It was the weekend, and since there was no school, Rain and Frances couldn't meet up. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of Rain's computer. After finishing his work, he shut it down with a sigh and jumped onto his bed, burying his face into the pillow.
"I can't wait for the weekend to be over and go see her! I should have asked for her number
pfft!" he said to himself, flipping onto his back, arms stretched wide.
Just then, a message beeped on his phone. He scrambled for it and unlocked it quickly, his breath catching when he saw the notification.
"Hi my baby, are you up for a date?"
His heart skipped a beat. He stared at the message, blinking in disbelief before checking the contact name, it was Frances.
With trembling fingers, he typed his reply swiftly.
"I'm up! Where should we meet?"
"Let's go and eat dinner together. Mega Steam, 7pm!"
"I will be there!" he replied immediately, his fingers tapping rapidly.
Grinning like an idiot, he quickly saved her number under the name "My Cici" with a satisfied sigh, then tossed the phone onto the bed.
He rushed to his wardrobe and pulled it open, frowning immediately. Hoodie after hoodie, none of them screamed "romantic dinner." His brows furrowed as he stared at the dull, cozy options.
"I have nothing to wear," he groaned dramatically.
Pulling out his phone again, he searched "what to wear on a first date". After scrolling through fashion blogs and images, he finally found something that felt right and placed an order instantly. Time dragged and then flew, and almost as soon as he blinked, his package had arrived.
By 5PM, he stood in front of his mirror, fully dressed and ready.
He wore fitted black trousers, sleek black boots, and a black turtleneck that hugged his lean frame. Over it, he draped a pale blue jacket, the color matching perfectly with the glasses Frances had once gifted him. He adjusted the frames gently over his eyes, then studied himself in the mirror with a small, nervous smile.
"Okay, you got this," he whispered and headed downstairs.
Just as he reached the final step, a voice echoed from the hallway.
"Are you going on a date?" Taylor asked, peeking out from the kitchen.
Rain paused, cheeks warming slightly. He gave a shy shake of the head, but Taylor raised a brow knowingly.
"Your outfit looks good tonight, she will definitely like it."
"Thanks brother!" Rain beamed, cheeks glowing with pride as he quickly exited.
After what felt like the longest drive ever, Rain arrived at Mega Steam, the sleek, high-end restaurant that glowed with soft golden lights. He walked in and was immediately led to their reserved table. As he approached, he froze for a second.
"Frances? You are here already?" he asked, wide-eyed in surprise.
She turned, smiling softly. She was radiant.
"I'm here, have your seat."
Rain sat down slowly, still staring at her like he was seeing a dream.
"I didn't want you to be worried while waiting for me, so I came earlier. Moreover, I was doing nothing at home," she smiled shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Oh!" he said softly.
His eyes trailed over her carefully , Frances looked insanely beautiful. She wore a pale blue, shiny tube dress that shimmered gently under the lights. Her white heels peeked out from under the table, and a matching white purse sat by her elbow. The pale blue long jacket she'd worn was now draped neatly over the back of her chair. Her hair was pulled up into a sleek ponytail, adorned with tiny crystals that sparkled with every movement. Her makeup was light, fresh just enough to enhance the features he already adored.
Rain's heart thumped as he realized they matched. His jacket and her dress, as if they'd coordinated unknowingly.
"It's so good to see you Rain, would you believe if I said that I missed you?"
"I do! I really really missed you too!" he replied quickly, his smile stretching wide.
"Your outfit looks good. I like it."
"Can't be compared to yours. You look more beautiful than the moon, Frances. Your beauty is mesmerizing."
Her eyes widened slightly, and her cheeks flushed red.
"Don't do that! You are making me blush."
"I'm for real, Cici. You are always beautiful."
She looked away shyly, nibbling her lower lip. Then she gasped, her gaze darting back to him.
"What did you just call me?"
"Cici, you don't like that?"
"Oh it's not that. I mean, very few people call me that. Just my friends and one creepy guy who sends me milk every day."
"I seem to be the creepy guy who sends you milk every day."
"What? Did you just say you are the creepy guy?"
"I am. I'm sorry if I ever made you uncomfortable."
"Are you kidding me, Rain! Why didn't you say so? You have liked me since all these while?"
