Ariel's heart pounded as she stared into Divine's eyes, the soft glow of the restaurant lights reflecting off his eager face. She swallowed hard, gripping his hands tighter, her voice low and trembling.
"Divine… I like you," she said slowly, each word weighed down with nerves. "I've felt it for a while, but I was holding back because… because I didn't want to make another mistake." Her eyes flickered downward.
Divine's lips broke into a wide smile, his eyes sparkling with pure joy. He leaned closer, lowering his voice but unable to hide the excitement bubbling out of him.
"Are you saying… you're willing to be my girlfriend?"
Ariel's cheeks flushed pink. She nodded shyly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yes… I'm saying yes."
For a split second, Divine froze, as if to confirm he had really heard her correctly. Then he jumped to his feet, throwing his arms in the air. "Yes!" he exclaimed loudly enough to turn a few heads in the restaurant. "Yes, yes, yes!"
"Divine!" Ariel laughed, tugging at his sleeve to pull him back down into his seat. "People are looking!"
"Let them look," he grinned, sitting back down, still glowing with happiness. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long. Ariel, you don't know how happy you've made me."
Ariel smiled, but in her chest, a small knot of unease tightened. She tried to bury it under the warmth of the moment, but Divine noticed the flicker in her expression. He tilted his head, studying her face with gentle concern.
"Why do you look… scared?" he asked softly, squeezing her hands.
"It's nothing," she lied quickly, forcing a smile.
"Ariel," he said firmly, eyes searching hers, "do you trust me?"
Her lips parted slightly, hesitation hovering in the air. Then she nodded, even though deep inside, that little shadow of doubt still lingered. "I trust you."
Divine smiled, relief washing over his features. "That's all I need to hear."
The rest of the evening unfolded like a dream. Divine cracked jokes, told stories, and never let go of her hand once. Ariel found herself laughing more than she had in weeks, letting herself forget the doubts, the shadows of David, and the fear of being disappointed again. For those hours, she let herself enjoy being with someone who made her feel cherished.
---
Meanwhile, in the quiet hum of the university library . Rows of books surrounded Samuel and Favour as they sat side by side at a wooden desk. The silence between them was not uncomfortable—it was warm, filled with the closeness of two people who no longer had to hide how they felt.
Samuel, however, wasn't focused on his textbook. Instead, his eyes kept drifting to Favour. She had her hair tied up loosely, a few strands falling around her face as she bent over her notes. The concentration etched on her face made him smile unconsciously.
Favour sensed the weight of his gaze and glanced up, raising a brow. "What?" she asked, trying not to laugh.
"Nothing," Samuel said quickly, grinning like a boy caught stealing cookies. "I was just… admiring you."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her blush. "You should be admiring your book, not me. Exams are starting in a month."
"You're right," Samuel admitted, still grinning. "But you're my one distraction, Favour."
Her heart skipped, and she looked away, biting back a smile. "That's not good. Maybe we should read separately."
Samuel chuckled, shaking his head. "No way. If I sit anywhere else, I'll be more distracted thinking about you."
Favour sighed dramatically, though her cheeks were glowing. "Samuel, I'll be heartbroken if your grades drop because of me."
He reached for her hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry. They won't. You're not pulling me down—you're keeping me going. You've always been my motivation, Favour."
Her chest warmed at his words, and she smiled softly. "Fine. But I'm holding you to that."
They returned to their books, though every so often Samuel stole glances at her, his grin never quite fading.
. . .
Ariel and Divine wrapped up their date. As Divine drove her back to her apartment, the air between them was light and filled with laughter.
At the doorway, Ariel turned to him. "Don't forget, exams are coming. We need to spend more time in class and less time… out." She smiled playfully.
Divine placed his hand on his chest as if making a solemn vow. "Yes, ma'am. More classes, less distractions. But honestly… you're the only distraction I want."
Ariel laughed, swatting his arm lightly. "Be serious!"
"I am serious," he said softly, his expression shifting to something more tender. He leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. "I don't want to wake up from this dream, Ariel."
Her heart fluttered at his words. She playfully shoved him again. "It's not a dream."
"Then I'm the luckiest man alive," he whispered, his smile warm as ever. They both laughed before he finally left, leaving Ariel with a smile she couldn't shake.
---
The following day, the library became a meeting place for all four of them. Favour and Samuel sat together on one side, their closeness obvious in the way Samuel leaned toward her every now and then, whispering a playful comment that made her giggle quietly. On the other side of the table, Ariel and Divine shared a book, their heads bent close together.
It was a peaceful scene until someone approached the table. A girl slid smoothly into the empty chair beside Divine. Ariel froze when she recognized her—Joy.
Joy leaned in closer, her lips dangerously near Divine's ear as she whispered something softly. Ariel couldn't hear what it was, but she could see the way Divine stiffened, his hand tightening slightly on the edge of the table. Joy straightened with a smirk and patted his shoulder lightly before walking away with a sway in her steps.
The table went quiet for a moment. Ariel stared at Joy's retreating figure, her chest tightening as she forced herself to breathe