Ava's PoV
While we were inside the car, we engaged in a lively conversation about various topics until we reached our destination. I was amazed when we arrived at a luxurious five-star restaurant. The ambiance with its golden lighting, elegant chandelier, and soothing music was truly beautiful.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't help but ask, "Do you often come to places like this for blind dates?" as we made our way to our table.
He chuckled and replied, "No, actually, this is my first date." He pulled out a chair for me, and I thanked him before taking a seat.
"Really?" I asked, surprised by his response. He nodded, and as he sat down, I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity.
He continued, "Yeah, my mother keeps setting me up on dates, but I usually send my friends in my place." His honesty made me burst into laughter.
Curiosity piqued, I asked, "So why did you decide to come this time?" He smiled warmly and replied, "Because it's you." His words left me speechless, unsure of how to respond. While I've had plenty of admirers online, I had never encountered someone so direct and sincere.
Feeling a mix of nervousness and anticipation, I stumbled over my words, asking, "Do you have feelings for me? I mean, you know..." I took a sip of water to calm my racing thoughts, hoping he understood my jumbled question.
He looked calm and composed as he replied, "Yes, I do. I've liked you since our first year of college." His confession caught me off guard, and I nearly choked on my drink.
"Are you serious?" I asked, seeking confirmation. He nodded, and before we could delve deeper into our conversation, the waitress arrived with our beautifully presented dishes.
Interrupted by the arrival of our food, our conversation paused momentarily. The dishes looked extravagant, adding to the already enchanting atmosphere here. The view outside is very beautiful too.
"I met you in high school, but you might not remember me." He said. Intrigued, I tried to recall if we had crossed paths before, but I couldn't place him.
"Do you remember when you were on the rooftop singing 'Let Go,' your first-ever song?" he asked, and suddenly, it all clicked into place.
"You're the nerd guy who was sleeping on the ground!" I exclaimed, remembering the incident vividly. He laughed, and I quickly apologized for calling him a nerd.
"No worries," he replied with a nod. Now I remembered him. We were both students at the same high school, although we were in different classes.
"Hahaha, I can't believe it! Why didn't you approach me sooner?" I asked, and he laughed.
"Well, you were busy with your career, and I was engrossed in my studies from hell... Plus, you're not the easiest person to approach. I still remember how you punched me in the face before," he said, and we both burst into laughter. I had indeed punched him once when he surprised me while I was singing. It was an accident, of course.
"You've changed a lot," I remarked, and he nodded. He used to be a serious man, with thick glasses and messy hair. But he was always kind, and we often bumped into each other on the rooftop.
"By the way, you mentioned that you liked me since our first year of college," I inquired, seeking clarification. He nodded in response.
"I fell in love with your voice back in high school, and I fell for your smile when you performed on stage. You looked so radiant. I've been a big fan of yours," he confessed, leaving me dumbfounded. So, he was an admirer, I mean a fan!
"You're my fan, and of course, you like me. Hahaha, I thought you meant you liked me romantically. You almost got me there," I laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed. I had mistakenly assumed that he had feelings for me like I did for Ezra, but it turned out he was just a fan.
"I do like you, romantically," he asserted, and I simply nodded. He was quite persistent!
"Admiring, liking, and loving are different, you know?" I stated, reaching for the knife to cut into my steak. However, before I could do anything, he swapped his plate with mine. To my surprise, he had already neatly cut the steak. Impressive, as expected from a future doctor. I thanked him for his gesture.
"Yeah, I know. I don't know what it feels like to like someone romantically. All I know is that I'm happy just seeing you, I'm content watching you from afar, I feel concerned when I see you crying alone, and I feel helpless because I don't know how to cheer you up. I also know that you like someone else, which is why I've been hesitant to approach you. But I realized that I might regret it later if I don't do something, so I want to take a chance. I'm not asking you to like me back, all I want is an opportunity to pursue you. You can reject me if it doesn't feel right. I just want a chance to make you smile, and I won't have any regrets later," he expressed sincerely, his eyes filled with honesty. It was clear that he genuinely liked me.
"But liking someone without expecting anything in return is painful," I sighed, knowing all too well how much it hurt. He smiled and poured wine into my glass.
"That's why I'm willing to try. It's a hundred times better than regretting later," he said.
As we started eating and chatting, I noticed Ezra and Isabella entering the restaurant. Isabella's surprised expression caught my attention. What on earth were they doing here? Out of all the places?
"It seems like your friends are here too," William remarked, and I nodded in agreement.
"The world is so small," I muttered, feeling a mix of curiosity. Isabella approached our table, glancing around uncomfortably. What's wrong with her?
"Big Sis, you're here too!" she exclaimed as she reached us.
"Yeah, hahaha. By the way, are you alright?" I asked, concerned about her well-being. She nodded in response.
"Ava, you're here too. What a coincidence that our tables are next to each other," Ezra said, his tone sounding slightly irritated. He might disappointed now.
"Oh, I forgot. Isabella, this is William," I introduced William to her to ease the tension, and she extended her hand for a handshake.
"Hi! I'm Isabella, Ava's best friend and dorm mate," she cheerfully introduced herself. William responded with a plain and firm "Hi." Oh, right, I forgot that William is an introvert.
"Go ahead and have your dinner now. It's getting late—"
"Big Sis, if you don't mind, can we join you guys? The more, the merrier!" Isabella interrupted, her excitement evident. I couldn't resist the urge to pinch her cheeks but I'll just do it later. I glanced at Ezra, who seemed quite serious, and then at William, who nodded in agreement.
"..." William is kind.
"I'll treat you later," I whispered to him, barely audible, and he nodded with a smile. It felt like I had gained a new puppy.
I assured Isabella that it was fine for them to join us. The table was spacious enough, and it didn't seem too bad to have two more people. I ended up sitting next to Isabella, while the two boys sat on the other side. Ezra appeared to be in a bad mood, which was understandable since he had been looking forward to their dinner date, only to have Isabella unexpectedly join us.
The dinner became noisy because Isabella kept asking about how I had met William before, and I proceeded to tell her about our past.
To be continued...