|| Arabella ||

Finally, Wyatt's SAT exams were over. It felt like forever. I was a coffee-making machine for the whole week. Only serving him coffee was my purpose.

Since all of that was over and Wyatt was free, I was now trying to coax Coral to go on a date with Wyatt.

"Look, just give him one chance, okay?" I pleaded.

"No," Coral declined flat-out.

"C'mon, it's just one date!" I cried out.

"I already rejected him."

"And he took it well. See how mature and calm he is? He didn't even cry when he got home." Theo and I were fully prepared to comfort a heartbroken Wyatt on the night of Halloween with blankets and ice creams, but we were so disappointed to see him all normal, we almost started an onion cutting fest to make him cry.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. He's mentally strong." Coral rolled her eyes and sat on her bed.

"Then what's the problem?"

"That's the problem. What if I end up liking him?"

"Then you date him, duh!" I exclaimed giddily, and she glared at me. I toned down my excitement and sat beside her. "Hey, just give him a chance, okay? Leave it to fate. Don't worry about the aftermath," I told her.

Coral stayed silent for a minute nodding. "Okay, fine."

I squealed and hugged her. "It will be great, trust me."

———

"The only thing you have to do is be yourself. Don't get nervous," I advised.

Wyatt took a few deep breaths and nodded.

"Dude, you seem more nervous than when you're going for SATs," Theo commented.

"Not helping, Theo," I remarked.

As Wyatt glared at him, Theo massaged his shoulders and said, "Relax. Girls love you, and Coral doesn't yet because you haven't shown her your real side. So go win that heart."

"Okay." Wyatt checked if everything was okay and said, "I'm leaving then."

"Alright, best of luck!" I cheered as Wyatt left through the front door to go pick up Coral from her house. "Oh, my God, I can't believe it! They are going on a date." I squealed.

"You're like a mother who is leaving her son at kindergarten for the first time," Theo deadpanned and plopped down on the couch.

I placed my hands on my chest and murmured, "I do feel like that."

"Drama queen," he uttered.

As my excitement died down, I realized I had no plans for today. I pouted and mumbled, "I'm bored now."

Theo chewed on his bottom lips in deep thinking until a smirk formed on his face. "Wanna do something fun, Annabelle?"

———

"Seriously, this is your idea?" I exclaimed, pointing at the blue car parked in front of a restaurant.

Theo nodded. "Why not? We are going to be worrying about them at home either way."

"Yeah, I guess." To be honest, I was even curious how Wyatt and Coral's first date would go.

"But what's he buying?" he implored, straining his neck to see what his cousin was buying.

"Probably some substitute food, in case they can't eat what he prepared," I replied.

"Prepared what?"

"He made a special lunch for her by himself."

Theo wheezed. "Wyatt and cooking? What's he getting her? Charcoal fry and sugary pizza?"

I couldn't help but laugh as well. "He woke me up at four in the morning to help him out."

Theo's mouth formed in an O. "That's what you guys were going in the kitchen when I was leaving for my jog."

"What did you think we were doing?"

"Making a secret poison formula to kill me," he said flatly.

"We might have, but I'm not telling," I said, suppressing my giggle.

"So did it turn out okay? We won't have to take Coral to the hospital, do we?" he asked on a serious note.

I nodded. "After seven tries, he managed to make Coral's favorite dishes. It was edible."

"Phew, then."

We ducked our heads when Wyatt came out of the bakery shop. Thankfully, Wyatt didn't notice Theo's car as we were parked far away. Once Wyatt started driving again, Theo started trailing him.

Theo and I chatted all the way to Coral's house and paid close attention when Wyatt came out to meet Coral at her gate. She smiled at him cheerfully, as always, and Wyatt returned her smile.

"Thank goodness, he doesn't seem nervous," I let out.

"Don't worry. Once he sets his mind on something, he gets it done," Theo informed.

"Now that you mention it, it's true. Good observation."

Theo rolled his eyes. "I've been living with him for more than two years now."

We watched as Wyatt opened the car door for Coral and they both settled in before driving off.

"Where did you live before?" I asked to get to know him more.

"This is my birthplace, but I lived in Atherton for five years with my uncle Albert before starting high school here," he answered.

"What? Atherton? Is your uncle rich or something?" I asked further with enthusiasm.

"He's a business tycoon."

"Damn, that's one talented family gene." I was genuinely impressed. "I mean, Wyatt is super smart, and you're, like, a math genius. Ian is a famous artist. God, I want your genes for my kid."

"Then you would have to marry one of us."

"Wyatt is a good option, but he likes Coral. Even though Ian is single, I'm not really into older men with a child my age," I explained.

"Hello? I exist," Theo reminded me.

"As if I would marry you." I laughed at the possibility.

"You never know."

"I know this much at least." I laughed for a bit more. "But seriously, your mom's side of the family is really cool. I'm sure your mom was very talented too." I instantly regretted saying the last sentence, knowing it must be a sensitive thing to say.

I was about to apologize when he spoke up with a solemn smile, "Yeah, she was. She was an amazing writer. Her first book became a bestseller."

"Really? What's the name of her book?"

He told me the name, and I felt like I had heard of it. But I wasn't much of a reader, so I couldn't tell. But I could tell that he was proud of her.

"Sounds like they are more volumes of this," I said after he told me the story of his mom's first book.

"There are. But they were never published."

