"Wow, Charlotte, you have no idea how much that means to me. Thanks. Thanks for agreeing to do this. I'm very grateful."
I smile and he calls the waiter. The waiter gives us menus and we go through them. There are so many exquisite delicacies in this restaurant. I let Oliver order for both of us. He places the order and the waiter goes away.
"So, tell me, what will I like to know about you?"
I look into his eyes. I take a gulp. "I don't even know where to start. My life has never been pretty."
Oliver places a hand on my hand and shakes his head. "I want to know about you first."
I smile. "I am a Taurus. I'm very stubborn and my mind is set in stone. To get through it is almost impossible. And that is why I've never had a relationship for more than three months. But I am a pretty positive person and I just take life as it comes. I don't like predicting things. I just take what life throws at me. And I am very practical. So, when I came to know about Marketing, I fixed in my brain that this is what I want to do. And now, I am doing it. Um, I was not a very good student in our school. I didn't attend classes and my parents used to be disappointed in me. And then, in college, I somehow got extremely serious about my studies and emerged as a top student. And all through college, I only had two relationships. One of them was pretty serious. And then, after college, I started searching for jobs. And I found this lucrative. So, I went along. And now, here I am."
Oliver smiles. "So, you're stubborn and practical and positive!? That is exactly my type of person."
"Tell me about you, Oliver"
He clears his throat. "Well, I am a Virgo. So, I'm a perfectionist, I'm practical and I do not take any bullshit. I'm very positive most of the times. And I'm not very good with making new friends or getting into new relationships. But you made me really comfortable so, I'm fine with this right now. Anyway, I like things done in a certain way and I hate asking for help. I like doing things for people when they are not good at it. My friends always tell me that they love me because of how caring I am. And, in my school, I was the top student. I was the teacher's pet and everyone hated me. I had only one friend who stayed with me throughout school and I am friends with her even now. And then, I came to college. I did not really like the idea of college or the subjects in college. So, I wanted a different career path. That was when my friends suggested that I go into fashion. I've always been interested in dressing up and fabrics and designs. So, I went along with it. I did a course, applied for jobs and joined Ralph Lauren at first. I wasn't doing very well in that brand. So, I shifted to Louis Vuitton and now, here I am."
I smile. "This might be stupid to ask. But, have you ever met Bernard Arnault?"
"Yes, actually, I did. I serviced in a team of stylists for his appearance at an award show. It was a very cool experience."
"What else are you interested in?"
"Um, I listen to music all the time. My top artists are Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey. I am a great cook. So I'm interested in that. And I'm a huge Heartstopper fan. So, I'm interested in that. Whenever you come to my home, you will see that either a fashion related show or Heartstopper is playing."
I smile and take out my phone. I show him my Spotify and Netflix. He laughs
"Wow! We have similar tastes. What are you interested in?"
"Me? I am actually a former choir member. So I'm interested in singing. Um, and I'm also really into fitness."
"Wow. That's so cool."
The waiter comes with our food. They serve us in our plates. We thank them and they go away. Oliver digs in. I take the lead and dig in. And oh my god, does it taste like heaven. This is one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten. "This tastes really good"
He goes hmm and makes a yummy noise. I giggle. He looks at me. "What?"
"You're cute."
He blushes. I smile and continue to eat.
"What kind of a childhood did you have Oliver?"
He takes a gulp and a sudden tightness surrounds me. He drops his spoon and looks into space. He sits still without moving. I wait for about twenty seconds. He still doesn't move. I shake his forearm and he winces.
"Um. Ah." He takes a deep unsteady breath.
"Oliver, are you fine? It's fine if you don't want to discuss about it. No problem."
He looks into my eyes and nods. I smile and he returns the smile. "How did you get so pretty Charlotte?"
I blush. I blush hard. I blush so hard that it makes him giggle. "That is so sweet. But, my dad is a model and my mom was a very good looking woman."
"Was?"
"Yeah. Was. Cause she died while having a botox."
He holds my hands and looks into my eyes with all the softness in the world. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
"But at least I got good genes."
He lets out the cutest chuckle. "How was your childhood?"
"It was pretty normal. Normal, in the sense, traditional normal. I have an older brother. He was always treated better because he was the man of the house. I almost never got anything I wanted. But, I never cared about that. I learned to fight for what I wanted. And that is how I landed in a business college. My parents forced me to take medicine. But, right now, I earn more than both of my parents combined. Oh and also, my brother turned out to be gay. And my parents accepted him just because he is a man. Like it does not make sense. But, I'm very close with my brother. He is so cool and so fun. And he's in a very happy relationship right now. Whenever I had an argument with my parents, I'd run to him. His name's Daniel. And he always supported me. We used to fight in our childhood but we were always close. Oh and also, he works as a skincare model. He has the most flawless skin. My skin isn't that bad but my irregular sleep schedule keeps fucking me up."
