DATE NIGHT

*Chapter Five*

I woke up surprisingly rested—the kind of rest that made you second-guess if you were still dreaming. The sun spilled through the blinds, warm and mellow, painting soft stripes across the walls of my self-con. For someone who was about to go on her first real date in what felt like forever, I expected nerves—maybe even that familiar dread in the pit of my stomach—but all I felt was a strange, calm anticipation. Like something important was about to happen and, somehow, I was ready for it.

Matthew had called the night before. Just hearing his voice—smooth, deliberate, a little amused—had sent butterflies into full chaotic flight. He'd said it simply, no big build-up: *"I'd really like to see you again. Tomorrow. Can I pick you up?"* 

And just like that, it was set. 3 p.m.

But first, I had to survive Chemistry.

And more importantly—I needed to talk to someone. Not just anyone—Sarah.

I called her while brushing my teeth, pacing the small space between my wardrobe and the sink.

*"Girl, this better be life-threatening,"* she mumbled as she picked up, her voice heavy with sleep.

*"Chem class. I need your ears."*

*"Catherine… it's not even 7:30. What did I do to deserve this friendship?"*

*"You were born lucky,"* I teased through a mouthful of foam. *"Meet me outside the lecture hall? I can't go through today without telling someone."*

There was a pause. Then the familiar sound of her dramatic sigh. *"You're going to stress me out, aren't you?"*

*"Yes. But you love me."*

*"Unfortunately,"* she muttered. *"Fine. But you owe me breakfast. Like, real food. None of that biscuit nonsense."*

I grinned and hung up.

—

We met outside the building just before class. She leaned against one of the wide concrete pillars in an oversized hoodie and leggings, hair tucked into a lazy bun, arms folded tight against the morning chill. Her face was still half-asleep, but her eyes were sharp.

*"Spill it,"* she said as soon as I walked up. *"I know that look. Something's up."*

I grinned. "Matthew asked me out. The date is today."

That woke her up a bit. She squinted at me. "Matthew who?"

I blinked. "Wait—you don't know him. He's… kind of a friend of Victor's."

She straightened. "Victor has friends? Wait, start from the top. Who is Matthew?"

I laughed. "I met him at Victor's place a while back. He just showed up during one of those random hangouts. We talked, nothing deep at the time. Then he ghosted… and now, out of nowhere, he texts me. Apologized, said he wants to take me out. A proper date."

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "He ghosted you and now he wants to wine and dine you? Bold."

"I know," I said with a half-smile. "But something about him… I don't know, he's interesting."

She gave me a look. "And what does Victor think about this?"

I hesitated shifting my bag higher up my shoulder. "He's not thrilled. Said I should be careful. That Matthew's intense. That he might come on strong, then disappear."

Sarah's expression sobered. *"Victor's not exactly the dramatic type, sounds like he knows something and he's not saying what"

*"I know."*

She tilted her head, thoughtful. *"Do you think it's about you? Or about Matthew?"*

*"I think... it's both. Maybe. I don't know."*

Sarah pulled her hoodie sleeves over her hands. *"Look, I get why you're excited. He's attractive, mysterious, and clearly interested. But Victor's your friend. He's not the jealous, passive-aggressive type. If he's worried, it's probably coming from a real place."*

*"Yeah. He seemed genuinely concerned. Like—more serious than I've seen him in a while."*

She gave me that look—the one that said she was trying to protect me and also not ruin the moment. *"Just don't get swept up in butterflies before you figure out if the guy's got wings or fangs."*

I laughed, despite the tension I felt earlier. *"Wow. That's poetic."*

*"It's early. Don't expect me to make sense twice."*

*"So you're saying I should go?"*

*"Absolutely. But not blindly."*

I pulled her into a hug, grateful for her grounding presence.

*"Thanks. You always pull me back to earth."*

*"And you always wake me up at ungodly hours,"* she replied, her voice muffled in my shoulder.

The bell rang and students began trickling toward the lecture halls. We headed in together, but my mind was elsewhere—already skipping ahead to 3 PM, to the soft nerves fluttering just beneath my calm.

Whatever this was, it was starting today. And I needed to be ready.

