"Dylan…" Yue said, sadly, on the phone.
"Why? Is there a problem?" Dylan asked.
"My date just stood me up." She said, her voice sounded like she's about to cry.
"What? What happened?"
"I don't know." Dylan heard her voice cracked. She's definitely crying now. "I was so excited, you know? The way my friends described him is like a total package for me. Like he was the perfect guy for me. We texted, actually. Before today, just to talk about the plans. But suddenly he's out of reach."
"Yue…" Dylan sighed. "That's why I told you this date setups are no good."
He heard her laugh. "I should've listened to you. But I really wanted to have a date today."
"Don't we always go out on Valentine's?"
"I know. But you're like my bestfriend. That's not counted as a romantic date."
Dylan felt his heart clenched a little but he laughed it out. "I guess it's not."
"But do you wanna maybe do the same thing this year?" Yue hesitantly asked.
"Go out on a date?"
"Yeah."
"I thought you wouldn't ask. You know I can't resist you. Where are you?"
"I'm at the café near our workplace."
"I'll be there in five."
Dylan hurriedly dressed up and went out. He doesn't want Yue to wait that long.
He has been friends with her since college. And he doesn't know when but he fell in love with her somewhere along that timeline.
But he's afraid. Afraid to tell her that. He's afraid that their friendship will be ruined. He can't live without her, that he knows for sure.
It was a quick drive from his house to where Yue is. His heart became both happy amd sad when he saw her.
Happy because he's once again going out with her, even if it's just a friendly date in her perspective.
Sad, because even though Yue smiled when she saw him, he saw sadness in her eyes.
Being stood up really sucks, he thought. Not that he's been stood up before, he never even tried dating anyone.
"Hey!" He greeted her while reaching for her face. He forced her lips into a smile. She pushed his hands away.
"I can smile, Dylan. It's not like I'm in love with the guy. I just kept my hopes up is all."
He nodded. "Next time, don't do setups, okay?"
"If I don't, how will I get a date? One failed date doesn't mean all the others are."
"Why do you need a date when I'm here?" Dylan was shock with his question. Why did he say that?
Yue looked at her. "I sometimes wonder, why can't it be us?" She fixed herself. "Come to think of it, you're also the definition of my dream guy. Why haven't we tried dating romantically before?"
Because I'm a coward, Dylan thought.
"Oh, that's right. You're waiting for that friend of yours to like you back. What's her name again? Luna? How come I've never seen her before?"
He laughed. Because it's you, he wanted to say. He made up a name that's related to the moon, just like "Yue".
She nudged him. "Why aren't you answering my question? Is she fake? Because come to think of it, you never showed me a picture of her."
"Come on, Yue. Let's just order." Dylan changed the topic.
"Nope. I'm not ordering until you answer my question." Yue said firmly.
Should he tell her? He knows how curious Yue is, she won't stop.
"Let's order first, and I'll tell you later, okay?"
"Sure?" Yue pointed her index finger towards Dylan face.
He smiled, she's so cute. "Yes, I'm sure."
After ordering, Yue immediately sat down.
"Now, tell me about Luna."
"Yue, it's our date. Why are you bringing her up?"
"Why shouldn't I? She's the girl you've been in love with all these years! And as your friend, I can't believe I know nothing about her except her name."
"You know everything about her." Dylan whispered.
"What?? I heard that!" Yue exclaimed. "Ohmy, is she someone I know? Is she close to me?"
Was he that loud? Damn.
Should he just tell her?
He took a deep breath and sighed.
"Ohmygod! I do know her! Who? Who among our friends?"
"None of them." Dylan answered.
"Tsh! You don't have to lie. Don't be ashamed! It's okay!"
"I'm not lying, Yue. It's not one of our friends."
Yue looked confused. "Then, who? So, I don't know her?"
"You do know her. Because she's you Yue. You're Luna. Just like how your name means moon. You're the I like. All these years."
Yue is in shock. She leaned back on her seat.
Oh no, is this the part where their friendship gets ruined? Dylan asked himself.
Dylan was about to open his mouth to tell her to ignore his feelings and just continue being his friend when Yue suddenly blurted out a question.
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
Dylan couldn't find the right words to explain, so Yue continued talking.
"All the while, I thought I was the only one who has feelings for you. That's why I'm trying to divert my attention. Because I thought you're in love with someone else."
Dylan couldn't believe the words coming out from Yue's mouth.
The feeling is mutual! She likes him back!
"So, can we treat this date as a romantic one now?" He asked.
Yue smiled and nodded. "And the next ones, too."
