Ethan's POV
The days that followed were a blur of sleepless nights and endless torment. Every time I saw Aria, my heart ached with the knowledge of what I had to do. Her smile, her laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she saw me. It all felt like a cruel reminder of what I was about to lose.
I tried to distance myself, to pull away slowly, hoping that maybe she wouldn’t notice, that maybe she’d just... let me go. But Aria wasn’t the kind of person who let things go easily. She was persistent, relentless, and she could sense that something was wrong.
“Ethan,” she said one afternoon, catching me after class, her brow furrowed with concern. “Are you okay? You’ve been... different lately. Distant.”
I forced a smile, my heart breaking as I looked into her eyes, so full of trust and affection. “I’m fine, Aria. Just... stressed. Work stuff.”
She didn’t look convinced, but she nodded, her hand reaching out to touch my arm, sending a jolt of electricity through me. “If you need to talk, I’m here. You know that, right?”
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat, my chest tightening with guilt. “Yeah. I know.”
But I couldn’t talk to her. Not about this. Not about the fact that I was about to break her heart, to shatter the fragile connection we’d built, all because of Claire’s threats.
———
The clock was ticking. Claire’s ultimatum loomed over me like a dark cloud, but instead of pulling away, I found myself wanting to do the opposite. If this was the end, if I had to break things off with Aria... then I wanted to make the most of the time we had left. I wanted her to know, without a doubt, how much she meant to me. Even if I couldn’t say it outright, I could show her. I could give her one perfect night, something she’d remember long after I was gone.
So, I did something reckless. Something stupid. Something I knew I’d probably regret later.
I asked her out on a date.
Not just any date. A real date. The kind of date that would make her feel special, cherished, like she was the only person in the world that mattered. Because, to me, she was.
I found her after class, leaning against the wall outside the lecture hall, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when she saw me, her face lighting up with that smile that always made my heart skip a beat.
“Hey,” she said, tucking her phone into her bag. “What’s up?”
I took a deep breath, my hands shoved into my pockets to hide how much they were shaking. “Aria, I was wondering... do you have plans tonight?”
She blinked, caught off guard. “Uh, no. Not really. Why?”
I forced a smile, trying to sound casual even though my heart was pounding. “I was thinking... maybe we could go out. Like, a proper date. Dinner, maybe? Somewhere nice.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she just stared at me, her mouth slightly open. Then, slowly, a grin spread across her face. “Are you... asking me out on a date, Professor Ramsey?”
I chuckled, though my chest felt tight. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
She laughed, the sound warm and bright, and it made my heart ache. “Well, in that case... I’d love to. But just so you know, I’m going to hold you to the ‘somewhere nice’ part. No cheap pizza joints or fast food. I want the full Ethan Ramsey experience.”
I grinned, feeling a flicker of relief. “Deal. Pick you up at seven?”
She nodded, her smile widening. “Seven it is. Don’t be late, Professor.”
As I walked away, my heart was racing, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was making a huge mistake. But for once, I didn’t care. Tonight wasn’t about logic or consequences. Tonight was about Aria. And I was going to make it unforgettable.
———
Aria's POV
___
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection like it was a stranger. My hair was curled, my makeup was perfect, and I was wearing a dress I’d borrowed from Zianne. A sleek black number that hugged my curves in all the right places. I looked... good. Really good. But I couldn’t shake the nerves bubbling in my stomach.
“Aria, you’re going to be fine,” Zianne said, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. “You look amazing. Ethan’s going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. “What if I trip and fall on my face? Or spill something on myself? Or... oh my gosh, what if I say something stupid and ruin the whole night?”
Zianne rolled her eyes, walking over to adjust the strap of my dress. “Relax. You’re overthinking this. It’s just a date. A fancy, romantic date with the hottest professor on campus, but still. Just a date.”
I shot her a glare, though there was no real heat behind it. “You’re not helping.”
She laughed, patting my shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Just be yourself. And if all else fails, just smile and nod. Men love that.”
