Ch. 16: First Date: Interrupted
846 Words
The afternoon sun was warm...
Comfortable.
Claire stood in front of her mirror,
Fixing her hair for the third time.
“…Why am I even nervous?”
She paused.
Then frowned slightly.
“…It’s just a date.”
But still...
Her fingers adjusted her outfit again.
Not too formal.
Not too casual.
Just right.
“…He better not laugh at me.”
Outside—Alex leaned against his car.
Checking his watch.
Then the building entrance.
Again.
“…Calm down.”
He exhaled.
But unlike last night, this time...
It wasn’t tension.
It was anticipation.
Then, she appeared.
Claire stepped out.
And for a moment...
Alex forgot how to breathe.
Simple outfit.
Light makeup.
But on her...
It didn’t feel simple at all.
“…You took long enough.”
He said casually.
Claire raised a brow.
“…You’ve been waiting long?”
“Not really.”
A beat.
“…Just five minutes.”
“…Liar.”
He smiled faintly.
“…Maybe ten.”
Claire rolled her eyes,
But her lips curved slightly.
“Let’s go.”
Alex opened the car door for her.
This time...
Everything felt natural.
Easy.
Like they had done this many times before.
The Date...
They went to a quiet café first.
The kind of place,
With soft music.
Warm lighting.
And just enough privacy.
Claire sat across from him—
Stirring her drink.
“…So.”
“So?”
“…Is this what you call a date?”
Alex leaned back slightly.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing.”
She glanced around.
“…It’s just… normal.”
“That’s the point.”
Claire paused.
“…Normal?”
Alex looked at her.
“…I don’t want anything complicated with you.”
Simple words.
But they landed differently.
Claire’s gaze softened slightly.
“…You’re really serious about this.”
“I always have been.”
Silence.
But not awkward.
Just—
Honest.
After that...
They walked around.
No rush.
No destination.
Just talking.
Laughing.
Small things.
But somehow—It felt full.
At one point—Alex reached for her hand.
Not asking.
Just holding it.
Naturally.
Claire glanced at their hands—
But didn’t pull away.
Instead...
She tightened her grip slightly.
“…You’re bold.”
“You didn’t stop me.”
“…I’m considering it.”
“Too late.”
She chuckled softly.
And for a moment—
Everything felt…
Perfect.
Then—
“Claire.”
The voice cut through the moment.
Claire froze.
Alex’s fingers tightened slightly around hers.
Slowly, she turned.
Drake stood a few steps away.
His gaze...fixed on her.
Then, it shifted.
To Alex.
A brief pause.
Recognition flickered...
“…You.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed slightly....
Their eyes locked.
Neither smiled.
Because neither wanted to.
The air turned heavy.
Claire felt it immediately.
That strange tension—between two men who didn’t know each other.
Drake’s gaze dropped...
To their hands, still intertwined.
His expression hardened.
“…So this is what that was.”
His voice carried a hint of realization.
As if something...
Now made sense.
Alex didn’t ask what he meant.
He already knew.
Claire tried to pull her hand slightly, but Alex held it firmly.
Not possessive.
Just steady.
Grounding.
Drake noticed...Of course he did.
“…You moved fast.”
This time—
His words were directed at Claire.
But his eyes, stayed on Alex.
Claire’s expression cooled.
“We’re over.”
Simple.
Clear.
Drake let out a soft, humorless laugh.
“…Are we?”
Alex finally spoke.
“Yes.”
One word.
Flat.
Certain.
Drake’s gaze sharpened.
“…I wasn’t talking to you.”
Alex didn’t react.
But his grip tightened slightly.
“And yet you heard the answer.”
Silence.
Tense.
Uncomfortable.
Drake looked back at Claire.
“You’re just upset.”
“This isn’t you.”
“You don’t just—”
“—I do.”
Claire cut him off.
Her voice calm—but firm.
“I did.”
A pause.
“…And I will.”
Drake’s expression shifted.
For the first time....something uncertain flickered.
His eyes moved back to Alex.
Slow.
Measured.
“…So it’s you.”
This time—
There was meaning behind it.
Because now—
He understood.
That brief encounter yesterday...
Wasn’t just a coincidence.
Alex met his gaze.
Unflinching.
“…It is.”
No explanation.
No apology.
Just fact.
Drake scoffed lightly.
“…Interesting.”
But his eyes—weren’t amused.
They were calculating.
“This won’t last.”
He said quietly.
Not loud enough to draw attention...
But clear enough for both of them.
Claire didn’t hesitate.
“It will.”
Drake looked at her.
Long.
Searching.
But whatever he was looking for—
He didn’t find it.
Slowly—he stepped back.
“…We’ll see.”
Not surrender.
Not acceptance.
Just delay.
Claire didn’t respond.
Instead—she turned.
And pulled Alex with her.
This time—
She didn’t hesitate.
And Alex, followed without looking back.
Behind them...
Drake stood still.
His gaze lingering.
Because now...
That one brief encounter—meant something.
And he didn’t like what it meant.
- Writer