"Longer than you can imagine, Cici. You can't believe how happy I was when you finally noticed me. I have liked you all my life."
She stood up suddenly, walked over to his side, and wrapped her arms around him from behind. Rain blinked in surprise, his hand rising gently to touch her forearm.
"I'm sorry for hurting your feelings. Maybe if you'd told me earlier, we would have been together."
He smiled, his voice tender as he caressed her hand.
"We are together now ain't we?"
"You haven't agreed to be my boyfriend yet, I'm still chasing you."
"You don't need to. I'm already yours, we are now together."
Her face lit up immediately, and she pulled back to look at him, eyes twinkling.
"Are you for real? You don't think I'm selfish?"
"You are not! I'm just grateful that you chose me, Cici. I have always liked you," he said slowly, his voice trembling. Tears shimmered in his eyes.
She hugged him tightly again, her arms secure around his neck.
"I like you too, Rain. You grabbed my attention and my heart faster than anyone could. It was just a few days ago and my whole head has been a mess, I can't stop thinking about you for once. And I know deeply in my mind that I wanted this badly. If I refused to take it, I would regret it. I'm so happy that this wasn't forced, I wanted you to agree to me genuinely and I'm glad you did."
"I would always agree to you, Cici. You are very important to me."
"I never thought that a guy would love me genuinely despite my bad behavior. I'm not even the best of woman."
"You are the best woman for me. And you also like someone like me."
"What's wrong with you? You are the best man ever. You look so beautiful and you are a genius."
"I'm glad that you think so."
"We have done more talking than what we came for, can we eat now?"
"Sure!" Rain said with a chuckle.
She passed the menu to him, leaning forward on her elbows playfully.
"Have you decided on what to eat?"
"Not yet! You can decide for us."
"What? You wouldn't mind?"
"Of course I won't."
She smiled warmly, and Rain's heart skipped again as he took the menu and started browsing it.
Frances rested her chin in her hand, watching him closely. His fingers brushed over the laminated pages, brow furrowed in concentration.
"This is almost the first time that someone will put my interest first," he said to himself softly.
As she watched him scan through the options, she couldn't help but admire him even more. He was trying so hard, not just for the date, but for her. She handed the decision over to him, not just because she was undecided, but because she wanted him to take the lead. She wanted him to feel in charge, not small or shy. For once, she wanted to follow.
"Rain is very insecure and he thinks too far," she thought to herself, her lips curled into a fond smile. "In this relationship I'm gonna let him be the man of me. He has to be in control so that our relationship can be flawless."
He looked up from the menu then, and when their eyes met, Frances felt her heart flutter. She smiled again, this time, for both of them.
After the dinner was served, they ate slowly, savoring every bite as they chatted in soft, excited tones. Their feet brushed under the table occasionally, and each time Rain would glance up, only to find Frances already looking at him with a tiny grin tugging at her lips. The plates were cleared soon after, and a slender waitress in a black uniform poured them each a glass of white wine.
Frances reached across the table and took Rain's hand. His eyes widened in surprise, the warmth of her fingers sparking a rush of butterflies in his stomach.
"I'm gonna take a picture. You don't mind do you?"
"I don't mind," he said slowly, his voice soft with awe.
She smiled and raised her phone, the camera clicking softly as she took a picture of their intertwined hands. Then several more, catching his side profile when he looked away shyly. Her eyes danced with delight as she passed him the phone.
"Can you snap me too? Make it look pretty. I'm gonna post it."
"Sure!" He held the phone gently, like it was made of glass, and tried different angles as she posed with a soft smile and sparkling eyes. He handed the phone back carefully, like it held a treasure.
"We should take pictures together too, right?"
Rain's heart fluttered. Frances really knew how to make everything feel like magic.
"Sure!" he said, smiling wide.
Frances called the waitress, who led them to a picture spot near a velvet-draped corner with soft golden lighting. She gently took off Rain's glasses and placed them aside with care, adjusting his hair before they posed. Rain was stiff at first, then relaxed the moment Frances leaned close, her hand resting lightly on his chest.
"Your boyfriend looks so handsome!" the waitress said, not hiding the way she looked Rain up and down.
Frances's smile dropped. She snatched the phone from the waitress with a sharp snap.
"I'm not taking pictures again! Let's go home, babe."
