The morning sunlight seeped through the small window, casting soft golden streaks across the tiny room. Dalian stirred first, stretching lazily before glancing at Diane, who was still curled up under the blanket. With a groggy sigh, she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"Diane, wake up," she mumbled, nudging her sister's arm.
Diane let out a quiet groan but rolled over, blinking at the ceiling before finally sitting up. They didn't have the luxury of lazing around on weekends—chores awaited.
The sisters slipped out of their room, the house still quiet except for the faint rustling sounds from Aunt Beatrice's room. Without much exchange, they naturally fell into their usual routine.
Diane grabbed the broom and started sweeping, her movements precise and quick as she tidied the space. Dalian, meanwhile, headed toward the kitchen, where Aunt Beatrice was already setting things up for breakfast.
"Good, you're up," Aunt Beatrice said, handing Dalian some vegetables to chop. "We'll make something hearty today."
Dalian nodded and got to work, her hands moving methodically as she sliced and prepared the ingredients. The warm scent of boiling broth filled the air, mingling with the sound of sizzling oil.
Diane's movements could be heard in the background—dusting, organizing, making sure everything was in place.
The morning passed in a steady rhythm, the house slowly coming to life.
As midday arrived, the sun stood high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the quiet neighborhood. Diane finished her last chore in a rush, wiping the sweat off her forehead before grabbing her bag.
"I'm heading out," she called, slipping into her shoes.
Aunt Beatrice, seated with her baby in the living room, gave a small nod. "Don't stay out too late."
Dalian, who had just finished drying her hands from the kitchen work, leaned against the doorway. "Are you sure you don't want to eat first?"
Diane shook her head. "I'll grab something later. We need to finalize the details today."
With that, she was gone, leaving Dalian standing there, watching the door shut behind her.
A moment later, Dalian let out a small breath and turned toward her own plan for the day. She was supposed to meet Lydia at the park.
She quickly changed into something more comfortable, smoothing out her dress before heading out.
The streets were filled with the usual weekend bustle—children playing, neighbors chatting, the distant hum of passing cars. The breeze carried the scent of freshly cooked meals from nearby houses, mingling with the warmth of the afternoon.
As she walked toward the park, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick message to Lydia.
Dalian: On my way. You there?
It didn't take long before her phone vibrated with a response.
Lydia: Of course! Hurry up. I'm waiting!
Dalian smiled to herself, quickening her pace.
As Dalian approached the park, she spotted Lydia sitting on a bench under the shade of a large tree, her arms crossed and a playful smirk already forming on her lips.
"Took you long enough," Lydia teased, scooting over to make space.
Dalian rolled her eyes as she sat down beside her. "You just got here too, don't act like you've been waiting forever."
Lydia let out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, fine. But you owe me a good chat." She leaned closer, eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, did you think about what we talked about yesterday?"
Dalian immediately knew where this was going. She averted her gaze, pretending to focus on the children playing a few feet away. "If you mean the whole 'confessing after the presentation' thing, then no. I haven't."
Lydia groaned. "Dalian, come on! You like Jack. You clearly get all flustered around him. And now even he is paying more attention to you. If you don't act soon, someone else might swoop in."
Dalian shifted uncomfortably. The thought of putting herself out there like that made her stomach twist in knots. "I don't think it's a good idea," she muttered.
Lydia wasn't having it. "Why not? What are you afraid of?"
Dalian hesitated. "I just… I don't think he sees me that way. And even if he does, what if things get weird between us? I don't want to ruin what we have now."
Lydia huffed, clearly not convinced. "Or maybe you're just overthinking. What if he's waiting for you to make the first move?"
Dalian shot her a doubtful look. "Jack? The same Jack who teases me constantly? I highly doubt he's waiting for anything."
Lydia smirked. "Teasing is just another form of flirting."
Dalian groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I regret coming here."
Lydia laughed, nudging her shoulder. "No, you don't. You love my wisdom."
Dalian peeked through her fingers. "I tolerate it."
They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the park around them. The warm afternoon breeze ruffled their hair, carrying the scent of grass and distant food stalls.
After a while, Lydia stretched. "Alright, enough emotional avoidance. Let's go get something to drink. You look like you need it."
Dalian rolled her eyes but followed as Lydia pulled her up. Maybe she wasn't ready to admit anything yet, but deep down, the thought of Jack made her heart race in a way she couldn't ignore.
