Chapter 33: We’re actually dating

Damian stared at Emily’s message.

Emily:Can we talk tomorrow? I’d rather talk to you in person.

He read it again.

Then a third time.

His first reaction was relief.

His second was anxiety.

That’s not a no.

He stared at the screen.

But it’s not exactly a yes either.

Damian dropped his phone onto his bed and leaned back.

"Of course."

Of course Emily wanted to tell him in person.

That was probably a good thing.

Probably.

He picked up his phone again.

Damian: Sure. When?

Her reply came a few seconds later.

Emily: After class? Same garden?

Damian smiled despite himself.

Damian: Yeah. I’ll be there.

Emily: Okay :)

He stared at the smiley for a moment.

Then locked his phone.

He was still nervous, but at least he had something definite to look forward to.

Unfortunately, his mind had another thing to remind him about.

Claire.

Damian frowned.

His thoughts immediately returned to that evening.

The awkward silence at the door.

The way Claire had suddenly gone red.

The way she’d practically rushed away afterward.

He scratched the side of his head.

What was that about ?

Maybe she’d just been embarrassed by the awkwardness.

That was probably it.

There was no reason to read too much into it.

Damian nodded to himself.

"Yeah. That’s probably it."

He paused.

"...Probably."

The next day felt longer than it should have.

Damian had classes in the morning, but his mind kept drifting toward the afternoon.

Ethan noticed.

"You’re quiet."

"Am I?"

"Very."

Damian shrugged.

"Just tired."

Ethan looked at him for a second.

"Emily?"

Damian looked over.

"How did you—"

"You’ve been staring at your phone every ten minutes."

Damian sighed.

"She wants to talk."

Ethan’s eyebrows lifted.

"About?"

"I don’t know."

Ethan nodded slowly.

"Right."

Damian gave him a look.

"Don’t."

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were about to."

"I was thinking."

"And Nothing good comes out of that ."

Ethan laughed.

"Relax, man. Whatever happens, happens."

Damian nodded.

That was easier said than done.

After his final class, Damian made his way toward the garden behind the university building.

The same place.

The quiet path.

The benches.

The trees shielding most of it from the main campus.

He arrived a few minutes early.

Then waited.

A few minutes later, Emily appeared.

She slowed when she saw him.

"Hey."

"Hey."

She sat beside him.

For a few seconds, neither said anything.

Damian glanced at her.

Emily was unusually quiet.

That did nothing for his nerves.

"So..."

She looked at him.

"You have that look."

"What look?"

"Like you want to shit."

Damian let out a small laugh.

"Can’t help it, considering the situation ."

"I know."

She smiled.

Then her expression became more serious.

"I thought about what you asked me."

Damian’s smile disappeared.

He nodded.

"Okay."

Emily looked down at her hands.

"I actually thought about it a lot."

Damian swallowed.

"Right."

She glanced at him.

"I wasn’t avoiding you yesterday."

"Really."

"My schedule was just a mess."

"And I didn’t want to answer you over text."

Damian nodded.

"That makes sense."

Emily took a breath.

Then looked directly at him.

"I like spending time with you."

Damian’s heart beat a little faster.

"Same ."

"And I feel comfortable around you."

She smiled slightly.

"Most of the time."

Damian laughed.

"Most of the time?"

"You overthink everything."

"I don’t ."

Her smile remained.

Then she became quiet again.

"I was trying to figure out whether I wanted to actually date you..."

Damian waited.

Emily looked at him.

"And I realized I’d probably be lying if I said I didn’t like you even slightly ."

For a moment, Damian didn’t respond.

Emily smiled.

"So..."

She took a small breath.

"Yes."

Damian blinked.

"Yes?"

"Yes."

She laughed softly.

"I’d like to go out with you."

The tension that had been sitting in Damian’s chest since yesterday finally disappeared.

He leaned back.

"Okay."

Emily raised an eyebrow.

"Okay?"

"I’m trying to play it cool."

She laughed.

"You’re doing a terrible job."

"Ouch."

They both smiled.

For a few seconds, they simply sat there.

Damian looked at her.

Emily looked back.

There was something different about the moment now.

Nothing dramatic had changed.

Yet somehow, everything had.

"So..."

Emily broke the silence.

"We’re actually dating now."

Damian nodded.

"Apparently."

She laughed.

"You don’t sound very excited."

"I am."

"Then why do you sound like that?"

"I’m trying not to scare you away."

Emily shook her head.

"You’re ridiculous."

"That’s what Ethan says."

"He’s right on that one ."

They laughed again.

And for the first time in two days, Damian felt completely relaxed.

As they stood to leave, Emily hesitated.

"There is one more thing."

Damian looked at her.

"The gift."

His expression changed.

"You don’t have to worry about that."

"I know."

She shook her head.

"I’ve thought about it too."

Damian remained quiet.

"I don’t want to accept something like that from Adrian."

"You don’t have to."

"I know."

She looked at him.

"I just don’t want him getting the wrong idea."

Damian nodded.

"That makes sense."

"I’ll return it."

"Do whatever you’re comfortable with."

Emily smiled.

"Thanks."

"For what?"

"For not telling me what I should do."

Damian shrugged.

"It’s your decision."

Emily smiled.

"That’s one of the things I like about you."

Damian looked at her.

She seemed to realize what she’d just said.

A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.

"Anyway..."

Damian smiled.

"Anyway."

They started walking back toward the main campus.

Later that afternoon, Damian spotted Claire near the entrepreneurship club office.

She noticed him too.

Their eyes met.

For a brief moment, Claire seemed to remember the previous evening.

Her expression changed.

Damian noticed.

"Hey."

"Hey."

There was a small pause.

"You heading home?" Claire asked.

"Not yet."

"Oh."

Another pause.

Claire adjusted the strap of her bag.

"How’s your mood today?"

"Better."

"Good."

Damian smiled.

"Thanks for yesterday."

Claire looked at him.

"For what?"

"Keeping me company."

She smiled.

"Anytime."

The conversation was normal.

At least mostly.

Neither mentioned the awkward moment at the door.

Neither needed to.

After a few seconds, Claire nodded.

"I’ll see you around."

"Yeah."

She walked away.

Damian watched her for a moment before turning toward the main walkway.

He didn’t notice Claire glance back once.

That evening, Damian sat on his bed, phone in hand.

A new message from Emily appeared.

Emily: Goodnight, love

Damian stared at it.

A smile slowly spread across his face.

He typed a reply.

Damian:Goodnight.

He paused.

Then added:

Damian:Still getting used to that.

The reply came quickly.

Emily:Me too.

Damian chuckled.

He put his phone down.

For once, there was nothing complicated to think about.

Emily had chosen him.

Not Adrian’s money.

Not an expensive gift.

Just him.

Damian leaned back against his pillow.

Then a familiar golden screen appeared in front of him.

Only he could see it.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

[USER’S FINANCIAL INFLUENCE FROM EXISTING INVESTMENT CONTINUES TO INCREASE.]

[NEW SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ARE BEGINNING TO FORM.]

[FURTHER INFORMATION WILL BECOME AVAILABLE WHEN CURRENT CONDITIONS ARE MET.]

Damian stared at the screen.

He sighed.

"Of course."

The screen disappeared.

Damian picked up his phone again.

Another message from Emily.

He smiled.

For tonight, the system could wait.