Chapter 9
(Time skip)
Hale's pov
I had been getting to know Cassandra for nine months, falling deeper for her with each passing day. Her love for parks, radiant smile, and kind heart captivated me. I knew it was time to make things official and ask her to be my girlfriend. The idea came to me to rent out "Guireña's restaurant," her favorite restaurant, for the occasion. This wasn't something I could pull off alone, so I enlisted the help of Noah, my father, and a few other close friends.
Noah, my partner in crime for life, was the first to jump on board. He had a knack for planning so his help was invaluable. We approached Ms. Fraulien, the owner of Guireña's restaurant, explaining my plan. She was moved by the gesture and offered to help in any way she could. Together, we curated a special menu featuring all of Cassandra's favorite dishes and decided on a theme with her favorite flowers-lavender and white roses.
Next, I needed my father's support. My dad and I shared a close bond, and I wanted his guidance and presence on this special night. During our usual dinner at home, I explained my plans to him. His eyes lit up with pride and excitement, and he offered not just his support but also to walk Cassandra to the restaurant, adding a familial touch that I knew she would appreciate.
***
The day of the big event arrived. Noah, my dad, and I spent the afternoon transforming Guireña's Restaurant. Twinkling fairy lights were strung across the ceiling, casting a soft, magical glow. Fresh lavender and white roses adorned the tables, filling the air with a sweet, subtle fragrance. A string quartet was arranged to play softly in the background, setting the perfect romantic atmosphere.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over Braize, I felt my nerves heighten. I checked my watch-Cassandra was supposed to arrive soon. I decided to give her a call to make sure everything was on track. But to my surprise, she didn't answer. I tried again, and then once more, but still, no response. Anxiety started to creep in. My dad saw the worry on my face and walked over.
"She's probably on her way, Hale. Don't worry," he reassured me.
Trying to keep calm, I nodded and put my phone away. I turned to Noah, who was already coordinating with the staff to ensure everything was perfect. He gave me a thumbs-up, but I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling.
Time seemed to slow as I waited. Our friends and family, already seated, exchanged curious glances. I tried to keep the conversation going, but my mind was elsewhere.
An hour passed. I checked my phone again, still no response. I could feel the worried stares from everyone around me.
"She's fine," my dad said, trying to calm my nerves. "Maybe she got caught up with something. You know how life can be."
I nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah, probably an emergency," I muttered to myself, trying to believe my own words. "She'll be here soon."
Another hour crawled by, each minute feeling like an eternity. I kept glancing at the door, hoping to see Cassandra walk in, her eyes lighting up at the surprise. But she didn't come. My heart sank, and the nervous excitement I had felt all day turned into a heavy weight of worry and disappointment.
Ms. Fraulien approached me, her face filled with genuine concern. "Hale, perhaps we should proceed with dinner," she suggested gently. "Your guests are waiting."
I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat. "Yeah, let's go ahead," I said, trying to maintain a brave face. "I'm sure she'll be here any minute."
We started the meal, but my heart wasn't in it. I pushed food around my plate, barely able to engage in the conversations around me. Noah tried to keep the mood light, but I could see the concern in his eyes too. My dad placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, whispering, "She'll come, Hale. Just give it a little more time."
Another one hour passed, and still no sign of Cassandra. I excused myself and stepped outside, the cool evening air blew as my vision started to blur. I tried calling her again, desperately hoping that she will answer, but her phone went straight to voicemail. Frustration, pain, disappointment, and sadness bubbled up inside me as I started to sob quietly. What if something serious had happened? What if she needed help? What if she doesn't want to be my girlfriend? Am I unworthy? I asked myself As my quite sobs begun to sound loudly.
***
Cassandra's pov
Tonight was the night I had been dreading and anticipating in equal measure. I was finally going to tell Hale the truth. For the past nine months, I had been stringing her along, using her kindness and affection to make Theo jealous. It was wrong, and the guilt had been eating me alive. Hale deserved better, and I owed it to her to be honest.
