Blind Date (2)

Observation room.

Five people were seated on red velvet wingback chairs, watching the scenes depicted by the cameras in different dining rooms in the mansion. Over the course of an hour, they had gradually relaxed their postures, Larry even going as far as to lounge in his seat while munching finger biscuits—not that anyone would dare criticise the director.

When the four other celebrities weren't trading comments about the contestants, they were interacting with the livestream viewers, keeping them entertained with mini Q&As.

"The first assignment is almost over. What do ya'll think?" Larry asked, brushing some crumbs off his hands.

"It's been pretty tame," Brady responded. "All six couples are reacting normally for their first date. Some are easing into it, some just can't click, some already have good chemistry..."

"Dining in the dark is said to have a psychological effect on diners, though," Michael interjected. "Some of the contestants are obviously sharing things they wouldn't have divulged on a first date if they weren't blindfolded."

"The dark does make people feel more vulnerable," Scarlett agreed. "Personally, if I couldn't see my date's expression, I'd have the courage to say a lot of things."

"I'm more interested in the 'dining in the dark' aspect," M.J. chipped in. "I've been to a blackout restaurant myself, and let me just say: It feels good knowing I'm not the only one who had reservations eating with my hands. Oh, and constantly feeling around the table while hoping I wouldn't accidentally touch someone else's food."

"It must have been an eye-opening meal," Brady joked.

Eveyone laughed, and M.J. even threw her head back. "I found its charm eventually, and it looks like most of the contestants are accustomed to it, too."

"Speaking of the contestants..." Michael looked at the drone filming them, assaulting fans with his expressive eyes. "Are there any who caught our viewers' eyes?"

The chat room was more than ready to answer his question.

[It's nice getting to know everyone]

[Watching others' first dates being cooler than my own first dates]

[Can't believe #5 is into furries]

[What's so bad about liking pets?]

[Poor kid]

[Dw his date didn't get it either]

[Who says that on a FIRST date]

[Tbh, I respect his bravery]

[#11 is so pretty]

[Ikr and her date is so buff]

[Couple #9 and #4 make me feel like I'm watching a car wreck]

[Only a car wreck?]

[Lololol]

[Train wreck]

[Plane crash]

[The guy looks like he wants to bury himself]

[#8 and #7 have amazing chemistry]

[+1]

[When you put two extroverts together]

[#12 and #1 are the best pair IMO]

[They are perfect for each other]

[Agreed]

[They have so much in common!]

[He understands her UwU]

[Musician x artist]

[Blonde bombshells]

[Ice queen x gentle knight who melted her heart]

[^PERFECT DESCRIPTION]

[Can't wait till they can see each other!!]

"Looks like we have some shippers for contestants #12 and #1," M.J. observed. "Let's take a look at them."

***

One of the dining rooms.

"...Then I took a sabbatical and spent a year on a spiritual retreat in Country B. Honestly, it healed my mind, body, and soul. And after it ended, I quit my job for good. Have you ever went on one, Sky?"

"A sabbatical or a retreat?" Skyler asked.

"Both."

"Regrettably, no," he sighed. "But I hope to take a break some day."

"What's stopping you now?" his date, Maddy, inquired.

He picked up a slice of cake before answering, "Work, mostly. Chasing a never-ending string of deadlines."

A tangy taste sprinkled with sugar and speckles of soft citrus exploded on his taste buds. He nearly moaned.

This. This had to be a slice of heaven. No store bought, expire-in-a-month cake could ever measure up to this delicacy. And with his sight taken away, his sense of taste and smell were able to gift him a uniquely enhanced experience of fine dining. If the rest of the show offered meals like this, he would happily play along to whatever Iris wanted.

He was thinking of her again... Skyler frowned. Suddenly, the lemon cake tasted less sweet and more sour.

To distract himself, he continued, "I admire your decision, though. Not many people have the guts to put their lives on hold for a year, especially at the peak of their career; let alone quitting a prestigious, high paying job."

"You're very different from my ex," Maddy commented.

Skyler raised his brows, though the blindfold made it a bit tough. "Oh?"

"I'm sorry... Ex talk is one of the taboos of first dates, right?" Maddy laughed nervously. "But I couldn't help it. Even though we just met, it feels easier to express myself when I'm with you. Every time I told someone about my resignation from the orchestra, they would just go on about how stupid or ungrateful I was... and my ex would always remind me of it. You're one of the few people who genuinely seem to care about me instead of my job."

"I believe the person comes before their choice," Skyler admitted. "There's no point judging another's' choices if you don't understand the person who made them. And if you still don't understand their decision even if you know them inside out... Then it probably means you never knew them at all."

His tone unconsciously darkened, and Maddy's response was gentle, as though she was handling a wounded porcupine. "Was it your ex?"

"That obvious?" he chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"It takes one to know one," Maddy said softly. "For what it's worth, just because one person hurt you, doesn't mean the next will."

"Thanks."

For awhile, a comfortable silence settled over them, and Skyler soaked it in. When was the last time he'd been on a date like this? No awkward small talk, no stiff deflections, no shattered expectations or disappointed eyes.

There was no pressure here because neither party could weigh what to share based on the other's expression, and the conversation flowed seamlessly. It was almost too good to be true—maybe he should thank Cole for persuading him to try this.

"Sky..."

"Yes?"

Another girl had called him that once, but her voice was less tentative and crisp. It was livelier, often sultry, occasionally sleepy, and altogether his favourite sound to hear in the morning.

Until it was no longer beside him every morning.

Maddy's next sentence brought him back to the present. "I know our current circumstances aren't normal. So, when we leave this room and the blindfolds come off... I'd like to get to know the real you. I want to see how this goes."

Skyler wanted to slap himself. Here Maddy was, being sincere and taking a leap by giving him the upper hand, and yet he was thinking of somebody else.

He was here to meet new people, not think about old ones. The least Maddy deserved was his full attention.

Thus, Skyler shook off those pointless reminisces and smiled at Maddy—not that she could see him anyway—assuring her of his stance.

"I feel the same way."