Soma wakes to the loud ping of her phone. She releases a groan, ignoring the device. But the damage’s been done and her brain is awake.
She rolls on the bed, picking up the phone and only looking after she had unlocked it with her fingerprint. She opens the message app and her eyes turn to saucers when she sees who had texted.
Remi: Good morning, darling. Text me when you wake up.
She sits up on her bed, her back straighter than ever, sleep all forgotten. Her fingers fly across her keyboard.
Soma: I’m up.
A second later, her phone rings. She swipes, answering it with a huge grin. Remi sure doesn’t waste time, she thinks.
“Good morning, darling.”
It takes her a lot to not squeal like a child that was given her favorite candy. He was repeating what he sent in his text, but with his morning voice, deeper and lower than usual, it was ten million times better.
“Good morning boss,” she greets playfully.
“You know very well that’s not what I am right now.”
“Oh? Weren’t you the one always saying I wasn’t respecting you?”
“And now is when you decide to listen to me? When we’re together?” His voice holds his disbelief.
Soma’s smile widens. “I say better late than never.”
The other side of the line goes quiet. She removes the phone from her ear, checking if the call is still ongoing which it is. “Soma baby,” he calls out in a low, intimate tone.
That gets her heart rate doubling. “Yes, Remi?”
“Mhm. That sounds better. So you like when I call you Soma baby?”
Soma plays with the hem of her gown, pouting her lips. “I feel like you’re going to be saying that a lot.”
“I will, especially when things don’t go my way.”
“Flattery can only get you so far.”
“Coupled with my good looks and body and the way I intend to spoil you as my woman, I’m sure it will suffice.”
Soma drops her phone, buries her face into her pillow and screams into it.
“Hello?”
She picks it back up. “Sorry. I uhh…had to deal with something real quick,” she tells him, done with her self-control exercise.
“I see. I hope you haven’t forgotten our date.”
“So yesterday was what?”
After they had kissed passionately, with Soma ending it because she was shy about her environment, they had gone to a classy restaurant. They had eaten to their heart content, talked about everything they could, all the while, making googly eyes at each other.
But they had to go back to work, so it came to an end. Which led to the promise of a proper date the next day. With no need to be time conscious.
“Yesterday we only got lunch.”
“Ha! That was lunch? Do I want to know what a date means in your dictionary, Remi?”
He lets out a light chuckle, the prospect of taking her on dates that will blow her mind, exciting. “You’ll find out later today.”
“Fine. Keep it a surprise and don’t tell me,” she sulks.
“I’ll do that. Thank you very much.”
Soma huffs and he laughs. “We’re going to have fun, and then eat.”
“That simple?”
“Yes.” No, it wasn’t, but she didn’t need to know that. “I’ll come pick you by 11. Is that alright?”
“Perfect.”
“Okay. See you later, baby.”
Soma jumps out of bed and begins to freshen up. She needed all the hours and minutes to get ready for her date. Her first proper date ever. After all, this was her first proper date with someone. Who would have thought dear Soma, single since birth and almost anti-romantic, would be this over the moon because of man?
Well, it depends on the type of man. In her case, he’s worth it.
Just as she closes her room door, entering the living room, she sees Lilith who was in the kitchen, drinking a bottle of water. She locks eyes with her roommate, then stares her up and down.
“Ahah! Abi I’m dreaming ni?”
“Dreaming how?”
“Wait first.” She walks up to Soma. Stands still, her eyes moving and then pokes her in the cheek. Once. Twice. A couple more times like she’s a clown.
“Are you done now?” Soma asks, completely over her joke.
“Wow.” Lilith places her hands on her waist. “So this is you, Soma? Unbelievable.”
Soma furrows her brows. “I don’t understand. Do I look different or something?” She looks down on herself, checking for anything.
“Not at all.” Lilith gives a dismissive wave. “Your look for that gala is even better than this.”
“Well, that one was luxurious and overboard. Of course, it was.”
“My point is if somebody had told me Soma would have a boyfriend or go on a date, I would bet my entire fortune and say no. Could never.”
“And you’d becomes bankrupt.”
Lilith snaps her fingers. “Exactly. You’re no longer somebody that I can bet money on and make triple from it.”
“You don’t even do those things.”
“Let me look at you,” she says, ignoring Soma as she grabs her arms, twisting her to the sides. “Hm. All good. That man shouldn’t be able to keep himself.”
“Lilith!”
She lifts her hands in surrender. Soma’s phone rings and she checks it.
“He’s here.”
“Go for it, babe.”
With Lilith’s support, she leaves the apartment. Leaning against the side of his car, hands in his pocket, is Remi. He clearly put in effort in his appearance. For once, he wasn’t wearing dark colored clothes like he usually did at work.
As soon as Soma opens the gate, Remi looks up and the sight of her leaves him speechless. She wasn’t wearing anything too flashy or unlike herself. Just a red shirt dress with long puff sleeves.
“Wow. You look beautiful.” His eyes keep tracking her until she reaches him.
“Thank you.”
