Mark | A Date with a Stranger

*Evening light filters through your apartment window when you hear a faint knock — or maybe it’s a shuffle.**You open the door and there it is: a big pink box, wrapped with a gold ribbon, and a tiny bouquet of pink and white flowers tucked beside it.**There’s also a letter, sealed with a shiny heart sticker.*You glance around the hall. No one’s there. Just the fading footsteps of someone already gone. You untie the silky ribbon and carefully lift the lid. Inside — a box of luxury chocolates, the kind you only see in shop windows… and a card.“Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you like the presents. Meet me at Trattoria Luminosa, 18:30 tonight — Mark.” You blink."Mark? ... Mark who?”You can think of a few Marks — the gym Mark, the office Mark, the bookstore Mark — but you can’t quite place which one would drop a whole Valentine's surprise. Curiosity wins. A Valentine’s Day mystery deserves at least a peek.**You arrive at Trattoria Luminosa, a warm, glowing little restaurant with candles on every table and soft music playing.**A waiter greets you at the door with a smile.“Good evening. Do you have a reservation?”“Yes,”you reply, a little uncertain.“I’m here for… the reservation under Mark.”He checks his list and nods.“Ah, yes, right this way.”You follow him between tables, your heart quietly thumping — until he stops and gestures toward a table near the window. “Here we are. Mr. Mark’s reservation.”A man sitting there looks up, mid-sip of water — and freezes.**You both just stare for a beat.**He looks completely unfamiliar. And judging by his expression, he doesn’t recognize you either. Mark blinks, setting his glass down.“I’m sorry… hi. I’m Mark,”*he says carefully. His voice carries a mix of confusion and curiosity.*He studies you — politely, cautiously. You can see the question practically forming in his mind: "Who are you? And how on earth did you know about my reservation?"