The sun had barely set when Keigh stood before his wardrobe, considering the small rebellion of what to wear.
He'd never been one for vanity, but tonight felt different, a quiet defiance against everything expected of him.
He reached for a black dress shirt, the kind that looked simple until the light hit it just right, showing faint threads of deep charcoal woven through. The fabric clung lightly to his shoulders and traced the lean line of his build. A fitted blazer followed, its cut deliberate, sharp at the chest, easing at the waist, the kind that drew attention without trying.
No tie.
No trace of the Dynamite heir his father had designed.
Just Keigh, understated, self-assured, dangerously handsome in a way that came from stillness, not effort.
He slipped on his watch, the one his mother had given him years ago, then stood back. The mirror didn't lie; he looked like a man who'd stopped hiding.
His phone buzzed on the dresser.
Nara.
> Nara: I'm still not sure about this, Keigh. It feels… unnecessary.
Keigh: It's dinner, not a proposal.
Nara: You already have a planner for events like this.
Keigh: This isn't an event. It's me wanting to see you.
She didn't reply right away. The dots blinked, disappeared, then blinked again.
> Nara: Keigh… people talk.
Keigh: Not where we're going.
Nara: Where are we going?
Keigh: Somewhere quiet. Somewhere that's mine.
A pause.
> Nara: Yours?
Keigh: Yes. And no one else's.
He could almost picture her then, sitting at her desk, fingers hovering over the phone, torn between reason and the pull she didn't want to name.
Minutes passed before her final message appeared.
> Nara: Fine. 7 PM. But only dinner.
Keigh: 7 PM. Only dinner.
(pause)
Keigh: For now.
He slipped his phone into his pocket, a faint smile playing at his lips.
It wasn't victory, not yet.
But it was a beginning.
When he left the house, the night air was cool, carrying the scent of rain on stone. The car lights caught his reflection in the window, the glint of confidence, the calm certainty of a man finally ready to risk something real.
------
Nara stared at her reflection for what felt like forever.
It wasn't the first time she'd been asked out before but this wasn't just anyone. This was Keigh, the one who never mixed personal with business, who carried himself like his world was already too full to make room for anyone else.
So why did her pulse betray her now?
Her reflection looked back uncertainly. She'd settled on a soft satin top in a muted champagne shade, elegant without trying too hard, tucked into high-waisted black pants that hugged her figure just right. Her curls framed her face, brushed out with care, and a hint of gloss gave her lips a soft sheen. It wasn't flashy, but it was intentional.
Still, she couldn't ignore the way her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted her earrings.
She sighed.
"It's just dinner," she whispered. "It's just dinner."
Her phone buzzed.
> Keigh: Don't overthink it.
Nara: How do you even know I'm overthinking?
Keigh: Because you didn't reply for ten minutes.
Nara: Maybe I was busy.
Keigh: You weren't.
She rolled her eyes, even as a smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
He knew her too well, or maybe she'd made it too easy for him to.
She grabbed her bag, sprayed a little perfume, and stood still for a heartbeat.
There was something oddly thrilling about not knowing where they were going. Dangerous, even. Like stepping into a story she didn't agree to be part of but secretly wanted to.
Her phone buzzed again.
> Keigh: I'm outside.
Her heart tripped.
He wasn't supposed to pick her up, she'd planned to drive herself, to keep things professional. But there he was when she looked through the window, leaning against his car, hands in his pockets.
And just like that, her careful plans, her walls felt useless because Keigh, under the dull glow of the streetlight, looked nothing short of unreal.
That black shirt. The fitted blazer. The quiet authority in how he stood.
He wasn't just dressed well, he wore his confidence like it was stitched into his skin.
She took one last steadying breath before locking the door and walking toward him.
Time seemed to have stopped for Keigh when he saw her walk towards him. He let a low breath out to composed himself but he failed. The moment she reached him, he just had to let it.
" You looks so beautiful Nara"
" Thank you Keigh, you don't look bad yourself, "
Who was she kidding, he definitely looked like a god. How on earth can someone look so dashing.
Keigh chuckled and opened the door for her, and for a moment, their eyes met, long enough for her to forget what she was supposed to say.
It was just dinner.
But every instinct told her that whatever this was… it was about to change everything.