaze. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out, like standing at the edge of a cliff and not finding the courage to jump.
"I think…" she started, hesitating. Her pulse drummed against her ears, and she forced herself to meet his gaze, though her cheeks warmed under his expectant eyes. "I think—"
Jack tilted his head slightly, waiting.
She swallowed, the words slipping away.
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "Do you need time?" His tone was light, as if reassuring her that there was no rush, that he'd wait.
But before she even thought about it, the answer slipped out.
"No—no," she blurted, shaking her head. The suddenness of it startled even herself.
Jack blinked, caught off guard for a second, before a small, amused smile played at the corners of his lips. "Alright," he murmured, studying her.
He took a breath, then tried again, his voice softer this time. "Are you ready to—"
"Yes."
The word cut through the space between them, firm, certain.
Jack froze, his sentence left unfinished, as he stared at her.
Dalian, cheeks burning, nodded vigorously, her hands clenching at the hem of her sleeves. A radiant smile broke across her face, one she couldn't suppress even if she tried.
"Yes," she said again, her voice filled with emotion, barely above a whisper. "Let's date."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving just the two of them standing in the golden light of the afternoon.
Jack let out a slow breath, his expression shifting from surprise to something warmer—something indescribable. A smile tugged at his lips, something genuine, something real.
And then, without thinking, he reached out—his fingers brushing lightly against her wrist, as if grounding himself in the reality of the moment.
"You mean it?" he asked, his voice quieter now, as if afraid to break whatever spell had settled between them.
Dalian nodded again, her smile never faltering. "I mean it."
Jack exhaled, a breath of relief, of something unspoken yet deeply felt.
And in that moment, everything felt right.
Jack's fingers tightened around Dalian's hand, his grip warm, steady. She didn't pull away. Instead, she let herself feel the moment—the quiet thrill of his touch, the steady rhythm of their steps as they walked side by side.
The sky bled into shades of apricot and violet, the scent of fresh-cut grass carried by the soft breeze. Somewhere down the street, a dog barked, and the low murmur of life winding down echoed in the distance. A cool breeze brushed past them, but the warmth between their hands was enough to chase it away.
Jack nudged her shoulder lightly, his voice teasing but a little shy. "So, uh... girlfriend?"
Dalian's breath hitched. The word sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt the heat creep up her neck.
She averted her gaze, pretending to be fascinated by the sidewalk. "…Y-you don't have to say it like that."
Jack chuckled. "Why not? It's true, isn't it?" His grip on her hand remained firm but gentle. "I mean, today's our first date, right?"
Dalian bit her lip before chuckling softly. "Yeah… I guess it is."
Jack's eyes lit up. "Then wait here," he suddenly said, stopping in his tracks.
She blinked. "Wait—what?"
"Just stay here for a sec, I'll be right back."
Before she could ask anything else, he let go of her hand and took off running, his footsteps quick against the pavement.
Dalian stood there, watching him disappear into the small store up ahead. A part of her wanted to call him back, to tell him he didn't have to do anything special. But another part of her—the part that felt her heart flutter at the thought—let him go.
Minutes later, Jack emerged from the store, his face beaming with excitement. In his hand, he held a small, neatly wrapped package.
He jogged back to her, slightly out of breath but grinning nonetheless.
"This," he said, handing it to her, "is for our first date. Something to remember it by."
Dalian stared at the package, her fingers hesitantly tracing the wrapping. "Jack… you didn't have to—"
"I wanted to," he interrupted gently. "Go on, open it."
She glanced up at him before carefully peeling away the wrapper. Inside was a delicate bracelet, simple but beautiful, with a small charm dangling from it—a star.
Dalian felt her breath catch in her throat.
Jack rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly nervous. "I, uh… I thought it suited you."
Dalian swallowed, emotions welling up in her chest. Slowly, she slid the bracelet onto her wrist, her fingers lingering over the charm.
"It's perfect," she whispered, lifting her gaze to meet his.
Jack's expression softened, his eyes searching hers. "Yeah?"
She nodded, a smile playing at her lips. "Yeah."
He let out a small breath, relieved. "Good."
And just like that, he reached for her hand again, intertwining their fingers once more as they continued walking.
As Jack laced their fingers together again, Dalian felt it—a promise, quiet and unspoken, that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something she never thought she'd have again.
The world around them faded into the background—just the two of them, their first date, and the promise of something new.
As they walked, their fingers still intertwined, the silence between them was no longer awkward—it was warm, comfortable, carrying a quiet excitement neither of them wanted to break too soon.
Dalian glanced at her wrist again, watching the small star charm catch the evening light. It felt unreal, like something out of a dream, yet here she was, walking home with Jack, her boyfriend.
