“ Saying ‘ I love you ’ is not enough. Your actions also have to align with your words."
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— Cecile —
It was 9 a.m., and I had just started my self-care routine when my phone rang. The sudden sound broke the calm of the morning. “ Who could it be? ” I muttered, walking over to my bedside table.
The screen lit up with a name that made my heart skip: Joel. I hesitated, my mind racing with questions. Why was he calling? After a few moments, I picked up.
“ Good morning, Cecile… ” His voice was light, almost uncertain.
“ Hi, ” I replied, my voice softer than I intended. Yesterday’s events replayed in my head. It had felt so significant then, but now it seemed distant, almost unreal.
“ Can we meet for brunch today? ” He asked casually, as though it were the simplest thing in the world.
“ Yeah, ” I said after a pause. “ What time? ”
“ When are you free? ”
“ I don’t have any lectures today, so… ”
“ Let’s say 11 a.m. at Café Latte, ” He suggested.
“ Alright. See you there. ”
“ Bye. ”
When the call ended, I stared at my phone for a moment, replaying the conversation in my head. Had I just agreed to meet him?
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Deciding what to wear was harder than I expected. Memories of my last outfit choice—an awkward denim skirt—still haunted me. This time, I wanted to get it right.
After some thought, I settled on a light blue off-shoulder crop top and low-waisted jeans. It felt comfortable yet stylish. Transparent heels and sunglasses completed the look, adding a touch of confidence.
With my handbag on my shoulder, I gave myself a final glance in the mirror. I looked ready, even if I didn’t quite feel it.
I locked my room, got into my car, and drove to the cafè. The drive was quick, but my thoughts kept circling back to Joel. When I arrived, I took a deep breath before stepping out, bracing myself for whatever came next.
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— Joel —
I had just taken a seat when she walked in, and instantly, my breath hitched in my throat. There she was, walking towards me with the kind of grace that made her seem like she stepped right out of a fashion magazine. Her long hair flowed behind her like a silken waterfall, and every step she took radiated confidence and authority. It was impossible not to notice how effortlessly she commanded the space around her.
It was almost surreal, the way she looked now—so composed, so beautiful. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, I had shared something so intimate with her.
“Hey,” she greeted me, stretching out her hand for a handshake. But without thinking, I moved toward her and pulled her into a hug instead. “Hi,” I murmured as I felt her freeze in my arms, the warmth of her body pressing against mine. My breath fanned over her bare shoulders, sending an unexpected shiver down my spine.
My hands instinctively rested on her lower back, skin to skin, and I couldn’t help but wonder—had she dressed like this on purpose? Was it intentional, or was I simply overthinking things? The way she looked, so alluring yet commanding, made it hard to tell.
In my arms, she seemed like a paradox—so strong yet so fragile. The moment felt tender, and all I could think was that I wanted to both protect her and take care of her. There was a raw, unspoken connection between us.
“Thank you for showing up,” I said softly, slowly releasing her from the embrace.
“You’re welcome,” she replied, offering me a small, genuine smile. But I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her lips—their shape, their color—plump and red, almost too inviting. It was hard to focus on anything else.
I gently ushered her to a seat, and after she was settled, I placed our order with the waiter.
“Grilled chicken and salad,” she said, her voice calm but sure. The waiter made a note of it, then turned to me.
“I’ll have a chicken sandwich and some fruit salad,” I said, feeling my stomach rumble.
“Okay, Sir. Anything else?” The young waiter asked politely, but I was distracted by Cecile’s smile, the way her eyes lit up when she remembered something.
“A bottle of grape wine, please,” I said, watching as a soft smile bloomed on Cecile’s face at the mention of her favorite drink. How could I forget something like that?
“Alright, Sir. I’ll be back soon,” the waiter said before heading off.
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“Cecile,” I said, my voice low and steady as I looked into her eyes. “You look beautiful—and hot—in that outfit.” I made sure to maintain eye contact, watching her blush slightly.
“Yeah… thanks,” she responded softly, her gaze dropping to the table for a moment.
“So, no lectures today?” I asked, curious.
“Yeah,” she replied, looking back up at me. “No classes today.”
“What was your plan for the day, then?” I leaned forward, intrigued.
She hesitated, her fingers playing with the edge of her napkin, and I could tell she was thinking about whether or not to share something personal. “Well, I started ovulating earlier today and had to use a painkiller for my cramps,” she said, her voice quieter now. “So, I had planned to just sleep in.”
Her words hung in the air for a moment, and my mind couldn’t help but race. The word “ovulating” kept ringing in my head, and a thought, one I wasn’t sure I was ready for, crossed my mind. If we’d been intimate yesterday, then there was a chance—no, a possibility—that we had created something. A baby.
Our eyes met, and I saw that she was thinking the same thing. That unspoken realization between us lingered, and I wasn’t sure whether to address it or leave it unsaid for now.
“So… you’re studying literature, right?” I asked, trying to shift the conversation to lighter ground.
Her face lit up at the question, a smile forming on her lips. “Yeah. And you?”
“Visual arts,” I replied, smiling at her response.
“Okay,” she said, nodding. The conversation seemed to settle into a comfortable silence as our food arrived. We ate quietly, savoring the moment in our own way.
The restaurant began to empty out as we finished, and I felt a sense of relief at the privacy. It was just us, a quiet space where we could speak freely without the distractions of the world.
