A Date Gone Awry

The soft pink petals gently fell around them, creating an enchanting, almost ethereal atmosphere under the sun's warm, golden glow. Her head rested tenderly on his shoulder, her eyes peaceful and content.

His expression was calm as he gazed at her with deep affection, their clasped hands resting atop each other on her lap. Nearby, a pair of swans glide across the picturesque pond, with a few birds perched on the branches of the blooming cherry blossom tree.

"It's beautiful!" Emily exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Elias nodded in agreement, sharing the same sentiments with Emily. The painting was extraordinary, showcasing them as two young lovers with an unquenchable blooming love.

'The irony,' Elias thought, his heart heavy with a mix of emotions, as he stole a glance at Emily, who was praising the local artist's skill, before proceeding to do the same.

The local artist accepted their praises.

"Here, you deserve this," Emily said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation, as she handed the local artist 60 dollars for the painting. The agreed price was 40 dollars, but since she was delighted with it, she added a 20-dollar tip.

"Thank you. Come another time if you can. I promise to draw even more amazing paintings for the both of you," the artist responded gratefully, seeing Elias and Emily off.

After walking a distance away from the artist's shop while staring at the painting, Emily suddenly halted and turned to face Elias.

"Here, I promised to give this to you and make up for the gift you've given me. It might not be as expensive as the trinket. Still, it is worth the price," Emily said, inwardly exhaling as she was tempted to keep the painting, especially considering that this was her first date in the city; however, she swiftly dispelled those thoughts from her mind, realising that they might do her more harm than good. Also, she had already promised to give them to Elias, so she had no reason to keep them.

When Elias heard Emily's words, he found it challenging to discern whether she was being sarcastic. Nonetheless, he was about to refuse the painting and tell her to keep it but decided to keep his thoughts to himself and swallow his words, noticing her intense gaze.

"Thank you," Elias responded, smiling as he received the painting. "Also, It's not about the price or the value; the thought and effort count. I will always treasure it as it's now a cherished memory of our first date, " he added.

[ Update! Emily's affection for you has increased by 1% ]

Stunned, Elias stood rooted in his position as he glanced at the system's notification. He couldn't understand how her emotions were still rising despite being in such a situation.

'Am I doing something wrong?' Elias thought, his mind reeling with confusion.

Emily observed Elias, pondering briefly before she said, "Thank you for such an amazing date, but I think that I will have to stop here today as I recall I have something I urgently need to attend to," she explained politely.

Emily leaned in and gave him a gentle hug before stepping back. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, she halted and sighed, "Also, I appreciate your generosity, but I don't think I'm comfortable with someone who squanders money with no specific modes of income. I hope you understand, and I wish you all the best." She smiled softly, hoping to convey her feelings without offending, before turning around and leaving the area, heading back towards the Park's main gate.

Even though her instincts deduced that Emily had no ill intentions towards her and was still extremely curious about his background, she couldn't deny that there was something suspicious about him.

As such, she had to cut their relationship off immediately since she couldn't pinpoint what it was, especially after his response; if it weren't a problem, then he would have at least given her a clear explanation.

However, she wasn't sure if he thought she was a fool who would follow him because he spent money so freely without caring about where it came from. But, if that's what he thought, he had made a big mistake.

'Grandma was right; City boys are on a whole other level,' Emily thought, shaking those thoughts away as she exited the Park's main gate and prepared to call a taxi to take her home.

Fortunately, there was one passing by, and she immediately stretched out her hand to call. However, before she could get into the taxi, a loud voice resounded from afar behind her—

"WAIT, EMILY!!" Elias screamed at the top of his lungs, racing towards her. Within moments, he arrived before her, breathing heavily as he tried to calm his composure to speak correctly.

[ Update! Emily's affection for you has decreased by 1% ]

Elias gritted his teeth, seeing the system's notification again, but he didn't stop trying to recover his composure. He couldn't let his first day end on a note of misunderstanding and risk losing the affection he had worked so hard to cultivate.

Emily looked at Elias with a hint of annoyance in her eyes. However, before she could open her mouth to speak, Elias did something bold and unexpected.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Elias's voice boomed, cutting through the air, as he gathered his courage and calmed his racing heart. "I HAVE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE!!

His words were enough to draw the attention of a few passersby, and soon, a small crowd began to gather, seemingly interested in the commotion. Some were curious, others were amused, and a few were even moved by Elias's bold declaration. The crowd's reaction was a mix of surprise, intrigue, and a hint of anticipation.

"Hey, what do you think is happening?" asked a man from the crowd.

"I don't know," replied a woman, her eyes fixed on the unfolding scene. "But if I had to guess, I'd say it might be a breakup. Maybe the young man cheated or did something unforgivable and now wants to reconcile."