"The Language Of The Heart's"

The streets hummed with life, students weaving through the crowd, shop lights flickering to life as dusk settled over the city. The sounds of traffic blended effortlessly with the warm laughter spilling out from café corners.

Lydia bounced ahead, her steps light with excitement as they neared the bakery. "I swear, if they're sold out, I'm going to throw a fit."

Dalian and Diane exchanged a knowing glance before stepping inside. The bakery welcomed them with its warmth—the rich aroma of fresh bread and sweet pastries weaving through the air.

A few customers were browsing, and behind the glass display, rows of delicate cakes, tarts, and bread sat neatly arranged.

Lydia pressed against the glass, scanning the selection with wide eyes. "There it is! The berry cream puff!"

Dalian and Diane paused, their eyes scanning the selection.

Diane tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It looks pretty good."

"You should get one too," Lydia urged.

Dalian glanced at Diane, who simply shrugged. "Might as well," she said.

Lydia's grin spread wide. "Three berry cream puffs, please," she said, her voice carrying a note of triumph as she faced the cashier.

As they waited, Dalian leaned against the counter, glancing out the window. The sky had deepened into richer shades of orange and purple, the streetlights flickering on one by one. It was peaceful, a nice break from the usual routine.

When their order was ready, Lydia handed out the treats eagerly. "Alright, moment of truth."

They stepped outside, unwrapping their pastries. Lydia took the first bite and immediately let out a dramatic sigh. "Oh. My. Gosh. This is heaven."

Dalian chuckled softly, biting into her own puff. The sweetness of the berries and the delicate cream melted together in perfect harmony. Even Diane, who typically held her composure, couldn't suppress a pleased smile as she ate.

"Okay," Diane admitted after a moment. "Aww this is really good."

Lydia's smirk deepened. "Told you," she said, eyes twinkling. "I have good taste."

They continued their walk, the conversation flowing easily. It was one of those moments Dalian cherished—just them, enjoying something simple together, no pressure, no worries.

As they neared the familiar neighborhood, Lydia stretched, her arms reaching for the sky. "Well, now that my cravings are satisfied," she said, "I can finally sleep in peace tonight."

Diane rolled her eyes but smiled slightly. "We should do this more often."

Dalian nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah... we should."

The three of them eventually parted ways at the familiar intersection, each heading toward their respective homes. As Dalian and Diane walked the last stretch, Dalian let out a small breath, her thoughts settling. Today had been a good day.

Tomorrow… well, she'd deal with that when it came.

Dalian and Diane stepped into the house, the warmth of home instantly wrapping around them. The soft hum of the television played from the living room, where Aunt Beatrice was sitting on the couch, her baby nestled against her chest, half-watching a drama.

"You two are back," Aunt Beatrice said, glancing up. "Did you have fun?"

"Yeah," Dalian answered, slipping off her shoes.

Diane nodded as she stretched. "It was nice. The bakery was great."

Aunt Beatrice arched an eyebrow. "Did you bring me anything?"

Dalian smirked. "Nope."

Aunt Beatrice gasped, placing a hand over her heart dramatically. "You ungrateful children. After everything I've done for you?"

Dalian rolled her eyes and placed a small bag on the coffee table. "Relax, we got you something here."

Aunt Beatrice grinned as she reached for the bag. "That's more like it."

Diane chuckled before glancing at Dalian. "I'm going to take a quick shower."

Dalian nodded. "I'll go after you."

Diane disappeared into their shared room while Dalian sat down, watching as Aunt Beatrice unwrapped her treat. The atmosphere was peaceful, the kind of quiet that felt like home.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out, expecting Lydia, but instead, Jack's name lit up the screen.

Jack: Hey, you guys left already?

Dalian hesitated for a second before typing back.

Dalian: Yeah.

Jack: You didn't wait up today. I thought we'd meet before you went home.

Dalian: I didn't see you, so we left with Lydia.

Jack: Oh, my bad. I just had something to do with Alex.

Dalian stared at the screen for a moment before typing back.

Dalian: It's fine.

Jack didn't respond right away, and she didn't know why she suddenly felt… odd. She shook her head, slipping the phone onto the table.

Before she could think too much about it, Diane returned, drying her hair with a towel.

"All yours," Diane said.

Dalian stood, stretching. "Thanks."

She grabbed her clothes and headed toward the bathroom, pushing away the strange feeling lingering in her chest.

After her shower, Dalian changed into comfortable clothes and stepped back into the living room. Aunt Beatrice had shifted positions on the couch, her baby Still awake against her shoulder. The television was still playing, but her attention had drifted to her phone.

Diane was at the dining table, flipping through her notes. Dalian raised an eyebrow as she walked over.

"You're really studying again?" she asked, dropping into the seat beside her.

Diane shrugged without looking up. "I have a quiz coming up."

Dalian sighed, resting her chin on her palm. "You always have a quiz coming up."

Diane finally looked at her with a small smirk. "And I always pass."

Dalian rolled her eyes but couldn't argue with that. She reached for her phone, checking for any messages from Jack. Nothing new. She wasn't sure why she checked, but before she could dwell on it, Diane spoke again.

