CHAPTER FIVE:WHEN FEELINGS GET REAL
1261 Words
Sunday morning came with soft sunshine and birds making noise outside Ella’s window.
She tried to sleep in, but her mind wouldn’t let her. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Jayden’s smile — the way he laughed, the way he looked at her like she was the only person in the world.
She grabbed her pillow and pressed it to her face.
“Stop thinking about him,” she whispered.
But her heart didn’t listen.
She picked up her phone. No new message.
She frowned a little.
“Wow, after all that yesterday, not even a ‘good morning?’”
She dropped the phone, pretending not to care — but kept glancing at it every two minutes.
Finally, around 10:00 a.m., it buzzed. Her heart jumped.
Jayden: Good morning, Love Coach. Are you still rating our date a seven? 😏
Ella: Yes. Still a seven.
Jayden: That’s unfair. I gave you ice cream and everything.
Ella: Ice cream doesn’t add points.
Jayden: Then what does?
Ella: Effort.
Jayden: Okay then. Let’s make it an eight. Brunch, my treat.
She blinked at the screen.
Ella: Today again?
Jayden: Why not? Love lessons shouldn’t end early.
Ella: You’re impossible.
Jayden: You love it. 11 a.m. I’m picking you up. No excuses.
She wanted to say no. She wanted to act busy.
But her heart said yes before her brain could argue.
The Café
The café Jayden chose was small and quiet, tucked behind a row of flowers and big glass windows. Inside smelled like vanilla and roasted coffee beans. Soft music played in the background.
When Ella walked in, Jayden was already there, sitting by the window with two cups of coffee and a plate of pancakes.
He smiled as soon as he saw her.
“You’re early.”
“I didn’t want to be late,” she said, sitting down.
He looked at her outfit — a simple yellow top and jeans.
“You look… different today. In a good way.”
Ella laughed lightly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It is,” he said, eyes soft but honest.
For a moment, they just looked at each other.
Then Ella quickly grabbed her cup.
“So what’s this about? Another challenge?”
Jayden smiled. “Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to see you again.”
Her heart skipped.
“You really like making things awkward, don’t you?”
He laughed. “No. I just like honesty.”
They talked while eating — about random things: movies, hobbies, childhood memories. Jayden told her how he once tried to start a photography business that failed but taught him a lot. Ella told him how she started her channel just to distract herself from pain.
At some point, their conversation turned quiet.
Jayden stirred his coffee and said softly,
“You know what I realized yesterday?”
“What?”
“You smile a lot when you talk about helping people. But when you talk about yourself… you look sad.”
Ella looked down at her cup.
“Maybe because I’m still learning how to help myself.”
He nodded slowly. “You don’t always have to fix everything, Ella. It’s okay to just… be human.”
She blinked back the sudden sting in her eyes. No one had ever said that to her before. She always had to be strong — the coach, the guide, the one who knew everything.
Jayden’s voice broke the silence again.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.”
He smiled slightly.
“You make me want to believe in love again.”
Ella froze. The world went quiet for a moment — just the sound of her heartbeat in her ears.
She looked up at him.
“Jayden…”
He shrugged. “Don’t worry, I’m not saying I’m in love or anything. I just… feel lighter when I’m around you.”
She smiled weakly. “That’s… sweet.”
He leaned closer. “And dangerous.”
She laughed nervously. “You’re crazy.”
He grinned. “Maybe. But I like what’s happening here.”
She tried to change the topic, but her mind kept circling back to his words. He feels lighter around me.
Why did that make her chest warm?
Later That Day
It started to rain when they left the café.
Jayden ran ahead, pulling off his jacket to cover her head.
“Come on!” he shouted, laughing as the rain poured harder.
Ella ran beside him, laughing too, her hair dripping. They found shade under a small shop roof, both panting and soaked.
Jayden looked at her and laughed again.
“You look like a wet kitten.”
“Wow, thanks,” she said, smiling wide.
He reached out and brushed a raindrop off her cheek.
“See? You can laugh for real. No lessons. No script.”
Her smile faded slowly as their eyes met. The air changed.
He was so close. Too close.
Her heart pounded.
But before she could say anything, he stepped back, clearing his throat.
“We should probably get you home before you catch a cold.”
“Yeah,” she whispered.
The Ride Home
The car was quiet. Raindrops tapped softly against the windows.
Ella looked out, trying to hide the smile that kept sneaking onto her face.
“Why are you smiling?” Jayden asked.
“I’m not,” she said quickly.
“You are,” he said, glancing at her. “It’s cute.”
She turned to him. “Do you always flirt this much?”
“Only when it works,” he said, grinning.
She shook her head, laughing. “You’re too much.”
They reached her house. She unbuckled her seatbelt slowly, not wanting the moment to end.
When she turned to say goodbye, Jayden looked serious for the first time.
“Ella,” he said quietly, “I know we’re joking a lot, but I need to be honest about something.”
She frowned. “What is it?”
He looked right into her eyes.
“I like being around you. A lot. I don’t know what this is yet, but it feels real.”
Her breath caught.
“Jayden…”
He smiled sadly. “You don’t have to say anything. Just think about it.”
He opened the door for her, but before she stepped out, she turned and said softly,
“You’re not the only one who feels something.”
He froze.
“What?”
She smiled. “Goodnight, camera boy.”
And she ran into the house before he could reply.
Jayden sat in the car, smiling to himself like an i***t.
“She’s going to be the end of me,” he muttered.
That Night
Ella couldn’t sleep.
She replayed the whole day in her head — the café, the rain, his words.
Her phone buzzed again.
Jayden: I hope you didn’t catch a cold.
Ella: No, I’m fine. You?
Jayden: Still smiling like a fool.
Ella: Go to sleep.
Jayden: Only if you promise to dream about me.
Ella: You wish. Goodnight.
Jayden: Goodnight, Love Coach.
She placed the phone on her chest and sighed.
Her cheeks hurt from smiling, but she didn’t care.
For the first time in years, she wasn’t thinking about teaching love.
She was living it.
Outside, the rain stopped.
And somewhere across town, Jayden looked out his window, thinking of her too.
Two hearts — one used to teach love, the other learning to believe again — both slowly falling without even realizing it.
- Writer