She grabbed Rain's hand and pulled him away. Rain followed, blinking in astonishment.
"Babe? She just called me babe?" he screamed inside his head, his mind spinning with delight.
"Card or code?" the cashier asked as they reached the counter.
Frances nudged him gently. "Oh card! Card." He fumbled for his wallet, nearly dropping it, and handed over the card. Once it was swiped, he took it back with trembling fingers.
Outside, a chilly wind greeted them. Rain took his jacket off quickly and wrapped it around her shoulders, tying the strap carefully as he looked into her eyes.
"Don't catch a cold. It's a chilly night."
"Thank you, babe!"
"Babe?" he repeated, still breathless from how natural it sounded.
"Why? You don't like it?"
"I do! I like it very much. It's good to hear you call me that."
"I will call you that henceforth! How does it feel to treat your girlfriend to dinner?"
"Feels great. I feel like your man."
"Of course you are." She smiled, her voice soft as velvet. "I will be going home now."
"Okay! Text me when you are home."
Frances's face fell a little, her pout creeping in. "Just like that? You're sending me away like that?"
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"Not that! Not even a goodbye hug or peck?"
She pouted even deeper, eyes wide and playful. Rain gasped, then chuckled. He stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. She relaxed into him, resting her head against his chest. He reluctantly pulled back, brushed a loose strand from her cheek, and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead then a gentle one on her lips.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Go ahead."
He followed her to the van, holding her hand as she climbed in. He helped close the door, then took a step back as the van pulled away. Rain stood still for a second, then nearly jumped in place, pumping his fist into the air.
"Yes!" he screamed, bursting with joy. His heart was so full he felt like he could float. He wanted to shout it on TV, on rooftops, to the whole world.
He got into his car, his cheeks sore from smiling. On the way home, his phone beeped. He grabbed it instantly, Frances had sent him all the pictures.
He texted her: "Send me your personal pictures too."
She sent them immediately. He stared at them, awestruck, then picked one and set it as his wallpaper. He rested the phone on his chest and closed his eyes with a dreamy grin.
He checked the school site out of habit and almost choked.
Frances had posted.
A picture of their hands holding. Caption: "His girl."
Then another, a picture of Rain she'd taken secretly, his side profile looking calm and handsome. Caption: "My view."
And then a picture of her, glowing like moonlight. Caption: "His view."
Rain stared at the screen, frozen. His hands trembled slightly as he whispered, "Oh my Frances! She is gonna drive me crazy!"
The school site exploded.
@Evie: my girl is finally taken y'all
@Morgan: Frances is in love? I can't believe it
@Prettymiss: how did Rain bagged Frances? He needs to give these boys some lessons
@Lawrence: is my girl's account hacked? Help!
@Cora: I'm all out for this relationship! Frances got the most quiet and intelligent boy in Dudley I may have to support this please
@Coco: I almost broke my legs while running down here. Is that really Frances and Rain? The relationship has started?
@Khalid: I can't believe someone like Rain will bag Frances, I have always liked her
@Sammy: she better not bully him to death, she's a crazy girl and Rain is gentle
@Misspetty: sounds like a good combo. Frances do not need another crazy fellow to add to her craziness she needs someone soft and Rain seems like a good guy
@Mochi: Frances ending high school with a new relationship is what I never prepared myself for
@Bills: at least y'all can rest now she already has a boyfriend
@Mina: it's not as if they're gonna get married it's just high school crush
@Evie: my girl's gonna marry him, she's open for marriage
@Mina: you must be crazy Evie! They're just 17
@Cora: sorry to burst your bubbles y'all my wedding is in few months and I will be 18 in a minute
@Bills: Cora is getting married? I thought Abby and Coco will get married first
@Abby: our engagement party is also in three months months after our exam is over, you are all invited
@Sammy: oh my goodness! Everyone in Frances circle is getting hitched I need to get serious with my life
@Mina: I'm engaged too but I'm definitely not getting married until I'm 22 please
@Lawrence: your life, your choice. Anybody hanging out with us in Paris? I and Evie will be leaving to Paris after prom
@Bills: I will be going to Paris too we might hook up in there
Rain's phone buzzed nonstop, but he just sat back in the car, holding it to his chest again. His face was flushed, his heart dancing like music in a fairytale. He was hers. And she was his.
And everyone now knew it.