Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Dating
David chuckled, a warm smile tugging at his lips. "But are you sure about this?" Emerald asked, her voice filled with confusion. "We barely know each other and have only met a few times," she added, her brow furrowing slightly as she looked at him.
David's smile softened, and he leaned in slightly, his gaze steady but gentle. "Sometimes, it's not about how many times you meet someone," he said thoughtfully. "It's about the connection, the feeling. And from the moment I saw you, I knew there was something special.
Emerald rolled her eyes, a hint of disbelief in her expression. "If you want, we can keep this a secret and let everyone else know when you're ready," David offered, his tone sincere.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea," she replied, her hesitation clear. "You know people will say all sorts of things, especially considering the fact that I'm Lisa's tutor and..."
Before she could finish, David cut her off, his voice steady and serious as he gently took her hand. "I don't care what people will say, and you shouldn't either. Convincing my family is my responsibility, not yours," he said, his gaze unwavering. "You don't have to worry about any of that."
Emerald sighed, feeling a mix of uncertainty and resignation. "If you say so," she said helplessly.
David, unable to hide his excitement, grinned broadly. "So, we're dating?" he asked, his voice full of eagerness.
Emerald shrugged nonchalantly. "I could give it a try," she replied, though a trace of caution lingered in her tone. "But don't you dare play with my feelings," she added, her voice turning serious and even a little threatening, her eyes locking with his.
David raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful smile still on his lips. "I promise, no games."
They began eating, the atmosphere a bit lighter now. Despite the underlying tension, the conversation flowed easily. David occasionally stole glances at Emerald, watching her with a mix of curiosity and admiration. Emerald, on the other hand, focused on her meal, still processing everything that had just happened.
The food was delicious, and the silence between them wasn't uncomfortable. It felt more like a quiet understanding, a moment of peace before the uncertainty of what would come next.
David finally broke the silence. "So, what do you think of the house?" he asked casually, trying to gauge her feelings.
Emerald smiled softly. "It's... nice. Bigger than I expected, honestly," she replied, looking around the room. "But I still can't believe you're giving me a place like this."
David chuckled, taking a sip of his wine. "It's nothing compared to what you deserve," he said, his tone sincere.
Emerald just nodded, appreciating his generosity but still feeling the weight of everything. "We'll see," she murmured, though she couldn't deny that part of her felt comforted by the warmth of the home and the kindness he was showing.
After finishing their meal, they moved to the living room and settled on the couch to watch TV. The ground floor was beautifully furnished, while the first floor remained a blank slate, still awaiting decoration.
When the movie ended, David grabbed the remote and switched off the TV. He turned his attention to Emerald, who was sitting slightly apart from him, her posture relaxed but her eyes showing curiosity. David let out a small sigh, making her sit up straighter.
"What?" Emerald asked, her voice tinged with nervousness as she caught the intensity of his gaze.
"Do you want to stay for the night?" David asked unexpectedly, his tone soft yet deliberate.
Emerald shot him an incredulous look, her lips parting to deliver the sarcastic remark that had popped into her mind. Yet, the words that came out were surprisingly measured. "No, I think I should head back. Amy will be waiting for me," she said, her tone polite but firm.
David shifted, sitting up straighter as he faced her fully. "It's just one night," he said softly, his expression earnest. "You don't have to worry. The guest room on the ground floor is fully equipped." Then, with a playful glint in his eye, he added, "You can always let your friend know that you'll be staying at your boyfriend's place tonight."
"What happened to keeping it a secret?" Emerald asked, crossing her arms as she stared him down.
David leaned back slightly, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "I know you can't keep it a secret from her. She'll eventually find out. Why not just tell her now?" he reasoned.
"Yes, I'll tell her," Emerald said firmly. "When I go back tonight." With that, she stood up, ready to leave, but David quickly followed suit, grabbing her wrist gently.
She turned, raising an eyebrow in both amusement and irritation.
"You know," David started, his tone unusually patient, "after you leave tonight, we won't be able to see each other until the weekend. And now that we're dating, for crying out loud, I have to teach you how to be the perfect girlfriend."
Emerald's eyes widened at his audacity, but she maintained her composure. "And who exactly are you to teach me anything?" she asked, her tone polite but laced with sarcasm.
David grinned playfully, tilting his head. "Your boyfriend," he replied, his voice full of teasing charm.
Emerald rolled her eyes, trying to suppress a smile. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.
Emerald suddenly had an idea. She gently pulled her wrist free from his grip and crossed her arms, a playful glint in her eyes. Tilting her head slightly, she asked, "So, you're the one calling all the shots now, huh?"
Her tone softened, but there was a hint of mock indignation as she furrowed her brows like a child. "You've been making all the decisions and pushing me to do everything your way. When do I get a turn?"
Her words were a mix of challenge and curiosity, wrapped in the warmth of someone testing boundaries without malice.
David smiled, his eyes softening. "Very soon," he replied, his voice warm with affection.
Emerald sighed, giving in with a playful roll of her eyes. "Fine, just one night," she conceded.
Without missing a beat, David stepped forward and embraced her gently, his voice full of gratitude. "Thank you," he murmured, holding her close.
David couldn't help but smile to himself, thinking, 'You'll be the one wanting to spend the rest of your life with me.' But before he could dwell on it, Emerald gently pushed him away.
"I need to call Amy first. She'll be worried," she said, her voice soft but firm.
David nodded, giving her space. "I'll go look for something for you to wear," he replied, heading toward the bedroom.
Emerald watched him leave momentarily, then dialed Amy's number, knowing she had to explain her sudden change of plans.
"Hi Amy," Emerald said, her voice a little hesitant.
"Hey you," Amy replied teasingly. "How's your fake date going?"
Emerald sighed. "It's not a fake date anymore," she admitted helplessly.
Amy shrieked so loudly that Emerald had to quickly pull the phone away from her ear. "You'll make me deaf!" Emerald said, her annoyance clear.
"Omg, no way! I can't believe this!" Amy exclaimed. "Details... I need all the details, please!"
"I'll give you that later," Emerald said, a little embarrassed. "But right now, I just wanted to let you know I'll be staying at his place tonight."
Amy's excitement was palpable. "Alright, alright! Enjoy your first date! I won't disturb you. Love you, Em, good night!" she said before hanging up.
Emerald sat back, feeling a little overwhelmed. A sigh escaped her lips—another headache was waiting for her tomorrow.
Emerald heard footsteps approaching, and David appeared, holding a nightdress in his hands. "Here, you can freshen up now," he said, offering it to her.
Emerald stood up, taking the nightdress from him. She narrowed her eyes, teasing him. "You were really prepared for this, huh?"
Before he could offer a defense, she walked towards the guest room, heading straight for the bathroom to change.
After showering, Emerald entered the room to find David focused on his laptop. She walked over to the dressing table, grabbed the hair dryer, and started drying her hair.
David shut his laptop, stood up, and walked over to her. Gently, he took the dryer from her hands and began drying her hair himself. Emerald opened her mouth to protest, but she knew exactly what he'd say, so she simply stayed quiet and let him do it.
"It's my job now," David said out of nowhere, a playful glint in his eyes. Emerald couldn't help but roll her eyes.
When he finished, Emerald hesitated before speaking. "I can sleep on the couch outside," she offered.
"No need," he replied, his tone calm. "Sleep on the bed. I'm going to shower."
Emerald sighed softly, and as soon as David went into the bathroom, she lay down on the bed. The comfort of the soft sheets and the exhaustion from the day quickly overtook her, and within five minutes, she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.