26 | ☕Zoo-tiful Chaos A Date to Remember ☕
Anya had never imagined herself planning a date, let alone for a man like Atlas.
But after two weeks of being his girlfriend, the excitement—and the nerves—had yet to subside.
They had kept their relationship relatively low-key, mostly spending time in the comfort of her apartment or his, with rare trips out for meals or meetings.
But Anya wanted something more. Something memorable for their first official date.
"Kaia," Anya said, leaning across the counter of the café, wiping down a cup with the utmost concentration, "I have no idea what to do for our first proper date. I mean, I'm still kind of reeling that I'm even dating Atlas."
Kaia, who was working alongside her, paused in her task of setting up the display case with pastries and turned to Anya with a grin. "Well, you've got to make it special," she teased. "But also... what does Atlas like? He's the one you're dating, after all."
Anya's mind raced. Atlas was a mystery to her in many ways—he was unpredictable, possessive, incredibly charming, and, honestly, she was still figuring out what exactly he would want.
"I think... I think something simple," Anya said. "I don't want to overwhelm him. Maybe something where we can just enjoy each other's company without the stress of... being in public."
Kaia tilted her head thoughtfully, then smiled, her eyes lighting up with a playful gleam.
"The zoo," she said matter-of-factly. "I know it sounds a little childish, but trust me, it's a fun date idea. You two can walk around, check out the animals, and just have a laid-back time. It's also a great way to see each other's reactions to different things. Plus,
it's a nice mix of both quirky and classic."
Anya's eyebrows shot up at Kaia's suggestion. "The zoo?" she repeated, not quite sure if she was hearing correctly. She stared at Kaia as if she'd just suggested they go bungee jumping off a cliff.
"Yes, the zoo," Kaia replied, unbothered, grabbing a tray of pastries and placing them in the display case with an air of someone who'd just given sage advice.
"I mean, think about it. You've got animals, some cute, some weird, and an atmosphere that's low-pressure. You can walk around, talk, maybe laugh at a penguin trying to waddle around—it's simple, but it gives you space to just be yourselves without feeling like you're on display. Plus, it's fun.
No one can resist a zoo date."
Anya chewed on her bottom lip, considering it.
She imagined Atlas, his serious, intense gaze as they wandered past exotic creatures, maybe teasing her about a particularly grumpy monkey or an overly enthusiastic flamingo.
She could almost picture the mix of amusement and fondness in his eyes, something about it all feeling unexpectedly... comfortable.
"Okay, you might be onto something," Anya admitted, tapping her fingers nervously on the counter. "But I don't know if Atlas is the type to, like... enjoy a zoo. He doesn't exactly strike me as the 'zoo date' kind of guy."
Kaia shrugged, a smirk tugging at her lips. "He doesn't have to be. The point is, you'll be doing something fun, and you'll get to see his real reactions. Trust me, people are always more themselves around animals. It's a great way to bond."
Anya leaned against the counter, feeling a little lighter now that the wheels were turning. "You know... maybe you're right. Atlas can't be that hard to please, right? As long as there's food involved, I think he'll survive."
Kaia raised an eyebrow, teasing, "As long as you don't take him to the petting zoo and expect him to hold a goat, you're good."
Anya snorted at the image of Atlas, with his usual stoic expression, being surrounded by a herd of goats.
The thought made her laugh, and for the first time in a while, she felt a little more at ease about the whole thing.
A zoo date—it wasn't flashy, it wasn't extravagant, but it felt right.
Simple, relaxed, and with just the right amount of potential for awkwardly adorable moments.
"Alright, Kaia, you've convinced me. The zoo it is."
Kaia shot her a playful wink. "You're welcome. Just remember, have fun, and don't overthink it. Atlas might be a mystery, but if he likes you, he's going to enjoy whatever you do, as long as you're together."
Anya sighed, half-exasperated, half-excited. "I really have no idea how you do this so easily, but I think I'm starting to get it." She grabbed her phone to make a note of the idea. "Now, I just have to figure out how to ask him without sounding like I'm planning a kid's birthday party."
"Oh, you won't sound like that," Kaia assured her, "Just tell him it's a laid-back, 'no expectations' kind of date. He'll be all for it. Trust me."
Anya felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe she wasn't as clueless as she thought. Maybe she could pull this off.
"Okay, I'm doing it," she said, more to herself than Kaia, her nerves still there but softened by the thought of Atlas's unspoken understanding. She smiled, excited by the prospect of sharing something simple yet meaningful with him. "I'm going to ask him tonight."
