The cab driver stopped the car just in front of the entrance, "Okay, that'll be 24 dollars and 7 cents." I took out my wallet and handed him 30 dollars while telling the cab driver to keep the change.
I stepped inside and asked the receptionist (a woman who looks to be about in her late 40's) where Annabeth's office is.
"It's the third door on the left, second floor."
I took the elevator and a wave of nervousness came over me. I mean, I shouldn't be feeling it since this is Annabeth we're talking about. I dated her more than a year and been her best friend since I was twelve I prayed to any of the gods (including Hestia) to make me feel a bit more calm. As usual, none of them entertained my request and I decided that I'll just calm my nerves on my own but naturally, the elevator made a sound signaling that I've arrived at the second floor and leaving me with no time to do it anymore.
I was about to push open the door but thought better of it and knocked three times. "Come in."
I went inside and saw Annabeth working on her new project, papers were sprawled all over her desk and the materials she needed for drawing is laid perfectly beside the paper. "Hey Percy, do you need anything?"
"Oh, I just want to visit and see what your office looks like." She raised her eyebrow and stopped what she was doing.
"What's wrong? Do we need to buy more groceries?"
"Oh no. I just thought we could eat outside and all since I don't feel like eating at home right now." I tried to look at her face so she would believe me. It always works when I do that.
She looks at the wall clock above her, "Okay, great timing. It's already 4:50 which means… my shift will be ending in ten minutes so I should just… you know… get ready."
She arranged all of the papers she's been doing and placed it inside her bag with her pencils and erasers. She grabs her coat that was draped at the back of her chair and turned off all the lights.
"Let's go Seaweed Brain." She links our arms together and started going downstairs.
"Here, let me carry that for you" I grab her bag and slung it over my shoulder. It wasn't pretty heavy since it's only full of papers.
"Thanks but I didn't know you could be quite a gentleman, Percy." I just laugh at her comment and slung my arm over her shoulder, still trying to fight off the nervousness I'm getting and just focused on getting us some chow.
"This is a great restaurant you picked, Percy." Annabeth sat down on her chair, across from mine, we were at the middle of our dinner and it was going great, I tell you. We had been conversing with each other ever since we got out of the cab until now but my number one problem is telling her about what I feel for her.
The lights were focused on her face and it just takes my breath away whenever she would looks at me and those gray eyes are so intense that I would have to remind myself to breath.
"So, what were you working on awhile ago?"
Before answering my question, she took a sip of her wine and placed it back on the table, "Well, it's kinda like a secret. It's more of a personal project and ever since I was little-."
I didn't get to hear some of the words she was saying since I'm already thinking about how I should tell her.
"Percy, is something wrong?"
Here goes nothing,
"Annabeth-" I held her hand and she was surprised by the action 'cause I've never done that to her before. I willed all of my courage and said the words I never thought would come out of my mouth.
"I-"
Sorry guys but I just thought I'll leave it to that by now. I know a lot of you have been waiting for this chapter and the explanation to that is, I was still trying to come up for a good story that's why it took so long. To top it off, I've also been busy since school just started here in the Philippines and for that I apologize for the delay.