“Cecile,” I said, my voice low and steady. Our gazes locked, and for a moment, I almost hesitated. But I knew I had to say it. “I’m sorry for how I treated you, years ago… It wasn’t my intention to hurt you. I was just too broken at the time to see how much I was hurting you. I was so caught up in my own pain that I couldn’t see yours.”
She met my apology with a gentle smile. “Oh… it’s okay. I’ve forgiven you already.” Her words were soft, but they carried a weight of understanding that made me feel lighter.
“Thank you,” I said quietly, the gratitude in my voice genuine. The past felt like it was slowly falling away, piece by piece, and maybe—just maybe—we could start to heal, together.
***
— Cecile —
I noticed he kept staring at my lips as we spoke and I wondered if he craved kissing me as much as I did him. 
“ Will you be my girlfriend, Cecile? ” The wait was finally over, as the long awaited question finally came. But are we missing something here?
“ I… ” I found myself hesitating, what if he never says it… what I end up in a relationship where I keep doubting my worth and value. But the look in his eyes, made me realize that my worries were probably pointless and my fears won’t come true. “ I will. ”
A watched a confident smile bloom on his face, at his words. “ Can you move closer? ” It was as if his words were what I was waiting for, as I stood up almost immediately but gracefully and walked towards his seat which were barely three steps away. But where would I sit? I stared at him… as a look of understanding passed between us. 
“ Here. ” He pointed towards his lap and I froze… what if? Despite my insecurities, I found myself doing just that. 
I sat on his lap facing him and he hadn’t given me the time to think when his lips claimed mine. 
The kiss which lasted longer than usual made my brain swim and I found myself craving for more. 
I felt the heat grow between us, but I ignored it as I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him harder. This was until I felt his hands go under my 
crop top, still I didn’t stop him… as he went further and poked my breast. 
He brought his hands back to my stomach and kept caressing me as we kissed. “ Joel… ” I moaned as pleasure filled me… regardless, I kissed him harder and welcomed his intense kiss. I felt like a whore in his arms. Why haven’t I ever felt this way for anyone else?
He broke the kiss, and I felt a sudden, unexpected connection between us, a string of intimacy that had woven itself through the moments we shared. As our lips parted, I noticed a thin line where our saliva had joined, evidence of how close we had been. He gently lifted my chin, his eyes locking with mine, filled with so much love it nearly took my breath away. “I love you, Cecile…” His words were slow, measured, as if he was savoring the moment, and it hit me harder than I expected. I hadn’t realized how desperately I had been waiting to hear those words from him until now.
Tears welled in my eyes, slipping down my face as I whispered back, “I love you, Joel.” I smiled through my tears, then leaned in to kiss him again. But this time, as our lips met, I felt his tears too. They were warm and salty, and I wondered if it was just his, or a mix of both our tears. It felt raw, real—like something deeper was happening between us.
We kissed for what felt like hours, the connection between us growing stronger until we were both too exhausted to continue. Eventually, I simply laid in his arms, my body heavy with the weight of emotions, and the sheer exhaustion from everything we had just shared.
I didn’t even realize when I fell asleep. It was only when I felt his gentle kiss on my face that I woke. “Wake up, Sleeping Joli,” he whispered, his voice soft and tender. Slowly, I opened my eyes, blinking in surprise to find myself laying horizontally in his arms, the warmth of his embrace enveloping me.
“I…” I started, but blushed, feeling the intensity of his gaze on me, as if his eyes could see into the very depths of my soul.
“It’s alright… You’re my girl now,” he said, and his words sent a warmth through my heart, as if they were exactly what I needed to hear in that moment.
I yawned, still feeling the remnants of sleep in my body. “Um…”
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— Joel —
“Sleepy?” I asked, my voice soft as I watched her, a small smile curling on my lips.
“Um…” She nodded cutely, like a child. “I need to take some painkillers too,” she added, her voice quiet, reminding me of what almost happened yesterday.
“Are they here?” I asked, already knowing the answer. She nodded and pointed to her purse, so I reached over and grabbed it, carefully fishing out the pills.
The capsules were red, vivid against my palm. I picked out two and helped her take them. She swallowed them without protest, her eyes closing as she lay back, drifting back into the warmth of sleep.
I watched her for a moment, her features softening as she surrendered to rest, and decided not to disturb her. Instead, I carefully picked her up in my arms, gathering her things and leaving a tip for the waiter. Then, I made my way out of the restaurant, my heart light with the closeness I felt to her.
I placed her gently in the passenger seat of her car, buckling her in, before climbing into the driver’s seat. I didn’t know where her hostel was, and I knew I wouldn’t be allowed inside, so I decided to take her to my place instead.
The drive was quiet, the only sounds the hum of the engine and the soft rhythm of her breathing beside me. Once we arrived, I carried her inside, carefully laying her on my bed. I removed her heels, making sure not to disturb her, then covered her up with the duvet, tucking her in as if she were the most precious thing in the world.
I didn’t want to be alone, when she opened her eyes, so I lay beside her, wrapping my arms around her. The warmth of her body next to mine was all I needed in that moment. So much for a first date, I thought with a quiet chuckle to myself. But in that moment, I knew this was just the beginning.
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A/N: What do you think, guys?