Dinner moved at an almost calm pace, but the air between them was far too charged, too warm, too intense for Lina to truly relax.
Every time she looked at Adrian, he was already looking at her.
And it was never by accident.
He simply… didn't look away.
It was as if he were studying every expression she made, every gesture, every breath.
And Lina had no idea how to handle that.
"Are you enjoying the food?" Adrian asked, his low voice always seeming to touch her before he actually did.
"V-very much," Lina replied, trying not to look away.
But she did.
He noticed.
He always noticed.
"You do that all the time," he said.
"Do what?" Lina frowned.
"Look away when you get shy."
"I'm not sh—"
"Lina," he interrupted, with an almost invisible smile, "your ears turn red all the way to the tips."
Her hands flew to her ears immediately.
Adrian laughed.
Yes, laughed.
A short, deep sound, impossible to ignore.
"You're adorable," he concluded.
Lina nearly hit her head on the table.
"A-Adrian, you need to stop saying those things."
"Why?" he asked as if he had absolutely no idea of the chaos he caused. "They're true."
"That's exactly the problem!" Lina protested, trying to catch her breath. "You say things like it's normal to treat me this way… and I… I get…"
"Get?" he teased.
"I get… nervous!"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Nervous… with me?"
"Yes!" Lina admitted, almost breathless.
Adrian leaned forward over the table, resting one arm, and stared at her with something between curiosity and… desire?
Lina wasn't sure.
She was afraid to know.
"I don't want you to be afraid of me," he said.
"I'm not afraid. I just… get nervous."
Adrian seemed to think for a moment.
"Maybe," he said finally, "it's because you still don't understand something important."
"What?"
He took her hand on the table, his fingers firm but warm.
"That I would never do anything to hurt you."
Lina swallowed hard.
"I know that…" she said sincerely.
"Do you?" he asked, examining her face.
"I do," she repeated, a little stronger. "You always protect me. Even when you don't have to."
He didn't smile…
But something in his eyes softened.
Something… that made her feel safe in a strange, deep way.
The waiter returned with the main course, interrupting the tension that was starting to become far too strong.
Adrian thanked him with a short nod, and as soon as they were alone again, he picked up the conversation as if nothing had happened.
"I want you to trust me, Lina."
She looked at her plate… then at him.
"I do trust you."
"Do you really?"
She took a deep breath.
"I trust you… more than I should," Lina admitted.
Adrian seemed satisfied — not arrogantly, but with calm determination.
As if he had always planned to reach this point.
As if everything was unfolding exactly as it should.
While they ate, Lina asked:
"Adrian… can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"When did you discover your allergy?"
He set down his silverware.
"When I was a child," he answered. "And it got worse as I got older."
"It was always… like this?"
"Always.
But no one understood it at first.
They thought I was being dramatic.
Then they thought it was psychological.
Then they thought I was doing it on purpose."
He gave a faint, cynical smile.
"Until they realized I nearly died every time a woman tried to hug me."
Lina's heart tightened.
"That must have been awful…"
"I got used to it."
"But it still hurts.
I saw it today," she said, remembering the girl at the mall.
Adrian was silent for a few seconds.
"I spent my whole life avoiding contact," he said slowly. "So pain became routine."
Lina lowered her gaze.
"That's so unfair…"
"Life is unfair to everyone," he replied. "I just learned how to handle it."
"But it shouldn't be like that," Lina said softly. "You… don't deserve to carry everything alone."
He lifted his eyes to her. Slowly.
"And you think I carry it alone?"
"Don't you?" Lina asked.
Adrian gently cupped her chin and made her look at him.
"Ever since you came into my life, I'm not alone."
Her breath hitched.
"Adrian…"
"You have no idea how much I needed someone who could just… stay by my side," he continued, never looking away.
"And you do that effortlessly."
Lina felt tears threaten.
But he went on:
"So yes. You take a huge weight off my shoulders."
She smiled.
A small, shaky, but sincere smile.
"I'll stay," she whispered. "If you want me… I'll stay."
Adrian didn't hesitate for even a second.
"I want that."
Her heart jumped.
But he wasn't done.
"I want you with me, Lina.
Not just today.
Whenever you can.
Whenever you want."
She opened and closed her mouth, trying to speak… but nothing came out.
He didn't pressure her.
He just held her hand again.
And this time, Lina squeezed his back — on her own.
Adrian looked down at that simple gesture.
And for the first time, Lina saw something in his eyes that rarely appeared:
He was happy.
Truly happy.
Dinner ended softly, with the two exchanging quiet words, shy smiles, and looks that said far more than anything spoken.
When they left the restaurant, Adrian placed his hand on her back — not out of habit, but pure protection — and guided her to the car.
As he opened the door for her, he said:
"Now let's go home."
Lina blinked.
"Home?"
Adrian gave a slight, knowing smile.
"Yes, Lina.
Our home."
And she got into the car with her heart completely out of control.
Because only then, truly, did she realize:
She wasn't just important to him.
She was becoming… a part of him.