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I tap on the screen furiously, scrolling up and down to read for errors. Today was Ina'nis and I's first date with each other and I had planned everything out to be perfect.
We would walk around the shops, go into the quiet vinyl shop,, browse around her favourite gallery, explore the new aquarium get some drinks at a vintage cafe, visit the old library with all the historical books then eat some proper food at a nice restaurant and then walk and talk around the park as we stargazed before we went home.
It was perfect. I took into account her favourite spots, hobbies and stuff me and her had in common: For instance, we both loved music. New and old. We both loved curling up with a good book and the atmosphere of a small cafe.
It's funny how we both had incredibly different tastes yet still found many things in common with each other.
"M-Mori!" Ina's hesitant, sheepish voice calls out to me, running towards me with a shy smile. As she reaches me, she scratches her neck, pulling away the small strands of hair that stuck to it. "Sorry, I'm not so used to calling you Calli yet." Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment, trying to avoid eye contact but couldn't help but glance at me a few times.
Ina wore a cute purple dress that hung loosely over her thick, beige jumper that had a uniform pattern of stripes running down the length of it. Around her neck was a necklace, gold, shimmering and bright. The necklace had the shape of two hearts connected to each other through a loop. She wore gold hair clips, ones that matched my own. Her hair was tightly, half-tied up in a decorative bun, resembling a flower. On the bridge of her nose hung her red glasses that didn't quite fit her face but suited just fine.
She must've put a lot of thought into her outfit.
"I-I mean… Wow. It's… Your outfit is beautiful." My eyes unwillingly betray me, staring at her form with an entranced gaze. My hand subconsciously reaches to her face, only for me to snap back into reality when she flinches. "Sorry-!"
Right. Too fast.
"No, no, Calli! It's fine! I just… Was surprised." Ina'nis chuckles, holding my hand to bring it to her face again. "I don't mind. Really." She coaxes me, massaging my hand as she buries her face into my palm. Smiling into my hand, she shyly gazes off in the distance, "It's the first time I really dated anyone. Or even liked a person this much."
Her words widen my smile. It was nice being special to Ina. We had so often danced around the topic while we were just friends that I was scared she didn't really consider me close. Only for now to be the closest girl she had. "I'm glad." I pinch her cheek, chuckling as I step away. "Let's go?" I gesture to my arm, presenting it to her.
With a bounce in her step, she graciously takes the offer, looping her arm with mine.
…
We arrive at the shops, arms locked with each other. The shops stretch out for miles. This certain walkway housed the best of the best shops. Especially abundant in art supplies, it was obvious why I was so keen to take Ina'nis here.
Looking down to her, her eyes shimmer with excitement. She glances from shop to shop, seeing brand names familiar and new. As we walked, Ina found it difficult to contain her excitement, bouncing up and down like a kid.
I laugh lightly, "You like this part of town the most right?"
"I do! I just never visited since I never had time to!" She breaks from the loop, walking towards one shop in particular.
The shop was massive, housing some of the most expensive and rare artisanal merchandise. The inside was colourful and vivid, like a painting of its own. In the window, it presented oil paints on a spotlight, showing it off like a heavenly artifact. The price of it, however, was not as heavenly. Yeowch…
Ina stops in her tracks all of a sudden, glancing back at me and sheepishly slinking to me again. "Sorry- I didn't-"
"No, don't be! I want you to enjoy yourself," my hands pat her shoulders as I tilt her chin up to look into her eyes, "Besides, I'll be behind you the whole time. Who knows? Maybe I'll get something new for a change?" I nonchalantly comment, though inside, I knew my wallet would feel significantly lighter than before.
She looks at me with surprised, wide eyes which melted into a sweet smile. Her arms lock around me, hugging me tightly. "I don't think my heart can take how much a reaper like you can be so sweet."
My heart flutters at the action as she squeezes herself into me, "Same here for you. But please! Enjoy yourself!" I chuckle, unwrapping myself from her and leading her into the establishment.
"Humu," she smiles with those thin crescent eyes, looking at me especially.
We both looked around the shop, excitedly as we bounced from aisle to aisle. Well, it was more Ina who was shopping. I just trailed behind and looked at a few items around the building. I kept an eye on the things her gaze was stolen by.
"Wow… There's so many things here I'd like to get."
"Are you considering buying anything?" I lean down, stepping closer to hear her through the busy crowd.
She whips around quickly, gesturing around in avoidance, "No, no, no! More like a window shopping kind of thing! L-like, it'd be cool to have but I'd never really use it! I mean, I'm a digital artist." Her eyes glance down onto the ground, "I just would like to try my hand at it one day."
"Why not now, huh?" I raise a brow.
