Malcolm sat across from Connor, his fork tracing idle patterns on the pristine white tablecloth. The restaurant was intimate, the kind of place where secrets were exchanged under the cover of dim lighting. Connor's gaze was intent, full of purpose, as he reached into his pocket, fingertips brushing against a small velvet box.
Travis burst through the door with a buoyant energy that seemed to fill the entire room. "Hey, lovebirds!" he called out, weaving through the tables with a broad grin.
"Travis, what are you doing here?" Connor's smile was strained, the corners of his eyes crinkling with barely concealed annoyance.
"Couldn't resist checking in on my little brother's date!" Travis replied, pulling up a chair without invitation.
Malcolm shifted uncomfortably, glancing between the brothers. He could feel the weight of unspoken words pressing down on the table, the air thick with potential conflict.
"So, Malcolm, tell me, how did you and Connor meet?" Travis leaned forward, his curiosity genuine but poorly timed.
"We met during a campus event," Malcolm replied softly, avoiding Connor's eyes. "It was a debate competition, actually."
"Yeah, and Malcolm here wiped the floor with everyone," Connor interjected, trying to steer the conversation back to lighter territory.
Travis chuckled, seemingly oblivious to Connor's growing irritation. "Ah, sounds like a classic Athena kid," he quipped, leaning back with an easygoing demeanor.
Connor's fingers drummed impatiently on the table. "Travis, don't you have somewhere else to be?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Not really, but I can take a hint," Travis replied, his tone teasing but not unkind. "I'll just finish this drink and be on my way."
Malcolm watched as Travis finally stood to leave, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation.
"You two have a great night," Travis said with a wink, patting Connor on the shoulder as he departed.
"Finally," Connor muttered under his breath, turning his full attention back to Malcolm.
"So, you wanted to talk?" Malcolm prompted, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Yeah, I did," Connor replied, pulling the velvet box from his pocket with renewed confidence. "Malcolm, there's something I've been meaning to ask you..."
As Connor opened the box, revealing a glimmering ring inside, the rest of the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in the candlelit glow.