Diane tapped her pen against her notebook, her lips quirking. "So…" Dalian raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "So… what?"

Diane hummed, leaning back slightly. "You've been acting weird since we got home."

Dalian blinked, too quickly. "No, I haven't."

"Yes, you have," Diane countered, setting her pen down. "Something's on your mind."

Dalian hesitated before shaking her head. "It's nothing."

Diane tilted her head slightly, studying her. "Is it about Jack?"

Dalian's face heated up slightly, and she quickly looked away. "Why would it be about Jack?"

Diane smirked but didn't push. Instead, she leaned back in her chair. "If you say so."

Dalian exhaled, pretending to focus on a spot on the table. She didn't know why she suddenly felt restless. Maybe it was because she and Jack hadn't talked as much as usual. Or maybe it was because of what almost happened yesterday—before Aunt Beatrice interrupted them.

She shook the thought away and reached for one of Diane's books. "Fine. If you're studying, I might as well join you."

Diane raised an eyebrow. "You? Studying voluntarily?"

Dalian huffed. "I do study, you know."

Diane chuckled. "Sure. Whatever you say."

Dalian scowled, but soon, the two of them settled into quiet study. The night continued peacefully, with nothing but the occasional scribbling of notes and the low hum of the television in the background.

Dalian's phone buzzed beside her, breaking the silence. She barely spared it a glance at first, expecting another one of Lydia's endless texts. But the moment she saw his name, her breath hitched.

Jack: I'm on my way. Be there soon.

Her heart lurched.

She stared at the screen for a second too long, heat creeping up her neck. Was he serious? Why now?

Dalian's grip on her pen tightened. She needed to think—needed a second to process. But instead, she shot up from her chair.

"I… I'm going out for a bit," she blurted.

Across from her, Diane didn't even glance up from her book. "Oh, I knew it. You never actually stay to study."

Dalian didn't dignify that with a response. She spun on her heel and walked straight for the door, the cool night air washing over her as soon as she stepped outside.

And then she saw him.

Jack was already approaching, hands in his pockets, shoulders tense. The usual confidence in his stride was missing—replaced by something hesitant, almost unsure.

Her stomach flipped.

Without thinking, she hurried toward him before he could reach the house, her pulse hammering in her ears.

"Hey," she called, stopping in his path. "What are you doing here? It's late."

Jack exhaled, running a hand through his hair, his fingers tightening briefly as if debating whether to continue. "I—" He hesitated, glancing to the side before meeting her gaze again. "I couldn't wait for another day."

Dalian blinked, taken aback by the weight in his voice. "Wait for what?"

Jack hesitated—just for a fraction of a second. Then, with a deep breath, he squared his shoulders.

"I wanted to tell you this," he said, his voice quieter now but firm. "I've been wanting to tell you this for a while."

Dalian's pulse pounded so hard she thought it might echo in the quiet street. The weight of Jack's words pressed against her ribs, a strange mix of exhilaration and fear curling in her stomach. She had imagined this moment before—maybe in fleeting thoughts she never dared to entertain fully. But now, with him standing right there, his voice stripped of all pretense, the reality of it was almost too much.

Jack exhaled a small, shaky laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "You… you make me feel different, Dalian." He met her gaze fully now, no hint of teasing, no walls. Just sincerity. "When I'm with you, I don't have to try to be anything—I can just be me. And you see that. You see me, hear me, and somehow… you just get me."

Dalian's breath caught.

Jack took a step closer, his voice softer but no less sure. "I don't even know when it started, but you've been in my head for so long that I don't know what it's like without you there anymore." He let out another quiet laugh, shaking his head at himself. "You bring out the best in me, Dalian. And I—"

He swallowed, taking one last breath before saying it.

"I like you. More than a friend should."

Dalian's entire world tilted.

She felt rooted to the spot, unable to move, unable to even breathe properly.

Did he just—?

Her pulse thundered in her ears. A dozen emotions crashed over her, overwhelming and dizzying. She opened her mouth—maybe to speak, maybe just to breathe—but nothing came out. Jack stood there, watching, waiting.

The cool night air swirled around them, but Dalian barely felt it. All she could feel was the weight of his words, lingering in the space between them.

Before she could even find her voice—

"Dalian!"

The sharp call sliced through the moment.

She flinched, head snapping toward the house.

Diane stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "Come in. Aunt Beatrice is calling you!"

Dalian's stomach dropped.

She turned back to Jack, panic flickering in her chest. His face had shifted, his guard snapping back up—but not fast enough to hide the flicker of disappointment before it smoothed over.

"I—"

Jack smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Go," he said gently. "I'll wait."

Dalian hesitated for a heartbeat too long before forcing herself to turn away, each step feeling heavier than the last.

As she crossed the threshold into the house, she couldn't shake the weight of his words—or the way her heart refused to slow down.

As Dalian stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapped around her, but it did little to settle the storm raging inside her chest. Her hands felt clammy, her heartbeat still uneven, and no matter how much she tried to steady herself, Jack's words refused to leave her mind.

She barely registered Diane's pointed look before Aunt Beatrice's voice pulled her back to the present.