Before I could respond, there was a knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly grabbed my purse, taking a deep breath to steady myself.
“Showtime,” Zianne whispered, giving me a wink before disappearing into her room.
I opened the door, and there he was. Ethan. He was wearing a dark suit that fit him perfectly, his hair slightly messy like he’d been running his hands through it. He looked... incredible. Like he’d stepped out of a magazine or a movie. And the way he was looking at me... like I was the only person in the world. It made my knees weak.
“Hey,” he said, his voice soft but with a hint of awe. “You look... wow.”
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly looked down at my dress. “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
He chuckled, holding out his hand. “Ready?”
I nodded, taking his hand, and the moment our fingers touched, I felt a jolt of electricity. “Ready.”
As we walked to his car, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with nerves. This was it. My first real date with Ethan. And I was determined to make it perfect.
———
Ethan's POV
___
The restaurant was one of the nicest in town. A cozy, intimate place with dim lighting, soft music, and a view of the city skyline. I’d made a reservation days ago, back when I’d first started planning this night. Back when I’d still been naive enough to think that maybe, just maybe, things could work out between us.
But now, as I watched Aria across the table, her eyes sparkling as she laughed at something I’d said, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. This was supposed to be a perfect night, a night she’d remember forever. But all I could think about was how I was going to break her heart.
“Ethan,” she said, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts. “You’re spacing out again. What’s going on?”
I forced a smile, reaching across the table to take her hand. “Nothing. Just... enjoying the view.”
She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Uh-huh. Well, if you’re not careful, I’m going to start thinking you’re not having fun.”
I chuckled, squeezing her hand. “Trust me, Aria. I’m having fun. More than I’ve had in a long time.”
She smiled, her cheeks turning pink, and for a moment, everything felt right. Like we were the only two people in the world, and nothing else mattered.
The date was perfect. Soft candlelight flickered on the table, casting a warm glow over Aria’s face. She looked stunning, her eyes sparkling as she laughed at something I’d said, her hand resting lightly in mine. For a moment, I let myself forget about everything else. Claire’s threats, the ticking clock, the inevitable heartbreak that was coming.
Tonight was about Aria. About us. And I was determined to make it unforgettable.
“So,” Aria said, leaning forward, her chin resting on her hand. “What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done? And don’t say ‘this date,’ because I’m having a great time.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Oh, no. You’re not getting off that easy. If I’m sharing my deepest, darkest secrets, you’re going to have to do the same.”
She grinned, her eyes narrowing playfully. “Fine. But you first.”
I leaned back in my chair, pretending to think. “Alright, let’s see. There was this one time when I was in college. I was at a party, and I thought it would be a great idea to impress this girl by doing a backflip off the roof of the house into the pool.”
Aria’s eyes widened. “Wait, what? Did you do it?”
I nodded, grimacing. “Oh, I did it. And I nailed the landing... sort of. The problem was, I didn’t realize the pool was only three feet deep. I hit the bottom, knocked the wind out of myself, and had to be fished out by Kai. The girl I was trying to impress? She laughed so hard she spilled her drink on me.”
Aria burst out laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. “Oh my gosh,I can’t believe my brother didn't tell me about that. That was hilarious!”
I shrugged, grinning. “What can I say? I was young and stupid. And desperate to impress a girl. I plead with your brother not to tell anyone about that incident.”
She laughed again, and I felt my chest tighten. Gosh, I was going to miss this. Miss her. But I pushed the thought aside, focusing on the moment. Tonight was about her, about us. I could deal with the fallout next time.
“Your turn,” I said, leaning forward. “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”
Before she could answer, the waiter arrived with our food, setting the plates down in front of us. Aria’s eyes lit up as she took in the spread grilled salmon, roasted vegetables, and a side of truffle fries that smelled like heaven.