He looks at me and smiles. He looks at my lips and licks his lips. "Sorry, I've been only talking about me. What about you Oliver? Do you have any siblings?"
"Yeah. An older sister. Her name's Monica. She's the coolest woman I've ever known."
I smile. "So, both of us have siblings. That is so great. We can relate to each other on a different level."
He nods. "True. Monica is cool but sometimes she annoys the fuck out of me. She borrows all my jackets and never returns them back to me. And my mom keeps wondering where I spend so much money. How can I tell her that I have to buy a new jacket like every week!?"
"I totally understand. My brother borrows all of my makeup and skincare products. He also borrowed this trench coat that I loved so so much. It was the first thing I bought with my own salary. He really gets on my nerves sometimes."
"But, they are the only ones who can understand us like they do. I've been in a lot of relationships but no one ever understood me or felt as right to me as Monica."
"I know. It's honestly very polarizing."
He nods. "What are your favorite Lana songs Oliver?"
"Damn, I didn't expect that question. That is so hard. I honestly have two from each album. But, my top songs would probably be West Coast, Shades Of Cool, Freak, Cinnamon Girl, Fuck It I Love You. Yeah, those are my top five. Tell me your top five."
"Wow, you have incredible taste. My top five would be Shades Of Cool, Blue Jeans, Honeymoon, 13 Beaches, Violets For Roses."
"You have such great taste. Tell me your Taylor top five."
"This is extremely hard. Let me think. Okay. All Too Well 10 minute version, Out Of The Woods, Getaway Car, Sparks Fly, False God."
"Wow. Our top five is actually quite similar. Mine is All Too Well 10 minute version, False God, Sparks Fly, Call It What You Want, peace."
"Wow! Oh My God, I totally forgot about folklore and evermore. Ah! I love those both albums so much."
He lets out a giggle.
"It's just so hard to choose top five by Taylor because she constantly makes great music."
"True. Okay Charlotte. Now, tell me two truths and a lie about you. I will try to guess which one is the lie."
"Wow okay. Umm, give me a second. Okay. I left my last boyfriend because the sex got boring. My mother would've been happier if I got into modelling. My dad wanted me to be a guy."
"Woah. Those are the most interesting pieces of information I've ever received. But, I think the second one is the lie."
"Really? What made you think that?"
"I don't know. I don't think a mother would want their child to be a model after having a model husband. But, that could just be me. Or is it true?"
I chuckle. "It isn't true. My mom wanted me to bring money to the home. And modelling paid dad extremely well. So, it is true."
"That is terrible. I'm so sorry for you. What's the lie then?"
"The third one."
"Oh. I see."
"Now, you go."
"Okay. I once walked in on my parents having sex. I had a near death experience a month ago. I want to kiss you."
OLIVER :
A beautiful blush adorns her face. "Wow. Umm. I think the last one's a lie." She nervously puts her hand on the back of her neck. I take her hand and kiss it. I shake my head. "No."
She looks at me nervously. "Oh."
I lean into her and she slowly leans into me. She closes her eyes. I push a strand of hair behind her ear. "Charlotte, do you want to do this?"
"Mhmm."
I let out a soft giggle and press my lips against hers.
CHARLOTTE :
Oliver lets out a soft giggle and presses his lips against mine. He captures my lips like we're in a slow dance. Tender, passionate and romantic. I give in and kiss him with all I have. He lets out a moan. I bite his lip. He slides his tongue into my mouth. We kiss for what seems like forever. He slowly pulls away and I get the biggest smile on my face. He smiles. His lips became red from the kiss. I let out a giggle. "That was beautiful."
"Yeah. You are so incredible Charlotte."
I blush. We continue eating our food. "The food was delicious. This is a great place."
"I know right. I discovered this when my ex brought me here for our second date."
"Oh."
"Oops, didn't mean to make this awkward. I shouldn't have said that."
"No, it's fine. I don't mind it."
"You are so sweet."
I blush again. Oh God, can this man stop making me feel like this!?
"I would ask you to come to my place but I have a little report to do for tomorrow. I'm sorry."
He places his hand on my hand. "Hey, it's totally fine Charlotte. I understand. I actually was planning on asking you to come to my place. But it's fine."
"Haha. So, I guess that's it then?"
"Oh yeah. Um, you want to pay for your order or do you want me to do it?"
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to do what's good with you."
I smile. This is the happiest I've been since my last relationship.
"I'll pay. Oliver, I want you to know that you are the most perfect man I've ever met. I already can't wait for our next date."
He smiles. "You are the most perfect woman I've ever met. I really liked spending time with you."
He takes my hand and kisses it. We put in our quarters and get up. He kisses my cheek and I kiss his cheek.