---

Later, I stood in front of my mirror back at the hostel, staring at my reflection like it might finally hand me some answers. The soft light from the single bulb cast a gentle glow, but all I could focus on was the mix of nerves and excitement swirling inside me. I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard — too polished, too rehearsed. But I also didn't want to come across like I didn't care at all. Somewhere in between was the balance I needed.

After a few moments, I settled on black jeans that hugged my legs just right, a simple white crop tee that felt casual but put together, and a swipe of soft gloss on my lips that caught the light without screaming for attention. I let my braids fall loose, framing my face naturally. Clean. Simple. Just me.

At exactly 2:43, my phone buzzed against the wooden desk. I glanced down.

*Matthew:* *"Just heading out. You good?"*

A small smile tugged at my lips.

*Me:* *"Ready."*

I tucked my phone away and took a deep breath, the anticipation buzzing like electricity in my veins.

He arrived around 3:15, the deep hum of the car drawing my attention from the window. I stepped outside, the afternoon sun warming my skin, and there he was—leaning casually against a sleek black sedan. The sunlight caught his dark skin perfectly, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and the effortless confidence that always seemed to cling to him like a second skin.

I raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. *"You have a car?"*

He chuckled softly, a sound that felt easy and familiar. *"Not really. It's my dad's. He's out of town, so I figured borrowing it might boost my chances today."*

I couldn't help but grin. *"Well, it's definitely working."*

He pushed off the car with a small smile, opening the door for me like it was second nature. My heart fluttered — this was really happening.

We drove mostly in silence, but strangely, it didn't feel awkward. The kind of quiet that settles comfortably between two people who don't need to fill every second with words. A slow R&B track played softly in the background, blending perfectly with the hum of the tires on the road and the fading sunlight stretching across the dashboard.

Halfway there, Matthew reached out without hesitation and gently took my hand in his. The touch was warm and steady, familiar in a way that surprised me—like we'd done this a hundred times before, even though we hadn't.

The restaurant was tucked away on a quiet street, bathed in soft, golden light. It felt intimate, the kind of place where the world slows down and distractions fade away. Matthew led the way, pulling open the door and then turning back with that easy smile to offer me his hand again. I took it without thinking.

We ordered quickly and slipped into light conversation—complaining about tedious lectures, comparing notes on professors, and laughing at shared frustrations. I was mid-story when he suddenly leaned back, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Wait. Almost forgot," he said.

"What?" I asked, curious.

"I got you something."

Before I could protest, he stood and walked out to the car, returning moments later with a small black gift bag. My heart did a little flip.

"Matthew… you didn't have to—"

"I know. But I wanted to."

Inside, nestled in a red box, was a delicate silver necklace. The tiny heart-shaped charm shimmered under the dim light, engraved with the word *love*. I looked from the necklace to him, feeling a flush spread across my cheeks.

"This is… beautiful. Really."

He smiled softly, eyes warm. "You smiled. That's all I wanted."

I couldn't help it. The carefully built walls around my heart felt like they were starting to crumble.

Then, the mood shifted. His voice grew quieter, more serious.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you believe in love at first sight?"

I blinked, taken aback. "Honestly? No. I think love needs time. Space. Depth."

He nodded slowly, as if considering my words. "Yeah… I used to think the same. But then I met you. And now I'm not so sure."

My breath caught.

"You're special, Catherine. I don't want to waste time pretending otherwise. I feel something with you. I see something long-term… maybe even forever."

His words hung heavy in the air, and I felt a prickling along my skin—equal parts thrilling and terrifying. I gave him a tight smile, unsure how to respond.

The weight of it hit me all at once. We'd barely known each other two weeks. The intensity felt like too much, too soon.

He noticed the shift in my expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, forcing lightness back into my voice.

Then my phone buzzed.

*Victor:* *"Where are you?"*

*Me:* *"On a date with Matthew."*

*Victor:* *"Let me know when you're back. Need to talk."*

A twist of unease tightened in my gut.

The rest of the date lost its rhythm. Matthew paid the bill quietly, walked me back to the car, and we drove in silence—no hand-holding, no smiles, just a heavy quiet between us.

When he dropped me off, I thanked him. He smiled, but the warmth I'd seen earlier was gone, replaced by something unreadable.

As soon as his taillights disappeared, I headed straight to Victor's hostel.

I needed to hear what he had to say.

Because something about tonight… didn't sit right with me.