The Greatest Showman #1427 - Full of Charm

"Please leave."

Nicole restrained her smile, her tone firm and authoritative.

Andrew's emotions froze in place, the inferiority complex that had always lurked beneath the surface suddenly surfacing. All the confidence and strength he had managed to muster felt like a fragile dam, slowly collapsing under an invisible tide. The sinking feeling overwhelmed him, leaving him motionless but filled with panic.

He lowered his gaze, trying to convey embarrassment and hurt, though it wasn't easy. Unconsciously, he waved his hands, hoping his body language would distract her. But the awkward, stiff movements only made it worse, revealing his discomfort rather than alleviating it. His smile faltered, twitching at the corners of his mouth, his expression contorting in a way that made it clear his attempts were only making things more painful.

"Oh, my God. I'm sorry. Uh, um, huh, me, I'm really sorry," Andrew mumbled, frantically turning around to leave. But just as he was about to walk away, he stopped, spun back around, and tried to say something—anything—but his mind drew a blank. He laughed nervously, pulling a bitter, embarrassed smile, hoping to diffuse the tension. But it had no effect, and he found himself incoherently preparing to leave again. "Really sorry."

There was something endearing about the way he fumbled, so visibly youthful and somewhat cute in his confusion.

"Ha," Nicole couldn't help but laugh. "I was just teasing you."

Andrew's steps faltered as he froze. He wasn't sure what to do. He awkwardly raised his hand to smooth his hair, only to realize it wasn't even messy—his attempt to fix something that didn't need fixing only made it worse, his curly hair now a chaotic mess. When he heard Nicole's voice, he didn't quite register what she said, but his reflex kicked in, and he muttered, "Sorry."

"I was teasing you," Nicole said again, her amusement bubbling over as she watched his flustered reaction. Her large eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed, her entire body alight with joy.

"What?" Andrew turned to stare at Nicole, still flustered. He was coming to his senses now, but his voice was high, louder than usual, and his smile was more awkward than natural. "God!" His reaction was pure, a mix of youth and shyness. He was utterly transparent—his emotions too real, too raw to hide.

Nicole's laughter grew louder, the sound of it like silver bells ringing in the air. It was impossible to stop, and then, realizing her own rudeness, she covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head apologetically. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry."

Andrew paused, his stiff posture relaxing as the realization slowly dawned on him. His smile grew, a genuine expression of joy and happiness, erasing the awkwardness from before. His whole demeanor brightened as if the sun had come out after a storm.

Nicole couldn't help but smile at him, the apology still hanging in the air but her eyes betraying her delight. She apologized again, but this time with a lighter heart.

Andrew raised his head, his eyes fixed on Nicole with an intensity that made her heart flutter. He seemed almost irritated, but there was a playful edge to his voice as he said, "You shouldn't bully people like this."

Nicole tilted her head, smiling mischievously. Her lips curved into a teasing arc as she said, in a soft, almost coquettish voice, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."

Andrew shrugged, his gaze never leaving hers. "It's not a big deal," he muttered, though his words seemed unsure, as if he couldn't quite make sense of the situation. His voice lacked confidence, and it was clear he was still figuring it all out.

Nicole noticed the intensity of his gaze and couldn't hold back her amusement. The nervous energy he radiated was palpable, and her heart fluttered, the warmth of it impossible to ignore. "What's your name?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"..." Andrew was momentarily lost in his emotions, too overwhelmed to respond. But then, sensing the warmth of Nicole's gaze, he nodded quickly. "Oh, Andrew." His hand instinctively reached for the back of his neck, scratching awkwardly.

"Andrew." Nicole repeated the name, a thoughtful expression on her face as she absorbed the information. After a short pause, she noticed Andrew staring at her with such intensity that it almost made her feel self-conscious. His light brown eyes were so focused, so full of unspoken emotion, that she couldn't help but smile again. "I'm Nicole," she introduced herself with a smile.

Andrew, realizing he was being clumsy, raised his hand again, only to stop halfway in the air. He realized his actions were awkward, so he dropped it, muttering, "It's nice to meet you, Nicole."

"I'm very happy to meet you, too." Nicole replied with a chuckle. The conversation was a little awkward, but it was endearing in its own way. She had never met anyone quite like Andrew, so unsure of himself but still so genuine.

A silence lingered between them, and Andrew just stared at her, uncertain of what to say next. His lack of smoothness contrasted with the sincerity of his emotions, and Nicole could tell he was feeling the weight of the moment.

Nicole couldn't help but smile at the earnestness in his eyes. "So, you want to ask me out?" she teased, her voice playful yet soft. She had to admit, it was a little absurd, but there was something charming about it.

"I... I really want to go on a date with you," Andrew finally said, holding back a smile that threatened to break through.

"Uh, where are we going?" Nicole asked, taking the initiative now, sensing Andrew's hesitation.

"Pizza," Andrew said simply, a hint of pride in his voice as if the choice was the best he could offer.

"Pizza," Nicole raised an eyebrow, a little surprised by the choice. It wasn't the most traditional first-date spot, but the sincerity in Andrew's eyes made her smile. "I love pizza," she said with a warm smile.

"Yeah, I know a really good place," Andrew added, his voice still a little nervous, but filled with anticipation. His eyes never left Nicole, his expression a mix of hope and excitement.

"Okay!" Nicole nodded, her smile widening as she became a little shy under his gaze. She realized that although Andrew was the one who invited her, he still didn't quite understand how to go about asking a girl out, so she had to take the reins.

"Uh..." Nicole paused, glancing to the left and right as if trying to figure out how to proceed. She realized Andrew was still watching her, his eyes following every movement she made. It made her chuckle despite herself. "Monday night, I get off work at seven?" she asked, as if checking if it would work for him.

"… Okay?" Andrew responded, unsure. It wasn't exactly an answer, more of a question in itself, like he was still trying to figure out the next step.

Nicole pursed her lips and leaned on the counter, silently signaling with her eyes, but the silence lingered. Andrew's clear, innocent gaze made it hard for her to be upset. It was like dealing with a puppy—innocent, eager, and unsure of how to do things properly.

"Are you going to meet here?" Nicole asked, taking the final step herself. Shouldn't he be the one to say it?

"Oh, yes, yes, good," Andrew said quickly, eager to hide his nervousness. He spread his hands in an attempt to look more confident, but it only made him seem more awkward. Still, he nodded as if to reassure himself. "I'll come here to pick you up."

"Very good," Nicole said simply, her smile growing at his enthusiasm.

"Okay, seven o'clock?" Andrew asked again, confirming the time.

"Yes."

"Seven o'clock at night?"

"Yes, Monday."

"Alright."

Andrew nodded, a sense of satisfaction in his voice. "Very well, then... er... I mean... very good. Bye."

With that, Andrew turned around, his steps hesitant at first, but slowly becoming more confident as he walked away. His smile bloomed, a proud, silly grin that couldn't be hidden, despite his attempts to remain composed.

Step by step, he left the movie theater, shoulders straight and head held high. The joy in his eyes and the smile on his face told the whole story—he had just taken a major step forward, and it felt like a victory.