The Time Leaper (Chapter 4)

Chapter 4: Times Worth Cherishing

I arrived at the café fifteen minutes earlier than our agreed time. Seated by the window, I sipped on my coffee, watching as people passed by outside. It was just a way to pass the time while waiting for Yue. The warm bitterness of the drink calmed my nerves, but my anticipation only grew stronger.

Then, through the glass door, I saw her. Yue walked towards the entrance, her long brown hair swaying slightly with each step. She lifted a hand and waved as soon as she spotted me. My heart did a little flip.

"Did I make you wait?" she asked, settling into the empty chair across from me.

I shook my head with a smile. "Nah, I just got here too."

A waiter approached, and I quickly ordered another cup of coffee for her. She smiled appreciatively.

"You said you already made plans, right? So, where are we going first?" There was a hint of excitement in her voice, and just hearing it made me grin. She was looking forward to this just as much as I was.

"Of course, but let's enjoy our coffee first," I said, taking another sip. She nodded, cupping her warm mug with both hands.

The rich aroma of the café filled the air as we chatted about random things-our classes, annoying professors, and even the latest anime we'd both been watching. It felt natural, easy.

After a while, she leaned slightly forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Is it really okay for you to plan the entire date by yourself? I feel kind of guilty letting you do all the work."

I chuckled and shook my head. "Nah, I'm the one who invited you, right? Isn't it more gentlemanly if I'm the one treating you?"

She let out a soft laugh, giggling as she lightly smacked my hand. "You're quite the smooth talker, aren't you? Not that I hate it-I actually like this side of you."

At that moment, I felt heat rise to my face. Shit, am I blushing? I looked away quickly, trying to regain my composure.

"Geez, you're making me blush!" I groaned, covering my face with one hand before quickly changing the subject. "Anyway, let's start the date, shall we?" I extended my hand toward her. Without hesitation, she placed hers in mine, her fingers fitting perfectly against my palm.

We walked out of the café together, heading toward my parked car. To be honest, I wanted to impress her with my personality rather than my possessions, but I had no choice-I brought my car for a ridiculous reason.

I, Horace, a grown man, have no idea how to commute.

Yue glanced at the sleek vehicle as I opened the passenger door for her. "You have your own car? You must be rich."

"It's not like that," I replied, trying to keep my embarrassment in check. "I just have my own reasons."

Once we were both inside, I started the engine and drove toward our first destination. The ride was filled with lighthearted conversations, the occasional teasing, and stolen glances in between.

"We have arrived," I announced as I pulled into the parking lot.

Yue stepped out of the car, looking around curiously. "This is..."

"The Garden of Roses," I answered, watching her reaction.

Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the scenery. A vast garden filled with roses of all colors stretched out before us, the scent of fresh flowers mixing with the gentle afternoon breeze.

As we began walking through the garden, I reached out and plucked a single rose, tucking it gently behind her ear. "In these exhausting times, I figured it would be nice to visit a place that brings a sense of peace."

She looked up at me, her eyes softening. Then, with a mischievous smile, she leaned in close and whispered near my ear, "That's a very romantic thing to do, Horace. You're gaining my affection."

Before I could react, she let go of my hand and ran ahead, her laughter ringing through the air.

I stood there for a moment, stunned, feeling my heartbeat quicken. Is this what love feels like? It was warm, gentle, and strangely comforting. My lips curled into a smile before I chased after her.

"Come on, Horace! Why are you just standing there?" she called out, waving for me to follow.

I ran toward her, and together we played around the garden, weaving through the flowers, laughing like kids. We only stopped when exhaustion finally caught up with us.

Lying on the soft grass, staring up at the clear blue sky, Yue let out a satisfied sigh. "This is fun, isn't it?"

I turned my head slightly, even though she wasn't looking at me. "I'm glad you liked it."

Even without meeting her gaze, I could feel it-the warmth of her presence, the way she looked at me. And it felt... right.

It was only when my stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl that I realized we hadn't eaten yet. I checked my watch-it was already three in the afternoon.

I sat up and dusted myself off before extending a hand to Yue. "It's already late. Let's eat first and continue our date afterward."

She gladly took my hand, and as I pulled her up, she squeezed it just a little before letting go. Such small gestures, yet they filled me with happiness.

We headed to a cozy Italian restaurant nearby. As we scanned the menu, Yue's eyes lit up. "I want pasta!"

I chuckled. "Then let's get spaghetti. And pizza, because I love pizza."

She laughed. "You really like to eat, huh?"