He takes her hand and gently strokes it. “Red is your color.”
“Really? I just wore the next best thing I had.”
“Hm. I have this urge to get you many things in red.”
She raises an eyebrow at him and he chuckles, shaking his head. He guides her to the passenger seat before settling in and driving away.
Soma turns to face him. “Still not going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Patience Soma baby.”
She groans. “Don’t placate me with that pet name! It’s not fair,” she whines.
“Then you could give me an annoying, cute one as well.”
The idea adds some shine to her face. “Oh, let me think. Hmm.” She scowls, holding her chin. “Remi bun.”
Remi turns to her with a grimace that makes her burst into laughter. “What on earth is that?”
“You should have seen your face!” she continues laughing, pointing at him.
“You’re lucky I’m driving, Somadina.”
“Oh. Full name,” she sings.
The car stops at a place that Soma hadn’t been to but had heard of.
“Isn’t this…the Mediana Center?” she asks when she steps out.
“It is.” He takes her hand in his and leads her in. She couldn’t understand why they were here, but the second she stepped into the area, her jaw dropped to the floor.
Visual designs and optical illusions stare back at her. They spent the date with her leading the way, even though she didn’t know where to go. Remi let her, satisfied with the excitement and bliss that was running wild from her.
There was even a show featuring some moving designs and with guests in it, it feels like being in a cinematic movie.
“Oh my God! What did I even experience in there?” she exclaims when they walk out.
“The first of its kind artistic display.”
She squints her eyes at him. “You had a hand in it, didn’t you?”
He smiles, not surprised that she guessed that. “I won’t deny it.”
Once again, Soma is struck by how talented and awesome Remi is. She returns her focus to the pathway and scowls.
“This isn’t how we came in.”
“I know.” He looks at her, his smile looking cryptic. “We’re going somewhere else from here.”
He continues to lead her until they reach a park, where lanterns decorate the walkway. She looks at him, but he just looks ahead, not wanting to spill anything till they got to their destination.
When they do arrive, Soma gasps out loud, before covering her mouth. The lanterns had led to a flower garden, balloons hanging onto shrubs and some in the few trees around. There was a huge red and white blanket at the center, with foods of different kinds laid out. A wine bottle with two glasses, a cake in its transparent packaging, with the writing “Remi❤️Soma.”
“Isn’t this too much?” she asks, turning to him.
He pulls her closer, lifting her chin with a finger. “This is just the beginning, Soma.”
At this point, she didn’t care if he felt the harsh drumming of her heart. She stands on her toes and kisses him. It’s supposed to be short, sweet, one of gratitude, but Remi didn’t waste a second, wrapping his arm around her waist and deepening the kiss.
Soma didn’t fight it. She liked this man way more than she thought. A man who remembered her love for gardens and set up a romantic date like this. Film tricks do happen in real life, she thinks before pulling away from him.
Remi gives her one last kiss before resting his forehead on hers. She lets out a breathy laugh, and caresses his cheek.
“We should enjoy the date you prepared.”
“Or we can just remain like this. change the agenda.” He kisses her softly on the lips, before moving to her cheek, then neck.
Soma shudders. “As tempting as that is,” she manages to turn his head to her, “No.”
Remi sighs. “Fine. Anything my girlfriend wants.” He takes her to the blanket.
Soma grins, over the moon at being called girlfriend, especially Remi’s.
By the time they end their date, stomachs filled, lips satisfied with a couple more kisses, Soma begins craving for ice cream. Remi makes a stop and she orders for them both. Just as they’re leaving, they lock eyes with a couple that’s seated and about to feed each other.
“Emmanuel? Lilith?”
“Soma!” Lilith drops her spoon, clearing her throat and trying to pretend nothing was happening.
Emmanuel’s eyes bounce between Soma and Remi. “I’m sorry, but is that…Mr. Remi?”
Soma turns to Remi, and it’s clear she never thought about them being caught.
“Yes.” Remi holds her hands, refusing to keep their relationship a secret. “We’re dating.”
Emmanuel stares at them for a beat and then shakes his head. “I knew this would happen.”
“How?” Soma asks.
“What else could happen when our boss keeps monitoring you from the glass walls of his office and calling you?”
Soma turns to Remi, who looks away, suddenly embarrassed by his behavior. She decides to pity him and not say anything. For now.
“That makes sense.” She looks between Emmanuel and Lilith. “The two of you…” she lets her words hang, waiting for them to fill the gap.
They begin speaking, but nothing comprehensible can be made out of their jumbled up words.
“We should leave them to their date,” Remi says, interrupting them.
“It’s not like—”
“Bye!” Soma tells them, waving as they leave. She faces Remi once they step outside. “They make a good couple, don’t they?”
“Not better than us, but yeah.”
“So you’ve been eyeing me since, eh?”
Remi groans. “At least wait ten minutes before you tease me.”
“Nope.”
First date after becoming a couple! Too cute🤭🥲
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Nice first date
Emmanuel and Lilith nice one
Thank you for the bonus chapter
Awwn, I so much enjoyed this story.🥹❤️