Steemit Challenge s28wk6: Unexpected Chat's True Twist
Antony replayed the hug all the way home.
It wasn’t just the warmth of it—brief but certain—or the faint scent of vanilla on Tina’s jacket. It was the ease. The way hours had slipped past unnoticed. The way his chest felt lighter, as if something long locked away had quietly opened.
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He lay awake that night staring at the ceiling, smiling at nothing.
Dinner next week.
He he did not a point nearly laughed at how bold Tina had been, squeezing his hands in friendly manner, claiming the future so relaxed. For a person like himself who had spent most of his days shrinking himself, saying sorry with body language, the squeeze felt like an authorization.
The week crawled.
Anthony kept rehearsing words to say the dinner during the conversation while on his way, he just imagine his jokes landing perfectly, and him gazing at Tina laughing joyful-not just a polite customer service laugh, but the one which he heard that afternoon, swift and vulnerable. He pictured himself holding her hand across a little table, imagine the spirit of courage showing up with a blink of an eye.
Friday evening arrived dressed in nerves.
The restaurant Tina had chosen was in between a bookstore and a closed warm light from the cinema, soft music, a kind of place where individuals leaned in closer without even realizing it. She had been here already just before Tony arrived, hair pulled back, she was wearing a simple orange dress which made Anthony nearly forget how to breathe.
"You came" she said, smiling like it mattered.
"Of course" he replied, voice steadier than he felt.
Dinner unfolded easily. They talked about childhoods, about odd jobs, about moments that quietly changed them. Tina spoke about her love for fabrics, textures, how clothes could change the way people stood in the world. Antony talked about numbers, patterns, his strange comfort in order and planning. They laughed at the contrast.
At some point, Antony realized he wasn’t rehearsing anymore.
He was there.
Just as they had almost finished dessert Tina became thoughtful, she calmly traced the rim of her glass, taking a moments for the first time at that evening.
There’s something I should probably tell you "she said".
His stomach twisted—not because he was afraid but with attention.
“I don’t plan on staying a salesgirl forever.”
Antony smiled. “I figured. You talk about clothes like someone with a bigger picture”.
She met his eyes. “I want to open my own boutique. Not just sell clothes—design them. Ethical fabrics. Local tailors. Something that means something.”
“That’s… incredible,” he said, genuinely.
She nodded, then added softly, “I’ve been saving. Planning. But I’m missing something.”
Antony leaned forward. “What?”
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“Someone who understands structure. Money. Growth.” She paused. “Someone I trust.”
The silence between them shifted—charged, heavier now. Antony felt it click into place, not as disappointment, but as clarity.
“You’re asking me about business,” he said slowly.
“Yes,” Tina replied. “But not only business.”
She reached across the table, resting her hand over his. The same hand that had squeezed his days earlier.
“I didn’t agree to coffee because I was bored,” she continued. “I agreed because you listened. Really listened. And because when I talked, you didn’t try to impress me—you tried to understand.”
Antony swallowed.
“I’ve been hiding behind safety my whole life,” he admitted. “Stable job. Predictable days. I always told myself that was enough.”
“And is it?” she asked.
He looked at their hands. “Not anymore.”
They walked out of the restaurant under a sky stretched wide with stars. No rush this time. No hesitation. Tina slipped her arm through his naturally, like it belonged there.
“So,” she said lightly, “what do you think? Crazy idea?”
Antony stopped walking.
He turned to face her, heart pounding—not with shyness now, but with choice.
“I think,” he said, “that I met someone I like very much… and an idea that scares me just enough to matter.”
Her smile widened, soft and hopeful.
“I think we should explore both,” he added.
She laughed then—a sound full of relief—and hugged him, tighter than before. Not a goodbye hug. Not a maybe hug. A beginning.
Months later, the boutique opened quietly.
No grand opening. No influencers. Just honest work, clean lines, and a small sign that read Handmade With Purpose. Tina stood behind the counter, eyes shining. Antony handled the books in the back, sleeves rolled up, sleeves no longer afraid of the mess.
They argued sometimes. They learned each other slowly. They failed at a few designs. They celebrated small victories with late-night street food and shared exhaustion.
What surprised Antony most wasn’t the romance—though it was real and steady—it was the way courage grew when shared.
Love hadn’t arrived as fireworks.
It arrived as partnership.
And in that quiet garment shop, where a shy man once asked for coffee, two people stitched together a future neither had planned—but both had been waiting for.
I would like to invite;
Thanks for reading this post!!!
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Hello @chiagoziee, thank you so much for taking part in Steemit Challenge Season 28 Week-6. I truly appreciate the time and creativity you put into your entry. Your assessment, including feedback and scores based on my evaluation criteria is provided below:
Presentation 2.9