As we waited for our food, we fell into another easy conversation. We talked about our studies, childhood memories, favorite books, and our dreams. Every word she spoke, every laugh she let out, made me realize something-this wasn't just a simple date to me. This was something more.

When the food arrived, Yue took a bite of her spaghetti and smiled. "Mmm, this is really good!"

I grinned. "Told you."

We shared our meal, playfully stealing bites from each other's plates. The way she enjoyed herself made me happy beyond words. I never thought I'd experience something like this.

After finishing our meal, I leaned back in my chair and stretched. "Ready for our next destination?"

As we walked toward my car, Yue turned to me with a playful smile. "So, where shall we go next?"

I smirked, opening the passenger door for her. "It's a surprise."

She chuckled as she slid into her seat. "You really planned this whole date, didn't you?"

"Of course. We don't get many opportunities like this, with how busy college life can be," I admitted, closing the door behind her and circling around to the driver's side.

Though I had the ability to time leap, which gave me more freedom, Yue was different. She struck me as a diligent student-perhaps even a model one. I didn't want to take away too much of her time from her studies, which made today feel even more important.

We drove for nearly an hour before arriving at our next destination. I had timed it perfectly-just as I planned, the sun was beginning to set.

As soon as I parked, I opened Yue's door, and she stepped out, taking in the surroundings with visible delight. The wind was crisp and carried the scent of fresh earth. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the cool air wash over me. This place had always been my refuge-Shawn and I would camp here whenever we wanted to escape the burdens of society.

"The view from here is something else," I murmured, watching the sun dip lower over the horizon.

"It's breathtaking," Yue agreed, stretching her arms as she inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air fill her lungs. She looked so at peace, her face soft and content.

Then she turned to me, an amused expression playing on her lips. "You know, I thought you were the type of guy who prefers malls, arcades, or maybe crowded places with lots of energy. But here you are, bringing me to the most peaceful, secluded spots. I guess I completely misjudged you."

I laughed softly, sitting down on the grass. "I do enjoy arcades and hanging out in the city, but places like this... they just hit differently." I leaned back on my elbows, gazing at the sky as the sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon. "Whenever I'm in a quiet place like this, I feel at ease-like all the stress and noise from everyday life just fades away."

She sat beside me, her voice thoughtful. "You talk as if you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders."

I hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Maybe I do, in a way. But coming to places like this helps. It reminds me that some things remain constant no matter what happens."

Yue tilted her head, studying me. "You're more introspective than I expected."

"You keep saying that as if you thought I was some kind of airheaded troublemaker," I teased, grinning at her.

She giggled. "Not exactly, but you do give off that 'cool and playful' vibe. I just didn't expect you to be so... deep."

I shrugged. "Well, we all have different sides to us, don't we?"

She nodded. "Yeah, that's true."

For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, watching the last sliver of the sun disappear beyond the horizon. The sky was painted in hues of orange, pink, and deep violet, a stunning masterpiece that no artist could ever truly replicate.

Then Yue turned to me and smiled. "You really are a nice guy, Horace."

I scoffed lightly, stretching my arms above my head. "You're giving me too much credit. I'm not that nice."

She leaned a little closer, brushing a strand of hair away from my forehead. "You are, and I know it."

I swallowed hard. There was something in her eyes-something warm, something real. It made my chest tighten in a way I wasn't used to.

Despite having the ability to time leap and manipulate outcomes, there had always been a lingering emptiness in my life. A void I could never quite define. But now, sitting here beside Yue, I felt like I was beginning to understand what had been missing all along.

I sat up straighter and turned to face her fully. This wasn't something I could alter or redo if I messed up. This moment, this opportunity-it was real, and it was now.

"Yue," I said, my voice steady despite the rapid beating of my heart, "this might be too much to ask since we just met the other day, but... I feel like I'm already falling for you."

Her eyes widened slightly, and I reached for her hands, holding them gently but firmly. "Would you give me the privilege to court you? To prove my feelings for you?"

For a moment, she was quiet, her gaze locked onto mine. Then, slowly, a small, genuine smile curved her lips. She squeezed my hands softly, her touch warm and reassuring.

"I'll be in your care," she said. "Do your best, okay?"

My breath caught in my throat. I had braced myself for rejection or hesitation, but her response was filled with confidence and warmth. My lips curled into an uncontrollable smile as relief and happiness flooded through me.

"I won't let you down," I promised.

And just like that, the sun had set, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like my world had just begun to shine.