Denial leaned back against the headboard, watching Shelly curl up on the bed with a faintly stubborn look.
"Go to sleep now," he said quietly. "Tomorrow I'm taking you somewhere."
Shelly shook her head. "No… I'm not sleepy."
He sighed, a patient smile tugging at his lips. "Alright then… I'll help you fall asleep."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Wait. Are you trying to avoid the topic?"
"What topic?"
"You know… that romance thing we were talking about."
Denial's gaze softened, but his tone stayed steady. "Shelly, you're still confused about whether you even want a relationship with me. And as long as you are, I'll never push you toward anything you're not ready for."
Her lips curved in a small smile. "I was saying something similar just a while ago, wasn't I?"
"Exactly," Denial replied, tucking the blanket around her. "Now sleep."
Within minutes, Shelly's breathing slowed. She had drifted off, still holding onto a corner of his shirt like a child unwilling to let go. Denial watched her for a moment longer before slipping quietly out of the room.
---
The Next Morning
As always, Denial was up early. By the time Shelly walked into the kitchen, the air was filled with the scent of fresh coffee and something sweet. A plate of perfectly arranged pancakes, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs awaited her.
"You didn't have to…", she murmured, though her smile betrayed how much she appreciated it.
"Eat first," Denial said simply.
She did—and after breakfast, she headed home.
---
That Evening
The doorbell rang.
Shelly opened the door to find Denial standing there. His black shirt clung to his shoulders just right, sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows, paired with black jeans. He looked effortlessly striking.
Without thinking, she blurted out, "Wow… you look handsome."
The corner of his mouth lifted in a teasing smirk. "Glad you noticed. Now, go get ready."
"Why?" she asked, eyes narrowing in curiosity.
"Remember yesterday? I told you I'd take you out this evening."
Her brows rose. "Wait… is this our first date? Are we… dating?"
He chuckled and tapped her forehead lightly. "Just go get ready. We'll talk about labels some other time."
"Where are we going?"
"Opera show. Starts at 7:30," he replied.
---
Fifteen minutes later, Shelly returned.
She wore a flowing pink dress that brushed against her knees with every step, soft enough to make her look delicate yet glowing under the warm light of the hallway. Her hair framed her face in loose waves, and for a moment, Denial forgot to breathe.
She tilted her head, catching him staring. "What? Are we going or not? You're going to make us late."
Denial blinked, clearing his throat. "Yeah… let's go."
And with that, they stepped into the evening together—neither of them fully admitting it, but both knowing it felt very much like a date.
---
Continue.....