To Eternity and Back

Chapter 9

"I'm really sorry about yesterday," I apologized, keeping my head down and not being able to look at Yuki's eyes due to shame. "I shouldn't have left you like that without giving you a proper excuse."

I fiddled with one of the buttons on my shirt to distract myself from my growing anxiety as we both sat in silence for a while at the bench.

What if she's mad because of yesterday? What if she doesn't forgive me? What if she thinks I was being rude and doesn't want to be around me anymore? There's so many what ifs.

My therapist has told me before to not focus on the pessimistic side of thoughts, but it's hard. The what if questions just keep coming and coming.

"I would've been mad," Yuki said as she tilted her down to look directly at my hazel green eyes. "If you didn't seem like a guy to do that without reason, so you're fine." She then softly smiled at me and I felt my heart skip a beat.

However, I ignored it because I was more surprised that she forgave me.

"So, you're not mad at me, Yuki?" I asked, a little bewildered and wanted to confirm because I'm not sure if my mind is playing tricks on me.

She nodded and leaned towards me, her smile leaning towards more of a smirk now. "Well," she started. "If you really want to apologize, maybe you can take me out to dinner."

My eyes widened in utter shock and confusion as I stared at her. I'm not being delusional, am I? I secretly pinched my hand and slightly winced. No, I am not being crazy. Everything that just happened was real. So, does this mean that she just asked me out? Asked me out? Like on a real date?

I blushed red at the thought of it, but I managed to keep my expression cool despite the redness in my cheeks betraying what I really felt.

"Sure, if that's what you want," I replied with a smile.

"It's a date then!" Yuki said in a flirtatious way as she softly clapped her hands together. I don't know if she's just teasing me or not – since I found out she likes to do it a lot to me – but it made me blush more.

"Y-yeah, of course," I stuttered, feeling like my chest is about to explode from how fast my heart is beating. I've never been on a date before in my life. I was always too busy with my music and studies that I never got the chance, and though I don't know if Yuki is being serious or not, it still felt nice to hang out with someone. I don't remember the last time I genuinely relaxed in someone else's presence other than Aurelio, since I always have to pretend to be the perfect man.

I then cleared my throat to wash away the emotions I was feeling at the moment and looked back at her. "Should we exchange phone numbers then, considering we're close enough to go eat dinner together now?"

"Of course." Yuki took out her phone, as did I and after a couple of minutes, her number was now in my contacts.

I felt giddy as I stared at her name in my phone and wanted to exclaim how excited I felt, but I felt to embarrassed to do that in front of Yuki, so I didn't. However, I was glad that I decided to explore the Fullerton Pavilion more today because I wouldn't have never met up with her while she finished up her photo shoot. Fourth times the charm, right?

"Oh, by the way," I said to myself before turning to her. "Would you like to pick the spot for dinner? Since you know Singapore better, I have a feeling you know the best places to eat."

"Of course I do," she boasted, sticking her nose up in the air a bit as she crossed her arms and smiled. I didn't say it out loud, but she looked really cute when she did that.

"That's great, then how about we–"

I then felt my head get pushed down and let out a startled sound. "So, this is where you were. I went to your room, but you weren't there so I had to go out looking for you." I then felt my hair get ruffled up as they scratched me like they were petting a dog.