Tanid couldn't sleep a wink all night. He spent hours tossing, turning, and pacing across his room the excitement of tomorrow hitting him like a double shot of espresso. Naturally, he spent the rest of the night devouring every single "first date etiquette" reel on Instagram, mentally training himself like a Kingsman secret agent preparing for a high-stakes mission. 🕵️♂️👔
When morning finally broke, Tanid didn't even wait for a civilized hour. He marched straight over to Garnet's house and pounded on the door. Garnet pulled it open, blinking through sleepy eyes. 😴
Garnet: Wait... I'm getting ready
Tanid: MAN, LET'S GOOOOO! 💥
Tanid rushed Garnet up and dragged him to New Market to buy new clothes. Bro took a really nice fit, and then to reward his tired hostage, Tanid took him to a local restaurant for some lunch before heading off to Khulshi together. 🚗💨
Before stepping toward the café, Tanid laid out the tactical ground rules.
Tanid: Listen, keep a low profile and sit in another restaurant across the street. If I need you, I'll call you. Got it? 🤫
Garnet: Got it, 007. Go get 'em.
With Garnet heading off with a joyful mind, Tanid adjusted his new shirt, took a deep breath, and stepped into Barcode with maximum confidence. He spotted Ohona right away, sitting in a beautifully decorated spot.
Tanid pulled out her chair with theatrical elegance—just like his midnight Kingsman reels taught him almost tipping it over before catching it with a nervous laugh. 😅
Tanid: Hey Ohona, sorry I'm late!
Ohona [smiling]: Late? Tanid, you're literally 15 minutes early!
Tanid: Punctuality is the mark of a gentleman! 😎 (Mentally praying he isn't visibly sweating through his brand-new New Market shirt).
They sat down, and as they browsed the menu, Tanid happened to glance out the large glass window toward the Al Baik restaurant right across the street. His jaw dropped.
There, sitting right by the front window, was Garnet. The guy who was supposed to be a stealthy, low-profile secret agent was currently savagely stuffing massive pieces of fried chicken into his mouth like he hadn't eaten in a decade. 🍗👀 Garnet caught Tanid's glare across the road, held up a drumstick in a silent toast, and took another huge bite.
Tanid quickly looked back at Ohona, clearing his throat to hide his utter disbelief.
Tanid: So... Ohona. I didn't just ask you out today to hang out as regular friends.
Ohona [blinking, setting her glass down]: Oh? What do you mean?
Tanid's heart was pounding like a revving engine. The Instagram etiquette rules completely evaporated from his brain. He took a deep breath, looked her straight in the eyes, and laid his cards on the table. 🃏💥
Tanid: I've felt this way for a really long time now. Ohona... I really, really like you. More than just a friend. Will you be my girlfriend? 🫣
Silence descended on the table.
Across the street, Garnet froze mid-chew, staring through the window with wide eyes, completely forgetting the chicken stuffed in his mouth.
Ohona sat there, stunned. Her eyes widened, her expression shifting through a whirlwind of emotions surprise, confusion, and something Tanid couldn't quite read. She opened her mouth to speak, closed it, and took a slow, deep breath. 😶
Ohona: Tanid... I...
Before she could finish her sentence, her phone on the table suddenly buzzed, lighting up with a caller ID that made both of their eyes drop to the screen. 📱💥
Ohona looked up at Tanid, her mouth slightly open, completely torn.
Ohona [in a quiet voice]: I... I really need to answer this first.
Tanid's heart sank into his stomach as she picked up the phone and stepped outside the café, leaving him sitting alone, completely hanging on the edge of his seat... 🤫👀
[To be continued]