Chapter 10 - A Different Notification

Emma woke to the sound of another train passing outside her apartment.

She reached for her phone almost instinctively.

No new messages.

For a brief second, she felt a tiny flicker of disappointment.

Then she laughed at herself.

"It's only seven."

Daniel probably wasn't even awake yet.

She set her phone aside and got ready for work, tying her hair into a loose ponytail before leaving the apartment with her sketch tube over one shoulder and her bakery apron folded neatly in her bag.

The morning air was crisp.

Yesterday still lingered in her mind.

The café.

The walk.

The way Daniel had waited until her train left.

She caught herself smiling again.

"You're doing it again," she muttered to herself.

"What am I doing?"

Emma nearly jumped.

Lily had somehow appeared beside her on the station platform, coffee in one hand and a grin on her face.

"You've smiled three times in the last minute."

"I have not."

"You absolutely have."

Emma sighed.

"Was it that obvious?"

Lily raised an eyebrow.

"You went on one date."

"I know."

"And?"

Emma looked away.

"It was... nice."

"'Nice?'"

"It was."

Lily crossed her arms.

"That word usually means terrible or amazing."

Emma smiled to herself.

"...Amazing."

Lily gasped dramatically.

"I knew it!"

Several commuters turned to look.

Emma covered her face.

"Please be quiet."

"I refuse."

The arriving train saved Emma from answering any more questions.

-

The bakery smelled of butter and warm bread before the doors even opened.

Emma slipped on her apron and joined Mrs. Alvarez behind the counter.

The morning rush came quickly.

Regular customers stopped by on their way to work.

Parents bought breakfast for sleepy children.

Someone ordered twelve loaves of salt bread.

Emma barely had time to breathe.

Only when the line finally disappeared did she take out her phone.

One new message.

From Daniel.

Daniel: Good morning.

She smiled before typing back.

Emma: Good morning.

Did you finally eat breakfast today?

The typing indicator appeared almost immediately.

Daniel: I knew you'd ask.

A photo arrived.

A simple breakfast sandwich sat beside a mug of black coffee.

Emma laughed softly.

Emma: Evidence accepted.

Daniel: I'm relieved.

I didn't want to fail another inspection.

She slipped her phone back into her apron pocket just as Mrs. Alvarez walked over.

"You look happy."

Emma pretended to straighten a tray of bread.

"Do I?"

"Mhm."

Mrs. Alvarez smiled knowingly.

"I like this version of you."

Emma didn't know what to say.

Neither did she.

-

Around noon, business slowed again.

Emma checked the dating app while wiping the display case.

Another message waited.

Daniel: Can I ask you something?

Her fingers paused above the screen.

Emma: Of course.

A minute passed.

Then another.

She wondered if he'd changed his mind.

Finally—

Daniel: Do you ever miss my messages?

Emma frowned.

Emma: Sometimes.

Why?

Daniel: Yesterday I sent one while you were working.

You didn't see it until hours later.

She thought back.

He was right.

The app often failed to send notifications.

Sometimes she'd only discover new messages after opening it.

Emma: This app isn't very reliable.

Daniel: Mine isn't either.

Another pause.

Long enough for Emma to wonder if he was choosing his words carefully.

Then—

Daniel: Would it be alright if we exchanged phone numbers instead?

Emma read the message twice.

Somehow, it felt different from agreeing to meet.

Meeting him had been exciting.

Giving him her phone number felt... personal.

It was a small invitation into her everyday life.

Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.

Before she could reply, another message appeared.

Daniel: Only if you're comfortable.

Emma smiled.

That was exactly what she liked about him.

He never assumed.

He never pressured.

He always left her room to say no.

She typed slowly.

Emma: Okay.

Almost immediately—

Daniel: Really?

She laughed.

Emma: Is that so surprising?

Daniel: A little.

I'm trying not to sound too happy.

Emma shook her head.

Emma: You failed.

A laughing emoji appeared.

Then she added another message.

Emma: One condition.

Daniel: I'm listening.

Emma: No calling while I'm working.

He replied almost instantly.

Daniel: Deal.

And you can't ignore my messages because you're busy drawing buildings.

Emma smiled.

Emma: No promises.

She stared at the keyboard for a second.

Then, before she could overthink it, she typed eleven digits.

Her phone number.

She pressed send.

For a moment...

Nothing happened.

Then her phone buzzed.

An unfamiliar number flashed across the screen.

Unknown: Testing.

Emma laughed quietly.

She saved the contact.

Daniel.

Almost as soon as she did, another message arrived.

Daniel: Looks like it worked.

Emma: Congratulations.

You've officially graduated from the dating app.

His reply came seconds later.

Daniel: Best graduation I've ever had.

Emma couldn't stop smiling.

"What happened?"

Mrs. Alvarez asked from the kitchen.

Emma quickly locked her phone.

"Nothing."

Mrs. Alvarez folded her arms.

"I've known you long enough to know that's not true."

Emma only smiled.

"I'll tell you someday."

"I'll hold you to that."

-

Across the city, Daniel looked at the contact he had just saved.

Emma.

No profile picture yet.

Just her name.

For some reason, seeing it there made her feel closer than before.

Nathan knocked once before stepping into the office.

"You're still here?"

"I have a meeting in twenty minutes."

Nathan noticed the faint smile on Daniel's face.

"There it is again."

"What?"

"That smile."

Daniel looked genuinely confused.

"I've been smiling?"

"Constantly."

Nathan placed a folder on the desk.

"I don't know who she is."

Daniel looked up.

"But I'm already grateful to her."

Daniel laughed.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

"You heard it."

Nathan turned to leave before pausing at the door.

"And don't forget your meeting this time."

Daniel blinked.

"I forgot one meeting."

"You forgot two."

"I remembered the important ones."

Nathan gave him a doubtful look.

"I'll believe that."

-

That evening, Emma finally arrived home.

She changed into comfortable clothes, made herself a cup of instant cocoa, and sat beside the window with her sketchbook.

Her phone vibrated.

Not the dating app.

A text message.

The notification looked different.

Simple.

Clean.

And somehow...

More personal.

She smiled before opening it.

Daniel: Good evening.

Emma looked at the contact name for a second.

It still felt new.

Emma: Good evening.

Daniel: How does it feel?

Emma: What?

Daniel: Seeing my name instead of a dating app notification.

Emma laughed.

Emma: I was just thinking about that.

A few seconds later, another message arrived.

Daniel: Me too.

She rested her chin on her knees.

Outside, another train rolled past her apartment.

Inside, her phone lit up once more.

Daniel: Good night, Emma.

She smiled before typing back.

Emma: Good night, Daniel.

This time, when she set her phone on the bedside table, it no longer felt like a conversation with a stranger she had met online.

It felt like someone she was beginning to know.

And somehow...

That made all the difference.