"Dalian, come here."

The urgency in her tone made Dalian snap to attention. Her aunt was standing near the crib, gently rocking the baby in her arms, but the little one's face was scrunched up, tiny fists waving in frustration. The wails echoed through the house, sharp and insistent.

Aunt Beatrice sighed. "He won't settle. Try holding him."

Dalian didn't hesitate. She stepped forward, arms outstretched, and the moment she cradled him, the baby's cries softened into small hiccups. His tiny fingers curled into the fabric of her shirt as he nuzzled against her chest, seeking comfort.

Aunt Beatrice shook her head with an exasperated but knowing smile. "I swear, you must have some kind of magic touch."

Dalian forced a small smile, gently patting the baby's back, but her thoughts were still miles away.

Jack's voice played in her mind on repeat.

You bring out the best in me, Dalian.

Her grip on the baby tightened slightly.

What was she supposed to do with that? What was she supposed to say?

She barely noticed the soft rise and fall of the baby's breathing, how his weight grew heavier in her arms as sleep took over. Her fingers absentmindedly traced small circles against his back, but inside, her mind was a tangled mess.

Diane's voice cut through her daze.

"You're holding him like you're about to space out completely."

Dalian blinked, snapping back to reality.

Diane sat on the couch, arms crossed, watching her with a knowing glint in her eyes. "So? You gonna tell me what's up, or should I guess?"

Dalian hesitated. She glanced down at the baby, who had fully settled now, peaceful and unaware of the turmoil inside her.

She exhaled slowly. "It's nothing."

Diane snorted. "Yeah, sure. That's why you look like you just saw a ghost."

Dalian rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She didn't have the energy to, not when her thoughts were still spinning.

Aunt Beatrice, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke. "If you have something on your mind, take your time with it," she said simply, gathering the baby's blanket. "No need to rush anything."

Dalian nodded absentmindedly, but as she gently placed the baby back into his crib, her fingers lingered just a second longer.

Outside, she knew Jack was waiting.

And she had no idea what to say to him yet.

Dalian hesitated for a moment before slowly opening the door, just enough to peek outside.

Jack was still there.

He stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, his gaze lowered as if lost in thought. The dim glow from the streetlamp cast long shadows, making the quiet night feel heavier.

Her breath hitched.

She hadn't expected him to wait.

Panic flared in her chest, and before she could think twice, she quickly shut the door again, pressing her back against it. Her pulse drummed loudly in her ears.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached for her phone.

Dalian: I'm still busy… something came up.

She exhaled, trying to steady herself. It wasn't exactly a lie.

The seconds stretched unbearably as she watched the screen, waiting.

Then, his reply came.

Jack: Alright, see you tomorrow at school.

She let out a slow breath.

Guilt pricked at her, but she wasn't ready. Not yet.

Pushing away from the door, she made her way to her bed and sat down, gripping her phone tightly.

Tomorrow.

She had until tomorrow.

Dalian lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, the dim glow of her bedside lamp casting soft shadows across the room. Her heart was still racing, her mind replaying Jack's words over and over.

"I've been wanting to tell you this for a while now…"

She turned onto her side, gripping the blanket. Her chest felt tight, not in a bad way, but in a way that made it impossible to relax.

What was she supposed to do now?

Jack had always been there—teasing, challenging, making things feel easier somehow. But tonight… tonight was different.

Her phone remained silent beside her.

Was he waiting for her to say something? Should she?

Dalian sighed, rolling onto her back again, one arm over her forehead.

She wasn't sure she was ready for what came next.

Jack walked home slower than usual, the cool night air doing little to calm the storm in his chest.

His confession was out there now. No more holding back, no more waiting.

And yet… he had no answer.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated at himself. Maybe it had been too sudden, too much.

His phone sat in his pocket, untouched.

He wanted to text her.

Just a simple "Goodnight"—something, anything to break the silence.

But he stopped himself.

No.

He wanted to hear her answer in person, to see her reaction, to know for sure.

Tomorrow.

He would wait.

Dalian barely slept that night. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind replayed the scene—Jack's voice, the way his gaze held hers, the nervous energy radiating off him.

She turned over for what felt like the hundredth time, hugging her pillow. Why did he have to say it like that? Her heart still hadn't settled, her stomach a constant swirl of emotions.

She wasn't sure what she would say tomorrow.

Was she even ready to give an answer?

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and her breath caught.

Jack?

But when she checked, it was just a school reminder.

Letting out a slow exhale, she turned off the screen and placed the phone face down. No messages from him.

She wasn't sure if that made her relieved or disappointed.

Jack wasn't doing much better.

Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, he ran through every possible reaction Dalian could have tomorrow.

What if she rejects me?

He groaned, rubbing his face. That wasn't what he wanted to think about, but the thought lingered anyway.

What if he had ruined everything?

He grabbed his phone, his thumb hovering over her chat. He typed out a simple "Goodnight." Stared at it. Deleted it.

No. He wasn't going to do this over text.

His hands curled into fists as he shut his eyes.

Tomorrow.

He would face her answer head-on.