The group settled around the table, their books and notes spread out in front of them. Diane flipped through a few pages, double-checking their points, while Anna scribbled something down. Jack, who had been leaning back in his chair, suddenly stood up, stretching his arms.
"I'm going to grab some drinks. Anyone want anything specific?"
"Anything cold," Anna replied without looking up.
"Same here," Diane added.
Jack nodded and walked off, shoving his hands into his pockets as he headed toward the vending machine. As he waited in line, he pulled out his phone, his fingers moving almost instinctively.
Jack: I thought you were coming too.
Meanwhile, Dalian sat on a bench at the park with Lydia, watching the children playing in the distance while Lydia scrolled through her phone. When her phone vibrated, she glanced down and blinked in surprise.
Jack?
She hesitated for a moment before unlocking her phone and reading the message.
Dalian: No, I'm with Lydia, doing something.
Jack chuckled as he selected a few drinks and waited for them to drop into the tray.
Jack: You guys are always together. Even on weekends?
Dalian tilted her head, smiling a little as she typed back.
Dalian: And? Is that a problem?
Jack smirked as he picked up the drinks, balancing them in his hands.
Jack: Not really. Just didn't expect you to be busy today.
Dalian stared at the message longer than necessary, feeling an odd warmth settle in her chest.
Dalian: Well, weekends are for relaxing too, you know.
Jack paused for a moment before replying.
Jack: Yeah, but I was kinda hoping you'd be here.
Dalian's fingers froze on the screen. The words were simple, casual, yet they made her heartbeat a little unsteady. She bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
Before she could overthink it, Lydia suddenly leaned over, peeking at her phone.
"Who's that?"
Dalian quickly locked her screen and turned away. "No one."
Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. You're acting suspicious."
"I'm not."
"You totally are. Wait—" Lydia's eyes widened. "Was that Jack?"
Dalian groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Lydia gasped dramatically. "It was him! Oh my god, what did he say? Tell me!"
"Nothing," Dalian muttered, refusing to meet her gaze.
Lydia grinned. "Oh, this is getting good."
Lydia wasn't about to let this go. She nudged Dalian's arm, her grin widening. "Come on, just a little hint?"
Dalian shook her head. "It's nothing."
Lydia leaned in closer, lowering her voice to a teasing whisper. "Then why are you blushing?"
"I'm not blushing."
Lydia gasped again, dramatically clutching her chest. "You so are!" She wiggled her eyebrows. "Did he say something sweet?"
Dalian huffed, keeping her phone firmly locked in her palm. "Lydia, let it go."
But Lydia wasn't giving up that easily. "Fine, fine. I won't pry. But," she tilted her head, smirking, "you're smiling."
Dalian immediately pressed her lips together.
Lydia burst out laughing. "Oh, this is gold."
Dalian groaned, burying her face in her hands again. "You're the worst."
"And you're falling for him," Lydia sing-songed.
Dalian lifted her head, her expression softening just slightly. Was she? No—she couldn't. It wasn't like that. Was it?
Her phone buzzed in her hand again. Another message.
Jack: So, see you Monday?
Her stomach did a strange little flip. She hesitated for a moment before typing back.
Dalian: Yeah. See you then.
As soon as she hit send, Lydia poked her shoulder. "You're thinking about him right now, aren't you?"
Dalian groaned louder. "Lydia!"
Lydia only laughed harder, already plotting how she was going to tease her next.
Back at their table, Anna flipped through her notes, her brows furrowed in concentration. "Okay, let's go over everything one last time before Monday."
She glanced at Jack and Diane, making sure they were both focused. Jack leaned back in his seat, arms crossed, while Diane had her notebook open, pen tapping lightly against the page.
"So," Anna continued, "I'll handle the introduction and the historical background of traditional markets. That should set the stage for the rest of the presentation."
Jack nodded, sitting up straighter. "I'll cover the economic impact, break down the data, and present a few case studies to back it up."
Diane adjusted her glasses and made a note in the margin of her paper. "That leaves me with how traditional markets can stay competitive in a modern economy. I'll focus on innovation, adaptation, and policies that support them."
Anna smiled. "Sounds solid. We've got a good balance."
Jack stretched his arms behind his head. "As long as we don't sound boring."
Diane shot him a look. "If you actually follow the plan instead of improvising halfway, we won't."
Jack smirked. "No promises."
Anna sighed but laughed. "Okay, let's run through it one more time to make sure we're all on the same page."
They spent the next half hour refining their points, making sure their transitions were smooth and their arguments were well-supported. By the time they were done, even Jack looked satisfied.
