CHAPTER FOUR — THE DATE CHALLENGE
1328 Words
The weekend arrived later than Ella wished.
She spent the majority of Friday reflecting on Jayden’s comments. On how she concealed herself behind her "Love Coach" grin offering guidance she hardly followed personally.
By the time Saturday morning arrived she was overwhelmed. Craving clarity she decided to take a stroll.
The atmosphere felt crisp following the rainfall night. The roads carried scents of earth and grilled corn from a close-by vendor.
She tightened her hoodie, inserted her earphones and attempted to focus on everything except him.
Naturally her thoughts deceived her.
That tone. Steady playful. Kept lingering in her mind.
“Perhaps you ought to cease mending others and allow someone to mend you.”
She nudged a pebble on the pavement and whispered to herself "Who actually speaks like that?”
At that moment her phone vibrated.
It was a message. From him.
> Jayden: Hey, Love Coach. Are you free today?
Ella ceased moving. Her heart. Her fingers quickly grew warm.
She wrote quickly:
> Ella: Why?
Jayden: It's because I have a challenge for you.
> Ella: What kind of challenge?
> Jayden: The “Date Challenge.”
> Ella: What?
Jayden: You educate others about love don’t you? I want you to experience a date. No guidelines. No suggestions. Just experience it.
Ella glared at her phone as if it had offended her.
> Ella: Are you serious right now?
Jayden: Truly serious. You discuss love daily. Now it’s time to put it into action.
She sighed with an eye roll.
Ella: I can’t waste my time on that rubbish.
Jayden: Perhaps you don’t genuinely trust in what you’re instructing.
That sentence struck her.
Her chest was constricted. "He understands which buttons to push, " she whispered.
> Ella: Fine. One date. Just to prove a point.
Jayden: Alright. I'll come get you at 5.
Ella stood motionless.
> Ella: Wait, with you?!
Jayden: Clearly. Who else has the audacity to face off with the Love Coach? 😉
She gazed at the message for quite a while nibbling her lip. After that she wrote a word.
> Ella: Fine.
---
🌇 5:00 PM
Ella positioned herself before her mirror, for the occasion that night.
She was uncertain about what to put on. She had switched outfits at least four times up to that point.
“Why should I even bother?" she wondered aloud.
Yet her reflection gave no reply. It merely returned a smile as if it understood more.
Eventually she chose a pink dress featuring short sleeves. Modest yet attractive. She wore her hair loose, applied a bit of fragrance and convinced herself it was merely a test.
Nothing more.
Her phone vibrated precisely at 5:10.
Jayden: I'm here.
Her heart leapt. She inhaled one final time and moved forward.
Jayden stood next to a black car wearing a white shirt paired with blue jeans. His hair was a bit tousled as if he hadn’t made an effort—yet somehow he appeared attractive.
He grinned upon seeing her. "Wow. I never realized Love Coaches could appear this gentle.”
Ella gave a smile while rolling her eyes. "I had no idea cameramen could be this irritating.”
He chuckled. "Deal. You prepared?”
She gave a nod. They took off.
---
The date turned out differently than she had anticipated.
Jayden chose not to bring her to a dining place or a cinema.
He brought her to a garden park. Calm, lush and serene. A small pond with ducks was present. Several children were playing nearby.
“Are you kidding?" Ella inquired. "You actually brought me here?”
He grinned. "You mentioned you educate others about love, didn't you? Love isn’t constantly about dining out and taking selfies. Occasionally it’s simply this. Tranquility.”
They strolled leisurely down the trail. The scent of blossoms filled the air and the sun hung low casting a glow, over everything.
“So " he began, "share with me your experience of heartbreak.”
Ella halted her steps. "What?”
He shrugged his shoulders. "You instruct others on managing heartbreak. I’m simply curious about how you handled yours.”
She chuckled uneasily. "That’s private.”
“Then consider it a lesson, " he said, smiling.
She exhaled softly. "Alright. I was 18. He happened to be my boyfriend. I considered him flawless. I trusted every word he uttered.”
Jayden observed her expression silently. "What occurred?”
“He walked away, " she stated plainly. "No farewell. Just cut me off on all platforms. I wept for months. From, on I vowed never to be that naive again.”
He gave a nod. "So you constructed barriers.”
“Yeah, " she replied quietly. "Large ones.”
He gazed across the lake. "You see at times walls don’t shield you. They simply bar hearted people from entering as well.”
She remained silent. The words struck profoundly once more.
They rested on a seat. For some time they remained silent. The wind tousled her hair. She experienced an unusual tranquility. As if her heart was stirring after a deep slumber.
Following a pause Jayden resumed speaking.
“You know I once thought love was a falsehood as well.”
Ella looked at him. "You?”
“Yeah, " he replied. "My parents constantly argued. My mom would. My dad would be gone for days. I convinced myself that love was merely suffering dressed up in fragrance.”
Ella gave a smile. "That’s profound.”
He chuckled softly. "Look? You’re instructing more.”
She laughed softly. "Old habit.”
Then he gazed directly at her. Said, "However recently I’m not as certain. Perhaps love does exist… perhaps we simply encounter the individuals initially.”
Their gazes locked and, for the occasion Ella held her stare.
At that instant something seemed frightening yet comforting.
No words. Just quiet understanding.
After some time Jayden spoke quietly "May I share something with you?”
“Continue " she murmured.
“When I initially encountered you I believed you were arrogant.. Now… I realize you’re merely frightened.”
Ella hesitated. "Afraid of what ”
He gave a smile. "Of truly being loved.”
She intended to speak. Her throat felt parched.
Nobody had ever told her that before.
The sky was shifting to a hue and the glow mirrored in his eyes. She glanced away swiftly to avoid saying anything.
After a pause Jayden rose and stretched his limbs. "Let’s go, " he said. "I’ll grab us some ice cream.”
Ella observed him as he moved toward the stand.
For the time, in many years her heart experienced a fresh feeling. Not terror, not dominance… but perhaps hope.
Upon his return he gave her a cone. "Strawberries, isn’t it?”
She fluttered her eyes. "What made you realize?”
He grinned. "Fortunate guess.”
They strolled more chuckling over various topics. Classic films, corny jokes, quirky routines.
It seemed effortless. Instinctive.
When he left her at her place darkness had already fallen.
He stopped his car by her gate, shut off the engine and gazed at her. "So Coach, " he said gently, "how did the date challenge go?”
Ella grinned, suppressing a blush. "Pretty good. I’d rate it a seven.”
“Seven?" he exclaimed in astonishment. "From ten?”
“Yeah " she replied, feigning seriousness. "You were talking way too much.”
He chuckled. "I’ll attempt to do it next time.”
She unlocked the door prepared to leave yet hesitated. "Hold on… did you mention time?”
He grinned. "Yep. This is the first part."
Ella. Shook her head as she stepped out. "You’re unbelievable.”
“Goodnight Love Coach " he remarked.
“Goodnight, camera boy.”
Upon entering she experienced a sensation she hadn’t encountered in ages. Her heart was pounding, not out of fear. Due to exhilaration.
For the time she chose not to overanalyze it.
She just wanted to feel it.
- Writer