She stole a glance at him. Jack was looking ahead, but there was something different about his expression—something softer. His thumb absentmindedly brushed against her hand, a small, repeated motion that sent warmth up her arm.
Then, just as she was about to look away, he turned his head and caught her staring.
Their eyes met.
Dalian's breath hitched, and she quickly looked down, her face heating up.
Jack chuckled at her reaction but said nothing. Instead, he let go of her hand for a moment, only to reach out again and gently intertwine their fingers differently this time—more firmly, more deliberately.
Dalian swallowed. This was real.
Jack suddenly slowed his pace, then stopped completely. She turned to face him, confused.
"What?" she asked, her voice coming out softer than she expected.
Jack didn't answer right away. Instead, he lifted his free hand and, hesitantly, tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His touch was barely there, but it sent a shiver down her spine.
She froze.
His fingers lingered for just a second longer before he let them drop, looking slightly embarrassed himself. "Sorry, I just…" He exhaled, shaking his head with a sheepish grin. "I guess I'm still processing this."
Dalian let out a small, nervous laugh, trying to calm her racing heart. "Me too."
Jack's grin widened. "Good. Then let's process it together."
They continued walking, and Dalian realized something—this wasn't just about dating. This wasn't just about a new chapter in her life.
This was the start of something that felt right.
As they neared her house, the reality of parting ways for the night settled in. Jack sighed dramatically. "So, this is the part where I have to say goodnight, huh?"
Dalian chuckled. "Yeah. But don't make it sound that tragic."
He smirked. "Can't help it. First date's ending. Feels like it went by too fast."
She glanced down at their still-intertwined hands before slowly pulling hers away, her fingers lingering against his for just a second longer. "We'll see each other tomorrow," she reminded him.
Jack gave a lopsided grin. "Yeah, but now I have to wait hours before I see my girlfriend again. Feels unfair."
Dalian rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the smile from forming. "Go home, Jack."
He took a step back, then another, walking away slowly as if reluctant to leave. "Goodnight, Dalian."
She lingered at her doorstep, watching him with a fluttering heart.
"Goodnight, Jack."
As he finally turned around and walked away, she reached for her wrist, gently running her fingers over the small bracelet.
Yes, this was something real. Something she would remember.
As Dalian stepped inside the house, she immediately spotted Aunt Beatrice sitting on the couch, gently rocking the baby in her arms. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the television playing in the background.
Aunt Beatrice glanced up, her brows knitting together. "I see Diane alone. Where have you been?" she asked, her tone calm but observant.
Before Dalian could respond, Diane, who was seated at the dining table flipping through a notebook, spoke up. "She was with Lydia," she answered casually, not even looking up.
Dalian exhaled in relief, grateful for her sister's timely response. "Yeah," she added quickly before heading toward her room. "I'm going to change."
She closed the door behind her, letting out a deep breath as she leaned against it for a moment. Her heart still felt light, her thoughts a swirling mess of emotions. Walking over to her bed, she picked up her phone and saw multiple missed calls and messages from Lydia.
Lydia: How did it go??
Lydia: Don't leave me hanging, spill!
Lydia: Dalian, if you don't reply, I'm coming over.
Dalian smiled at the messages but didn't respond. Instead, she tossed her phone onto the bed and collapsed onto the mattress, lying at the edge. Her body
sank into the soft fabric as she stared up at the ceiling, her heart still fluttering. The events of the day replayed in her mind—Jack's nervous expression, the way he reached for her hand, the warmth in his voice when he asked her to be his girlfriend. It felt surreal, like a dream she didn't want to wake up from.
Just as she was lost in thought, the door creaked open, and Diane stepped inside. She didn't say anything at first, just stood by the door with her arms crossed, observing her sister. A small smirk played on her lips.
Dalian turned her head slightly, meeting Diane's knowing gaze.
"With that look on your face, I don't even need to ask," Diane said, her voice teasing yet warm. She stepped closer, leaning against the bedpost. "It's obvious—you said yes, didn't you?"
Dalian bit her lower lip, but the smile breaking across her face gave her away. She didn't say a word, just nodded slightly, her cheeks flushing.
Diane chuckled, shaking her head. "I knew it," she said, her tone softer now. She reached out and gently squeezed Dalian's shoulder. "Well, good luck. Relationships can be a handful, but... you deserve to be happy."
Dalian looked up at her sister, touched by her words. "Thanks, Diane."
Diane shrugged, turning to leave the room. "Just don't let Lydia drive you crazy with all her questions tomorrow," she added with a grin before closing the door behind her.
Dalian sighed, sinking deeper into her bed, hugging a pillow close to her chest. Tomorrow would come with its own chaos, but for now, she just wanted to hold onto this feeling a little longer.