Silver Lining ❥ daerin

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐬

𝚂̷𝚊̷𝚐̷𝚎̷

The aroma of fried food filled the small diner as I scanned the menu, my eyes flicking over every possible greasy option. Burgers, fries, milkshakes—the place was a comfort food lover's dream. I wasn't sure what I wanted yet, though. Too many choices. My stomach rumbled softly in anticipation, still reminding me I needed to make up my mind.

Across the table, I noticed Calista. She wasn't looking at her menu like I was; she had it closed in front of her, arms resting on it, and... was she staring at me? Her intense gaze made me squirm a little in my seat.

I glanced up from my menu. "You're not even looking," I remarked, arching a brow at her. "How do you know what you want?"

Calista's lips curled into a knowing smirk, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. "I already know what I want," she said, winking at me in that way she always did when she wanted to fluster me.

And of course, it worked.

I shook my head, trying to focus back on the menu, but the heat rising in my cheeks betrayed me. "You're impossible."

The waitress came over just in time, saving me from further embarrassment, and took our orders. I went for a classic burger with fries and a chocolate milkshake, while Calista ordered the same, unsurprisingly. She really did know what she wanted.

Once the waitress left, I found myself looking back at Calista. I couldn't help it—she had that kind of presence that demanded attention even when she wasn't trying.

"So," I began, unable to resist teasing her a bit, "no more fans tonight to express their undying love for you?" My tone was light, but I was genuinely curious after what happened earlier.

Calista chuckled, leaning back in the booth, stretching her arms above her head. "Nah, seems like I'm all yours tonight, Ligaya," she said, her smile growing wider.

"All mine, huh?" I played along, grinning. "You're really getting used to this whole not-so-anonymous racing star thing, aren't you?"

She shrugged, her fingers drumming lightly on the table. "Guess I have to. Comes with the territory, right? But you know," she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice like she was letting me in on a secret, "there's only one person's attention I actually care about."

"Hmm... and who might that be?" I asked, feigning ignorance as I mirrored her movement, inching closer to her across the table.

She gave me a look, then reached across to gently squeeze my hand. "You, of course," she said with a soft smile, her fingers warm against mine.

It was simple, but that small gesture and her words carried so much weight. It wasn't just flirting anymore—it felt real, and I liked it more than I wanted to admit.

"Good to know," I murmured, squeezing her hand back just as the waitress came around with our milkshakes.

We leaned back into our seats, the moment passing but still lingering in the air between us, and I took a sip of my milkshake, letting the cool sweetness settle the warmth that Calista's attention always seemed to stir up in me.

As we sipped on our milkshakes, the smooth, chocolatey richness cooling the tension between us, I found myself thinking about Calista's next race. I knew she had one coming up soon—it had been mentioned briefly earlier—but I was curious about what it was really like for her.

I stirred my straw in the glass, watching the swirl of chocolate blend with the whipped cream as I casually asked, "So, out of curiosity... do you feel prepared for your next race? Or is there something different you do each time to practice and get ready?"