𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐀 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫

𝐅 𝐈 𝐅 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐎 𝐍 𝐄

Lowin

As I fumbled with the pot on the stove, a wave of panic surged through me. The clock on the wall seemed to tick faster with every second, mocking me. I could feel the anxiety bubbling up in my chest, making it harder to think straight.

"Henry, I swear I'm going to lose my mind," I muttered, stirring the sauce a bit too aggressively. "She's going to be here any minute, and I haven't even set the table yet. And the dessert, don't even get me started on the dessert!"

Henry, who was casually leaning against the counter with a drink in his hand, rolled his eyes at me. "Lowin, you need to chill. You're doing great. Everything smells amazing, and you've got plenty of time."

I shot him a glare. "Plenty of time? Are you serious? I still have to plate everything, and what if the pasta is overcooked? What if the chicken is dry? What if—"

"What if you take a deep breath and stop freaking out?" he interrupted, reaching over to give my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "It's just dinner, Ro. She's not going to care if everything isn't perfect."

I wanted to believe him, I really did. But the thought of anything going wrong tonight had my nerves in knots. I had planned this romantic dinner for Sofiana with so much care, wanting everything to be just right. I wanted to show her how much I cared, and the last thing I needed was for it to turn into a disaster.

"Easy for you to say," I grumbled, checking on the chicken in the oven for the tenth time. "You're not the one who has to impress her."

Henry smirked, clearly amused by my stress. "I don't think you need to worry about impressing her, Lowin. I'm pretty sure she's already head over heels for you."

I felt a blush creep up my neck at his words, but I quickly shook my head. "That's not the point, Henry. This is important. I want it to be special."

"And it will be," he said firmly. "But you won't be able to enjoy it if you keep stressing out like this. Just breathe, okay?"

I took a shaky breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Henry was right, as usual. I needed to stop panicking and just focus on getting everything ready. Sofiana would appreciate the effort no matter what, and that was what mattered.

But then I caught sight of the clock again, and my anxiety flared up all over again. "Oh my God, she's going to be here in twenty minutes, and I haven't even set the table!"

Henry groaned, clearly exasperated with me at this point. "Lowin, it's just setting the table. You can do that in like two minutes. Stop freaking out!"

"You say that like it's no big deal," I retorted, grabbing the plates from the cabinet. "But what if I don't get the candles right? Or what if the napkins don't match?"

"Oh my God, it's dinner, not a wedding," Henry said, throwing his hands up in exasperation. "The woman already loves you. Do you really think she's going to care if the napkins match?"

I glared at him as I hastily arranged the cutlery. "You're not helping, Henry."

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my frantic state. "I think I'm helping more than you realize. You need to relax, Ro. You're going to give yourself a heart attack over nothing."

I knew he was right, but I couldn't shake the nervous energy that had me running around like a headless chicken. "I just... I want everything to be perfect."

Henry softened at that, his teasing smile fading into something more understanding. "I know, Ro. But sometimes perfect isn't what you plan for. Sometimes it's just about being with the person you care about, no matter what happens."

I sighed, finally stopping for a moment to really look at him. "You're right. I know you're right. I'm just... nervous."

He smiled, his eyes full of reassurance. "It's going to be great. I promise."

I nodded, feeling a little better but still on edge. "Okay, okay. I'll try to calm down."

"Good," he said, pushing off the counter and grabbing his jacket. "Now, I think it's time for me to make my exit before she gets here and finds me stealing all your attention."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. "Right, because clearly, you're the one she came here to see."

"Obviously," Henry said with a mock-serious expression. "But really, I should get out of here. You don't want me cramping your style."

"Yeah, yeah," I said, rolling my eyes as I followed him to the door. "Thanks for the help, even if you were mostly just a pain, and take the elevator, she likes to use the front door more."

He grinned, pulling me into a quick hug. "Anytime, Ro. Now go wow your girlfriend with your amazing culinary skills."

"I will," I said, feeling a little more confident now that he'd managed to calm me down. "Now get out of here before she shows up."

He put on a mock pout, clutching his chest as if he were deeply wounded. "You're just going to throw me out like that? I'm hurt, Ro. Truly."

"Oh, please," I said, laughing as I playfully shoved him toward the elevator. "You'll survive."

He stepped into the elevator, still wearing that overdramatic pout. "Fine, but don't come crying to me if she doesn't like your cooking."

I rolled my eyes again, but I couldn't help the smile on my face. "Get out of here, Henry."

He grinned one last time, giving me a mock salute as the elevator doors started to close. "Good luck, Lowin."

"Thanks," I said, waving as the doors shut. "I'll need it."

As soon as he was gone, I turned back to the penthouse, taking a deep breath to steady myself. Everything was ready now, the food was done, the table was set, and all that was left was to wait for Sofiana to arrive.

I glanced around one last time, making sure everything was in place. The candles were lit, the wine was chilling, and the lights were dimmed just enough to create the perfect ambiance.

I smiled to myself, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Maybe everything wasn't as chaotic as I'd thought. Maybe tonight would be perfect after all.

And as I heard the sound of keys in the lock, signaling Sofiana's arrival, I knew that no matter what happened, this night was going to be special. Because I was with her, and that was all that really mattered.

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~ R