Aurelia Noir welcomed them fully now.
The soft golden lights, the quiet hum of conversation, the clinking of fine glassware—it all blended into a calm, luxurious rhythm.
At a corner, a long reserved table waited.
Eight seats.
Perfectly arranged.
Jason and Elena were the first to settle in.
Jason pulled out a chair for her with a small smirk.
"Ladies first."
Elena raised a brow.
"Look at you behaving."
"I can behave when I want to," he replied, taking his seat beside her.
Maya and Tan arrived shortly after.
Maya's eyes lit up immediately.
"This place is beautiful," she whispered, taking in the surroundings.
Tan nodded, a bit quieter, but clearly impressed.
"Yeah… this is definitely not somewhere I'd come alone."
Maya laughed softly as they took their seats across Jason and Elena.
Timothy and Daniel joined next.
Timothy dropped into his chair like he owned the place.
"I like this already. Feels expensive."
Daniel sat beside him, calm as ever.
His eyes didn't stay in one place for long.
A glance at the entrance.
A quick look at the bar.
Then the exits.
Silent.
Focused.
"Try not to embarrass me tonight," Daniel muttered.
Timothy scoffed.
"Please, I'm the main character."
Then—
The atmosphere shifted.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just… enough.
Damian and Janaya walked in.
Even from across the room, they drew attention.
Their presence carried weight.
Janaya smiled softly as they approached, but Damian—
Damian remained composed.
Cold.
Controlled.
His gaze swept the room once again before they reached the table.
Then he pulled a chair for Janaya.
She sat.
He took his seat beside her.
"Look who finally decided to show up," Jason said with a grin.
"Relax, we're not late," Janaya replied.
"Yet," Maya added playfully.
Menus were handed out.
Drinks were poured.
The table slowly came alive.
"So… introductions?" Maya suggested, looking around.
"Since some of us are meeting for the first time."
Elena straightened slightly, smiling.
"I'm Elena."
"Jason's better half," she added confidently.
Jason nodded immediately.
"Very correct."
"Maya," she said next, gesturing to herself.
"And this is Tan my sweetheart "
Tan gave a satisfying smile and a small nod.
"Nice to meet you all."
"Timothy," he said, raising his glass slightly.
"Professional third wheel, Daniels favorite."
" unemployed in love," Jason added.
"Shut up," Timothy replied instantly.
Daniel leaned back slightly.
"Daniel."
That was it.
No extra words.
No effort.
All eyes turned.
Finally—
Damian.
He didn't rush.
Didn't smile.
Didn't try.
"Damian."
Simple.
Direct.
Enough.
"And I'm Janaya," she added quickly, softening the moment.
A brief silence passed.
Not awkward—
Just new.
Then Timothy clapped lightly.
"Okay! Now that we're all familiar… let's eat something. I'm starving"
"Yh you probably didn't eat from home" Jason fired back
"The whole essence of a date is to eat so why eat from home?" Timothy said
Laughter spread across the table.
Light.
Easy.
Normal.
But across the room—
A waiter stood still for just a second too long.
Near the bar—
Another man adjusted his earpiece subtly.
And at the entrance—
Someone new walked in.
Back at the table, no one noticed.
Except—
Damian.
His fingers paused slightly on the table.
His gaze lifted.
Sharp.
Observant.
Something…
Didn't feel right.
Everyone placed their orders, and within minutes, everything was already being processed.
A waiter walked over to their table with a polite smile.
"Is there a special occasion today? A birthday, perhaps?"
"Oh no, we just—" Timothy started.
"Yes. It's my birthday," Daniel cut in immediately.
"Really?" Janaya asked, surprised.
"In that case, each couple gets a complimentary bottle of wine to celebrate the birthday boy," the waiter said before stepping away.
"Wow, I feel blessed," Timothy said, laughing.
Damian leaned back slightly, his gaze sharp.
"And how come you don't know it's your boyfriend's birthday?" he asked coldly.
"Right…" Elena added, glancing between them.
Timothy scratched his neck awkwardly.
"…He doesn't really share things like that with me. Only shows up when he wants me."
Daniel let out a low scoff.
"There's nothing special about birthdays. I don't celebrate them… especially not the day I lost my mom."
The table went quiet for a second.
"Oh… I'm so sorry," Janaya said softly, nudging Damian under the table.
"Yes. My apologies," Damian added, his tone calmer now.
The moment passed as the waiter returned with their meals and the complimentary wine.
Soon enough, the mood lifted again.
"So… why don't we all talk about how our relationships started?" Maya suggested, digging into her food.
"I'll go first," Timothy said quickly.
"Can someone else go first?" Daniel replied immediately.
"Oh, come on. Don't be shy," Elena said with a smile.
Timothy cleared his throat.
"So… it was after one of our classes. I went to the restroom to adjust my shirt, and I saw Daniel there. He was changing for some reason I still don't understand—and boom… I fell in love."
A few chuckles escaped around the table.
"I asked him out after a few hangouts… and here we are."
"You two liked each other and none of us knew?" Maya asked, surprised.
"Daniel wanted to keep it a secret. Said you guys might judge us," Timothy added, throwing him under the bus.
"Okay, I'll go next," Janaya said, pausing her meal.
"It started the night I was dared to go to Damian's room. I didn't realize I was already falling for him until the rooftop… that birthday party Jason invited us to."
She smiled softly.
"That was our first kiss."
Her eyes lingered on Damian for a moment—lost in the memory.
Damian cleared his throat slightly, snapping her back.
"Mine was that same party," Tan said, holding Maya's hand.
"Jane brought Maya over, introduced her as her friend… and that was it. I fell for everything about her that night."
Maya smiled warmly.
"That was when I fell for you too."
"Okay, ours too," Elena said.
"Looks like that party did a lot of matchmaking ," Jason added.
"I was actually supposed to meet a Damian that night," Elena continued, "but somehow I saw Jason from across the room and… yeah. I went for him instead."
Janaya's brows lifted as she faced Damian.
"A Damian?"
"Don't ask me," Damian said immediately. "Ask Jane. She was the one trying to play matchmaker."
Elena leaned forward slightly.
"Wait… you're that Damian?"
Janaya gasped softly.
"Wait—so you're the one Jane planned for at the rooftop? The one she told me to go instead because the girl messed up?"
Damian raised a brow.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. I was there for business calls."
Elena laughed.
"What a small world."
"I knew Jane was going to embarrass me one day with that habit," Damian muttered as he reached for the wine.
"Birthday boy," Damian said suddenly, his eyes locking onto Daniel,
"I think you should open your wine first. After all, this is because of you."
"You know, you sound like you have a problem with my man," Timothy said immediately.
"Anyone can open it first," he added quickly.
"I would… but I'm not really a fan," Daniel replied calmly.
"Come on, baby. Just open it—I want to taste it," Janaya said playfully.
At that moment, Damian's attention shifted again.
He scanned the room carefully.
There were fewer people now than when they arrived.
Too few.
His fingers tapped lightly against the table.
Janaya noticed immediately and placed her hand over his.
"Relax," she whispered softly.
"Nothing's happening. Don't raise a false alarm."
She stretched her glass toward him.
Damian didn't respond immediately.
His eyes moved once more—towards the bar… the entrance… the staff.
Then back to the table.
His gaze landed on Daniel.
He was Calm.
Unbothered.
Too calm.
"Why don't we play a game?" Damian said finally.
A pause.
"Never have I ever."
Jason leaned forward instantly.
"Now that sounds like fun."