Dressed in the light lavender dress Hale loved, I felt a pit in my stomach as I got ready. Hale had planned something special at Guireña's Restaurant, and I dreaded ruining what was supposed to be a perfect evening. But it was better to end things now than to let the deception continue.
Driving through the quiet streets of Braize, I rehearsed what I would say to Hale. I imagined the hurt and confusion that would cross her face, and the thought made my heart ache. She had been nothing but kind and loving to me, and I was about to shatter her trust. The guilt was overwhelming, but I had to do it.
As I neared the restaurant, my phone rang. Glancing at the screen, I saw it was Theo. My heart skipped a beat.
"Theo? What's wrong?" I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Cassandra, it's an emergency," Theo's voice was frantic. "I need you to come to me. Please, it's urgent."
Panic surged through me. Theo rarely called me in such a state. "Where are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Theo gave me the location-ironically, it's the park where Hale and I had a wonderful date. Without hesitation, I made a quick U-turn and sped towards him.
As I drove, guilt washed over me, remembering once again that I was only using Hale to make Theo jealous. The thought made my stomach churn. My mind raced with worry for Theo and the crushing guilt of abandoning Hale on what was supposed to be a special night. I had to tell Hale the truth, but first, I need to make sure Theo was okay.
When I arrived at the park, I parked my car and hurried out, my eyes scanning the area for Theo. But instead of seeing him, I saw a man standing a little way off, holding a single red rose. Confusion washed over me as I approached him. "Excuse me, have you seen this man?" I asked, showing him a picture of theo, my voice laced with urgency. The man smiled and handed me the rose. "Follow the path," he said simply before walking away. I frowned but followed his instructions, my curiosity piqued.
As I walked down the path, I saw another person standing a little further ahead, also holding a rose. They handed it to me without a word and gestured for me to keep going. I continued down the path, collecting roses from several people along the way, each one adding to my growing sense of bewilderment. My heart pounded in my chest as I wondered what was going on.
Finally, I reached the spot where hale and I ironically had our date.
There, surrounded by his football teammates and many more, was Theo. He stood in the center, holding the final rose, a nervous but hopeful smile on his face. "Theo? What is this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
The sight of him made my heart ache with guilt. "I'm sorry for the trick, Cassandra," Theo said, stepping forward. "I needed to get you here, and I didn't know any other way." I was stunned. "You... planned this?" Theo nodded, his eyes filled with sincerity. "I've known for a while now that something's been weighing on you. I thought maybe tonight, we could talk. Really talk. Plus, I've been meaning to ask you a question."
He glanced around at the small crowd that had gathered-friends and acquaintances who had been drawn by the evening's events. Theo took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving mine. "Cassandra, I know this is sudden, but I need to say something." The people around us seemed to sense the gravity of the moment and fell silent. I felt the weight of their anticipation pressing down on me, making it hard to breathe.
Theo stepped closer, his eyes searching mine. "Cassandra, I've been a fool. All this time, I didn't realize how much you mean to me. Seeing you with Hale made me realize how much I care about you. I don't want to lose you. Will you be my girlfriend?" The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of confusion, guilt, and an overwhelming sense of being trapped. The crowd around us erupted into cheers and applause, their enthusiasm adding to the pressure I felt.
I looked at Theo, his eyes pleading with me to say yes. I looked at the people cheering, their expectant faces blurring together. In that moment, I felt a crushing sense of obligation, as if their happiness depended on my answer. The weight of their expectations was suffocating.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I forced a smile, hoping it looked more genuine than it felt. "Yes, Theo. I'll be your girlfriend." The crowd's cheers grew louder, and Theo pulled me into a tight embrace. I could feel his relief and joy, but all I felt was a deep, aching guilt.
This wasn't how I had envisioned things. This wasn't how I wanted to start a relationship-with a lie, with pressure, with an audience expecting a happy ending.
(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧
A/N
Theo❌