Just one meeting.

Weeks after that day, I only spoke to Ícaro a few times; after all, even though we were in a fake relationship, we weren't that close.

At the beginning of the weekend...

In the living room, sitting on the sofa, I was on my phone replying to messages, as usual.

Suddenly my phone started ringing; it was Ícaro calling me. I had a huge urge to hang up, but I ended up answering.

It's better to answer, he might threaten me... I thought.

So I answered.

On the call:

"Are you doing anything interesting?" he said.

Everything is more interesting than talking to you! I thought.

"Just tell me what you want, I want to enjoy my weekend hearing as little of your voice as possible!" I said.

It may have been a little rude or arrogant of me, but after everything that happened, I think it's understandable.

"I was thinking, since we're dating... how about we go on a date? Do you accept?" he said.

It's a fake relationship... I thought.

I was obviously going to refuse, but then that thought of the threat came back, so I had to accept. 

"Okay, so tomorrow we'll meet at that corner by the cherry tree at three in the afternoon, do you know it?" he said.

"Yes, I know it," I said.

"Okay, see you tomorrow!" he said.

I hung up and lay down on the sofa. After all, I'd never been on a date in my life. I'd been invited on dates, of course, but I always refused them.

I gave a crooked smile.

My first date... I thought.

As soon as I realized my own expression, I slapped myself. I had to wake up. Was I really happy about this?

As much as I didn't want to admit it, I had spent the whole night thinking about this date. I hadn't been this nervous in years. Why now?

The next day...

It was already 3:10 PM, and Ícaro was already there waiting for me.

"Why is she late? Wasn't she one of those well-behaved little girls?" he murmured.

A few minutes later I arrived. I was wearing a simple white dress and sandals.

Ícaro stared at me with his mouth open.

What an exaggeration... I thought.

Ícaro, with an amused smile and a teasing tone, said:

"The little princess of the school really looks good in anything!"

Little is unnecessary... I thought.

You could say I'm small, I'm one of the shortest in the school, maybe even the shortest, but even so, jokes about it are completely unnecessary, even if they're not in bad taste.

Ícaro looked at his phone to check the time and said:

"You're actually late, why did you take so long? I was almost about to leave!"

It was only eleven or twelve minutes...what an exaggeration! I thought.

"I fell asleep!" I said.

Actually, I was stuck to the bed with zero desire to come, but Minamo kicked me out of the house...what an idiot! He doesn't like it when I get involved in his affairs either! But it doesn't matter...Ícaro doesn't need to know the truth... I thought.

I looked at Ícaro and, in a somewhat grumpy tone, said:

"So what are we going to do on this date?"

"What do you mean?" Ícaro said in a confused tone.

"So? You didn't plan anything?" I said.

"No" he said.

I was visibly frustrated.

"So...you invited me on a date...without planning absolutely anything?!" I said, almost to myself.

After all, I really was disappointed, but it had also been foolish of me to have hope in a complete idiot. 

"Come on! I have to go to the mall to buy something!" I said.

One of us needs to orchestrate this disastrous date! I thought.

As I started walking, Ícaro remained standing still.

I stopped and, with the minimal patience I had at the moment, said:

"Hey! You idiot! Start walking!"

Ícaro flashed a smug smile and calmly said:

"Oh no! I didn't hear anyone asking politely...come on! Ask!"

If I hadn't been threatened at that moment, I swear I would have lost the last bit of patience I had left.

I so badly want to wipe that smug smile off his face! I thought. 

I took a deep breath and, with a clearly forced smile, said:

"Can you...please go to the mall with me?"

"Of course! No need to ask!" he said.

What an idiot! He made me ask! Go to hell! I thought.

At that moment, that's exactly what I wanted to say to his face. I also wanted to try to go up to him and knee him in the stomach again, but there was no one to hold me back.

When we got to the mall, we went to a clothing store. I went straight to the kimono section; after all, the summer festival was still a few months away. I chose a kimono with a lotus flower pattern and bought it, but I couldn't help but notice that Ícaro kept staring at me. 

As we left, I looked at him and said:

"Is something wrong?"

"It's just that I noticed... you're not wearing your usual blue ribbon..." he said.

It's true, I usually wear a light blue ribbon with a sapphire in my hair; it was a gift from my father before he divorced my mother, but honestly, I'd rather forget about that ribbon. I only wear it when I know I'm being fake.

"Oh, I just forgot to put it on!" I said.

Ícaro looked at my kimono and said:

"Lotus flower?"

"Yes, why?" I said.

"Well, what does it mean?" he said.

"Do you really think I know the meaning of the flower?!" I said.

"No! I want to know why you specifically chose that one! What does it mean?" he said.

I looked at the kimono and then at him and said calmly:

"What do you mean by meaning? I just liked it, that's all! You're so tacky..." I said. 

Ícaro smiled and said:

"You saying I'm tacky makes you tackier than me!"

I smiled victoriously and said:

"Ah! So you admit you're tacky!"

"Yes, but you're tackier!" Ícaro said with a provocative smile and tone.

I could have reacted with frustration, but his face was too close to mine.

Without noticing, I blushed slightly. He noticed I had blushed and widened his smile.

