The restaurant was like a beautiful dream, with glass walls glowing under bright lights and the sounds of laughter and music filling the air.
Derrick stopped at the entrance, looking at the chandelier that hung like sparkling water above the lobby. Just seeing the name of the restaurant made him nervous. He felt like he didn't belong there, and he knew it. The last time he had seen something so fancy was on TV, and now he was standing there, his heart beating fast, and him trying to calm down.
He fixed his shirt collar and looked down at his shoes, which were clean but not the right type of show for this place, and then he walked forward.
"Good evening, sir. Do you have a booking?" The host was polite but his eyes showed that he was judging him, from head to toe.
"Uh… yes," Derrick said, forcing himself to smile. "I'm here with Sophia. Sophia Carlson."
The man's face changed a little, and his smile became smaller as he looked at the list. "I'm sorry, but I don't see your name here, sir."
Of course.
Derrick's hands started to sweat. He could feel other people looking at him the man in the cheap jacket trying to get into a place for rich people, not people with debts.
"She should already be here," he said quietly. "Maybe she…"
"Derrick!"
The familiar voice made him feel less embarrassed. He looked around and saw Sophia coming toward him, her hair up in a way that made her look both fancy and relaxed. She had a kind smile that immediately made him feel better.
"Sorry about that," she told the host, her voice smooth and confident. "He's with me."
Right away, the man stood up straighter and gave a little bow. "Of course, Miss Carlson. I apologize."
Sophia put her arm through Derrick's and took him inside. "You should have called me when you got here," she said playfully.
"I didn't want to look helpless," he said, but his smile was small.
"I guess I failed at that."
"Don't worry about it," she said, squeezing his hand. "You're with me now. That's all that matters."
But as they walked further into the restaurant, Derrick couldn't help thinking that everyone could see how different they were.
Sophia fit in here, with her easy way of moving and her natural grace that came from a comfortable life. He didn't. He came from rough streets and long workdays. From nights counting pennies, not drinking wine.
Still, he smiled when she did, and the way she looked at him like he was good enough made him forget everything else for a while.
They found their table by the window, looking out at the city lights. The waiter pulled her chair out first, then looked unsure about Derrick before doing the same for him. He quietly said thank you.
The night went by smoothly. They talked while eating expensive food that Derrick couldn't even say the names of, laughed at little jokes, and shared quiet looks that said more than words could.
For a little while, everything felt perfect.
But while Sophia talked about her week filled with different charity functions and her dad's fancy dinners, Derrick started to zone out.
He thought about where he was not long ago, fixing roofs, sleeping in a small, musty apartment, and hoping for a better future.
Meeting Sophia was like a dream. She was the kind of woman that everyone noticed, even when surrounded by others. She was the type he never would've dared to approach if fate hadn't brought them together that rainy night, when she stopped to help him after his old bike broke down.
Since then, they had created a relationship that shouldn't have worked but somehow did at least, until moments like these reminded him of the differences between them.
He watched her laugh and touch his hand, wondering how much longer it could last.
"Hey," she said softly when she realized he was being quiet. "You haven't said much tonight."
He smiled slightly. "I'm just thinking about how lucky I am."
"Then stop thinking," she answered, looking at him warmly. "Just enjoy the moment."
He nodded, pushing his worries aside for now. They kept talking about simple things music, movies, and weekend plans. She told him about a trip her friends wanted to take, and he told her about a job interview he was waiting for.
Time passed quickly. The restaurant was lively, with soft lighting that made everything seem golden. For a little while, Derrick let himself hope that maybe love could overcome the differences between them.
Until he saw them.
Across the room, three well dressed women entered, their laughter confident and attention grabbing.
They were Sophia's friends, and he knew them right away.
They were the ones she went to college with, the ones who had once called him "the charity case."
Sophia hadn't seen them yet. Her hand was up as she talked about something funny. Derrick's heart started to beat faster. He could already feel what was about to happen the looks, the whispers, and how they'd make Sophia uncomfortable just by being there.
"Derrick?" she asked, noticing he seemed distracted.
He forced a smile. "It's nothing. I just thought I saw someone I knew."
But when she turned and saw them, her face changed immediately. Her lips tightened a little, and she stood up straighter.
"Do you… want to leave?" he asked quietly.
"No," she said after a moment, sounding sure but unsure. "We're okay here."
Her friends had already spotted her. One of them Lydia, tall and observant smiled as she leaned over to whisper something to the others. Derrick felt a familiar discomfort in his stomach. He tried to focus on the table, the food, anything but their stares.
Sophia, bless her, tried to act like nothing was wrong. She asked him about his job, laughed at his jokes, and pretended not to notice her friends whispering behind their champagne glasses. But he could see the stress in her eyes.
It wasn't her fault. He knew that. But he hated that she had to choose between him and the world she was a part of.
After some time passed, the laughing from the other table got louder on purpose. One of the women shouted, "Sophia! I didn't realize you were here!"
Sophia turned around and gave a polite smile. "Hi, Lydia."
"Oh, and you brought… someone with you." The word was full of hidden meaning.
Derrick made a smile that didn't show in his eyes. "Good evening."
They said a few more words that were empty, friendly, but mean underneath. When her friends finally looked away, the quiet time after that felt very heavy.
"I'm sorry," Sophia said quietly.
"Don't be," Derrick replied gently. "It's not your problem."
But he could sense something breaking between them, something small but important.
They finished their meal quietly after what happened. When they went outside, the night air was cool, and it smelled a little like rain. Derrick put his hands in his pockets and looked at her.
"Do you still believe this was a good idea?" he asked with a small smile.
She looked up at him, her eyes gentle but tired. "Yes," she said. "Because I got to spend time with you."
He nodded his head because he didn't trust himself to speak. As they walked down the silent street, she took his hand, and their fingers went together like they usually did.
But deep inside, Derrick couldn't help wonde
ring how long their love could fight the problems of the world and what would happen when it couldn't anymore.