Chapter 4: A Candlelit Disaster
884 Words
I had been through a lot in my life—asteroid mishaps, lab explosions, and the occasional near-death experience in deep space. But nothing, nothing, could have prepared me for the absolute hell that was a forced romantic dinner with Ethan.
We were seated in a private dining chamber, the walls shimmering with soft ambient lighting, a holographic fireplace flickering in the background. The table? Set with precision, from the flickering candles to the heart shaped napkins that made me want to projectile vomit.
Ethan sat across from me, stiff as a malfunctioning android. His suit was annoyingly perfect, his sleeves rolled up just enough to be infuriatingly attractive.
Damn it. What's going on?
“So,” he said, dragging the word out and snapping me out of my thoughts. “Are we really doing this?”
I exhaled. “Unless you’ve figured out a way to override an intergalactic contract, yeah we are.”
A robotic server rolled up beside us, whirring pleasantly. “Tonight’s menu has been specially curated to enhance romantic chemistry,” it chirped. “Your first course: Aphrodisiac-infused galactic oysters.”
Ethan and I stared at the plate of suspiciously glowing oysters.
I narrowed my eyes. “Did that thing just say aphrodisiac? What the hell does that mean”
Ethan sighed, rubbing his temple. “Because obviously, this nightmare wasn’t bad enough already.”
The server didn’t care. It continued, “Paired with a sensory enhancing love cocktail!”
A glass materialized in front of me, filled with something probably illegal.
I leaned forward, whispering, “If they think drugging me is going to make me fall in love with you, they clearly underestimate my sheer level of spite.”
Ethan snorted. “Mutual hatred is a powerful antidote.”
I sighed, pushing the oysters away. “So, what do you think is our love trial?”
Before Ethan could answer, the screen behind us lit up with dramatic flair:
“THE INTIMACY TEST: EYE CONTACT & HONESTY ROUND.”
I groaned. “You have got to be kidding me.”
Ethan gritted his teeth. “I hate this experiment.”
“That makes the two of us.”
The server whirred again. “Step One: Maintain intense eye contact for two minutes to establish emotional vulnerability!”
"Ugh do we really have to?" I groaned
"Shut up and let's do this already and get it over with" Ethan says sitting up.
"How dare you attempt to shut me up like that!"
"And what can you do about it?"
Ethan and I locked eyes, but not in a romantic, slow-burn kind of way.
No, this was pure unspoken warfare.
Suddenly it had turned into a staring contest. Seconds ticked by.
His brow twitched. Mine furrowed.
The air between us grew heavy, and I could feel the damn nanobots buzzing through my bloodstream, adjusting, tweaking. My pulse quickened. My skin warmed.
Oh hell no.
I snapped my eyes away. “This is stupid.”
Ethan exhaled sharply, leaning back. “Agreed.”
The server beeped in distress. “Warning: Emotional resistance detected!”
I waved a hand. “Yeah, yeah, put it in your report.”
Ethan’s lips twitched, almost a smirk.
Almost.
The server recalibrated. “Step Two: Answer a series of increasingly personal questions!”
I tensed. “Oh, this is gonna suck.”
The screen displayed the first question: ‘What’s your biggest fear in love?’
I blinked. “What kind of question...”
Ethan sighed. “Fine. I’ll go first.” He leaned forward, eyes darker than before. “Being manipulated.”
Something in his voice made me pause. But why?
I hesitated, then answered honestly. “Losing myself.”
His gaze flickered. “Huh.”
Before I could ask what that meant, the screen flashed again.
‘Describe your perfect partner.’
Ethan exhaled. “Someone who doesn’t play mind games.”
My heart did something annoying. What was happening to me?
I rolled my shoulders. “Someone who actually lets me be myself.”
Silence settled. This was dangerously close to real.
The final question flashed on screen: ‘What do you really think of each other?’
My stomach dropped.
Ethan tilted his head, eyes locked onto mine. “Do you want the polite answer or the real one?”
I swallowed. “Real one.”
He didn’t hesitate. “You drive me insane. You’re reckless, stubborn, and you never shut up.”
I blinked. “Wow. Harsh.”
“But,” he added, his voice lower now, “You’re also the smartest person in any room, and you never let anyone tell you who to be.”
My pulse skipped. Ugh.
Damn the nanobots.
I cleared my throat. “Fine. My turn.” I lifted my chin. “You’re a control freak. You overthink everything, and you’re arrogant as hell.”
Ethan smirked. “Noted.”
“But…” I exhaled. “You always do what’s right, even when it’s very hard.”
Something flickered in his gaze...something dangerous.
The server beeped again. “Nanobot readings indicate high compatibility.”
Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “Damn we are so screwed.”
I groaned, dropping my head onto the table. Why is this happening?
This experiment was going to ruin me.
- Writer
