Chapter 7:

Scene 8: When Fiction Comes to Life

OUA: Match Made Online

“Can we stop by the children’s park over there? We can eat the cake there.”

“Absolutely”

//SE: Children running, playing, laughing

//SE: Animal pets are strolling with their human companions

(They sat on a bench, sitting close to one another)

“The kids look so happy.”

//He took a bite of a cake using a spoon

“How about you? Did you enjoy our date?”

//She swallowed the cake before talking

“Enjoy is an understatement. I’m elated. The cake baking was the most spontaneous. We even got a free vanilla cake! This is yummy.”

“Good to know. I like this flavor. The cake baking and cake décor we did was fun.”

“Is it just me, or is this déjà vu?”//confuse “It feels like this happened before, but I couldn’t remember when or if I actually experienced it before.” //thinking

“Do you mean your favorite romance short story that you read to me before?”

“Ah, yes, that one!” //chuckles “No wonder it feels like déjà vu, but it’s not. You’re wearing the same color palette the guy in the story was wearing, but with upgrades. Plain yellow polo, plain white pants, a pair of dark brown shoes, with a black body bag. The Bake Your Own Cake a while ago, and the heart-shaped chocolate cupcake in the story. Did you plan all these?”

“Kind of. But not all of it. I remembered it was your favorite romance story, so I’d like to recreate it as close as possible, but we’re not totally the fictional characters in the story. I hope you weren’t disappointed.”

“N-No… actually, I was moved by what you did.” //bashful “You just made this romantic date for us even better. It may not be as exact as the story, but I am liking this more because we’re just being true with each other. And it’s you who is the male lead this time.”

//SE: The boy dropped his spoon on the ground

(He picked it up and threw it in the dustbin near them)

“Clumsy me”

(She offered to feed him the last bite of the cake)

“Here”

(He opened his mouth and chewed the cake)

//SE: Children are laughing and screaming while playing

“You’re so sweet,” //he murmurs

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you. What is it?”

“Ah, no… I said the cake is sweet.” //shy, light laugh

“But not too much. It was a good idea that we reduced the sugar.”

“Do you have any plans in the coming weeks?”

“I will be having an out-of-town trip for 4 days and 3 nights with my co-workers to meet our partners and attend a workshop. Then, 3 weeks after that trip, our office will have an annual team building on a weekend.” //recalling her schedules

“Your schedule seems full this month.”

“Kind of, since we will have a series of events too that would last for days. Why did you ask?”

//SE: Her smartphone ringtone

“Excuse me. It’s my mother.” //she excuses herself for a moment. “Yes, I’m still with him at the park near our house. Yes, I'll be back on time.” //assuring her mother that she’s safe

(Phone call ends)

“Did your mother ask about us?”

“Yes. Sorry, it’s getting late.”

“I’ll walk with you.”

“Okay”

//SE: Few vehicles on the road, few people walking on the sidewalk

“You have a cozy neighborhood here.” //he feels cozy

“Yes, this is where I grew up. My parents have been living here for 30 years.”

“How was your childhood?”

“Look at that tree over there. See that big old tree?”

(She pointed at an old huge tree in the park)

“Yes, why?”

“That’s the exact spot where I bruised and nearly injured myself from riding a bicycle. I cried so hard, my father brought me back home because I was having a tantrum.”

“Just like in your favorite story”

“Yes!” //exclaimed “That scene in my real life was tragic when I was a kid, but when I think about it now, it was so funny.” //laughs “It was nostalgic. I miss being a kid again.”

“This place is memorable to you.”

“Yes, and it even got more significant.”

“Why?” //curious

“Because this is where we had our first date. And you based our first date on my favorite story.”

“I’m pleased to get to know more of you.”

“Me too. We’ve known each other online for months, but it also seems different to know you more in person.” //calm

“It is surreal, like I was dreaming, and my dream came true.” //dreamy tone

“We can visit other places farther from my house next time.”

//he stutters

“Next time?”

“Oh, you didn’t want to? I thought-” //concerned

“No, I’m happy that you were looking forward to more of our meetings. I was even nervous, maybe this will be the first and the last time.”