The next morning, Lila woke up to the soft buzz of her phone. She reached for it, still half-asleep, and smiled when she saw the notification: "Good morning, princess ❤️ – Bae."
She had already changed his name in her phone the night before, right after she got home from their dinner. Before she even called him, she had rushed into her group chat with Nia, Zane, and Tasha, squealing about what had happened. Then she called Pearl and Amara, and the reaction was unanimous: everyone saw it coming.
She texted back quickly: "Good morning, bae."
Almost instantly, her phone rang. She answered, her voice soft. "Good morning to you."
His voice was warm, teasing. "Good morning, princess."
She blushed, caught off guard. Luca chuckled. "Wait… are you shy? The big-time lawyer is shy?"
Her laugh was nervous. "Stop teasing me."
"I can't help it," he said, his tone playful. "It's adorable."
They talked for a while, drifting into easy conversation. He asked what her plans were for the day, and she said, "Nothing much, just hanging out with friends."
"Same here," he replied. "Guess we'll both be busy pretending we're not thinking about each other."
She laughed, shy again, and the call ended with a soft, romantic goodbye.
---
At Luca's home, the moment he hung up, his friends—James, Yuki, and another close buddy—burst out laughing from behind him. They had been listening in, not to the words, but to the tone.
James grinned. "So that's why you've been smiling like a teenager. 'Good morning, princess'? Really?"
Yuki added, "I swear, Luca, you sounded like you were auditioning for a romance drama. And she was shy? Lila? The woman who can tear down a courtroom with one sentence?"
Their laughter filled the room, but it wasn't cruel—it was warm, teasing, the kind of banter only close friends could share.
James leaned back, smirking. "You're done for, man. You've dated before, but this? This is different. You're actually in love."
Yuki nodded. "And we're going to remind you of it every single day. Don't think you'll escape the jokes."
Luca shook his head, laughing despite himself. "You guys are ridiculous."
James grinned wider. "Ridiculous? Maybe. But admit it—you're happy. And we're happy for you."
---
Meanwhile, Lila was at the mall with Nia, Zane, and Tasha. They were buzzing with excitement, dragging her from store to store, laughing and teasing.
Nia nudged her. "So, bae, huh? You changed his name already?"
Zane laughed. "We all saw this coming. Honestly, I'm just glad you finally admitted it."
Tasha added, "And it's Luca. The way he looks at you? Girl, that man is gone."
They laughed together, their voices echoing through the mall. For the first time in a long time, Lila felt light, free, and happy.
Later that evening, she went to her sisters' place. Pearl and Amara were waiting, eager for details.
She told them everything, and the room filled with a chorus of "awww."
Amara smiled shyly. "Well, since we're sharing… I've been talking to someone too. It's looking promising."
Pearl groaned dramatically. "Meanwhile, me? After my ex cheated, I can't stand men. I swear, I'm allergic to romance."
They all laughed, the room filled with warmth and sisterly teasing.
---
When Lila finally got home, she was surprised to see Luca standing in front of her apartment. He was holding a food pack from Maison Étoile, one of the city's most luxurious restaurants.
Her stomach growled, and she couldn't help but smile. "You brought me food?"
He grinned. "For us. I thought we could eat together."
She invited him in, closing the door behind them. And then it hit her—this was the first time her boyfriend was in her apartment alone with her.
She felt shy, confused, and a little weird, but in a cute way. In her mind, she was spiraling: This is my first relationship. He's here. Alone. With me. What do I do? Act normal. Don't be awkward. Oh God, I'm awkward.
She smiled nervously, trying to hide her thoughts, but Luca noticed the blush on her cheeks and chuckled softly.
"Relax," he said gently. "It's just dinner."
But for Lila, it was more than that. It was the beginning of something new, something real, something hers.
---They sat side by side at her cute little dinner table, the food from Maison Étoile spread out between them. The candlelight flickered softly, casting warm shadows across the room. Lila glanced at Luca as he poured her a glass of sparkling water, and for a moment, she realized how natural it felt—how much he had already become part of her world.
They ate slowly, talking about their pasts. Luca shared stories of his childhood, the mischievous things he did with his cousin, the way he once got into trouble for sneaking into a music festival without a ticket. Lila laughed until her cheeks hurt, then told him about her teenage years—how she once pretended to be sick just to skip school and spend the day reading novels, how she used to dream of being a writer before law pulled her in.
As they talked, she found herself thinking: He fits here. He fits in my life. He's not just someone I'm dating—he's someone who already feels like home.
When the plates were cleared, Luca leaned back, his eyes fixed on her. "You know," he said, his voice low and teasing, "I've never seen you blush this much. The lawyer who terrifies half the city is sitting here, shy."
Her cheeks flamed, and she looked down. "Stop it."
He chuckled, leaning closer. "I can't help it. You're beautiful when you're shy."
The moment stretched between them. He wanted to kiss her, but he didn't want to rush, didn't want to spoil the tenderness of it. Instead, he reached for her hand, lifted it gently, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
"May I?" he whispered, his breath warm against her skin. "May I kiss you?"
Her heart raced. She had never dated before, never kissed anyone. But the way he asked—soft, patient, reverent—made her feel safe. She nodded. "Yes."
He leaned in slowly, giving her time, and their lips met in a kiss that was tender, lingering, and filled with promise. He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his voice hushed but steady. "You don't know how long I've wanted this moment."
Her breath caught, and before she could stop herself, she leaned forward and kissed him again. He smiled against her lips, teasing softly, "So the shy lawyer does know how to take charge."
She laughed, embarrassed, but her heart was soaring.
---
Eventually, it was time for him to go. They stood at her door, the night quiet around them.
"Goodnight, Lila," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Goodnight, Luca," she whispered.
He leaned down, kissed her forehead gently, and lingered there for a moment. "Sleep well, princess."
She smiled, her cheeks warm. "You too."
As he walked away, she closed the door, her heart pounding. For the first time in her life, she felt the beginning of something she had only ever dreamed of.
---