I moved away and murmured:

"Whatever you want, idiot..."

Surely at that moment he was having a lot of fun with my reaction, and I was internally agonizing over why I had blushed.

After a few minutes of silence, we started walking through the mall. Honestly, from my point of view, he seemed completely bored the whole time. 

Why did he invite me on a date anyway? I thought.

Suddenly Ícaro looked at me, smiled, and said:

"You know...since we're dating—"

"Fakely" I said immediately.

"Okay, whatever you want! Continuing, I think you should call me 'love'!" He said.

Before anything else, I started laughing uncontrollably. I had never thought of addressing someone, especially him, like that.

"Not even in your dreams! Hahaha!" I said, laughing nonstop.

"What an exaggeration, it was just an idea..." Ícaro murmured.

After a while, I calmed down. Maybe I exaggerated a little, but I really hadn't laughed like that in a long time.

I took a deep breath and said calmly:

"Why don't you call me 'love'?"

"Ah...well, it's...it's...that I..." he stammered.

"Okay then, neither of us calls" I said.

We both fell silent, feeling like the conversation had ended there, and continued walking through the mall, but deep down I didn't want the conversation to end. After all, even if I wouldn't admit it, I was actually having a little fun, at least a little.

After some time we left the mall and strolled down the street.

When the sun finally set, we bought an ice cream and sat on a bench.

"What a different date than I imagined" I said, licking my ice cream.

"Never been on a date?" he asked.

"No, never" I said.

"Why? Do they ask you several times? Never accepted?" he asked.

I looked at the sky, sighed, and said:

"No, I never accepted because, you know, you can't know what people are thinking, what they're going to do, or if they're going to disappoint us. This generation is a real mess."

"Including you?" he asked.

"Yes, including me...but you too!" I said.

I looked down and said:

"People nowadays think of everything as a joke, especially feelings...it was easier in the old days when men were gentlemen and asked girls' parents for permission to date them..."

Ícaro smiled calmly and said:

"Maybe it should be like this...look, if someone ever says they want to date you seriously, make them ask your parents for permission to date you!"

I chuckled softly and said:

"That's true, it sounds like a great idea!"

We were silent for a while longer, but I decided to break the silence one last time.

I smiled gently and said:

"You know, I honestly imagined this date would be much worse..."

"And I imagined you hated me, we're both surprised!" he said with a smile.

"I don't hate you, that's a very strong word, besides, you're too insignificant for me to develop that kind of strong feeling" I said with a teasing smile mixed with amusement.

Ícaro dramatically put his hand on his chest and said:

"Ah! That completely destroyed me!"

Ícaro smiled gently and said:

"But I'm honored that you're...paying attention to someone as insignificant as me."

"It's good that you are!" I said.

I rolled my eyes a little thoughtfully and said:

"You're not so insignificant..."

Ícaro raised an eyebrow and, with an amused smile, said:

"Oh no? What an honor to receive a compliment from you!"

I crossed my arms, a little embarrassed, and said:

"Ah...yes, it's not a compliment, it's a fact! Don't confuse the two things! Idiot!"

I looked at my phone and saw the time and said:

"It's getting late for me...I have to go."

"Then see you in class, goodbye" he said.

I left and when I got home I went to my room and tried to sleep.

A few hours later, at one in the morning, I woke up. It was understandable after a day like that, but this time I woke up hungry.

I went to the kitchen but passed through the living room and that's where I saw my mother leaving the house in her work uniform, with a bag and dark circles under her eyes.

I approached her and said:

"Mom, isn't it a little early?"

"Oh dear, did I wake you?" my mother said.

"No, I just couldn't sleep" I said.

"Oh... well, your brother told me you went on a date with a boy today..." my mother said.

"Oh yes, it was quite different from what I imagined, but I ended up having fun" I said.

My mother took her coat off the hanger and with a soft smile and a tired tone said:

"Hey, Daughter, if you want, you can bring that boy over for lunch with us one of these days."

I doubt it's worth it... I thought.

My mother's days are practically full; she doesn't even have time for us, but I know she tries her best, but it would be pointless for me to invite her if she didn't show up.

"Okay, I can try to invite" I said.

As my mother prepared to leave, I gently touched her shoulder and said:

"Mom, as I was saying...don't you think it's too early to go?"

"Don't worry, daughter, I'll be there in time to make breakfast!" my mother said.

Not the breakfast I'm worried about... I thought.

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms and, in a somewhat restrained and embarrassed tone, said:

"Hey, Mom...if...if you want, I...can make breakfast tomorrow..."

My mother smiled gently and placed her hand on my head and said:

"What a hardworking daughter I have! But no, I can't miss the opportunity to make and enjoy breakfast with my spectacular daughter and son!"

My mother slowly removed her hand from my head and went to the door, smiling before leaving.

"Behave yourself! Don't argue with your brother, okay?" my mother said, winking at me.

When she finally left, I looked at the door, crossing my arms.

What an idiot woman, I'm not a child anymore! I thought.

It even seemed like I was the youngest, but maybe I was the one with the most childish behavior, just maybe.

After that, I went to bed thinking that maybe, just maybe, I could consider Ícaro a friend.