Chapter 8 The Date
She slept in.
It was already ten in the morning when her eyes finally opened. Sunlight slipped through the curtains, warm and gentle. The house was quiet. Celeste hadn’t woken her up early—she knew it was Olive’s day off, and she knew her daughter needed real rest.
Olive lay still for a moment, enjoying the feeling of not being rushed.
Then she reached for her phone.
Still lying in bed, she opened her social media. She was scrolling lazily when a notification made her stop.
Adrian: Do you have plans today?
A smile spread across her face before she could stop it. Her heart gave a small, excited jump.
Ever since she started working at Dominic Verci Hospital, Adrian had always treated her kindly. He checked on her, noticed her moods, listened when she spoke. There were moments—small moments—that made her feel special to him.
And she couldn’t deny it anymore.
She was slowly falling for him.
Still, she tried to keep her feelings under control. She didn’t want to rush things. She didn’t want to ruin their friendship.
Then her eyes drifted to the time the message was sent.
8:00 AM.
“Oh no,” she whispered.
She quickly typed a reply.
Nothing much. Just staying at home. Probably rotting in bed until afternoon.
She smiled as she sent it, her thumb hovering for a second before pulling away. Part of her hoped. Part of her waited.
A few seconds later, her phone buzzed.
Adrian: Do you want to go out for lunch? We can watch a movie after, if you like.
Olive froze.
Then—
She nearly screamed.
She clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide, her heart thumping hard against her chest. She bounced slightly on the bed, unable to sit still, her whole body buzzing with excitement. She bit her lip, grinning so hard her cheeks started to hurt.
After a few deep breaths, she finally calmed herself.
She typed back carefully.
Sure. Better than rotting in bed all day. What time and where?
Her hands were shaking as she sent it.
Her eyes drifted to the rose sitting quietly on her desk.
She smiled again.
Adrian: I’ll pick you up at 11. You still have time to prepare. See you!
See you! Olive replied immediately.
She jumped out of bed, grabbed her towel, and rushed out of her room.
She was still smiling when she stepped into the hallway.
“You look like you slept well,” Celeste teased, looking up from the kitchen.
Chris laughed from the living room. “Or maybe you dreamed about your boyfriend.”
Olive ignored him, her smile giving her away anyway.
After her bath, she stood in front of her mirror, suddenly stressed.
Her bed was a mess. Clothes were everywhere—shirts, skirts, dresses tossed aside. She held one outfit after another, shaking her head.
Nothing felt right.
Then her eyes landed on it.
A simple yellow dress.
It was soft. Elegant. Light. The color suited her skin perfectly.
She slipped it on and looked at herself in the mirror. This one felt right.
She was still curling her blonde hair when her phone buzzed.
Adrian: I’m outside.
Her heart skipped.
When Olive stepped out of her room, looking radiant, both Celeste and Chris stopped what they were doing.
They stared.
Chris opened his mouth, clearly ready to tease her—but Celeste quickly covered it with her hand. She smiled and waved instead.
“Take care,” she said.
“Bye, Ma,” Olive replied, smiling back.
She slipped on her white sneakers and hurried outside.
Adrian was waiting by his scooter.
He wore a plain white shirt and maong jeans. His hair was slightly messy, his posture relaxed. Without his nurse uniform, he looked completely different.
Effortlessly handsome.
Like someone straight out of a magazine.
He noticed her right away and smiled.
He held out a helmet.
“For you,” he said gently.
Olive reached for the helmet and gave him a small smile. “Thank you.”
She was about to put it on when Adrian suddenly pulled it back.
“Wait,” he said.
Before she could even ask why, he gently placed the helmet over her head himself. His hands moved carefully as he adjusted the straps under her chin. He leaned closer to make sure it fit properly.
Too close.
Olive stopped breathing.
Her heart started thumping so loudly she was sure he could hear it. A light sheen of sweat formed on her forehead. When he leaned in, she caught his scent—clean, warm, familiar. It made her head feel light.
Without meaning to, she closed her eyes.
She stayed like that, still and quiet, for a few seconds longer than she should have.
When she finally opened her eyes, Adrian had already finished. He was looking at her.
Smiling.
Her face burned.
“T-thank you,” she said quickly, feeling suddenly shy.
“Ready?” Adrian asked.
“Yes,” Olive answered too fast. “Let’s go.”
Adrian climbed onto the scooter first. Olive followed, sitting at the back.
“Hold my waist tightly,” he said over his shoulder. “Or you’ll fall.”
Olive hesitated.
Her chest felt tight. She felt nervous. Embarrassed. The butterflies in her stomach were already out of control.
Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his waist.
The moment the scooter started moving, her grip tightened on its own.
As they rode through the streets toward the restaurant—Adrian had clearly already made plans—Olive stared at the road rushing past them. Buildings, cars, and people blurred together.
Her thoughts raced faster than the scooter.
How am I supposed to act normal all day… without him noticing how I feel?