[Next Morning — Brisden Town]
Morning arrived gently in Brisden. The spring air was crisp, and soft sunlight spilled through the branches of the tall trees lining the quiet suburban streets.
Birds fluttered between chimneys and rooftops, chirping their melodies, while early risers began their routines—watering gardens, walking dogs, or cycling toward the bakery for fresh bread.
Inside the Whitmore household, the day had already begun to stir.
In the kitchen, the soft clinking of dishes and the rich aroma of toasted bread filled the air. Sarah moved gracefully between the stove and countertop, her pale lavender robe tied loosely around her waist.
Her golden blonde hair was done up in a soft, casual bun, a few strands framing her cheeks as she hummed a gentle tune under her breath.
Lily hovered nearby, tying her hair with one hand while buttering toast with the other, moving with a kind of chaotic energy that only teenagers could maintain in the morning.
"Mom, where's the jam?!" Lily called out, already pulling open random drawers.
"In the fridge, sweetheart," Sarah answered softly, a smile tugging at her lips. "Ara~ did you forget again?"
"Hehe... I was just testing you," Lily said quickly, trying to cover her tracks. "Quality control and... uh... reflexes!"
Upstairs, Luke was already awake. Earlier than usual, in fact.
He sat at the edge of his bed, dressed in his neatly ironed school uniform. His jet-black hair was slightly tousled from sleep, and his deep hazel eyes stared out the window, watching sunlight creep over the rooftops.
For some reason, he couldn't stop fidgeting. His fingers tapped the desk. His foot bounced. His thoughts circled endlessly.
Today... was the day.
He didn't even know why he'd woken up before his alarm. Maybe it was nerves. Or maybe it was the excitement. Whatever it was, his heart hadn't slowed down since he opened his eyes.
He was going to ask Sarah—his adoptive mother—for a day out. A date.
Just the two of them.
He didn't know what she would say. He didn't even know what words would come out of his mouth. But he had to try.
Somewhere between fear and desire… courage was beginning to grow.
Downstairs, the dining table was already set. Plates of eggs, toast, and fruit were arranged neatly. A ceramic teapot sat in the center, steam gently curling from its spout.
Sarah, still humming softly, glanced toward the hallway.
"Lily, could you go wake Luke? He'll be late if he stays lost in dreamland," she said with a wink.
Before Lily could move, footsteps echoed from the stairs.
"Oh~? Never mind," Sarah murmured as she turned. "Look who's early today."
Luke appeared in the doorway, uniform neat, bag over one shoulder, and a slightly nervous look in his eyes.
"Good morning," he greeted quietly, brushing his hand through his hair. "I don't know why I woke up so early."
"Ufufu~ what a surprise," Sarah smiled, her voice soft and musical. "Perhaps someone had sweet dreams?"
"I… wouldn't call them sweet," Luke muttered, taking his seat at the table.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Lily chimed in between bites. "Your face looks like you stayed up solving math problems with ghosts."
"More like arguing with myself," Luke replied with a small smile.
As the three of them began to eat, the house filled with the warm sounds of clinking utensils and casual chatter. Luke mostly listened, occasionally nodding or throwing in a dry comment, but his mind was elsewhere. Every time his gaze flickered toward Sarah, he felt that knot in his chest tighten.
She looked so calm, so composed.
Her light blouse flowed softly against her skin, and her gentle movements—pouring tea, brushing a strand of hair from her face—were so effortlessly beautiful it made him dizzy.
He couldn't believe he was even considering asking her out.
After breakfast, Lily grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
"You ready?" she asked, popping a grape into her mouth.
"In a sec," Luke replied.
Lily tilted her head. "You good?"
"Yeah. You go ahead," he said. "I'll catch up."
She gave him a curious look but didn't pry. "Alright. But if we're late, I'm blaming your dramatic pause."
Luke gave her a half-hearted smirk. As Lily opened the front door, sunlight poured into the hallway.
Sarah, now in the kitchen rinsing dishes, looked up as Luke stepped toward her.
"Oh my~ did you forget something?" she asked, drying her hands with a towel.
Luke hesitated by the kitchen door.
Her back was turned, and for a moment, he wondered if he should just drop it—walk out, pretend nothing happened, and forget this ridiculous idea of asking her out.
But then she turned, smiling gently, and it hit him all over again—how much he wanted just one day… one moment alone with her.
"I… uh, I wanted to say something," he started.
Sarah raised an eyebrow, tilting her head. "Ara? Is something the matter?"
"No, not really," Luke said quickly. "I just… can I talk to you after lunch today?"
She blinked, the corners of her lips lifting. "After lunch?"
"Yeah," he said, forcing himself to sound casual. "There's something I want to ask you. Nothing serious or anything. Just… something I've been thinking about."
Sarah looked at him for a long second. Then, slowly, she smiled—soft and understanding.
"Of course, Luke," she said, her voice low and warm. "I'll be waiting."
Luke nodded and turned away, barely able to breathe as he walked toward the front door.
From behind him, Sarah watched quietly. His ears were flushed pink. She could tell he was nervous.
Very nervous.
"Oh my~ what could he possibly want to ask?" she whispered to herself.
She touched her cheek gently and smiled to herself, her heart fluttering for reasons she didn't want to name just yet.
Outside, Lily was waiting at the gate, squinting up at the sky.
"There you are!" she said as Luke approached. "You look like you just got out of a boss fight."
"I feel like I did," Luke muttered.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing. Just... had to ask Mom something."
Lily narrowed her eyes. "That better not be code for 'I broke the washing machine again.'"
Luke chuckled. "Relax. It's not that."
As they began walking toward school, the streets of Brisden were alive with gentle motion. Schoolkids rushed past on bicycles. A neighbor waved from across the street. Somewhere, a dog barked from behind a garden fence.
But in Luke's mind, everything faded to the background.
All he could think about was Sarah.
What would she say?
Would she smile?
Would she laugh at him?
Would she… say yes?
Back at the house, Sarah stood at the window, watching them walk off together.
Lily was chatting away, her hands waving in the air as she went on one of her usual tangents. Luke, as always, listened quietly, every now and then giving her a small nod or smile.
Sarah pressed a hand gently to her chest.
"My, my…" she whispered to herself. "He really has grown up, hasn't he?"
The morning sun glowed against her skin. Her thoughts drifted, wondering—curious and amused.
She didn't know what Luke would ask. But something in his eyes told her it mattered.
And for that reason alone… she would listen.
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