Chapter 304: a confession II

Chapter 304: Chapter 304: a confession II

There was silence on the line.

Neither of them spoke.

Then, at almost the same time—

"Actually..."

"Vivienne, actually..."

They both stopped.

Another beat of silence.

Christopher spoke first.

"You go first."

"Oh."

Vivienne’s heart jumped.

"Actually, it’s okay."

She closed her eyes.

"No, I mean... I called because I wanted to say something too."

She pressed a hand against her chest, as if that might somehow calm her heartbeat.

It didn’t.

"I know this might come across as a little too forward."

She swallowed.

"Or maybe... a little too fast. I mean, we haven’t really known each other that long, and..."

She paused.

"It’s just that these past few weeks, we’ve been texting and calling, and we’ve spent some time together, and..."

She took another breath.

"During all those times, I realized that..."

Her fingers curled against her shirt.

"I like you."

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"I mean..."

Her face felt hot.

"I really, really like you."

A small pause.

"Not just in a friendly way."

Her voice dropped.

"I mean... romantically."

Silence.

Vivienne’s heart hammered beneath her palm.

She waited.

Then Christopher chuckled softly.

Vivienne opened her eyes.

There was something warm in his voice.

Fond, almost.

"Yeah," Christopher said.

"I know."

Vivienne blinked.

"Oh."

She stared at the ceiling.

"Oh."

A tiny, embarrassed smile pulled at her lips.

"Well..."

She covered her face with one hand.

"I guess I was a little painfully obvious."

"You were."

"Right."

She took a breath.

"Okay."

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

"Well, since you already know..."

She hesitated.

"Would you consider dating me?"

Christopher was quiet.

Vivienne’s heart skipped.

"I mean..."

She rushed on.

"If you’re amenable to it."

She paused.

"Maybe you could... give me a try?"

There was another small silence.

"I know we haven’t known each other that long. And I’m not asking you to decide anything huge right now."

She swallowed.

"I just want to see if... maybe we could be something."

Her voice softened.

"Just give us a chance."

She took a breath.

"And if we’re going to do that, I’d rather we date exclusively."

She hurried to explain.

"Not because I’m trying to pressure you. I just... I don’t really want to date someone while they’re also dating other people."

She paused.

"And I don’t want you thinking about whether I’m seeing someone else either."

That sounded reasonable.

At least she hoped it did.

"And..."

She hesitated.

"I’m a good person, honestly."

Christopher’s lips twitched.

"I mean, I’m not saying all these things about myself to scam you."

She winced.

That sounded terrible.

"I just mean..."

She searched for the right words.

"I really am a good person."

A beat.

"I can be loyal."

Another.

"And honest. And sweet."

She paused.

"Kind, too."

Then she realized she was apparently listing her qualities like she was applying for a position.

"But..."

She faltered.

"I don’t even know what you like."

Vivienne opened her eyes.

"Wait."

She sat up slightly.

"What do you like?"

She immediately started talking again before he could answer.

"I mean, what kind of person do you like? What do you look for in someone?"

She stopped.

Oh.

She was doing it again.

She had called him to confess her feelings and somehow ended up interviewing him about his ideal woman.

Vivienne pressed her palm over her face.

Why was she like this?

Then she remembered that she was still waiting for an answer.

She slowly lowered her hand.

"Um..."

A nervous pause.

"So..."

Another.

"Ah..."

She swallowed.

"What do you think?"

–

On the other end of the call, Christopher smiled.

He had been prepared to tell her that perhaps they should take a step back.

He had already decided that getting involved with her might be more trouble than it was worth.

But now she was asking what kind of person he liked after giving him an earnest list of reasons why he should give her a chance.

She was clearly nervous.

And yet there was nothing insincere about her.

She genuinely wanted him.

She genuinely wanted to try.

Christopher found himself smiling again.

She was, quite unexpectedly, difficult to turn down.

He let the silence linger for another moment.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Her answer came almost immediately.

Then she hesitated.

"I mean... yes."

Christopher’s smile deepened slightly.

"You’re asking me to date you."

"Yes."

"And exclusively."

There was another tiny pause.

"Yes."

He looked down at the pavement beneath his shoes.

"You’ve thought about this?"

"I have."

"For how long?"

Vivienne went quiet for a moment.

"Uh... long enough, I think."

Christopher’s lips curved slightly.

"Okay."

He glanced back toward the restaurant.

His friends were still inside, completely unaware that he was standing outside reconsidering a decision he’d spent the entire day making.

He looked down at his phone again.

"All right."

Vivienne went very still.

"All right...?"

"I’ll give it a try."

There was silence.

Then—

"Really?"

Christopher smiled.

"Really."

A tiny, delighted sound came through the phone.

He could already hear the happiness in her voice.

Then Vivienne went quiet for a moment.

He waited.

"So..."

There was something hesitant about her voice again.

"What does that mean for us?"

Christopher raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I mean..."

She sounded embarrassed.

"Are we allowed to hold hands?"

Christopher stared at the pavement for a second.

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Yes."

"Oh."

Then she continued.

"What about hugging?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

A pause.

"And..."

She hesitated.

Christopher already had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"And what?"

"Nothing."

He smiled.

"Vivienne."

There was a tiny silence.

Then, very softly—

"Can I kiss you?"

Christopher actually laughed under his breath.

"Definitely."

"Oh."

He could practically hear her smile.

Vivienne was quiet for a second.

Then he heard her take a breath.

"Okay."

Another pause.

"Where are you?"

Christopher glanced toward the restaurant.

"I’m outside the restaurant."

"Which restaurant?"

"Deluna’s. Why?"

"Nothing."

She sounded suddenly shy.

"I just..."

A pause.

"Can I see you?"

There was something hopeful in the way she asked.

Christopher looked at the time.

It was getting late.

"It’s a little late tonight."

"Oh."

The disappointment in her voice was immediate.

Then she added, almost cautiously,

"But... we just agreed to date."

"Yes, we did."

"So..."

She hesitated.

"Can I come see my boyfriend?"

Christopher went still.

Then he smiled.

"You’re moving a little too quickly."

"I know."

He could hear the smile in her voice.

"But we’re exclusively dating, right?"

"Yes."

"Aren’t those pretty much the same?"

Christopher chuckled.

There it was again.

He shook his head.

"Now I think you really did scam me."

Vivienne laughed softly.

"Well..."

Christopher smiled.

"Fine. Whatever you want to label it."

Her voice brightened immediately.

"Really?"

"Really."

He glanced toward the restaurant again.

Then he asked,

"Where are you?"

"I’m at the dorm."

Christopher glanced toward the street.

"Then stay where you are."

"What?"

"Don’t come out."

"I’ll come to you."

"You will?"

"It’s late."

His voice softened.

"And I don’t want you walking alone outside at this hour."

There was a small pause.

Then—

"Okay."

Christopher smiled.

"I’ll see you soon."

–

Tbc