First Date

Arriving at the movies, the two of them was currently seated beside each other, watching a sci-fi action movie with a hint of romance.

While Sylvia was busy watching the movie, Donovan was thinking of something else.

Before my transmigration, Sylvia was already making moves towards Donovan. And from "my" memories, I can confirm that "I" didn't care much about love. Since only Donovan's memories fused with mine and not the personality, I'm still Clark Smith at heart, just pretending to be someone else.

As he was thinking, his eyes landed on Sylvia.

I wonder what would've happened if the personality of the original Donovan fused with mine too.

As he thought of this question, he recalled 843-Karlon-45, the steampunk-themed city. His very first mission after transmigration. He wondered what the outcome would've been if his personality had indeed fused with the original owner of his body.

Sylvia seemed to notice him staring at her. As their eyes met, Donovan quickly turned his gaze towards the movie.

If I hadn't transmigrated into this body, Sylvia and Donovan never would've gotten together. If she really has feelings for Donovan, then it'd be an unrequited love for her. Heh, she's lucky I transmigrated into this body. But... I still need to return home. The day of having to leave her might come in the future...

Donovan sighed inwardly. He was also starting to get worried that if he got too attached with the people here, he might never want to return to his previous life as Clark Smith.

Mom, Dad, Sis, Max, and everyone else... Just wait for me. I promise I'll return.

Donovan turned his focus to the movie, and he once again glanced at the beautiful woman next to him.

She's truly beautiful. If she tries her best and kept it up, I might really just fall in love with her. Haha... Donovan thought jokingly.

After the movie ended, Sylvia looked at Donovan with a smile and said, "That was fun. Pretty good movie, huh? What do you think?"

"Mm." Donovan nodded.

It was already 10:58 a.m. by the time the movie ended. As Donovan and Sylvia exited the movies, she turned to him and asked, "Where do you wanna go next?"

Donovan paused for a moment and replied, "How about a cafe?" After saying that, Sylvia nodded as she hummed.

As they walked side by side, there were also a large number of couples walking together. After all, it was Valentine's Day. Donovan also caught sight of a couple kissing, and as Sylvia also caught sight of this, she began teasing Donovan about it.

They then arrived at a cafe. The cafe's name was, Eclipse Espresso. It was the cafe where Donovan first met Sylvia after he went to the library to learn a bit about the history of Umbrellas. The cafe that the original Donovan frequented.

Sylvia sat beside Donovan. Donovan only ordered a cup of coffee and a simple ham sandwich. Meanwhile, Sylvia ordered a chocolate parfait, some chocolate muffins, and some scones. Their orders were polar opposites.

Sylvia hummed joyfully as she munched on her muffins with a smile. She's eating like she's in paradise... Donovan smiled as he watched this scene.

This was his first ever date, both in his life as Clark Smith and Donovan Volgard. The cafe was peaceful and quiet. It gave Donovan the feeling of being on top of a mountain surrounded by the ocean as he meditated and was feeling tranquil.

This moment between him and her was also peaceful and quiet. How he wished this peace and silence could last forever.

Then, as Sylvia was eating, she caught Donovan staring at her with a faint smile. Then, while food was stuck on the corner of her mouth, she smiled gleefully at Donovan.

He reached out his right hand, and removed the piece of muffin stuck on the corner of her mouth. Then, he brought it near his lips, and ate it.

At that moment, Sylvia's heart began to quicken, but she tried hard not to show it on her face. Then, she continued drinking her parfait.

Meanwhile, Donovan was internally screaming. Why did I do that?! That was so cringe! Oh, just kill me now! She didn't find that weird, did she? I hope she isn't creeped out...

Two minutes later, Sylvia got up to head to the restroom. This finally gave him some room to breathe.

God, if only I didn't waste my teenage years and actually tried to get some experience on romance... I'm a grown adult and I'm being flustered by this... How embarrassing!

Meanwhile, in the women's restroom, Sylvia washed her hands and stared at herself in the mirror. The main reason she headed to the restroom was to also have some room to breathe and calm down.

Get yourself together, Sylvia! You're no longer a naive, school girl! You're the leader of your team! You're a Fighter-type! Stop being so flustered...!

After a minute, she returned to the table where Donovan was seated. Then, she inwardly took a deep breath to regain her usual, cool and carefree attitude. She smiled, and leaned on the table with one arm supporting her head, facing Donovan.

She then asked, "So, Donovan, how many girls have you been with before me?"

Donovan paused, and said as he sipped on his coffee, "None."

Sylvia revealed a look of surprise, and asked again, "Really? Come on, don't give me that. You're handsome, muscular, smart, kind, really ho—..." She quickly cleared her throat in order to stop herself from digging her own grave.

Then, she said, "There's no way I'm your first."

Please tell me you're serious, please tell me you're serious, please tell me you're serious... She repeated in her mind.

Donovan took a bite of his sandwich and said after he swallowed, "I'm not lying. I'm serious."

Sylvia revealed a gentle smile. "Oh, I see. Alright."

But she was screaming internally, Yes! I'm his first!

Six minutes later, they exited the cafe.

1:12 p.m., after goofing around in the arcade, taking photos together, walking around at the mall, the date was coming to an end. Donovan was carrying a medium-sized plushie of a bunny, and she was carrying a large plushie of a bear.

As they walked side by side together, Donovan suddenly said, "Sylvia."

Sylvia paused and turned to face Donovan. She asked, "Yeah? What's up?"

She saw Donovan take out a small, pink box from his pocket on his overcoat. Donovan offered it to her, and said, "Happy Valentine's. My apologies that I gave it late."

Sylvia's eyes widened, and she said, "Aww, that's so sweet of you." She received the small box and opened it. As expected, it was chocolate.

"The truth is, I made chocolates for you too. Here you go~" She took out a heart-shaped, pink, small box from the pocket of her black leather jacket. "Happy Valentine's Day~"

Donovan received the chocolate and nodded with a faint smile. "Thank you."

She chuckled, and they resumed their walk. Donovan put his hands in his pockets as he walked.

Thank goodness we came to that mall! I only remembered that I'm supposed to give chocolates on Valentine's Day when we passed by that chocolate store!

Donovan had secretly bought that small box of chocolates for her, and he couldn't tell her the truth.

Meanwhile, Sylvia breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Thank goodness we passed by that chocolate store... I totally forgot we're supposed to give chocolates on Valentine's... I hope he doesn't notice that it isn't really handmade by me...

She, like Donovan, had also secretly bought chocolate for him.

After a while, the date finally ended and Sylvia returned home. As for Donovan, he returned to his home first. After all, he wasn't going to face Dean while carrying a plushie of a bunny.

Alfred didn't notice Donovan enter as the Vorlan was too engrossed while watching the TV. Donovan didn't bother Alfred as he only came back to take the plushie home.

Then, he left his apartment and headed to Dean's place. He was going to collect the fifty dollars Dean owed him.

As he was walking, he seemed to remember something. He sighed.

I forgot to ask her why she was drinking last night... I'll text her later, no—talking about that through text seems a bit weird. I'll ask her about it the next time we're alone. If I don't forget, that is.

Hm... That reminds me, since we just had our first date, what does that make us now? Are we still friends? Are... a-are we dating now? She didn't say anything about it... I'll ask her this through text later...

At 1:39 p.m., he finally reached Dean's place.

As he raised his hand and rang the doorbell, he heard a feminine voice from inside say, "Coming, hold on a moment."

Donovan's eyes widened. From the original Donovan's memories, his best friend and childhood friend, Dean, was never good with women, just like him! Which is why he was very flabbergasted to hear a voice belonging to a female coming from inside Dean's apartment!