The next morning, Linda found Chris sitting outside with a notebook in hand, scribbling furiously. She approached him cautiously, noticing his intense focus.
"Morning," she said, her voice tentative.
Chris looked up, flashing a quick smile. "Morning. Hope you slept well."
"Better than you, apparently," Linda replied, gesturing at the notebook. "What's all this?"
Chris closed it quickly, as though shielding a secret. "You'll find out soon enough."
Linda narrowed her eyes. "Chris, what are you up to?"
"Just trust me," he said, standing and stretching. "Remember my condition before agreeing to this fake engagement."
Well, you said you wanted us to go on dates, Linda replied unsure of where the conversation is heading
Yes, We're going on our first date today, be ready by 5pm, Chris replied smirking
"Wait, you're serious about that?" Linda asked, genuinely surprised.
"Very," Chris replied, walking away.
---
The day passed in a blur for Linda, mostly because her younger siblings kept pestering her with vague questions about her favorite foods and colors. By the time evening rolled around, she felt both curious and skeptical.
By the evening, Chris borrowed one of Linda's cousin's old cars-a rickety, white sedan that had seen better days. He'd spent the afternoon planning everything, determined to make it a night to remember.
Linda walked out of the house wearing a simple but elegant red dress that hugged her figure. Her hair was tied back in a loose bun, and her lips were painted a soft pink. Chris blinked, momentarily speechless.
"You clean up nice," she teased, climbing into the passenger seat.
"And you look... amazing," Chris said, still staring.
The first stop was a small hill on the outskirts of town. Chris had packed a picnic blanket, a basket of snacks, and a bottle of sparkling grape juice. The hill offered a stunning view of the sleepy town below, its lights twinkling in the dusk.
"This is beautiful," Linda said as they settled on the blanket.
"I figured you deserved some peace and quiet," Chris said, popping the bottle open and pouring them each a drink.
They clinked glasses and sat in comfortable silence for a while, the cool breeze carrying the scent of wildflowers. Linda leaned back, looking up at the stars.
"You really went all out for this," she said softly.
"I wanted it to be special," Chris admitted.
After they finished the snacks, Chris stood up and told her to follow him outside.
When she stepped outside, she saw Chris standing beside a small motorboat, his sleeves rolled up, grinning like a kid with a secret.
"A boat?" Linda asked, arching a brow.
"Yep," Chris said, extending his hand to help her aboard. "Tonight, I'm taking you somewhere special."
"Chris..." Linda hesitated but climbed in anyway. "If this is some elaborate prank, I'll throw you overboard."
"Noted," Chris said, laughing as he started the engine.
---
After about twenty minutes on the water, Linda spotted a small island in the distance. As they got closer, her breath caught. The island was illuminated by strings of fairy lights, their soft glow reflecting off the calm waves. She could make out a cozy setup on the beach-a low table surrounded by cushions, candles flickering in the breeze, and petals scattered across the sand.
"You did all this?" Linda asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Not alone," Chris admitted as he steered the boat to shore. "Your siblings helped. Turns out, they're great at keeping secrets when bribed with enough candy."
Linda laughed in disbelief as Chris helped her off the boat. "This is... unbelievable. How did you even find this place?"
Chris shrugged. "It was a gamble. Your cousin mentioned it once, and I figured it was worth checking out. I wanted to give you a night to remember."
---
The evening unfolded like something out of a dream. They started with a dinner of grilled fish, fresh fruits, and spiced rice, all prepared by Linda's younger sister.
"I didn't know my siblings could cook like this," Linda said, taking a bite of the perfectly seasoned fish.
"They were more enthusiastic than I expected," Chris said, grinning. "I think they like me."
Linda smirked. "Don't let it go to your head."
After dinner, Chris led her to the center of the island, where a small clearing had been decorated with lanterns and a makeshift swing tied to a tree.
"A swing?" Linda asked, her smile widening.
"Thought it might be fun," Chris said, giving it a gentle push. "Want to try?"
Linda hesitated, then sat on the swing, laughing as Chris pushed her lightly. "This is ridiculous," she said between giggles.
"Ridiculous can be fun," Chris echoed, watching her with a soft smile.
---
Later, they sat on the beach, their toes in the cool sand as the waves lapped gently at the shore. The sky was a canvas of stars, their brilliance mirrored on the water.
"You really went all out," Linda said, her tone softer now.
"I wanted to prove I wasn't joking about the date," Chris replied.
Linda turned to look at him, her expression unreadable. "Why?"
Chris hesitated, then met her gaze. "Because I think you deserve someone who takes you seriously. Even if this is all pretend, I wanted you to know I mean it when I say I care."
Linda's breath hitched, and she looked away quickly. "You're not making this easier, you know," she muttered.
"Easier for who?" Chris asked, his voice low.
Linda didn't answer, but the silence between them was charged with unspoken words.
---
As they headed back to the main house later that night, Linda leaned back in the boat, the breeze playing with her hair.
"Chris," she said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For tonight. It was... perfect."
Chris glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're welcome."
For the first time, Linda felt a twinge of something she couldn't quite name-a feeling that maybe, just maybe, this fake engagement wasn't as fake as it seemed.