Kota lifted the elegant crystal glass of sparkling water to his lips and took a cautious sip. The sudden burst of carbonation hit the back of his throat like a fizzy explosion.
He nearly spat the entire mouthful across the pristine white tablecloth. His eyes widened as he forced himself to swallow, coughing lightly into his fist.
Theo's head tilted immediately, concern flashing across his pretty face.
"Kota? Is it not good? You don't like it?" His voice was soft, already reaching for the waiter's call button on the side of the table.
"I can have Luca bring you something else right away. Regular water, juice, anything you want. I'm so sorry, I should have asked first—"
Kota waved his hand quickly, setting the glass down with a careful clink.
"It's okay, Theo. Really. I just… didn't expect it to be carbonated. Caught me off guard. I've never really had fancy sparkling stuff before." He offered a reassuring smile, wiping his mouth with the thick linen napkin. "It's fine. I'll get used to it. Don't make a big deal."
Theo giggled, the sound light and melodic in the quiet luxury of the restaurant.
"Really? It's okay, darling. I can still call him over. They have normal water too. Or maybe a fresh lemonade? This place is supposed to have the best citrus selection in the city." He reached over and gently squeezed Kota's hand on the table, thumb stroking over his knuckles.
"I want you to enjoy everything tonight. No forcing yourself to stomach things you don't like just to be polite."
Kota shook his head, giving Theo's hand a squeeze back. "I'm good. Promise. It's not bad, just surprising. I'll finish it. Besides, it goes with the fancy vibe." He took another small sip, this time prepared for the bubbles, and managed to keep a straight face.
Theo watched him for a long moment, eyes soft and affectionate, before nodding. "Alright. If you're sure."
A few minutes later the same host reappeared, menu in hand, followed closely by Luca, the young waiter with the pigtails. "Have you gentlemen decided on what to order?" the host asked politely.
Theo straightened up, clearing his throat. "Yes, I would like the edible flower and saffron salad to start, and then the tuna and truffle poke bowl as my main—"
Luca cut him off smoothly, leaning slightly closer to the table with his eyes locked hungrily on Kota. "And what would the handsome gentleman want?" His voice dropped, laced with obvious suggestion. "Perhaps a… big… juicy… jiggly piece of meat? We have some excellent cuts tonight. Thick. Satisfying. I'd be happy to… recommend the best one personally."
Theo's face went from polite to fuming in half a second. His fingers tightened around Kota's hand under the table, knuckles turning white.
Kota tried to de-escalate immediately, keeping his tone even. "Actually, could you please take my boyfriend's order first? He was in the middle of speaking."
Luca rolled his eyes dramatically, barely hiding his annoyance. "Whatever." He turned back to Theo with clear reluctance. "Go on then."
Theo was practically vibrating with anger beside Kota, but he kept his voice steady as he repeated his order. "Edible flower and saffron salad, and the tuna and truffle poke bowl, please."
The waiter scribbled it down with a bored sigh, then muttered under his breath just loud enough for them to hear, "Looks like someone is mooching off their boyfriend's money."
Theo's eyes flashed with pure fury. Internally he was screaming: Stay calm, Theo. It's okay. Kota is an extremely attractive guy. It's natural that people hit on him. You knew this would happen. Just breathe. Show them how in love we are. Don't make a scene on our first real date. Kota is here with you. Not him. You're the one he kissed. You're the one he's holding hands with. Calm. Down.
Kota noticed Theo's tension and slid his hand onto his boyfriend's thigh under the table, giving it a firm, grounding squeeze. "Hey. Calm down a bit. He's just some waiter. Not worth it."
Theo pouted, cheeks puffed out adorably, but he nodded. "Fine. For you."
When it was Kota's turn, he opened his mouth to order, but Theo suddenly grabbed his chin, turned his face, and pulled him into a passionate kiss right there in the middle of the VIP booth. Theo tried to use tongue almost immediately, pushing it forward clumsily, clearly inexperienced but enthusiastic. The kiss was deep, a little messy, and very public. While their lips were locked, Theo cracked one eye open and shot a direct, victorious smirk straight at Luca, the message crystal clear: Suck it, bitch. He's mine.
Kota was momentarily stunned but kissed him back, one hand coming up to cup the side of Theo's face. When they finally parted, both slightly breathless, Kota turned to the waiter like nothing had happened.
"I'll have the same as him. Tuna and truffle poke bowl."
Luca snickered, not even trying to hide his disbelief.
"It's okay, you don't have to pretend in front of your boyfriend. I know you want something a little more… meaty." His eyes flicked down toward Kota's lap meaningfully.
Kota stayed polite, shaking his head. "No, no, it's alright. The poke bowl is perfect."
Luca gave a dramatic sigh. "Suit yourself." He turned and walked away, purposely swaying his hips and ass exaggeratedly with every step, the movement clearly meant to draw attention.
Theo watched him go with narrowed eyes, still holding Kota's hand tightly. "The audacity of some people," he muttered, cheeks still flushed from the kiss.
"Right in front of me. On our date. Unbelievable."
Kota chuckled softly, rubbing his thumb over Theo's knuckles. "He's just trying to flirt. Doesn't matter. I'm here with you."
Theo leaned his head against Kota's shoulder for a moment, breathing in his cologne. "I know. I just… get protective. You're my boyfriend now. I don't like sharing the view." He paused, then added with a small, shy smile, "That kiss was nice though. Even if I was mostly doing it to make a point."
Kota grinned. "Felt pretty real to me."
The luxurious restaurant hummed softly around them—quiet conversations, clinking silverware, the distant melody of live piano music floating through the opulent space. Chandeliers sparkled overhead, casting dancing lights across the marble and velvet. Theo kept their fingers intertwined the entire time they waited for their food, occasionally stealing little glances at Kota like he still couldn't believe this was really happening.
Every few minutes he would squeeze Kota's hand or lean in to whisper something small and sweet—"You look really handsome tonight," or "I'm glad you're here with me"—his voice full of genuine affection mixed with that familiar nervous energy.
The earlier tension with the waiter slowly faded as they fell into comfortable conversation about everything and nothing: school, Theo's ridiculous family stories, Kota's quiet life with his dad, and tentative plans for more dates in the future.
Theo's internal mantra continued quietly in the back of his mind: Stay calm. He chose you. He kissed you back. He's holding your hand right now. That waiter doesn't matter. No one else does.
The evening stretched warmly around them, filled with soft laughter, lingering touches, and the quiet thrill of something new and real beginning between them in the heart of the city's most exclusive restaurant. Kota found himself relaxing more with every passing minute, the weight of the outside world feeling further and further away. This—sitting here with Theo, hands linked under the table, sharing expensive sparkling water and playful banter—was exactly where he wanted to be.
Theo, for his part, couldn't stop smiling. His boyfriend. His Kota. And tonight was only the beginning.