"Why not?" I asked curiously.

"She had her issues. But I have the copies, and I'm the only one who has read them."

"Really? Why didn't you get them published?" I asked, and his eyes dimmed a little.

"I can't."

"Oh." There was a heaviness to his voice, so I decided to say something else, "Hey, if you have the copies, then I'd like to read them."

We stopped at a red signal, and Theo looked at me. "Why would you want to read them?"

I smiled. "Because I can tell that you love her books, so I'm sure they are really great."

"But you don't read books," he stated.

"I do."

"Please, you don't own a single book outside of school textbooks."

I pouted. "Why do you have to know me so well?" He must have seen my empty bookshelf.

"Because you're easy to figure out, idiot." He flicked my forehead lightly, and I winced dramatically. "But on a serious note, why do you want to read them?"

I grinned at him and said, "So that we can gush over it together."

"Huh?" He gaped at me.

I leaned forward towards him and explained, "You want someone with whom you can talk about the books, right? So if I read them, then you can talk to me about it. We can fangirl together."

He turned away his gaze and started driving once again at the green light. "You're crazy," he said, but there was a big smile on his face—the rare genuine one. And it made me grin even harder.

I just loved it when he smiled genuinely like that.

As we chatted for the rest of the way, I had completely forgotten we were tailing Wyatt and Coral until Theo pointed out that we were headed to the outskirts of the city.

"Shit, he must be taking Coral to go hiking. She loves that exhausting crap!" I exclaimed in horror. "Take a U-turn! Quick!"

"No way. I love hiking too," Theo responded.

I slumped back in my seat, knowing he would insist on going all the more since I hate hiking. "You're gonna have to carry me if I get tired."

"I'm more worried about the food. We didn't bring anything for lunch, did we?"

"Yep. I brought a full picnic set," I sulked.

"Good job being useful, partner." He grinned and ruffled my hair, but I pouted. "Don't worry. We won't climb the mountain if you don't want to."

My eyes sparkled. "Really?"

He nodded. "There's a lake a few kilometers ahead. Wanna go there?"

I was about to respond yes but then I remembered something else. "What about our mission?"

"Our mission is to have fun and not get bored," he stated.

"You're right." I grinned gleefully and cheered, "Yes, let's go to the lake!"

We left behind Wyatt's car in front of the hiking area and went ahead. After ten or minutes, Theo halted at a secluded place. We took out our picnic basket and blanket, heading inside.

"Wow, it's beautiful." I was in awe to see the small serene lake, coated by red fall leaves. The red leaves covered most of the green grass.

"It's the perfect season to come here," Theo said and started to spread the picnic blanket.

"Yeah, Winter will be starting soon." I laid down flat on the blanket as soon as it was done, reeling in the calm atmosphere. There was no one but us around here.

Theo laid down beside me.

"This feels good," I mumbled, stretching my limbs. The sun was bright, so I reached my hand up, and so did Theo.

He chuckled suddenly. "Your hands are so tiny."

I pouted. "No, they are not."

He pressed his palm flat on mine, making a weird sensation form in my stomach. "See? My fingers are at least a few inches longer than yours."

I didn't know what came over me, but I curled my fingers, entwining them with his. He didn't utter a word and silently returned the gesture.

And I swear, I had never felt anything fit so well. Like a key and a lock. Our hands fitted so perfectly, as if they were made for each other, and I wanted to keep them that way.

It made heat rush to my cheeks. I pulled my hand apart and bolted up. "Let's play twenty questions."

"Yeah, let's do that."

We ended up playing rapid-fire, truth and dare, cards, and soccer. Oh, we even did karaoke, learning we were both horrible singers, but we still sang, scaring away all the birds in the forest.

Overall, it was really fun. The best time I had spent in a long time. All thanks to Theo.

I even realized that we had way more similarities with each other than we thought we did.

It was around evening when we got home. Wyatt wasn't home yet, so we assumed they were still hiking or went somewhere else.

Clover ran to Theo as soon as she spotted him. He started crooning her in his arms, heading towards his room when I cleared my throat.

"Um, thanks for today."

"You're welcome," he said curtly and went into his room.

I released a sigh. Just now, did I feel nervous around him?

I shook my head. I was still high from the fun we had, that's why my mind must be in haywire.

I went back to my room and freshened up. When I came out, I found my phone ringing, so I picked it to find Coral. She started spilling all the beans instantly.

Wyatt just dropped her home, and she started telling the juicy gossip on how Wyatt took her hiking and made her favorite dishes, although they didn't taste all that extraordinary, she was touched by his gesture. They even went to the arcade, and she loved spending time with him.

"... I think I might be starting to like him."

As soon as Coral said that, I jumped on top of my bed in excitement and squealed.

"But what about my commitment issues?" she asked hesitantly.

"Don't worry about it. Just talk to Wyatt openly about it. He will understand," I assured her.

"Alright."

Then, I also shared with her about my day, changing the detail of tailing them into something else.

"Oh, my gosh, you guys totally went on a date," Coral exclaimed.

"No, we didn't," I protested in disbelief.

"Whatever, girl. It was a date. A perfect one," she gushed.

"How?"

"C'mon, it had everything. He took you to a romantic place, you guys held hands, had a fun time and lunch together," she explained simply, and the realization sank in.

Oh, my God.

I really went on a date with Theo!

★★★