lover boy

Chapter 3

Cecilia Anderson

I was still in my pajamas, consisting of an oversized T-shirt and shorts that barely covered anything, when the sudden ringing of my doorbell shattered the morning silence. Sleepily, I shuffled to the door and opened it. Standing there with wide grins on their faces were Claire and Emily, both still in their sleepwear, hair tousled and without a trace of makeup. Claire wore loose pajama pants and a snug tank top, while Emily was in a short nightgown. They held donuts and coffee in their hands.

"Good morning, sleepyhead!" Claire exclaimed, pushing past me into the living room. Emily followed her, setting the donuts on the coffee table and beginning to pour the coffee.

"What are you guys doing here so early?" I asked, still half-asleep and completely bewildered by their unexpected visit.

"Sit down, Cecilia. We have something to show you," Emily said with a mysterious smile, pulling out her phone.

I plopped down on the sofa and accepted the steaming cup of coffee that Claire handed me. "What's so important that you had to drag me out of bed at this hour?" I asked, taking a sip.

"Just look," Emily urged, handing me her phone.

I took the phone and saw a screenshot of my Instagram profile. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the comment under one of my pictures. It was from Jude Bellingham. He had written:
"looking good.date? :)"

I stared at the screen in disbelief. Had Jude Bellingham really commented on my post and asked me out?

"Are you serious?" I asked, looking from Emily to Claire.

"Yes, it's his official profile," Claire confirmed, showing me another picture that verified it was indeed his account.

I was speechless. My friends' excitement was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile. "I hadn't seen this yet!" I said, grabbing my own phone to check the notification.

Sure enough, there it was: a follow request from Jude Bellingham. I clicked "Accept" and opened the message. My heart raced as I read the words again. "looking good. date? :)"

"What should I do?" I asked, turning to Claire and Emily. They both looked at me with excited eyes.

"You should definitely respond!" Emily said enthusiastically. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"But what do I say?" I asked, feeling nervous.

"Just be yourself," Claire said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "You're amazing, and he obviously sees that too."

With trembling fingers, I typed out a response: "Thank you, Jude. A date sounds great. When and where? :)"

I held my breath as I sent the message. My friends watched me eagerly.

"Now we just wait," Emily said, leaning back and grabbing a donut.

"And in the meantime, we can prepare," Claire added. "This is going to be great, Cecilia."

The excitement in the air was palpable, and I felt a mix of nervousness and joy. What had started as a normal day had suddenly turned into something special. Now, I could only hope that Jude would reply soon and our date would happen.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After a while, Claire and Emily finally left, buzzing with excitement about the upcoming date. I waved them off, still in a daze from the morning's events. With a deep breath, I decided to start my day properly. I took a quick shower, letting the warm water wake me up completely.

I picked out an outfit for the day: a pair of leggings and a big hoodie. After drying my long blonde hair and letting it fall naturally over my shoulders, I applied some light makeup. Glancing in the mirror, I felt a surge of confidence. Today was going to be a good day.

Grabbing my bag, I headed out the door and made my way to the university. The walk to campus was pleasant, the morning air crisp and refreshing. As I approached the grand buildings of the university, I felt a familiar blend of excitement and determination.

Classes went by in a blur of lectures and discussions. I paid close attention, taking detailed notes and asking questions when needed. My mind occasionally wandered back to the Instagram comment, but I quickly refocused on my studies. There was a lot to learn, and I was committed to excelling in my medical courses.

After my final class, I headed home, my mind still buzzing with the day's lessons. My apartment felt like a sanctuary as I walked in, shedding my bag and shoes by the door. I decided to tidy up a bit, putting away some of the unpacked boxes and straightening the living room. The place looked more like home with each passing day.

Finally, I allowed myself to relax. I curled up on the couch with a cozy blanket and turned on my favorite series. The familiar characters and storylines were a comforting distraction from the whirlwind my life had become.

Just as I was getting lost in the plot, the doorbell rang. Startled, I got up and went to answer it. A delivery man stood there, holding a massive bouquet of flowers and a box.

"Are you Cecilia Anderson?" he asked.

"Yes, that's me," I replied, a bit confused.

"These are for you," he said, handing over the bouquet and the box.

I thanked him and brought everything inside, my heart pounding with curiosity. Setting the flowers on the kitchen counter, I opened the box. Inside, I found three tickets to the upcoming Real Madrid game and a Real Madrid jersey with Bellingham's name and number on it. There was also a note:

"I hope you enjoy the game, darling. Wear this jersey and think of me. Can't wait to see you there! – Jude"

I couldn't believe it. Not only had he asked me out, but he had also sent tickets for me and my friends to see his game. It was incredibly sweet and thoughtful, and I felt a blush creep up my cheeks.

But then a thought struck me. How did he get my address? The question lingered in my mind, making me a bit uneasy. I quickly texted Claire and Emily, sharing the exciting news but also asking if they had any idea how Jude could have known where to send the package. Their responses were a mix of emojis and curiosity, but no answers.

As I lay back down on the couch, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face despite my lingering question. This day had taken such an unexpected turn, and I felt a mixture of nerves and anticipation for what was to come. The game was in a few days, and I couldn't wait to see how everything would unfold.