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Once the waiter takes our orders, Damian dives into the details of the charity project. His passion is evident, and I can't help but get swept up in his enthusiasm. He talks about helping underprivileged kids and creating opportunities for them.
Emma's eyes light up, and I see the genuine compassion in them. "This is amazing, Damian. I'm in."
"Me too," I add, feeling a sense of purpose taking root.
Damian grins, clearly pleased with our responses. "Great! Now, here's the plan. Ryan, you'll handle the tech aspect, and Emma, your artistic skills will be invaluable. We need a website,promotional materials, and social media presence. Can you guys handle that?"
Emma and I exchange a glance, and we both nod. "Absolutely," Emma says.
"Perfect," Damian continues. "Now, here's the important part. You two need to work closely on this. Exchange numbers, email, whatever you need. Communication is key."
The air between Emma and me crackles with a mix of excitement and a hint of uncertainty. Damian hands us his phone to exchange contacts, and our fingers brush slightly as we type them in.
"So, Ryan," Emma says, breaking the silence, "we're in this together, huh?"
I can't help but smile at her. "Looks like it."
Damian, sensing the need to lighten the mood, suggests a toast. We raise our glasses, and as we clink them together, I can't shake the feeling that this charity project is going to be more than just about helping others. It's about bridging gaps, forging connections, and maybe, just maybe, discovering something unexpected along the way.
The conversation shifts to lighter topics as we enjoy our meal, laughter filling the air—well, mostly Damian and I just yapping on and on about how wild we were together in college.
“Y’all did all that?” Emma asks. Her eyes are gleaming with a certain innocence.
“Well, yeah,” I say guiltily even though I am an adult. Her brother is busy laughing.
“Wow, I just didn’t expect this.”
“What can I say?” Her brother playfully says. She shakes her head at us.
“You-“ She starts to laugh.
As we part ways, Damian reminds us of the importance of this project and the impact it could have on people's lives.
As I walk away from the restaurant, I can't ignore the spark of anticipation.
***
Two days after our initial meeting, my phone buzzes on the nightstand, rudely interrupting my dreams. It's 2:30 am, and for a moment, I contemplate ignoring it, but the name flashing on the screen makes me reconsider. Emma.
"G'morning?" I mumble into the phone, my voice thick with sleep.
"Ryan! Guess what? I have the most amazing idea for the charity project!" Her voice is a burst of energy, and I can't help but smile, despite the ungodly hour.
"Emma, it's 2:30 in the morning," I groan, rubbing my eyes. "Can this amazing idea wait until sunrise?"
She laughs, a sound that's infectious even through the phone. "I knew it was early, but I was too excited to wait! Okay, hear me out. What if we organize a charity art auction?"
My grogginess starts to dissipate as I consider her suggestion. "An art auction? That sounds interesting. Tell me more."
Emma dives into her concept, her enthusiasm contagious even through the phone. She envisions local artists contributing their work, with the proceeds going to charity. As she elaborates, I find myself genuinely captivated by her idea.
"Emma, that's brilliant. I love it," I admit, my earlier annoyance now replaced by a genuine interest.
"I knew you'd get it! I'll work on reaching out to artists, and we can discuss the details later. Sorry again for waking you up. I just couldn't wait."
"It's alright, Emma. Your excitement is contagious. We'll talk more tomorrow. Goodnight."
Two days later, we met up again. Emma is waiting at the cafe, sipping on her coffee, and when I walk in, she looks genuinely apologetic.