With a shy smile, she bites her lip, "It's… expensive and I feel like I'd be wasting it. I usually wait for discounts and sales; they usually end up becoming a better price by then."
I nod, understanding her need for sales. I did so often with games, after all. "Maybe, I'll try as well," I stare at a simple box of forty colouring pencils, glimmering as the light touches it. It seemed to be decorated with glitter. "Hey, promise we'll both paint together?" I raise a pinky, smirking childishly.
She returns it with a lopsided smile, "Promise." We drop our arms, not releasing each other from our pinky lock. We instead hold each other a little tighter.
With my free hand, I anxiously fidget with my watch, tapping the watch face with a regular rhythm. I wanted to make sure we had time for the dolphin show in the aquarium. It was the main event of this date, of course! I wanted her to see it with me. Especially, before we hang out with the other Myth girls at the aquarium.
I tug on Ina's finger, insisting on departing the store quickly.
We both go, idly watching the people walk around the street. We don't stand around too long, however. I mean, we still had a lot of time to fill. Eventually we did visit the quiet vinyl shop, marvelling silently at their selection of old music that we had sung so many times before. We visited her favourite gallery where Ina explained to me the many intricacies of the paintings and works of the artists. While I did draw, I never thought of techniques and material so deeply or passionately like Ina'nis. It was the many things Ina had opened my eyes to.
Anxiously staring at my watch, I tap my leg with excitement as we march through the streets. It was quite the walk away but we could--
"Calliope, wait!" A hard tug pulls me back, stopping me dead in my tracks. The action put me back into reality, noting the dark clouds and the small drops of water falling onto my skin.
Oh no.
Nononono. This could not be happening.
"Let's stop for now- The forecast says it's only gonna get worse. We can go to my place!" Her words come like white noise as I stare aimlessly at the sky. I couldn't even feel myself getting dragged by Ina. All I could feel was disappointment.
…
"Wooh…" Ina sighs out, drying her hair carefully with a soft, white towel. She folds her hair in the towel a few times, pulling out the moisture with every stroke. However, her eyes aren't on her hair. Rather, me. After a thorough drying, she sits next to me on her bed. The motion ripples upon landing. "You good? You seemed really excited about this date…" Her eyes softly look upon mine for an answer, holding my hands in her warm, soft ones.
Turning away slightly, I avoid her pitiful gaze. "I had such a perfect plan…" I exhale sharply, roughly grazing my throat as I sighed out. "Whatever." I lean back on the plush duvet, covering my eyes with my arms.
I felt her movement, bouncing up first as she took her weight off the bed. My brow furrows in confusion until I feel her legs knock mine. Soon enough, her knees slid up the sides of my body. It tickles me, almost recoiling as her knee hits my waist. The bed springs squeal as she pushes her arms beside both sides of her bed. I could only imagine the look on her face.
"Calli…"
"What…?" I dryly heave out, refusing to look at her in this state. I didn't have too much of a choice though as she grabs my wrist, pulling my hands away. My head tilts away, only for her to guide it back to her.
Moving forward, she pressed her cool forehead to mine, smiling as she stared down at me. Her hands coil themselves into my shirt, pulling me but not close enough for our lips to touch. "Calli, you took me to amazing places. The places you knew I liked. You indulged in my interests and were kind the whole time. Hell, this was the best first date ever."
"But-"
"Calli. Take the compliment." Her eyes pointedly looked at mine, expectantly.
I gulped down, feeling my cheeks get red as she kept looking at me piercingly, "Th-thanks…" I move to pull myself up only to stop short at Ina's frown.
"Not yet," my brow curls questioningly, "Still haven't rewarded you." She pressed her lips against mine, closing her eyes with concentration as she pulled me closer. Her hands roamed my back, almost massaging me as she insistently tried to get even closer.
She took me by surprise. I can give her that.
I push back with similar vigour and passion. To the point where I sit up and hold her by the waist against me. Her legs straddle me, centering her. My eyes flutter closed, focusing on just me and her at this moment.
I love Ninomae Ina'nis. I do.
When we eventually pull back, she has a hazy grin on her face as she dreamily puts her arms behind my neck. "I love you so much."
"Does that first kiss live up to its expectations?"
"Yes and a thousand times more." She pecks my lips again, until she notices something. "Ah, the ceiling lights are on."
I follow her gaze, seeing the several stars stuck on the ceiling. Unlike the glow in the dark stickers you'd see in children's bedrooms, her's were small dots of lights aligned as if they were the actual night sky. She even wrote the names of them adjacent to their placement.
We marvel at its beauty, appreciating their soft glow.
"Y'know, I planned for us to go stargazing at the end of our date."
"Really?"
"Yeah, but y'know… this is just as nice."