"Alright," Anna said, packing up her notes, "we've got this. Monday's going to be great."
Diane nodded, standing up. "I'll do a final read-through tomorrow."
Jack shoved his hands into his pockets. "Then I guess we're all set."
They exchanged one last glance, silently acknowledging the effort they'd put in. The presentation was ready. Now, all that was left was to deliver it.
Anna gave a small wave, a tired smile on her face. "See you on Monday," she said before turning on her heel and disappearing down the sidewalk.
Diane adjusted the strap of her bag, glancing at Jack, who lingered beside her. The streetlights cast long shadows around them, the quiet settling between them for a brief moment.
"Where are you heading?" Jack asked, his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
"Home," Diane said simply, shifting her gaze ahead.
Jack hesitated, then tilted his head slightly. "How about we stop by the park?" His tone was light, almost hopeful. "Lydia and Dalian are there."
Diane narrowed her eyes slightly, tilting her head as she looked at Jack. "How did you know they're in the park?"
Jack blinked, then casually shrugged. "I texted Dalian earlier."
Diane raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And since when do you and Dalian text each other?"
Jack smirked. "Why do you sound so suspicious?"
Diane sighed, adjusting the strap of her bag. "Forget it. I was planning to go home."
Jack shoved his hands into his pockets, rocking back slightly on his heels. "Come on, just for a little while. It's the weekend. You could use a break."
Diane hesitated for a moment, then exhaled. "Fine. But only for a short while."
Jack grinned. "That's the spirit."
With that, they turned and started heading toward the park.
As they walked toward the park, Diane stole a glance at Jack. He seemed unusually relaxed, his hands still tucked into his pockets, his gaze fixed ahead.
"You seem in a good mood," she noted.
Jack smirked. "Maybe I just like dragging you out of your usual routine."
Diane rolled her eyes. "Right, because meeting up with Lydia and Dalian is such a wild adventure."
Jack chuckled. "You never know."
When they arrived at the park, they spotted Lydia and Dalian sitting on a bench under a large tree, deep in conversation. Lydia was animated, gesturing with her hands as Dalian listened with an amused smile.
Lydia was the first to notice them. "Oh, look who decided to join us!" she called out, grinning.
Dalian's gaze shifted to them, and for a brief second, her eyes flickered toward Jack before she quickly looked away.
Jack smirked. "What, not happy to see us?"
Lydia laughed. "Of course we are! Right, Dalian?" She nudged her friend teasingly.
Dalian cleared her throat. "Yeah, it's… a surprise."
Diane sat beside Lydia, setting her bag down. "Jack insisted."
Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Did he now?"
Jack ignored her and turned to Dalian. "So, what were you guys talking about?"
Dalian hesitated. "Nothing important."
Lydia smirked. "Oh, just about you."
Dalian's eyes widened. "Lydia—"
Jack tilted his head, clearly intrigued. "Really? What about me?"
Dalian shot Lydia a glare, but her friend only grinned mischievously.
"Nothing," Dalian said quickly, her voice slightly higher than usual.
Jack chuckled. "You're a terrible liar."
Dalian groaned, looking away, while Lydia simply looked far too pleased with herself.
Diane, watching the exchange, sighed. "I regret coming here already."
Lydia waved her off. "Oh, hush, you love us."
Dalian, still flustered, focused on her drink, while Jack leaned back on the bench, watching her with a smirk.
For some reason, the moment felt different—like something unspoken lingered between them.
As the afternoon stretched on, the four of them decided to walk around the park, enjoying the fresh air and the carefree weekend. Lydia, always full of energy, challenged them to a small game—whoever could reach the fountain first would win a free drink. Without hesitation, she took off running, leaving Diane shaking her head as she followed at a slower pace.
Dalian was about to join in when she felt a tug on her wrist. She turned, startled, only to find Jack standing beside her, his grip firm yet gentle.
"Not running?" he asked, his voice casual, but there was something different in his tone—something softer.
Dalian hesitated. "I was about to."
Jack didn't let go immediately. His thumb unconsciously brushed against her wrist before he finally released her.
"Then let's go," he said, stepping back.
Dalian's heart pounded for reasons that had nothing to do with running. She took off, trying to shake off the strange feeling, but she was hyper-aware of Jack beside her, keeping pace effortlessly.
By the time they reached the fountain, Lydia was already celebrating her so-called victory. "Told you I'd win!" she laughed, dramatically flipping her hair.