Kaia gave a thumbs-up. "Go get 'em, tiger."
That evening, after their shift at the café, Anya found herself sitting next to Atlas on the couch, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. She'd been meaning to ask him about the date all day, but now that she had the chance, her nerves were getting the best of her.
"Hey, Atlas," she started, her voice a little quieter than usual. "I've been thinking... we should go on a date. Like... an official one. Something fun, you know?"
Atlas turned toward her, his gaze locking onto hers with that intense, unreadable look. His fingers twitched slightly, then he raised one hand and signed with smooth, practiced motions:
"Official date, huh?"
Anya swallowed, her heart pounding. "Yeah, I mean, I was thinking... maybe the zoo?" She cringed inwardly, worried it sounded too childish, too silly for someone like him. She quickly added, "It's not like a kid's thing, I just... thought it would be fun. Low-key."
Atlas didn't react right away, his eyes narrowing just a fraction as if processing her words. Then, slowly, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He signed again, his fingers moving gracefully.
"The zoo sounds fun. I'll go anywhere with you."
Anya blinked, surprised by his easy acceptance. "Really?" she asked, the relief flooding through her.
Atlas gave a small shrug, his smile widening as his fingers flew through another set of signs.
"I'm not into fancy dates. But a zoo? Why not? Besides, I get to see you with the animals. That's good enough for me."
Anya's heart skipped a beat at his words, a warm blush spreading across her cheeks. "I mean... it's not like I'm going to act all wild or anything," she said, trying to make light of it, though she could feel her nerves loosening.
Atlas's eyes twinkled as he signed again, the amusement clear in his expression.
"You're already wild enough for me."
Anya laughed softly, her cheeks burning. "Oh, you're impossible."
His smile softened, and he leaned closer, reaching up to gently tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He signed once more, slow and deliberate.
"When I'm with you, it's already fun. The zoo will just make it better."
Anya's heart melted at his words, the warmth in his gaze making the butterflies in her stomach go wild. She couldn't help but smile, her nervousness completely forgotten. This felt right—this felt real.
"Okay, then," she said, her voice quiet but filled with happiness. "It's a date."
The next morning, Anya found herself at the zoo with Atlas, an unexpected setting for someone like him. Who would've thought that the intimidating, powerful CEO—who commanded boardrooms with just a look—would be so... enthralled by flamingos?
Anya couldn't help but stare as Atlas stood in front of the flamingo exhibit, his eyes locked onto them with an almost unnerving intensity.
The flamingos, blissfully unaware of the CEO's scrutiny, went about their business of standing on one leg and occasionally pecking at the ground.
Still, Atlas didn't blink, didn't move, just stared.
Anya was pretty sure he had been in that exact position for about ten minutes now.
She tilted her head and nudged his shoulder lightly. "...Are you having a telepathic conversation with them?"
Atlas didn't even flinch at her question. His gaze remained fixated on the flamingos as if he were contemplating the meaning of life, or at the very least, analysing every movement they made. He finally lifted one hand and signed without looking at her.
"They sleep standing up."
Anya blinked. Was he serious? "...Yes. That is a known fact."
He didn't react, still lost in the world of flamingo observations. Anya sighed, shaking her head. "You're so weird."
And that was an understatement.
Not wanting to leave him to his flamingo thoughts alone, she turned to look at the other exhibits. "Okay, well, while you're busy... telepathically communicating with birds, do you—"
Before she could finish, Atlas turned to her, his eyes bright and serious. He signed quickly, his fingers moving with purpose.
"Do you want a flamingo?"
Anya stared at him for a long moment. What?
"A flamingo?!" she repeated, her eyebrows raising so high they might've joined her hairline. "You want one as a pet?"
He nodded. No hesitation.
Anya's hand immediately flew to her face, rubbing her temples as if trying to stave off an impending headache. She could feel the absurdity of the moment creeping in, but she couldn't help it—she had to laugh.
"You know what? Sure. Why not?" she said, letting out an exasperated laugh. "What's next? You want a pet giraffe? A lion cub? Maybe a zebra?"
Atlas raised his eyebrows at her, unbothered, clearly undeterred by her sarcasm. He signed again, this time with a smirk tugging at his lips.
"A zebra would be nice."
Anya stared at him, wide-eyed, for a moment before shaking her head in disbelief. "I swear to God, Atlas... you're a menace."