Chapter 19:
I don't know why, but it suddenly felt like this was a real relationship.
Like the first time you meet someone you already care about, the excitement, the nerves, the anticipation.
I went out that day feeling unusually nervous but happy. After everything that had happened, we had never actually gone on a proper date. We only had moments, short, stolen, but special.
Standing outside the train station, my heart wouldn't slow down.
How do I greet him now?
How do I look at him and act normal?
I had done my research. I upgraded my wardrobe a little, checked my outfit again and again, overthinking everything. I wanted to see him so badly… but at the same time, I was terrified.
You know that feeling, when you want something so much it makes you nervous.
Then I saw him.
Walking toward me, effortless, handsome, calm — like a prince.
My boy…friend.
"Hey, I hope I didn't make you wait too long," he said, smiling.
"Nope. All good," I replied softly, already staring at the ground.
"Then let's go."
He took my hand gently, and we walked into the aquarium.
It was beautiful. I had always wanted to come here, but Dad never had the time. I felt like a child in a candy store, touching the glass, asking endless questions. To my surprise, Jack always had the answers.
The colors, the movement, the calm — everything felt unreal.
He leaned closer and said, "There's a dolphin show later. Do you want to go?"
I turned just as he bent down to my height, and suddenly we were face to face.
If my heart had a microphone, the whole world would have heard it beating so fast.
I nodded quickly, my face burning. Thinking about the kiss from yesterday only made it worse. I turned away, fanning my face like it would help.
He watched me with a quiet smile, proud, content — like he felt that same sense of wholeness I did.
We watched the show, ate together, talked and laughed. He held my hand, bought me cake, and stayed close.
Still, I could only look at him for a few seconds at a time. But it was just so perfect.
At the end of the day, as we walked home hand in hand, he said casually,
"I told my sister about you. She wants to meet you. My parents might be there too, but they're cool."
I stopped walking.
Meet his family?
I hadn't even recovered from the kiss yet.
He stepped in front of me, smiling gently.
"Hey, come here, no need to panic. I know they'll love you."
He hugged me, then took my hand again as if everything was perfectly natural.
"And you told your family about us, too, right?" he added. "I want them to know me. I want this to be official."
I looked away, embarrassed.
"I… will. I'll tell them. For sure."
He lifted my face so I had to look at him.
"Hey, I'm not forcing you. I know you're still nervous about yesterday."
I blinked. "You knew that?"
"Of course," he said softly. "I thought by now you'd be fine… but you're still shaking when I touch you."
I pouted. "That's not fair. You're teasing me."
He laughed, leaning close to my ear.
"It's adorable, Lea. I want to see all of your expressions."
He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes locking onto mine. I knew what was coming.
We leaned in, slow and warm—
"Now I really want to know what you guys are doing right now."
Tom's voice shattered the moment.