Diane rolled her eyes. "You literally ran before anyone agreed to the race."
Lydia grinned. "Details, details."
Dalian caught her breath, but her thoughts were elsewhere—on the way Jack had looked at her earlier, on the way her skin still tingled from his touch.
Jack sat on the fountain's edge, running a hand through his hair. He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "I swear, you guys are exhausting."
Lydia smirked. "Admit it, you're having fun."
Jack glanced sideways at Dalian before answering. "Yeah… I guess I am."
Dalian pretended not to notice, but she felt it—the shift in his voice, the warmth in his gaze. It was subtle, but it was there.
And maybe… just maybe… she wasn't the only one whose heart was starting to race.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over the park, the group settled near the fountain, the sounds of water trickling mixing with their laughter. Lydia was still gloating over her so-called victory, Diane was pretending to be unimpressed, and Jack… Jack was stealing quiet glances at Dalian when he thought no one was looking.
Dalian wasn't sure when she became so attuned to him, but she could feel it—the weight of his gaze, the way his presence lingered a little too close, how his laughter seemed softer when she was the one speaking. It was subtle, unspoken, yet it made her pulse quicken.
As Lydia and Diane got distracted in their own teasing, Jack leaned slightly toward Dalian, his voice lower, just for her.
"You're quieter than usual," he noted.
Dalian hesitated, her fingers brushing against the cool stone of the fountain. "Just… enjoying the moment."
Jack tilted his head, studying her in a way that made her breath hitch. "You always overthink things, don't you?"
She let out a small, nervous laugh. "Not always."
Jack's lips curled slightly. "So what are you overthinking now?"
Dalian turned away, looking at the shimmering water instead of meeting his eyes. "Nothing important."
Jack didn't push, but his voice softened. "You can tell me, you know."
Dalian swallowed. If only he knew. If only he realized that it was him—the way he made her heart race with just a glance, the way his presence felt different now, heavier in the best and most terrifying way.
Before she could answer, Lydia suddenly turned, catching them in their quiet exchange. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Are you two having your own little conversation over there?" she teased.
Dalian instantly pulled back, her cheeks warming. "No—just talking."
Jack, however, didn't move away. He leaned back casually, stretching his arms behind him, his expression unreadable. "Jealous, Lydia?"
Lydia smirked. "Oh, I see how it is."
Dalian shot her a glare, but Lydia only giggled, nudging Diane as if to say Look at them.
Dalian sighed, standing up. "I'm going to get something to drink."
"I'll come with you," Jack said immediately, pushing himself up as well.
Dalian stiffened slightly, but she nodded, hoping her face wasn't betraying the storm of emotions inside her.
They walked in silence for a while, their steps in sync, the air between them charged with something neither of them acknowledged.
Then, Jack spoke. "I don't mind it, you know."
Dalian frowned. "Mind what?"
Jack shoved his hands into his pockets, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "When it's just the two of us."
Her breath caught.
It was the way he said it—so effortlessly, yet it carried weight. As if he was admitting something without saying it outright.
Dalian clutched her fingers around the strap of her bag. "Me neither," she said quietly.
Jack exhaled, a small smile ghosting his lips. "Good."
And just like that, her heart was no longer hers to control.
As Dalian and Jack returned with the drinks, the atmosphere among the group remained lighthearted, but the weight of their earlier conversation still lingered in the air between them.
Diane glanced at her phone, noting the time. The sky had started shifting into shades of orange and pink, signaling the approach of evening. With a small sigh, she turned to the others.
"I think we should call it a day," Diane said, standing up and dusting off her skirt. "It's getting late."
Lydia stretched her arms lazily. "Yeah, I guess we've had enough fun for today." She then shot Dalian a knowing look, a smirk creeping onto her face. "Some more than others."
Dalian instantly frowned at her but didn't argue. She just grabbed her drink and looked away, pretending to be unbothered.
Jack, who had been standing beside her, glanced down at her before speaking. "I'll walk you home."
Dalian's fingers tightened around her cup. Her heart skipped a beat at the casual way he said it, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"I—" she hesitated, unsure if she should refuse..
Lydia nudged her. "Ohhh, look at you getting VIP treatment," she teased, whispering just loud enough for Dalian to hear.
Dalian sighed, feeling the heat creep up her neck. "Fine," she muttered.
Diane, who had been watching the exchange silently, finally spoke. "Let's go then."
With that, the group gathered their things and left the park, the evening breeze cool against their skin as they made their way home.