Chapter 855: Operation: Perfect Date Outfit
April 5th, Monday night, marked the beginning of a new week. For some, it was just another day, but for others, Monday held a unique significance that set it apart from the rest of the week. Monday signifies a fresh start and a chance to reset and refocus. It is a day when people often feel more motivated and determined to achieve their goals, whether it be starting a new diet or exercise regimen, or simply catching up on work after the weekend.
Monday also holds a certain sense of community.
It is a day when people come together, sharing their weekend experiences and creating a sense of camaraderie in the workplace or among friends. It is a day to reconnect and re-establish relationships, making it an ideal time for team-building activities or social events.
Furthermore, Monday often brings a sense of productivity and efficiency. Students are back in school, and workers are back to their respective jobs. With the weekend’s relaxation behind them, people tend to approach Monday with a renewed sense of focus and drive.
But for some people who worked during the weekends, their time of rest was usually on Mondays and Tuesdays. And Theo and the others who worked at The Spark Restaurant were among the ones who had their days off on Mondays and Tuesdays due to the fact that the restaurant opened during the weekends.
However, Theo and the others loved working at the restaurant, so they didn’t mind having such unusual days off.
As the sun set, the streets buzzed with activity as people rushed home from work, eager to begin their week with a sense of purpose and determination. The air was filled with a subtle electricity, a silent understanding that the week ahead held endless possibilities and potential.
This was especially the case for a couple of lovers who had a date scheduled for that Monday Night.
Theo and Ayia, this pair of lovebirds, are scheduled to go out to have fun together!
Ayia’s room was a kaleidoscope of fabrics and colours, a testament to her – shall we say – enthusiastic approach to shopping. Thousands of dresses, skirts, tops, and pants hung from racks, overflowing from shelves, and even spilling onto the floor in organised chaos. Shizuka, scrolling through her phone with the air of someone who’d witnessed a thousand fashion disasters (and probably documented them), sighed dramatically. "Seriously, Ay-chan? This is like searching for a needle in a haystack made of silk and sequins."
Ayia, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of motion. She’d tried on at least five outfits already, each discarded with a frustrated huff. Internally, she was panicking. Theo was charming, handsome, and incredibly punctual – a rare and valuable combination. Being late wasn’t an option. ’He’s going to think I’m indecisive, like I can’t even pick a dress!’ she thought, her golden eyes wide with anxiety. ’And if he thinks that, maybe he’ll think I’m indecisive about everything. What if he leaves me? What if...’ Her thoughts spiralled into a classic rom-com-style meltdown.
"This red one? Too bold," Ayia declared, tossing a scarlet dress onto a growing pile. Shizuka glanced up from her phone, unimpressed. "Ay-chan, you wore that to Aunt Mildred’s birthday last year. Remember? The one where you tripped over Uncle Barnaby’s cat and spilled punch on his prize-winning begonia?"
Ayia groaned. "Okay, okay, bad choice. How about this floral number?" She emerged from the closet in a dress that looked like a particularly flamboyant garden.
Shizuka stifled a laugh. "It’s... vibrant. Maybe a bit much for a casual spring date?" "But it’s spring!"
Ayia protested. "It needs to be springy!"
"I get it," Shizuka conceded, returning to her phone.
"But maybe ’springy’ doesn’t involve looking like you’re about to audition for a role as a psychedelic sunflower."
Ayia sighed, her shoulders slumping. The internal monologue shifted to a self-deprecating humour: ’Maybe I should just wear a potato sack. At least I know that would be comfortable, and Theo would probably find that quirky.’
"Ay-chan, guess who managed to get a Director position in an upcoming movie production?" Shizuka chirped, a mischievous glint in her eye as she held up her phone displaying the article. Ayia, mid-rummage through a drawer overflowing with scarves, barely glanced up. "Arthur?" she guessed, already knowing the answer.
Shizuka beamed. "You got it! It’s a small indie film, ’Whispers of the Willow,’ but the buzz is huge. Apparently, the lead actress is a rising star, and the script won an award at a smaller film festival. It’s the kind of project that could really launch someone’s career." She scrolled through the article, reading aloud snippets about the film’s potential and Arthur’s surprisingly relevant experience with low-budget productions, gleaned mostly from his music video work.
Ayia finally emerged from her clothing chaos, a vibrant silk scarf draped around her neck. "That’s wonderful!" she exclaimed, genuinely happy for her cousin. "Remember all the trouble he went through to get where he is now? Leaving the family, working odd jobs while trying to break into the industry... this is his big chance."
Shizuka nodded, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "It makes me wonder," she mused, tapping her chin, "if maybe our Uncles and Aunts will finally reach out to him. After all, he’s finally achieving something... significant." Ayia shook her head, a wry smile playing on her lips. "The Lionheart Family’s pride is a fickle thing, Shizu-chan. I wouldn’t hold my breath. But," she added, a determined glint in her own eyes, "I’m going to make sure he knows how proud we are. Let’s send him a celebratory bouquet – and maybe a bottle of his favourite vintage sake." She paused, a mischievous spark igniting in her own eyes.
While the sisters talked, Ayia continued on her journey to find the perfect outfit.
After several more near misses (a shimmering turquoise jumpsuit that resembled something a mermaid might wear to a disco, and a pastel-pink tutu that Shizuka vetoed with a single, eloquent "no"), Ayia pulled out a simple but elegant cream-colored dress with delicate floral embroidery. It was a perfect choice. The dress hugged her curves in all the right places, its soft material cascading gracefully to just below her knees.
"This one," Ayia announced, a smile finally gracing her lips. The dress did wonders for her golden eyes and purple hair, making them shine.
Shizuka, phone finally forgotten, actually whistled. "Finally. You look... actually, you look stunning."
Ayia beamed, the anxiety melting away, replaced by confidence. She checked herself in the mirror – a quick glance, a little adjustment here and there, and then, she was ready. Her internal monologue shifted to triumph: ’Yes! Operation: Perfect Date Outfit is a success!’ She was ready to face Theo, the spring, and whatever charming disaster awaited her. The date, she secretly hoped, would at least be more successful than Aunt Mildred’s birthday party.