"If you feel like the decision you took isn't great, don't hesitate to tell us, okay? No one will be upset."
Arthur nodded continuously as Uncle Kevin, looking somewhat proud, patted his back and instructed him once more before he stepped out of the house to get in the car, where Natalia was already in and waiting.
There was no way Arthur was going to regret getting into that car with her.
He was already so excited, impatience bubbling inside him, eager to leave but how could he brush off these caring elders?
"Good luck, Arthur!"
Aunt Kelly also grinned and gave quite an aggressive pat on his back. Arthur stared at her for a second, confused. It wasn't like anything special was happening today so the 'good luck' didn't make sense but he really liked that blessing because a good mother's love brings you great luck indeed.
When Arthur finally got into the car, the excitement he'd been feeling quickly twisted into panic and nervousness and his hands grew sweaty.
It was suddenly so hot too.
Arthur sneaked a glance at the beautiful driver and basically forgot to breathe.
She looked even hotter when she was serious.
Damn it...
How could he ever be as hot as her?
She was truly admirable...
"I… want to apologise for what I did this morning."
"H-haa?"
Arthur's voice came out hoarse from how long he'd been holding his breath just to stare at her and her sudden words made him panic.
Sigh...no matter how excited or confident he felt, he always became a complete mess around her.
'…Is she apologising for choking me? I mean, startling me so badly that I ended up choking?'
Arthur watched Natalia's face carefully as she continued, apologising for touching him without permission and for scaring him.
'No, no! God… you can touch me all you want. I—I even wish—ugh! I'm so messed up in the head…'
Maybe there had been a misunderstanding between them.
Arthur absolutely didn't despise that touch. He'd only been startled because it was unexpected. He didn't dislike it at all.
So… he should clear this up.
Otherwise, it would be disadvantageous in the future.
"I like it!"
…Well, maybe that wasn't the best or only way to clear things up...
Arthur hadn't meant to say he liked it, but well… he couldn't deny that he liked her touching him.
"Mmm… really?"
Arthur faked a cough but ended up coughing for real when she asked that back so seriously, because yeah… damn it, he did like it.
Maybe he'd rushed it. Maybe he'd gotten way too excited. Now he was practically tearing up from coughing, gulping down water and embarrassing himself in front of this cool alpha, who knew for the how-many times...
"If you don't answer me quickly, I might think you actually like it."
Natalia teased.
Arthur stared out the window, finally calmed down, but thoroughly embarrassed for losing his cool again since morning.
Arthur strongly felt the need to save his face, so he turned toward Natalia, taking a deep breath.
"I-I did like it. B-but did you like it too? I-I mean… me touching you?"
Arthur asked, watching as Natalia glanced at him for a second before focusing back on the road, yet a wide grin had spread across her face.
"What do you think about how I feel, Arthur?"
"H-how would I know what you feel…"
"Then why don't you try it again?"
"W-what?"
"Touching me. Maybe you can figure out if I like it or not."
Arthur's face turned bright red, his eyes unintentionally hovering over her thighs—before he snapped back to his senses.
She had just asked him to touch her again.
S-so... she must be okay with it… or—like it, right?
"I…I w-would think you like it, because didn't you just ask me to touch you again?"
Arthur let out a light chuckle, nervously playing with the strap of his bag on his lap as he watched her expression closely.
The grin on her face couldn't get any wider, and Arthur clutched his chest because he was sure now she was serious.
She liked it too.
"I like it, Arthur."
Natalia turned to him with a chuckle before coolly focusing back on the road, the grin still lingering on her lips.
"I…I'm glad."
Arthur mumbled to himself, trying and failing to control the stupid smile creeping onto his face.
"So, Arthur," Natalia said casually, "would you like to go on a date with me? We haven't gone on one yet."
Arthur's heart raced again as he looked at her.
"U-umm… w-where would we be going?"
His voice trembled slightly from this huge excitement. He felt like he might burst at any second.
"Tell me a place you like. I want the first date to be all about your preferences."
"…I—I don't really know any places. I don't go out much."
"I don't believe it," she said lightly. "Even if you don't go out often, there must be somewhere you've thought about going or at least been to once. Anywhere is fine. Anywhere."
"…Well… um… the mall?"
Natalia turned to him and chuckled.
Actually, this wasn't surprising at all.
She already knew the mall was his favourite place.
In fact, she knew several places cute cafés she was sure he'd like and places she'd love to take him but she wanted him to stay within his comfort zone for their first date. Arthur had barely ever gone out alone, or with someone other than her parents.
So for this new experience, she wanted him to have control.
"Then shall we go on a date at the mall?" she said. "You can bring me to your favourite stores. That sounds fun. So, is it confirmed?"
Arthur hesitated, taking a little more time.
Actually, he just realised the mall felt like such an unromantic answer, and he wondered if he sounded like a gold digger, dragging her around to spend money.
But she seemed genuinely happy with it.
Was she serious? Or just agreeing out of politeness?
"I…I'm sorry. I actually don't know anywhere else," Arthur admitted. "Other places...I've maybe been once or twice, but I don't remember much. Maybe you should choose the place instead…"
But Natalia only grinned wider and even chuckled.
"Well, you're telling me to choose," she said, "but I'm clueless. I just came back after years, and I honestly don't know any good places. So isn't it best we go to your favourite one?"
"Mmm… I—"
"So, is it confirmed then?"
Arthur finally relaxed feeling she genuinely preferred his idea. And really—the mall could be romantic too. Even if not, he would make it...
'Maybe I am overthinking it. I shouldn't be trying to impress her all the time', he told himself.
'If we're going to be a pair, it should be about compromise. Be serious, Arthur. Trust yourself. Love yourself too, as much as you love her.'
Encouraging himself, Arthur smiled brightly.
"S-so… when?"
"What about next Sunday?"
"…I'm free. But… what about Uncle and Aunt?"
"Arthur," Natalia said calmly, "just like I got you into this car, I'll take care of that too. You just need to relax and follow me."
"…Okay then."
Arthur turned to look out the window, needing something—anything—to release the overwhelming happiness building inside him.
'Fu-Oh—! I shouldn't curse! Ahhh! I'm going on a date! With her! Yes! Yes! Yes! Fuck!'
God… he was so happy.
Really, really happy...
He must be the happiest man on earth right now.