As we ate, the conversation flowed easily, the tension from earlier melting away. Aria told me about her childhood, about how she used to sneak into her brother’s room to steal his comic books, and how she’d once tried to bake a cake for her dad’s birthday and ended up setting off the smoke alarm.
“It was supposed to be a chocolate cake,” she said, her eyes sparkling with laughter. “But I accidentally used salt instead of sugar. My dad took one bite and literally spit it out. He still brings it up every year.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “That’s funny. I can just picture it.”
She grinned, leaning back in her chair. “Yeah, it was a disaster. But, you know, it’s one of those memories that makes me laugh now. Even if it was mortifying at the time.”
I nodded, my gaze softening as I looked at her. “I think that’s what makes you so special, Aria. You find the humor in everything. Even the embarrassing stuff.”
She blushed, her cheeks turning pink. “Well, someone’s got to keep things light around here. Otherwise, you’d be all broody and mysterious all the time.”
I laughed, reaching across the table to take her hand. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. You keep me grounded, Aria. More than you know.”
She smiled, her fingers intertwining with mine. “Well, someone’s got to keep you in line, Professor.”
We fell into a comfortable silence, the sound of soft music and distant laughter filling the air. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt, knowing that this perfect night was going to end soon. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the way Aria’s hand felt in mine, the way her smile made my heart race.
After dinner, we decided to take a walk along the riverfront. The city lights reflected on the water, creating a shimmering, dreamlike atmosphere. Aria linked her arm through mine, her head resting lightly on my shoulder as we walked.
“This is nice,” she said, her voice soft. “I could get used to this.”
I felt my chest tighten, but I forced a smile. “Yeah. Me too.”
We stopped at a small gazebo overlooking the water, the moonlight casting a soft glow over everything. Aria turned to me, her eyes searching mine. “Ethan, can I ask you something?”
I nodded, my heart pounding. “Of course.”
She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. “Why now? I mean, we’ve known each other for years. Why did you decide to ask me out now?”
I took a deep breath, my mind racing. How could I explain this to her without giving everything away? “I guess... I realized that life’s too short to wait for the perfect moment. Sometimes, you just have to take a chance. And you... you’re worth taking a chance on.”
She blinked, her eyes wide with surprise. Then she smiled, her expression softening. “Ethan, that’s... that’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly looked away. “Yeah, well... don’t let it go to your head.”
She laughed, the sound warm and bright, and for a moment, everything felt right. Like we were the only two people in the world, and nothing else mattered.
But then, as if the universe had decided to remind me of the ticking clock, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, my stomach dropping when I saw Claire’s name on the screen.
“Everything okay?” Aria asked, her brow furrowed with concern.
I forced a smile, shoving my phone back into my pocket. “Yeah, just... work stuff. Don’t worry about it.”
She nodded, though she didn’t look convinced. “Alright. But if you need to go, just let me know.”
I shook my head, reaching out to gently brush a strand of hair out of her face. “I’m not going anywhere. Not tonight.”
She smiled, her cheeks turning pink, and for a moment, I let myself forget about everything else. 
“Ethan,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. “Can I ask another question?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
She looked up at me, her eyes searching mine. “Do you ever feel like... like this is too good to be true? Like something’s going to come along and ruin it?”
I felt my chest tighten, and I forced a smile, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Sometimes. But then I remember that I’m with you, and I realize that nothing could ruin this. Not really.”
She smiled, but it was tinged with sadness. “I hope you’re right.”
I pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly, as if I could shield her from the storm that was coming. “I am, Aria. I promise.”
As we stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I felt a surge of emotion, something raw and overwhelming. I couldn’t lose her. I wouldn’t. No matter what it took, I’d find a way to make this work. To keep her safe, to keep us together.
But deep down, I knew the truth. This was the calm before the storm. And when it hit, there was no telling what would be left in its wake.
For now, though, I pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the feel of her in my arms, the sound of her laughter, the way her eyes lit up when she smiled. Tonight was about her. About us. And I was going to make it unforgettable.
Even if it was the last thing I did