Tae had been planning this date for days. It wasn’t just any date—it was their first official date as a couple, and he wanted it to be perfect. He stood in front of the mirror, straightening his black blazer for the third time, trying to make sure everything was in place. His heart raced with excitement, a flutter of nerves mixing in, though he wouldn’t admit it to anyone but himself. Ariana was now his girlfriend, and that thought alone made his chest swell with pride and happiness.

After making sure he looked good, he grabbed his keys, checked his phone, and smiled when he saw a text from Ariana. She was ready and waiting for him.

As he drove toward the mansion, he thought about how far they had come in such a short time. Ariana had been through so much, and he’d been patient, waiting for her to open up. But now that she had, now that they were together, he was determined to make every moment with her special. She deserved it.

When he arrived, Ariana was standing at the door, looking absolutely stunning in a simple but elegant sundress. Her hair was lightly curled, falling over her shoulders, and her soft smile made Tae’s heart skip a beat. She looked up at him through her long lashes, her cheeks flushed slightly as she walked toward him.

“You look beautiful,” Tae said, stepping out of the car to greet her. He leaned in and kissed her cheek softly, feeling a spark of warmth as his lips brushed her skin.

Ariana blushed, biting her lip. “Thank you. You look really handsome.”

Tae grinned and opened the passenger door for her. “Shall we?”

She nodded, slipping into the car, and Tae quickly circled around to get in as well. As they drove off, the silence between them was comfortable, the kind that only comes when two people understand each other perfectly. But Tae could feel the slight tension in the air—the good kind. The kind that came with anticipation, excitement for what was to come.

“So,” Ariana began, turning to him with a curious smile. “Where are you taking me?”

Tae chuckled, glancing at her briefly before focusing back on the road. “It’s a surprise. But I promise you’ll love it.”

Ariana laughed softly. “I trust you.”

That simple statement made his heart soar. She trusted him. After everything she had been through, hearing her say those words felt like a victory, a sign that he was doing something right.

After about twenty minutes, they arrived at the destination. Tae had chosen a quiet, secluded spot near the outskirts of the city—a cozy little restaurant that overlooked a lake. It wasn’t fancy, but it had a certain charm to it, with fairy lights strung up outside and a wooden dock that led out to the water. He knew Ariana would appreciate the peace and intimacy of the place.

“Oh, Tae,” she breathed as she stepped out of the car, her eyes wide with awe as she took in the view. “This is beautiful.”

Tae smiled, feeling a sense of relief that she liked it. “I thought you’d like it here. It’s quiet, just us.”

He offered his arm to her, and she linked her arm through his as they walked toward the restaurant. The staff greeted them warmly, leading them to a small table by the window that had the perfect view of the lake. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the water, and Tae couldn’t have imagined a more perfect backdrop for their first date.

As they sat down, Tae couldn’t help but notice how Ariana seemed to relax in the setting. Her shoulders softened, and she smiled more easily, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight.

“This is perfect,” Ariana said, her voice soft and full of gratitude. “Thank you.”

Tae reached across the table and took her hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles. “You deserve it. I wanted our first date to be special.”

Ariana blushed again, looking down at their joined hands before glancing back up at him. “It already is.”

They spent the next hour talking, laughing, and sharing stories. Ariana opened up more than she ever had before, telling Tae about her life before everything had happened—the days when she was just a baker, before she had been dragged into the mafia world because of her sister. She told him about her dreams of reopening her bakery, about how much she missed the simple joy of making pastries and seeing people’s faces light up when they tasted them.

Tae listened intently, hanging on to every word. He loved hearing her talk about her passions, seeing the way her face lit up when she spoke about the things she loved. It made him fall for her even more.

As the evening went on, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and they began teasing each other playfully. Tae couldn’t resist making a joke about how Ariana always caught him staring at her when she wasn’t looking, and she shot back with a teasing remark about how obvious his crush on her had been from the start.

“You weren’t exactly subtle either,” Tae said with a smirk, taking a sip of his drink. “I saw the way you’d look at me when you thought I wasn’t paying attention.”

Ariana gasped, her eyes widening in mock offense. “I did not!”

Tae chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, you so did.”

They both laughed, the sound of their shared joy echoing around the quiet restaurant. For a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world, lost in each other’s company.

After dinner, Tae suggested they take a walk by the lake, and Ariana agreed eagerly. They strolled along the wooden dock, hand in hand, the cool breeze tugging at their hair. The sky had turned a deep shade of blue, stars twinkling above them, and the reflection of the moon shimmered on the surface of the lake.

“This is really nice,” Ariana said softly, leaning into Tae as they walked. “It feels… peaceful.”

Tae wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. “I wanted you to have that. You’ve been through so much, and I just want you to feel safe. To feel happy.”

Ariana looked up at him, her eyes filled with emotion. “I do. With you, I feel safe. And happy.”

Tae’s heart swelled at her words, and he couldn’t help but stop in his tracks, turning her to face him. He gently cupped her face in his hands, brushing his thumb across her cheek as he gazed down at her. “I love you, Ariana,” he whispered, his voice filled with sincerity. “I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you always feel that way.”

Ariana’s breath hitched, and for a moment, she simply stared up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Then, with a soft smile, she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down into a tender kiss.

It was soft, sweet, and full of unspoken promises. Tae kissed her back, pouring all of his love and devotion into that one moment, letting her know without words that he was hers, completely.

When they finally pulled apart, Ariana rested her forehead against his, her fingers gently threading through his hair. “I love you too,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Tae’s smile grew, and he kissed her again, unable to resist the overwhelming urge to show her just how much he cared.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms beneath the starry sky, Tae knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning of something truly special. And he couldn’t wait to see where their journey would take them next.